Design the (near) ultimate baselayer

I want a 50/50 wool/cotton, knit long sleeve shirt for warm weather.

I really like supplex it also functions good as an only layer – keeps out bugs and sun doesn't absorb a lot of water as either an only layer in warm rain or sweat as a base layer I think all this talk about moving moisture to outer layers and stuff is just marketing and you want the fabric to be as light as possible, this being BPL. Supplex is a bit heavy. If I was using CapX, I'd want the lightest version. Any warmth is negligible, mostly just provided by the air layer an extra fabric layer provides.

I'd want a power dry HE hoody like the cap4, with cap2 sleeves, with small merino wool panels (cap1 equivalent thickness) under each arp pit. The whole thing double polygene treated, and bear shaped fuzzy ears on the hood. All hoods should have fuzzy ears.

"The whole thing double polygene treated, and bear shaped fuzzy ears on the hood." To scare away the Mountain Lions? Or to scare away the prowling Cougars?

"I want a 50/50 wool/cotton, knit long sleeve shirt for warm weather." Well, if your locale didn't already say CA, the above would definitely give it away… Where i live, that would be near hellish. Dry, non humid weather is SOOO nice.

Speak of the devil, i was wearing some supplex today in the light rain while walking around a bit outside. It's pretty good for some conditions. When we went to Alaska a couple years back, i brought a more tightly woven (than usual for linen) ls linen shirt, and a ls supplex shirt. Alaska was having record heat and mozzies while we were there. I didn't feel all that comfortable in the supplex shirt, felt clammy. So i wore the linen one instead, felt noticeably more comfortable–could feel the breezes better and felt more cooling on the skin. Ze spouse wore the supplex since she runs cooler, and protected better against the mozzies when we were stopped. I think wicking is overly hyped in the marketing world, but i don't think it lacks all significance. I notice the differences most when it's hot and humid out. I agree that a baselayer isn't going to provide much insulation all in all, but when combined with a windjacket, i do notice differences between different baselayers. Cap 4 and my P.P. fishnet seem to feel the warmest, especially when sweaty, followed by wool-synethic blends.

Another cool base layer I'd like is a light colored Arcteryx phase SL hoody with thumb loops. (They only make short/long sleeve crew, or zip now) The phase SL long sleeve crew Is my favorite for sun protection in hot weather, wicks well, and adds warmth only when under other layers. (Breathes really well otherwise). Only bummer is my neck and hands are still vulnerable. A hood and thumbloops would fix that. Its great for 65F-100F by itself, or below 65F when layered under a windshirt, fleece, and/or puffy. I actually contacted deadbird to see if they'd custom make this for me….no go :(

I really, really like my base layer thin. It's very very hot and humid, and when not, I like the thinness for layering. OR's Echo fabric is great for me (the new thinnest Patagonia Capilene is very similar). That or I have fishnet like (more round holes, but yes, perforated) base layers that are tighter but also more stretchy. They are the best against flash cold and in the rain (under a wind shirt etc). That being said – One thing I would absolutely love is like Christopher above – a hood and thumb loops. Though I'm ok with thin base layer fabric balaclavas or neck gaiters, a hood can protect your neck but be more open in the front. And just wears less tight around your head.

Speaking of hoodies, I would really like an icebreaker longsleeve tech-t, add 25% nylon, then add a hood.

The true ultimate for hot and humid temps, would be a shirt or pants made out of UHMW-PE fibers shaped to wick and treated with anti-odor (the latter would be hard to do). Why, because the material itself is highly conductive compared to all other materials commonly used for fabric and like polypropylene it doesn't absorb any water moisture so if made thin and with the right weave, would dry super fast. The thermal conductivity of UHMW-PE is up to .51 in the SI system. For comparison, water is .58. There's not much difference there. I have gloves and protective arm guards made out of or with UHMW-PE fibers, and they do feel unusually cool on the skin. You could enhance this by making the fibers flatter to increase surface area and amount of material touching the skin. Think Under Armour's "Iso-Chill" on steroids. So, a shirt that would last forever, be very durable, dry super fast, and feel very cooling on the skin. If you make it tightly woven enough, could protect you from abrasive or sharpish objects. (but that would approach more windjacket territory). And with super strength and low density, you could get a ls shirt to weigh in the ball park of 3 to 4 oz no problem. The hot, humid weather fabric of the future?

I'm hoping zPacks or Luke's ultralight or someone is watching this thread and making these garments as we type. ;)

Har…har….har… (i was talking about the big dogs, like Sierra Designs, Patagonia, etc companies that could actually come up with new materials and fabrics). It will be awhile before UHMW-PE material is used in these manners. They're still learning and working on how to make thinner/smaller fibers. Among other issues (weaving issues because it's so slippery). But it does have a lot of potential for certain clothing applications like hot weather clothing, super light but super durable and highly hydrophobic windjackets, etc. If i had the money, i would love to have a pack made out of all woven dyneema/spectra/or other UHMW-PE fiber. Maybe i should just call this the theoretical gear/idea thread?