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The Best Base Layers for Beating the Chill and Enjoying Outdoor Workouts This Spring
Cold weather workouts never felt so good
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By now, it’s common knowledge that taking your workout outside can be great for your mental and physical health. But this is Britain we’re talking about here, so chances are it’s going to be cold. Very cold. That’s where the best base layers come in.
These tight-fitting tops provide a lightweight layer of protection against chilly conditions. They’re handy in hotter temperatures too, working to wick sweat away from your body, keeping you comfortable whatever the weather.
So, if you’re partial to an al fresco workout, we think buying a base layer is a no-brainer. That’s why we’ve tested some of the best money can buy to bring you our top recommendations.
What is a base layer?
As we’ve already explained, the best base layers can help you stay at a comfortable temperature. They also keep sweat-spots like the lower back and armpits from getting clammy during workouts by absorbing then wicking away any moisture.
But we thought before you buy, you’d want to see their full CV.
As the name suggests, a base layer is the first thing you put on as part of your cold-weather exercise ensemble — whether you’re summiting Snowdon or undertaking a hardcore HIIT session at the park. It should act almost like a second skin, fitting tightly while still allowing you to move freely.
You want the material to be both insulating and breathable. So, if you’re boldly braving the cold to go for a winter run, it’ll help keep you warm. But, if your body temperature rises as you push for a PB, it'll wick sweat away from your skin and allow heat to escape so you don’t become uncomfortable.
More on the materials available below…
What material base layer should I buy?
One bamboo base layer aside, every top we tested can be split into one of two camps; Merino wool or synthetic. Here’s a bit of background on each type, so you can make an informed decision on which one is right for you:
Synthetic
About - In this context, synthetic essentially means any material that’s man-made.
Strengths - Base layers made from these fabrics tend to be cheaper, but still have the advantages of natural materials like warming and sweat-wicking properties — albeit, not usually as effective as their natural counterparts. They usually have a lycra-esque feel, meaning they’re lightweight and flexible.
Weaknesses - They aren’t naturally antibacterial, so may hold any smells they absorb from sweat. While regular washing is an easy remedy for this, we wouldn’t recommend wearing them for two days on the run. They also aren’t as warm as Merino wool (more on that below) so are better suited to milder climates.
Merino wool
About - Don’t be fooled by the name, this super lightweight material bears little resemblance to a chunky knit fisherman’s jumper. The luxe fabric is grown by Merino sheep and is a favourite for its natural temperature-regulating properties.
Strengths - Not only is Merino wool brilliantly warm, it can also stop you from overheating. This might sound counterintuitive, but hear us out. When it’s cold, the fibres trap air to provide a layer of insulation. But, if you overheat, the wool will then wick sweat away from your body to cool you down — it’s a win-win. This magical fabric is also naturally antibacterial, resisting odours so you don’t have to lunge for your deodorant after a lunchtime run.
Weaknesses - As you’d expect from a natural material with this many benefits, Merino wool rarely comes cheap. Some products aren’t as comfortable as their synthetic counterparts either, so we asked testers to pay close attention to how their base layers felt.
How We Test
Our testing team put 29 top base layers through their paces, wearing each one for at least three outdoor sweat sessions. We asked them to feed back on how the tops felt before, during and after exercise, noting whether they were able to keep them at a comfortable temperature, wick away sweat and move with their bodies.
They were also awarded extra points for offering a good fit, feeling comfortable and looking good, with special mentions for fancy and (more importantly) useful features like thumb holes and hidden pockets perfect for stashing your house keys. These are our 14 favourites:
Harry’s news reporting has been published in over 70 newspapers across the UK. Now, he specialises in home appliances, health and fitness, bringing you reliable reviews on the best homes, sports and nutrition products on the market to help you upgrade your home and training routine.
Outside the office, he has dedicated countless hours to learning about different physical training methods, experimenting with everything from CrossFit to powerlifting.
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Yanar has spent 15 years as a health and wellness editor and writer for national titles such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World. Yanar is a 580-hour yoga therapist, 200-hour yoga teacher and level 3 personal trainer at Yanar Mind & Movement. After years of running races and marathons, she discovered CrossFit and Olympic lifting in her mid-30s and fell in love with training and competing. She now advocates strength training for women to build a stronger body for life and the benefits of nervous system regulation for better physical and mental health. When not training, teaching or writing, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen.
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