Synthetic baselayer and sweat

If you're sweating that much, maybe you're wearing too much insulation

When I'm hiking, sweating can be unavoidable, because I'll sweat at 50 degrees F wearing nothing, but otherwise you shouldn't sweat that much

+1 Jerry. Sounds like you are wearing too much/ not venting enough.

IMO if you don't like sticky- go merino.

But yeah, if you're wearing an LS shirt and sweating like that- go SS or drop that top layer. Wiping yourself down will prob make you sticky again as your skin will have to dry once again.

What are you wearing over your base? Thats what I'd look at.

Hi Roberto–I didn't notice you were sweating that much on the Hoghee trip! I would suspect one of two things. It is a physiological issue or a funky walmart base layer. I've never seen anything in walmart I would use as a base layer but then again I don't shop there often. Maybe what you have has something in it to cause the sticky feeling. Some of the stuff sold in stores as workout gear and possibly thought of as a base layer may be more of a fashion statement than a functional base layer.
Personally I've found merino wool to work the best. Great wicking properties and no smell besides having the ability to keep you cool and warm (amazing when you think about it).

I'm sweating when I'm hiking. Usually I have a ss light synthetic loose shirt when I hike cuz the base layer is really tight.

I sweat a lot.

I do a head to toe wash with a hanky and soap (unscented Bronners) each night.
Takes about 10 minutes and 3/4 liter of water while dinner is soaking in the cozy.

Removing the film of dirt and oils lets your skin breath and significantly reduces that sticky feeling.

YMMV

I have used polyester synthetic base layers for almost 2 decades. Granted they are all Cabela's Thermastat or their other synthetic but I've always had excellent servicre from them.

As a Nordic ski patroller and racer I relied on them for moisture transport, a function they do better than wool. As a deer hunter spending long hours in a treestand I feel their insulative qualities are outstanding. And as an Alpine skier and patroller, where one goes from intense. sweaty, leg acheing hot runs to sedentary trips in the chair lifts the polyester base layers have preformed very well.

To me it all depends on the quality of the polyester material. That means the fiber quality and the knitting quality. (And of course the design and sewing quality is important too. a top with a too-short tail is not good.)

That I sweat tons while hiking but it's enough yo make me feel uncomfortable at bed time.

The idea of washing with 3/4 liter water sounds cool too. And depending of where I'm going I might even give my layer a rinse and sun dry it.

I might try merino wool and see if I feel tr same.

Thanks for your input.