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Wicking/breathable base layers? (1 Viewer)

matt green

matt green

Norfolkman gone walkabout
Just been browsing through some online outdoor clothing specialists and thinking about investing in some base layers - t-shirts in particular..

At present I'm just wearing cotton tees that I wear about the house, they do get a bit 'clingy' in hot weather and seeing as I do quite a bit of walking I want to make summer birding a bit more comfortable.

Anyone have personal experiance of these polyester/fast wicking fabrics, and much money do I need to spend to get something thats genuinely effective in high humidity?

Matt
 
Relatively cheap stuff if you just get a short sleeved vest Matt. I got my stuff from a well known High St outdoor supplier (pretty much run of the Mill...), and the vest was £8 I think. The only trouble is it tends to retain any perspiration odour MUCH more than cotton ever would.

My standard cold weather kit uses just a long sleeved thermal very (micro fleece actually), with a fleece jacket and a Gortex outer. Just three layers and I'm as warm as I need to be This setup has been used for winter astronomy, and has coped with -8 C easy !
 
Like yourself I do a lot of walking as well, and there is no "one garment dose all" that will keep you cool when walking and warm when standing around for hours.A haversack so I can pull of or put on is my solution.
 
Hi Matt,

I use these polyester/fast wicking T shirts. Certainly in hot conditions, and particularly in Asia they are fantastic against cotton. You stay cool and they are not clingy when its hot & humid. Would agree with Dave that they do retain the perspiration smell more than cotton. However they dry in next to no time after washing.
They are expensive though. I found M&S selling them last year at good prices - £15 if I remember rightly.

John
 
John Eaton said:
Hi Matt,

I use these polyester/fast wicking T shirts. Certainly in hot conditions, and particularly in Asia they are fantastic against cotton. You stay cool and they are not clingy when its hot & humid. Would agree with Dave that they do retain the perspiration smell more than cotton. However they dry in next to no time after washing.
They are expensive though. I found M&S selling them last year at good prices - £15 if I remember rightly.

John
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips people

Though I'm not sure I like the sound of polyester retaining odor:eek!:

No shortage of outdoor clothing shops here in norwich so will check out some of the above suggestions.

Cheers

Matt
 
I've got all sort of baselayer thingies - Paramo, Berghaus....all have their uses but what I wear every day are Craghopper Atoll Tshirts - well cut, flat seams, great wicking, very comfortable, anti-bacterial treated, anti-mosquito treated, dry in no time - excellent.

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/1000000279313
 
Icebreaker or Ulfrotte wool products would be my choice , lack of odour is a big plus .
The synthetics work well no doubt but they do not stay fresh for long .
 
I'd third the Icebreaker suggestion - fantastic stuff, works very well and comfortable, but it's pricey - a simple baselayer will set you back around £40... you need at least one though, I reckon ;)

Otherwise, simple wicking t-shirts pretty much do the job. Some are worse than others at holding odour - where I work Helly Hansen is nicknamed 'Smelly Helly' for that reason. I like my Craghopper the best. Spend £15+ per t-shirt and you'll get something decent anyway - infinitely better than cotton!
 
turkish van said:
Some are worse than others at holding odour - where I work Helly Hansen is nicknamed 'Smelly Helly' for that reason. I like my Craghopper the best. Spend £15+ per t-shirt and you'll get something decent anyway - infinitely better than cotton!
Click to expand...

I use Berghaus' X-static tops. They're pretty good for the odour-proofing and the wicking really works for me when i'm going up the hills.

In honesty, though. I don't tend to use them when out birding, since i tend to be spending more time standing still or sitting down than actually exercising. Any old top will do for birding, at least for me.
 
Part of the problem is wearing heavy/cheap crappy fleece jackets to keep out the windchill - I guess I'm going to have to dump the fleece and get a quality soft shell jacket with those t-shirts.

Matt
 
Matt, thanks for starting this thread. I was looking for the same thing before going to Panama but I decided to take loose fitting cotton shirts. Never again! I'm not a sweaty person but I was drenched after a few hundred yards & with the humidity they wouldn't dry at all. I read an article before I went praising Ex-Oficio clothing but I've not seen it for sale over here.

I swear by Berghaus as a brand, I've had an all singing all dancing fleece for years and it still looks like new even after spilling beer in the pocket when I tried to take a pint home after a beer festival. B :)


Dave J
 
redeyedvideo said:
Matt, thanks for starting this thread. I was looking for the same thing before going to Panama but I decided to take loose fitting cotton shirts. Never again! I'm not a sweaty person but I was drenched after a few hundred yards & with the humidity they wouldn't dry at all. I read an article before I went praising Ex-Oficio clothing but I've not seen it for sale over here.

I swear by Berghaus as a brand, I've had an all singing all dancing fleece for years and it still looks like new even after spilling beer in the pocket when I tried to take a pint home after a beer festival. B :)


Dave J
Click to expand...

This is an American site selling Ex-Oficio clothing.[SIZE=-1]www.SierraTradingPost.com [/SIZE]

POP
 
Having spent some time with a pair of Berghaus tech-t's I thought I'd put in a good word for them, they do have a ''unique'' aroma about them after a good day's birding, nothing too offensive but wouldn't want to wear one for more than one wear when I'm using public transport;)

They do dry out fantastically fast so long summer trecks no longer feel like being wrapped in a damp flannel, they also have a great fit and feel rather pleasant next to the skin. Will not be wearing cotton again!

Matt
 
Berghaus Tech-T's are good, but if you have just a little bit more money, go for their X-static tops. The aroma isn't nearly as much of an issue with these. (apparently it's something to do with the silver in the thread - reduces any odour build up)
 
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