19 best base layers for men and women, tried and tested

I’m the first to admit that I’ve got a fear of accidental exposure, whether it’s due to waistbands that are too low or material that’s too thin. And I won’t deny – I was slightly concerned by the thinness of the material, but it didn’t let me down. In fact, it didn’t just prevent any type of over-exposure – The North Face’s fantastic flashdry and dotknit technology meant any sweat was instantly wicked away, rather than sitting against my skin.

This is a garment packed with features designed to ramp up the comfort, whether it’s the marrow stitching (a type of flat, double stitching designed to reduce chafing) or the tiny holes that make it even easier for moisture to escape. I also loved the ultra-comfortable, covered waistband, which contributed to the garment’s overall second skin-type feel. Unlike some base layers, the leggings can’t be machine dried, but this isn’t unusual with base layers packed with this much tech, and the lightweight material dried incredibly quickly, anyway.

Despite the fact that base layers are designed to be worn next to the skin, I’m often horrified by the scratchiness of the material. Not so with this one, which is fabulously soft on both the inside and outside, and uses drirelease fabric – known for its sweat-wicking and odour-resistant qualities – to keep the wearer dry, warm and pong-free. However, it’s worth flagging the thicker materials mean this is definitely a top for colder days – I quickly reached boiling point when wearing this under a ski jacket during an autumn stroll.

On the plus side, it’s one of my few base layers that can also be worn alone (and its softness means it’s a joy to do so). I was pleased to see extra reinforcement at the cuffs (an area incredibly prone to wear and tear) along with thumbholes. The latter’s innovative design deserves a shout-out, too – instead of being just small holes, they’re actually small gaps between layers of overlapping material, another way in which this top fends off sneaky, bone-chilling breezes.

All merino wool, it turns out, is not equal. I was so confused by the flatiron’s ridiculous softness that I did a little digging into manufacturing techniques, and found out that Artilect use something known as nuyarn – a spinning technology that takes merino’s softness to a whole new level. This was also one of the lightest merino garments I’ve come across, and it dried incredibly quickly, too.

Flatlock seams and gusseted underarms meant there was zero chafing, even after a particularly sweaty hike. I can’t forget the generous length either, which eliminated the risk of a builder’s bum-related disaster when tying up the laces on my hiking boots. As with all merino garments, it needs to be treated with care – I recommend washing it on a delicates cycle, then air drying (which reminds me – my one gripe is that there’s no fabric care info on Artilect’s website).

Why oh why are so many base layers black, grey or navy? Tog24 clearly shares my frustration with the situation, because these sweat-wicking, super soft core women’s leggings are a glorious, mood-boosting shade of cherry red. The brand hasn’t skimped on material either – all too often I find base layer leggings stop short of the ankles (and no, this isn’t down to us having long legs, unfortunately) but this wasn’t the case here.

An extra-wide waistband kept the leggings firmly in place, and the high-rise design was a relief, providing not just breathability but a hint of cinching (call me fickle, but my love of long lunches in slopeside restaurants on ski holidays means this is a feature I wish I saw more of). They’re incredibly easy to care for, too – they’re machine washable and can be tumbled dried.

This fabulous, long-sleeved tee comes in a huge range of colours, with a staggering 11 options – I recommend the gorgeous turquoise hue. Everything about this top is designed for freedom of movement, whether it’s the extra-long zip, the movement-enhancing shoulder seams or the tapered sleeves, which are the perfect width.

I was relieved to see Berghaus’s argentium finish, too – this hi-tech treatment uses silver ions to keep sweat-related smells firmly at bay.

In reality, the fact that my only complaint is that this t-shirt’s sleeves are too short should probably give you an idea of how much I loved it. I’ll start with the colours – an ultra-bright orange, retina-burningly bright yellow and a gorgeous dark blue.

Add a tailored shape, Berghaus’s ultra-soft polartec delta material, famous for its hat-trick of sweat-wickery (and yes, I realise that’s not a word), heat retention and breathability, and you’ve got one of my favourite base layers tees out there. I also want to give a shout-out to the t-shirt’s slight flare at the bottom – when I wore this over my ski trousers it slipped easily over their hem, rather than wrinkling up at the trousers’ waistband and risking leaving me with a chilly waist.

Thermolactyl isn’t particularly groundbreaking or innovative in an era when fabrics have been engineered to take heat retention and sweat wicking to new heights, but it’s still a great base layer material. In a nutshell, it’s a blend of polyester and acrylic which Damart tweaks to create certain warmth levels.

This garment, which feels as soft as some of the merino garments I tried, offers the highest (five), although the material’s breathability meant it was still a joy to wear – especially surprising given this top’s thickness. It looked unexpectedly smart, too. Finally, there’s no skimping on materials with this top – cold wrists weren’t a concern on a chilly hike.

I’ll admit it. I love base layers, but I seldom come across ones I’d be happy to wear as an outer layer, whether it’s due to boring colour schemes or unflattering fits. But this is one I’m more happy to rock – a tailored technical top with a cool grid-like design and a lilac zip next to the chest logo. The sleeves were sublime – long, perfectly tapered and with thumbholes – and the wind-blocking high collar kept me shiver-free on a chilly autumn day.

It’s also another top with precision engineering – in this case, perfectly-sized mesh panels at the back and on the shoulders, which were an absolute godsend when I was carrying a large backpack and appreciated the airflow these panels provided. The fit is fantastic, too. I was chuffed to find that the top quality fabric, while still breathable and soft, has enough thickness to hold its flattering, tailored form – it neither clung to the bits I wasn’t keen on or sagged in the areas I was happy to show off.

Apparently this long-sleeved t-shirt is made with a body-mapped fit designed specifically to enhance comfort when worn under backpacks. Which, I’ll admit, I took with a pinch of salt.

But I was wrong – not only is the merino wool both incredibly soft and fabulously breathable, but the garment still somehow allowed for enough freedom of movement to allow heat to escape without leaving me with large areas of material stuck to my skin in a horrible, sweat-soaked mess. The subtle mesh panels did their breathability-enhancing job incredibly well, too.

I loved the way Columbia’s omni-heat dots ramped up the warmth, although they certainly felt a little odd against the skin to begin with. Then again, the extra, effortless warmth renders this minor gripe almost irrelevant, and this top wicked away sweat much more efficiently than many base layers I’ve worn.

It’s another example of a base layer I wasn’t desperate to wriggle out of post-exercise, thanks to a flattering fit, more than enough stretch and the gorgeous purple hue of my pick. I tested this not only on a morning stroll but an afternoon jog, and in both scenarios it did everything a base layer is meant to do, while also earning some jealous stares from some fellow joggers.

This innovative base layer, which felt gorgeously silky, ticks all the boxes – there are thumbholes to prevent sleeves riding up, the brand has used planet-friendly recycling polyester (Janji has Bluesign, OEKO-TEX and RWS certification) and there’s a label-free neckline to avoid chafing or rubbing.

HeiQ fresh treatment helped keep nasty niffs at bay, and the fit was spot on, cinching me in all the right places without leaving me feeling as though my internal organs were being subjected to the G Forces experienced by an F1 driver. One point to flag – due to the ultra-thin material, this very much a technical top – I see it as one to wear under jackets and jumpers for extra warmth, rather than on its own.

I’m admittedly a big fan of Columbia but that doesn’t mean I didn’t approach this review with an impartial eye. That said, the only negative I could come up with was that I wished the material extended a little further beyond the ankles. The pants feature Columbia’s omni-heat tech, which traps warmth through the presence of tiny reflective dots, and ergonomically-placed seams allowed for maximum comfort without curtailing freedom of movement. And the latter isn’t just blurb, either – I was surprised at how much stretch these pants had while also helping to wick away sweat and lock in heat – but only where it’s needed. As for the proof of the latter point? I tested these by wearing them under snowboard trousers, and without getting too graphic, I was pleased to find that I didn’t end up with nether regions which felt like they were being subjected to their own personal sauna. Meanwhile, the raised dots on the waistband ensured these bad boys stayed in place during a particularly vigorous workout.

To be really clear, I fully understand that base layers call for precision engineering when it comes to which materials are used where, but the thinner panels of material in the armpit area and on the underside of the upper sleeves were a little large for my liking – I found myself reaching for a jacket for some breeze-blocking on a wind-blasted walk.

That said, I’d still describe this as a brilliant base layer – after all, base layers are designed to be worn under jackets or jumpers – but I’m just pointing out that this probably isn’t one to wear alone. As for the pros? I loved the warmth provided by the overlapping neckline, and while I typically shy away from base layers with hoods due to the extra bulk, the lightweight polyester and loose fit meant this one was a joy to wear. I also loved the fact that this Fairtrade garment has been made by a Columbia-based organisation which trains, supports and employs at-risk women.

Yes, £80 is a lot to drop on a pair of base layer leggings, but the chances of you regretting this particular purchase are slim to none.

These make a great base layer (you’ve got the sweat-wicking merino wool and flatlock seams to thanks for that) but they also double as brilliant loungewear (I spent an entire Sunday wearing these while lazing around the house, all in the name of research, obviously), not just because they’re insanely comfortable but because they’re surprisingly stylish, too, with a tapered flatting fit and a funky three-tone waistband.

Surprisingly, the high collar on this base layer wasn’t a source of irritation, and that’s due to the wonderfully soft fabric. Its sweat-wicking capabilities makes it incredibly versatile (I found it made a great running top on warmer days, too) and the zip meant I could tailor the level of heat retention depending on the weather.

I was also surprised by the freedom of movement – when I wasn’t wearing the sleeves down, making full use of the thumbholes, there was enough room to allow me to roll up the sleeves in a nano-second. Finally, while I’d love to have seen more colours alongside black and grey (black is notoriously easily marked by deodorant stains) the upside is that I was able to wash this on a standard cycle, and it can be tumble dried, too.

This top has a huge amount of seams, although they have multiple benefits – creating a flattering look but also ramping up the freedom of movement (particularly on the arms).

The collar was just the right height – high enough to keep us warm and snug but low enough to prevent chafing, whether working out in the gym or when wearing it under a ski jacket. The extra-long zip gets a gold star, too – all too often half-zip tops are actually not half-zip at all, but this one allowed me to create the perfect amount of airflow depending on the activity.

First of all – I absolutely realise that Merino wool will always push up the price of a garment, so my wincing at the price isn’t really a criticism of Smalls Merino as a brand.

After all, I found this flattering crew neck insanely comfortable, with perfectly placed thumbholes on the sleeves and a neckline which was just how I like it – high enough to keep me warm but not restrictive. Although it felt somewhat heavier than many base layer garments, don’t be put off – merino wool is made of crimped, extra-fine fibres which trap air but also allow heat to escape.

As much as I love Damart’s thermolactyl material, I was concerned the intense” heat level would be too much for base layer pants – do I really want to risk overheating nether regions, for example? Thankfully, these pants still packed plenty of breathability – despite being amongst the thickest of the base layer bottoms I reviewed. Although the sweat-wicking capabilities might not be the highest, when it comes to comfort these pants can’t be faulted, thanks largely to their ultra-soft lining.

In other words? Great as a base layer on cold, dry days and perfect for lounging around the ski chalet (or in my case, the front room), but not as suitable for high-intensity workouts as other garments in this line-up.

First things first, Le Col was founded as a cycling gear brand, but this doesn’t mean it doesn’t do base layers incredibly well – proof of which is this ultra-thin top, which relies on strategically-placed areas of polartec (synthetic fleece) fabric to trap heat where it’s needed most while also allowing moisture to escape.

I loved the high neck, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that, despite the material’s thinness, Le Col has still somehow made room for a kangaroo-style pocket on the front. But a final word of warning. While this garment is a brilliant choice for a base layer, it can also be worn alone – I tested it under a ski jacket but also on a short cycle, worn as a standalone layer. I should flag that it’s got somewhat of an unusual look – more specifically an extra-furry front which will almost certainly result in occasional comparisons to a teddy bear.