Base Layers 101

Whenever you're planning on spending a considerable amount of time on the slopes, it's important to make sure that you're wearing suitable ski wear that will help keep you warm and dry, and ski wear that feels comfortable through anything. The first part of your ski outfit is your base layer.

If you've never been skiing or had anything to do with snow sports before, you might be wondering what a base layer is? The base layers primary function is to keep your skin dry and manage the sweat. Many people have a tendency to over dress when they're planning on spending the day on the slope, so that combine with the actual act of skiing, means you can easily find yourself breaking a sweat. Sweating then turns into heat loss, so then as soon as you stop moving, you can find yourself getting colder and colder, which is definitely not what you want when you're in single digit temperatures. So the aim of a good base layer is to help wick away any sweat and moisture, which should be able to evaporate through your layering system.

There are two different materials that are most commonly used when it comes to base layers - synthetic materials ( usually polyester) or Merino wool.

Synthetic base layers work by 'wicking' away the moisture from your skin along the fibres and then expels the moisture out the weave of the fabric so it can be evaporated without chilling the body. Our base layers are created using Q-Wic/Q-Wic Plus technology which not only helps you regulate your body temperature but also has in built odour control making you feel as fresh as you smell.

Many of our base layers sets have been constructed with SeamSmart technology. This means that the seams on the base layers are completely flat to the top or bottoms, meaning they won't rub or irritate your skin.

Merino wool is an amazing natural material, that ticks all the boxes for base layers. It's able to manage moisture well, whilst remaining warm even when wet and it's able to hold around 30% of it's own weight in moisture. This typeof wool works slightly differently compared to other synthetic base layers. It doesn't wick the sweat, it holds it in the wool inner core. The outside of the wool fibres are coated in a water resistant waxy substance called lanolin. This hydrophobic layer is the part that touches the skin and keeps you feeling cool whilst it absorbs any moisture on the skins surface.

The only downside with Merino wool is that it takes longer to dry than its synthetic counterparts. So on the off chance that the wool does get fully saturated, it can start to feel heavy or uncomfortable on the skin. It's also less durable as opposed to synthetic materials and needs more care when being washed and dried.

We also carry base layer sets that are created using a hybrid mix of both of natural and synthetic materials. These ski base layers have the best of both materials and they're great for all round snow sport use.

Our Woolwic fabric is a equal mix of merino wool and polyester, which means these base layers help to regulate your core temperatures, whilst having those sweat wicking and anti odour properties. It's form fitting, with flat locked seams that make these base layers a joy to wear!

Choosing the right base layer is important. It needs to work with the rest of your ski wear to make sure that your body stays at the right temperature, all whilst staying dry but not restricting any movements when you're on the slopes.  You want a base layer that feels like a second skin to you, comfort and style without losing any of the benefits of the tech!

You can shop all of our base layers here.