Baselayers

Base layers and thermals for every kind of cold

The right base layer comes down to three things: how hard you will be working, what it is made from and how warm it needs to be. Get those right and you stay dry and comfortable from the car park to the summit, or from the first lift to the last run.

Start with how hard you will be working

High-output days like fast hiking, running or ski touring call for a lighter layer that dries quickly. Slower, colder days like a winter walk, a day on the piste or standing at the sideline suit a warmer, heavier layer that traps more heat.

Merino or synthetic

Merino wool from Icebreaker and Smartwool is soft, regulates temperature well and naturally resists odour, so it suits multi-day trips and travel. Synthetic layers such as Patagonia Capilene and Odlo Active Warm are built from polyester that wicks and dries fast and stands up to hard wear. Browse our merino base layers if natural fibre is your priority.

Pick the warmth

Most ranges come in weights. Patagonia Capilene runs from Lightweight through Midweight to Thermal Weight, and Icebreaker merino runs from the lighter 200 Oasis to the warmer 260 Tech. The colder and slower the day, the heavier the weight.

Fit matters

A base layer works best fitted close to the skin, so it can pick up moisture and move it outward. Wear it under a fleece or midlayer and a shell, and see our guide on how to layer clothing for the full system.

Shop by need: men's base layers, women's base layers, kids' base layers and ski base layers.