Our 8 Favorite Base Layers to Keep You Warm All Winter Long

Author: Adrienne So / Source: WIRED

From merino wool to space gel, we put eight different long johns to the outdoor test. Once the temperature drops in the fall, I pull on a base layer and wear it straight through April. A good base layer will keep you toasty, anywhere and everywhere you go. You can wear it under a nice sweater at work, or to wick away sweat while you snowboard.

They can even serve as a pair of pajamas, in a pinch. But if a garment is to be your constant companion for the next six months, it can’t scratch, stink, or sag. Here are eight of my favorites. Note: When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Read more about how this works.

For base layers, I prefer merino wool because it’s light, wicks sweat away quickly, and is odor-resistant (just spend two days in a tent with someone wearing synthetics, and you’ll see what I mean). But merino wool is expensive. REI’s midweight base layers are an affordable compromise. The material, a stretchy polyester-spandex blend, has a comfortable and silky feel, and mimics the sweat-wicking properties of merino. The crewneck has flat seams on the shoulders, so the shirt doesn’t chafe when you layer up or slip on a backpack.

Ridge Merino’s Aspect base layers are made from merino wool spun around a nylon core, for greater stretch and durability. The crewneck top also has thoughtful design details—for example, it has offset shoulder seams to prevent chafing, and the seams under the arms are flat. It also has Ridge Merino’s trademark invisible thumb holes, hidden under a triangle of cloth.

This top easily made the transition from walking around in 30-degree temperatures to a hot and crowded house party.

Helly Hansen’s seamless top blends the company’s proprietary wicking Lifa fiber with merino wool. It’s incredibly stretchy and light, thin enough to fit under the snuggest mid-layer. The half-zip also has ventilated mesh panels on the body and under the arms. I didn’t get to test it while skiing, but it would be perfect for any activities where you move between extreme exertion and sitting around in the cold.

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