Hiking Base Layers - Coolhikinggear.com

Are Base Layer Leggings a Good Investment for a Hiker?

In the last post I added up on the site I went into the basic topic of base layers, in terms of what a base layer is and what purpose they serve. In that post, I touched on base layer leggings. To me they are the secondary part of the base layer duo (top and bottom). Why is that? Well, because I don’t use base layer leggings for hiking.

In fact, I can’t really think of conditions I would normally hike in, in which I would need base layer leggings. I have hiked in temperatures of probably -5 C / in the 20’s Fahrenheit, so not intensely cold and I have had no need for anything but my normal hiking pants and my rain pants. Pictured below are the Duofold Men’s Mid-Weight Wicking Thermal Pant.

I have also skied in the Alps in winter. For neither of these, would I have worn base layer leggings simply because they were just too warm.I should add that I did try hiking and skiing in them but I quickly realized I had to take them off, within minutes actually, especially for hiking, as I was baking hot in them.

The only regular use I have for base layer leggings, is when I camp in cold conditions. I keep them as an extra layer in case I need it for warmth while sleeping at night. Although I always keep them in my weekend backpacking gear in late Autumn / Winter, I have never really needed them and my sleeping bag has been enough to keep me warm … It is comforting to know I have them there though so I always carry them when I camp at those times of the year.

In saying all this though, do I envisage the possibility of a day hike where I would perhaps need base layer leggings? Sure I do. If the conditions were cold enough, I could see how they could be needed, even for me. I can also see how they could be a great emergency layer that is easily tucked into your pack. If you are heading out into more extreme cold, it becomes a no brainer of course and you would need them.

So are Base Layer Leggings a Good Investment?

For me, in terms of hiking and camping, I think they are. This is purely as I use them as a spare layer to potentially use when I camp out in colder conditions. I don’t think they have much regular use for me for my normal hiking, however I don’t rule me out for hiking in very, very cold conditions I am not accustomed to where hiking leggings would be a must.

Now, even for the types of conditions I normally hike in, a temperate climate, this may not be the case for you i.e. what works for me may of course not work for you. My Irish blood can put up with a fair bit of damp and cold by default :-), and so base layer leggings may be perfect for your needs in similar conditions that I wouldn’t need them for.

As always, you need to take your own capabilities, comfort and needs into consideration. Some people can’t handle the cold at all, especially if they are used to a warmer climate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, to reiterate, I think base layer leggings are a good investment for a hiker if they make sense for your personal hiking and camping needs. If you camp out in cooler conditions, that alone I feel is a good enough reason to get a pair for extra warmth in the night. You can get a cheap and cheerful pair that won’t break the bank easily enough anyway so even if you don’t use them a lot, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have them on hand.

If you are planning to hike in very, very cold conditions, I recommend that you first and foremost seek precise guidance from a knowledgeable resource who is used to those conditions. Even basic base layer leggings may not be enough in those types of conditions and you might need something more specialized to keep you good. That applies to all your gear, not just a pair of base layer leggings, in that regard I hasten to add 🙂

I hope you found this useful. As always, please share or leave a comment below 🙂

What Is A Base Layer?

When you head out hiking, typically you wear your gear in layers. For example, you will have an outer layer which usually consists of your rain gear.

This is the outer layer as it faces the outside. This layer typically involves protection from the outside in. So it protects you from the elements such as rain, snow, etc.

As well as keeping you dry, it is also typically has a level of breathability, so any humidity inside, can get out to keep your mid layer, the next one, dry.

Moving further inwards, typically you will have one, possibly two, mid layers. These sit under your outer layer and above, you guessed it, your base layer. A mid layer’s primary function is to provide warmth.

If your outer layer is rain gear, think of your mid layers as hiking pants, a hiking tee and a fleece as an example. Their main job is to keep you warm and comfortable. They may have some venting capability but their purpose is to keep you warm

Finally then, as we move another layer down, right next to your skin, we come to the base layer. An example of a base layer, is shown in the image above.

What is the Purpose of a Base Layer?

The base layer has two main functions. The first function, is to wick moisture away from your body. In brief, as you hike along, your body will typically heat up from your exertion.

Your body will react to cool you down by sweating. This sweat then has to be able to get away from your skin, otherwise it will cool you down too much as you will have cold damp sweat on your skin.

That’s where the wicking capability of a base layer comes in. The function here is to provide an easy vehicle for the moisture, your sweat, to move away from your skin.

Wicking fabric, typically merino wool or synthetic fibers like Polyester, in base layers are excellent at helping this process along. We delve more into base layer materials further below.

What Forms a Base Layer?

Normally, base layers are used to cover your torso and your legs. They also usually fit nice and snug to your skin to help the two main functions we touched on above.

Personally, I never use a base layer for my legs, even when I was skiing in the Alps in Winter, I tried them one morning but they were far too warm for me.

However, that is my personal preference only. Some people, who may feel the cold that bit more than me, may love to have the additional warmth of base layer leggings.

What’s the Best Base Layer Material?

The best material make-up for a base layer varies from one individual and one set of circumstances to the next. Let’s take a look at the following popular base layer materials and their pros and cons to find out which one is best suited to your needs.

Merino Wool

Natural merino wool is surprisingly soft compared to some other types of wool, thanks to its super-fine fibers. It also has excellent thermoregulatory properties, meaning it will help you to maintain a comfortable temperature.

If you’re planning on wearing a base layer over several days on a trip it can be the best choice thanks to its natural odor-resistance.

As well as wicking away perspiration fairly well, merino wool can also provide extra warmth. It dries less quickly than synthetic fibers and can have a slight dampness to it after high intensity activities, although it continues to insulate even when damp.

On the downside, it can be rather expensive and needs a certain amount of care, being less durable than your average synthetic base layer.

Pros:

Natural material with a soft cashmere-like touch
Excellent thermoregulatory properties so you won’t suddenly feel cold or too hot when stopping or starting a more strenuous section of your hike
Wicks well keeping you dry
Naturally odor-resistant, suitable for several days wear on extended backpacking trips without odor retention

Cons:

Not quite as dry nor as fast drying as synthetics
Can be less durable, especially if worn as a stand-alone piece of clothing

Synthetic

Polyester is the most common synthetic material found in base layers, although you’ll also find nylon, rayon and polypropylene (I think that is a type of polyester :-). Synthetic base layers often consist of blends of two or more different synthetics to improve stretch, breathability and insulation.

The addition of spandex and elastane creates closefitting, elastic base layers that move with your body for a “second skin” sensation.

Often recommended for more intense activities, synthetic base layers tend to dry quicker than wool and are highly breathable, as well as more durable. However, they do tend to retain odor, over time even treated versions will start to smell.

They also insulate less well than merino wool base layers and some versions can leave you feeling a little cold once you stop exercising, making them less practical for time spent around camp if you’re backpacking or hiking slower, say on more leisurely hikes.

Pros:

Quick drying – suitable for high intensity activities
Available in a range of blends so you can choose a base layer that suits your personal needs and preferences
Body hugging with “second skin” ease of movement
Excellent wicking and highly breathable

Cons:

Even treated versions can still eventually have odor buildup problems
Can leave you feeling cold after you stop exercising

Synthetic / Wool Blend

Synthetic and wool combined create versatile base layers that improve the durability and drying time of wool, while adding a luxuriously soft and cozy sensation as well as extra insulation to synthetic fibers.

Offering the best of both worlds, this is a popular choice among hikers when looking for a long lasting base layer to see them through more challenging hiking trips.

With improved durability and less snagging potential, synthetic and wool blend base layers can also be worn as a stand alone piece during milder months.

However, if you’re looking for more warmth and true odor resistance, you may be better off with a full merino base layer, or for maximum breathability and fastest drying times, a full synthetic one.

Pros:

Qualities of merino wool e.g. warmth, combined with the durability of synthetics
Highly versatile base layer that can be worn year round for a variety of activities
Excellent wicking and fast drying
Soft close to skin and offers increased insulation compared to synthetic only base layers

Cons:

Faster paced activities may be better matched by a fully synthetic base layer
Less warmth and odor-resistance than a full merino base layer

Silk

People often question silk’s suitability as a base layer. While it’s true that it is comfortable and lightweight, it does not really make for a great base layer for outdoor activities.

Unless specially treated, it does not wick as well and it tends to retain odor. Silk can also be difficult to launder, meaning you’ll have to spend time and effort to keep it in good shape.

So, unless you are planning on hiking with a very minimum of exertion, think more a gentle stroll, then we don’t recommend silk as an appropriate base layer.

Pros:

Lightweight
Soft to the touch and outer layers will slip on easily over
All natural product

Cons:

Does not wick as well
Hard to launder

How to Choose the Best Base Layer

In this section we take a look at what to consider when buying a new base layer. When you’re looking for the best base layer, you need to bear in mind that what works for somebody else, will not necessarily be the best choice for you.

We list out the main considerations you should take into account, to help you find one that will perform appropriately for your needs.

It can also help to have various different base layers to wear at different times of year on different types of hiking excursions, so you may in fact decide to purchase two very different types of base layer to keep you dry and comfortable throughout the year.

I think both merino and synthetic base layers are excellent, I use both, so there is plenty of choice available to you. Merino wool base layers are usually pricier than their synthetic counterparts, but they are excellent in terms of warmth and functionality. Let’s take a closer look at specifics.

Activity Levels

If your hikes tend to take you far and wide, with plenty of uphill sections and a fast pace, then you’re going to need a base layer that has very fast drying times and excellent wicking.

Woman-Hiking-Through-Forest-In-Mountains

Synthetics often are classed as the most appropriate, however, you’ll also need to bear in mind some other factors before making your decision.

A wool and synthetic blend might be more suitable for longer trips or a lightweight wool base layer if you’re not overexerting yourself too much and the weather is very cold.

Climate

You’ll need to consider the climate and time of year as well as the weather types that you tend to encounter. Dressing for cold and dry is very different from dressing for cold and wet.

A lot of the time you may be dressing for a variety of different weather types in one trip, and it also helps to have versatile base layers that can double up as stand-alone pieces during milder months.

Damper climates favor the wearing of synthetics, as the more humid it is, the more difficult it becomes for perspiration to evaporate. With infra-red heat from the sun, on dry, cold days, you can still feel surprisingly warm in the sun even though the surrounding air is very cold.

Cost

Natural fibers such as merino wool and silk tend to come at a premium, whereas man-made fibers are, for the most part, more economically priced.

You should also bear in mind that a well designed base layer garment from a reputable outdoor wear brand, will probably cost considerably more than what you will pay for elsewhere with a non branded item.

However, such a branded garment will be designed specifically to stand up to the wear and tear of life on the trail, and this is naturally reflected in the price.

Such base layers will probably include useful features such as shoulder panels, to avoid uncomfortable chaffing of shoulder seams with a backpack, and maybe thumbholes or elasticated cuffs, and underarm gussets.

Comfort

You also need to consider your own comfort levels. If you tend to feel the cold, you may prefer to opt for a heavyweight wool base layer. If you always feel on the warm side, you may feel better with a synthetic base layer even when temperatures plummet.

Some people don’t like the sensation of wool against their skin, even though merino wool is nothing like wearing a standard woolen sweater. Other people prefer natural fibers as an ecological choice, knowing that their synthetic clothes could still be around for years after they are finished with them.

As already touched on, the second main function of a base layer is to also provide warmth by not only keeping your skin dry from damp, but also to help keep your body heat in.

So, as mentioned earlier in this article, base layers encourage humidity, sweat, to move out and away from your skin, while also keeping warmth in.

Now, you may not always want to keep heat in when using a base layer. For example, maybe you would like to keep your body a bit cooler as opposed to trapping heat in.

This is where the differences between merino and synthetic base layers come into their own. From my experience, Merino wool is very warm and snug and so not only wicks moisture away from your skin to keep you dry, but also provides a very nice layer of warmth.

I also have synthetic polypropylene base layers. These are also excellent at wicking moisture away from my skin but they aren’t as efficient at keeping warmth in, in my experience.

I find these can be better for use while hiking in Autumn, while the Merino ones are best for hiking in Winter, when I want that bit of extra warmth. That’s my experience with them anyway.

Odor Control

One final personal note to mention is about odor control. Typically, people find merino base layers easier to keep clean and fresh, synthetic base layers have a reputation for storing and holding odor from sweat, etc.

Personally, I haven’t found this to be a big issue with my synthetic base layers but some folks do mention it as a problem so I wanted to flag it here. You will often see base layers that will have some form of odor resistance listed as a function of the material.

Conclusion

So, if you were wondering what a base layer is, I hope you found this short post giving a brief overview on it useful. If you are looking to purchase base layers, take your time to consider the items listed above, and find out what you need them for to match up suitable ones to meet your needs.

Also, check out our top base layer recommendations for men and our top base layer recommendations for women. There you can find a good mix of some of the best base layers available on the market today, of all types, synthetic, merino wool, etc.

If you’re having difficulty deciding, for average hiking try out a lightweight or medium weight merino wool base layer.

If you later decide to look for a synthetic version for more intense hikes, then you can always make use of a good quality merino undergarment around the house and to wear to work, whereas synthetic garments tend to be more sports orientated with less versatility for daily use.

So, that’s it for today. I hope you found this post useful, please share it around your networks if you did 🙂

Merino Wool vs. Synthetic Base Layer’s, What’s The Best Option?

In this article I take a look at merino wool base layers versus synthetic base layers, the pros and cons of each if you will, to help you decide which is the best option for you and your hiking needs.

First off, I should mention that I am a relatively recent user of merino wool base layers. Many hiking friends raved about how great merino wool was as a material for a base layer, but for some reason it took me a long while to try them out.

I was always pretty happy with my synthetic polypropylene base layers. They did the job well and so I guess the need wasn’t there as for me as much.

However, I recently took the plunge after a friend contacted me about a great deal on merino wool base layers. I bought a couple in September with my winter hiking in mind. I have to say, they have not disappointed!

What is the Purpose of a Base Layer?

Before getting in the detail of pros and cons and so on, it’s worth taking some time to list out what Base Layers are used for, just for those who are totally new to this.

The process of layering is a critical part of your comfort and safety on the trail. In brief your base layer, which is what we are mainly concerned with here, sits next to your skin and serves to wick sweat and moisture away from it.

Your next layer or two up is for warmth and your outer layer protects you from the elements outside. I won’t go into too much more that that at this point, but suffice it to say, if you’re new to hiking, it is a good idea to take the time to learn more about the process of layering.

Warmth and comfort

As mentioned above, the main purpose of your base layer is to wick moisture away from your skin. However, there is a further element of helping to maintain warmth and keep your temperature at a desirable level. Further still, comfort is always an very important consideration when it comes to hiking gear.

In terms of warmth, the merino wool base layer excels. My merino base layers definitely feel warmer than my polypropylene ones. However, this is where it starts to get interesting, as is that really a pro?

Well, if you’re hiking in winter, yes, it would be a pro, but if it’s a warmer time of year but you still need a base layer, then you may prefer the cooler synthetic option when you are also likely to be sweating more.

In terms of comfort, this is again a funny one for me. I can’t say that my synthetic base layers are uncomfortable, they’re not.

However, is the texture of the merino wool nicer on the skin? I would have to say yes, definitely. Pictured above is the Smartwool Men’s NTS Mid 250 Crew Base Layer, an excellent merino base layer option.

Price

The very first merino base layer I bought back in September was a non brand one. Why? Well, merino base layers aren’t cheap and there was an offer in a local department store on some merino stuff they got in, a one-off batch of it.

While definitely not as thick and meaty as a good quality brand name one from say Smartwool, Icebreaker or the like, it came in at about 60% cheaper. With that in mind, I thought it was a good way to dip my toes into the wonderful world of merino wool to try it out.

Having been pleased with the test run I then purchased some of the brand stuff which was of a superior quality for sure. Overall, in terms of price, synthetic base layers are broadly speaking cheaper than merino wool. However, I think you nearly always get what you pay for!

Care and Maintenance

What I touch on next, is again a funny one for me as I have never had this problem with synthetic base layers in terms of my own hiking but I do know some who do have an issue with it.

Synthetic base layers are known to hold body odor more than merino wool i.e. any odor washes out of wool better. I do sweat a fair bit while out hiking on the trail but this hasn’t been a big issue for me. If you sweat a lot though, it could be something you may want to consider.

In terms of looking after your base layer, I was used to throwing my synthetic ones into a pretty standard wash with no concerns. With merino wool however, you need to be a little more thoughtful as wool being wool, you need to wash and dry it appropriately, so always read the care label carefully!

Durability

As stated, I am relatively new to the wonderful world of merino wool but in terms of durability, I would wager that my synthetic base layers will last longer than the wool ones.

I have one brand name synthetic base layer which I have been using for nearly 8 years on and off and it is still doing just fine. Wool being a more perishable material, I don’t think I will get anything like that kind of lifespan out of my merino base layers.

It is worth noting that there are mixed blend base layer options available too i.e. a mix of both merino wool and synthetic materials, so you could get the best of both worlds to some degree by trying those out.

Pictured above is the ColdPruf Men’s Platinum Dual Layer Long Sleeve Crew Neck Top, made from a mix of polyester and merino wool.

Conclusion

So, with all the above in mind, when it comes to merino wool vs. synthetic base layer’s, what is the best option? In my opinion, as with most things hiking gear related, there is no hard and fast answer.

For me, using merino wool base layers in winter when it’s colder when I can use the extra warmth and comfort, makes sense. Similarly, in warmer temperatures when I still need a base layer, a synthetic option seems the better option for me as it tends to keep me cooler.

Of course, the time of year is not the only factor, it obviously depends where you’re hiking, altitude and so on. Temperature is the main factor to be thinking about along how much exertion (and so sweating) you will be doing.

In my opinion, it is wise to have both merino wool and synthetic base layers in your hiking gear collection. That way you can mix them up for use as you see fit and on a ‘what works best for you’ basis.

I think that while there are pros and cons in certain contexts to both merino wool and synthetic base layers, it really comes down to your own personal experience and preference. Get one of each and see how you get on in different conditions, see what is more comfortable and so on.

If you’re looking for a new base layer, be sure to check out our top base layer recommendations for men and our top base layer recommendations for women. You’ll find some great options there, of all material types, synthetic, merino wool, etc.

I hope you found this useful, if you did please share it round your networks.