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Best next-to-skin layer


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  • #1259933
    Wayne Wagner
    Member

    @wagnerw

    Locale: NorCal

    Hi all-

    I've used y'all's advice for years now without ever posting anything, and I wanted to thank you.

    In addition, I have a question (2 actually, but I'll save the second for another post.) I am looking for the best next-to-skin layer possible. Weight matters, but I have to imagine they are all roughly the same weight. I do not care about smell, except as a tiebreaker.

    I am, however, an extreme sweater. I need something that takes care of moisture as effectively as possible.

    Thanks for any help y'all can give. I really appreciate it.

    Wayne

    #1618118
    Javan Dempsey
    Member

    @jdempsey

    Locale: The-Stateless-Society

    I'd say it depends on your season man.

    Synthetics will handle your sweat the best if you really don't care about smell, although I used to think I didn't either, until I started doing multi week trips with one set of clothes.

    Personally, I find I can get by with a lighter weight merino in the winter, where the higher evaporation rate of the wicking synthetics tends to freeze me out. Powerstretch seems to be the exception for me there, but honestly, it also (and based on no scientific evidence) seems the smelliest. I still love my powerstretch tights but they multiply the funk.

    However, if you're extremely sensative to wool itch factor, I think your question is answered.

    As to exact brands/models, well, there's a ton.

    #1618144
    David Chenault
    BPL Member

    @davec

    Locale: Queen City, MT

    What I use:

    Winter (conditions above 40 rare): the thinnest wool available, warmer for the weight, less funk, feels better, moving moisture fast less of a concern

    Shoulder seasons (wide variety of temps/conditions): Capilene 2, widest temp range of any baselayer, fast drying, fastest wicking

    Really darn hot: Capilene 1, fastest drying fabric I've found

    There are exceptions, but this is generally what I wear. If you sweat a ton and hate having a soggy shirt, I'd strongly advise synthetics, or the lightest of wool layers. I've given up on anything but (in terms of wool) as I also sweat a fair bit and have no patience with slow drying stuff.

    #1618149
    Steven McAllister
    BPL Member

    @brooklynkayak

    Locale: Arizona, US

    For me, merino wool for cool weather, light silk for summer. Synthetics can get annoyingly stinky. Synthetics are better for the other layers.

    I have had OK luck with a base layer that is mostly synthetic, with some cotton mixed in, but the silk or merino wool keeps the BO to a minimum.

    #1618157
    William Johnsen
    BPL Member

    @sixoclocknews

    I use mostly wool. I like the 190/200 weight (patagonia wool 3, though they may have switched the numbers because they now have a wool 1). The thinner stuff is lighter, but seems to wear to quickly esp. under shoulder straps for the price. The slightly heavier stuff lasts longer.

    On extended trips I actually prefer the Arc'teryx Rho LT. It has an anti-microbial treatment that keeps the funk down as well as wool for me (I'm not a heavy sweater) and dries a lot faster.

    #1618170
    Ankar Sheng
    BPL Member

    @whiskyjack

    Locale: The Canadian Shield

    Silk is super comfy in the heat and dries really fast, but it isn't durable at all. I wore a pretty thin one (150g) on a hike and the pack wore through the back by the 3rd day.

    A heavier garment would certainly be tougher, but I dunno if it'd preform as well.

    #1618172
    Dan @ Durston Gear
    BPL Member

    @dandydan

    Locale: Canadian Rockies

    I prefer the fastest drying baselayer, which also happens to be the lightest one. So I use a GoLite Drimove silk baselayer, which is not actually silk but rather a lightweight polyester. My mens medium weighs 54g (1.9oz) for a tee shirt. I wear this year round because I don't count on my baselayers for insulation. There are much better ways to insulate that using thick slow drying baselayers.

    GoLite doesn't make their 'Drimove Silk' baselayers anymore but they do make their 'Drimove Lite' ones, which aren't too much heavier. For 2010 they are sold as 'trail running' products and a tee shirt is 80g. You'll find that the lightest baselayers from other brands still tend to weigh about 50% more than this (ie. Patagonia Capilene 1 is 130g) and thus dry proportionally slower. I've got a Patagonia Cap 1 tee shirt as well, but the GoLite is noticeably faster drying. I like to just use one hiking shirt and give it a quick wash at a stream while hiking once a day. Mine is dry again in 15-45 min depending on the weather.

    #1618176
    Ankar Sheng
    BPL Member

    @whiskyjack

    Locale: The Canadian Shield

    For socks what do you think would be better: Merino wool or CoolMax freshFX (coolmax with silver threads)?

    I'm really fond of wool for it's stink resistance, but CoolMax FX sounds like it could be good!

    #1618182
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Ankar:

    My experience with socks:

    1. synthetics — horrid smell after just a day hike.
    2. synthetics with XStatic (silver) odor treatment — significant improvement over #1.
    3 merino wool — significant improvement over #2.

    #1618185
    R K
    Spectator

    @oiboyroi

    Locale: South West US

    Wayne,

    Like you, I sweat a lot while on the move and have noticed that the best performing base layers are the ones that have very high air-permeability (you can blow through them with little resistance). The two that I recommend are the Mountain Hardwear Super Wicked Tee and Patagonia Cap 2. They work well because they have more of an open knit, almost like a micro-mesh, which allows your skin to breathe and catch a breeze. When it’s cool and you add a shell they feel quite warm because they effectively trap air as well. They are very versatile garments.

    #1618412
    Wayne Wagner
    Member

    @wagnerw

    Locale: NorCal

    I think this is the way I think as well. I am not concerned about warmth with my first layer. I just want it to help me deal with the sweat.

    Thanks for all the comments guys. I have a few things to check into now, which is a lot better than chasing this thing blindly!

    #1618416
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Wayne:

    Just about the only major complaints some people have with 100% synthetics is the stink factor. If that is a concern for you, then aside from wool, don't forget to consider blends as well. All of my baselayers are 40/60 cotton/poly blends. I really like the very comfy cotton feel, the high performance (wicking and quick drying) — and no particular stink factor.

    #1618418
    Travis Leanna
    BPL Member

    @t-l

    Locale: Wisconsin

    Ben-
    So the conventional knowledge says to stay away from cotton. But for you, there are no concerns with the blends? Performance compared to wools and synthetics?

    #1618584
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    My BPL Beartooth Hoody is probably my ideal next to skin layer, under really dry conditions it performs very well. But under most variable conditions either a Capilene 1 or Capilene 2 work well for me, I actually prefer the Capilene 2, I find it transfers moisture and breathes better to me, the open weave is much more comfortable as well, it's just a tad heavier. Capilene 1 is too silky for my tastes most of the time but is what I use in the hot summer. I own a Capilene 1 T that I converted into a sleeveless shirt, it's my favorite hot weather shirt and does dry extremely fast, but holds odors, good and bad, like no ones business.

    #1618586
    Steven McAllister
    BPL Member

    @brooklynkayak

    Locale: Arizona, US

    I have at times worn very thin base layers made with a small percentage of cotton. They stink less, have less itch factor and being that they are mostly synthetic, will wick and dry reasonably fast.

    Although I do prefer silk and merino wool most of the time, they don't dry as fast as capaline.

    #1618732
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Travis:

    As mentioned, I've been very, very happy with my 40/60 cotton/poly blends. I get performance, comfort, and no stink factor.

    I think too often people turn catchy mantras into rigid dogmas. LNT! Cotton kills!

    #1618827
    George Matthews
    BPL Member

    @gmatthews

    Agree with Ben about mantras. During the dog days of summer in the South, cotton is great. I've worn 100% cotton tees and lived to tell the tale.

    [queue Leadbelly…]

    Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
    Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
    Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
    Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
    Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
    Pick a bale a day.
    Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
    Pick a bale a day.

    #1618861
    Eric Blumensaadt
    BPL Member

    @danepacker

    Locale: Mojave Desert

    Ya know, all you retro-woolies out there, they DO make synthetics that combat odor.

    #1618877
    EndoftheTrail
    BPL Member

    @ben2world-2

    Eric:

    True, but my own experience with socks (the ultimate stink test?) — as I wrote up above — is that while odor-treated synthetics do show an improvement, wool is still significantly more odor-resistant.

    #1618886
    Jonathan Whitney
    Member

    @walkson2wheels

    Think I posted this on another forum quite recently, but for me, polyester and I just don't get along. Especially in the underarms and nether regions.

    I bought a -mostly- nylon REI Sahara shirt because it was on sale and I had a trip that weekend. I can't speak to quick dry times or anything because the humidity was just wretched. However, I did take note that the shell was nylon and the netting (under arms, upper back and chest) were polyester. Sure enough, the only part of my shirt that stunk were the underarm vents. I'll have to keep an eye out for similar shirts that use nylon mesh panels.

    Other than that, wool is your friend. Expensive, but worth it. Better than cotton in pretty much every way. It works for the sheep, it can work for you, too.

    #1618887
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    Jonathan, don't take offense, but there are different brands of men's deodorant.

    I'll give you twenty feet.

    –B.G.–

    #1618888
    Steven McAllister
    BPL Member

    @brooklynkayak

    Locale: Arizona, US

    From my experience, even the best deodorant can't compare to natural fibers.

    #1618890
    Ankar Sheng
    BPL Member

    @whiskyjack

    Locale: The Canadian Shield

    Besides, deodorant has no room in an UL'ers backpack! :P

    #1618893
    W I S N E R !
    Spectator

    @xnomanx

    Odor be damned…no t-shirt is worth ~$60 to me.

    It's either synthetic or cotton (for summer).

    #1618894
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    I have a tiny round plastic container that is about one inch in diameter and a half-inch deep, and it is packed with my favorite brand.

    When it gets so bad that the mosquitos won't bite me, I know it is time for a dip in the creek and a small dose.

    –B.G.–

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