Base layers: Request education

LR Max

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Location
Atlanta, GA
Alright so my old silk long underwear exploded recently. However they were hand me downs and I've had em forever, no hate. Most def the best outta them.

So I figure I'd get me a nice set of new aged-whatever-kickass long underwear. However I look at all the brands and stuff out there and I'm :confused:.

Basically what I want is wicking and warm. I.E. deer hunting. Need wicking if I get sweaty walking in but keep me warm when I got my butt parked. Same for wheeling, wicking if I'm running up and down the trail but warm when I'm not going crazy.

Anybody have a brand that is good and a certain kind? Lightweight? Mid-weight? or ?-weight? If I can make a set last, I'll pay $$$ since quality is important to me. Also I have gift cards and coupons for Dicks Sporting goods so that helps.

Thanks for any information. I need to get these replaced since I'm going to be spending a lot of time outdoors in January.
 
REI has good stuff and in different weights so you can pick what's best for your needs. Their stuff is usually as good as the other brands they sell, but without the markup for some of the other names. :beer:
 
Hate to say Under Armor for me is the ticket. I have some of the leggings they are great. I am going to get some more when I can get it.

Basically it goes 1.0/2.0/3.0

They are all great and geared toward different activity and coldness levels.

You do pay some for the name brand but they are nice.
 
X2 on the Under Armour. I work out side everyday and alot of times in the water, even when it's freezing. UA is definitely worth the money. It can be bought @ many places including Dick's sporting goods.
 
I do a lot of hiking/ camping in the winter months, sometimes in and around the single digit range overnight, and I've used pretty much every brand of base layer out there. My favorites are Under Armour Cold Gear & REI.

That being said, on my last trip, I forgot to pack an extra base top. It was getting late, so I stopped off at Target since pretty much everything else was closed. I picked up one of their tops, (C9 brand) and I have to say, it performs just as well as my more expensive gear. I think it set me back like $12 or so.

Your mileage may vary, but I'll definitely buy more when the need arises.
 
I will through in here with the REI vote. Lifetime return, no questions asked, is hard to beat. They are a co-op and spend a lot of time testing their products before the product is put on the self.

I've used their return policy once for a pair of pants that were used during the run up to out AT trip. The pants had probably 400 hiking miles on them when a zipper broke. REI took them back and ordered my a new pair at no cost to me.

Not being made in the USA has little to do with the quality of the products in my opinion. REI simply has too much to lose from their members to allow shoddy products on to their shelves.
 
UA makes great clothing. I've never tried thier cold gear, but I love the heat gear for the summer time.

My favorite pair of bottoms were my army bottoms from the store at Fort Bragg. They were loose fitting like sweat pants, but were so warm you thought you had a heater in your pants.
 
Patagonia. I was a professional ski patroller for a buncha years and that stuff held up the best. Didn't hold smells, comes in three different weights and can be returned if theres a defect or it rips. It's a little pricy but if you're good with the google you can usually find some good deals. Plus there are patagonia outlets which wholesale. I buy as good as I can afford when i have to work in something. REI is probably a good bet too. I don't buy too much dicks stuff unless i know the brand...
 
I had Duofold stuff that held up well for years. No complaints whatsoever.

Now I use Marmot or Spyder tops and Marmot bottoms. I like the feel of the Marmot stuff more, but I feel like the Spyder does a little better job of wicking away moisture.

When it gets really cold (below 20 F) I add a Columbia fleece bottom on top of the Marmot thermal. It's a little more difficult to strip away layers on the bottom, so you don't want to overdo it. A good pair of ski pants will usually have zippers that you can open as vents if you get too warm. Any fleece bottom will work though. Makes all the difference in the world when you're sitting on frozen ski lifts or cold ATV seats.
 
Fireaxe said:
Patagonia. I was a professional ski patroller for a buncha years and that stuff held up the best. Didn't hold smells, comes in three different weights and can be returned if theres a defect or it rips. It's a little pricy but if you're good with the google you can usually find some good deals. Plus there are patagonia outlets which wholesale. I buy as good as I can afford when i have to work in something. REI is probably a good bet too. I don't buy too much dicks stuff unless i know the brand...
Click to expand...
what he said.....I've used them with just a pair of north face "wind" type pants and skied all day in below zero wind chills in Utah, Colorado, etc.....I've had several sets for more than 10 years with no issues.
 
Polypropolene that Patagonia makes will work far better than any "old school long johns". If you've ever been in a real situation that counts, I can tell you from experience that you do NOT want cotton, but rather something that will wick moisture instead of hold it.

You don't have to exclude other brands just because its not Patagonia stuff... I have marmot synthetic, and a few other brands.... moral of the story is that a polypro synthetic baselayer is what you want.

I do a lot of winter hiking around Roan Mtn. after big storms... yeah I know, weird hobby... but I've been up there and around Grandfather in sub zero wind chills, and never wished I had on a different baselayer. The trick is to figure out what other layers you need to appropriately wear over them.
 
yep, patagonia. can't kill it!
 
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