Comparative review: Even if it's hot, I want to spend my time without being clingy. Summary of 100% synthetic fiber base layers 2019
written by Outdoor Gearzine Editorial Department
If you move, you sweat. When the temperature of your body gets higher, you sweat and cool your body to lower the temperature. However, if you leave this sweat alone, your body will become cold. No matter how summer it is, don't underestimate this sweaty and cold. This can lead to hypothermia even in the summer. So, to deal with this, there are base layers in the world.
Nowadays, even if we call it a base layer, there are many types, materials, and activities that can be used, and there are many different types of materials, materials, and activities, and we have been selling them for various purposes, such as mixing the materials of each manufacturer and inventing the knitting method of the fabric, and we are no longer able to understand what is...
So this time, we chose a base layer made of 100% synthetic fibers, which can be used for trekking, mountain climbing, and running. We not only compared these, but also tried selecting which methods are suitable for use. Depending on how you use it, this base layer will make your activities extremely comfortable. I hope this will help you make that choice.
table of contents
table of contents
- About the items we compared and tested this time
- Test results and spec comparison table
- Impressions of each model - for trail running
- Impressions of each model - for trekking and mountain climbing
- summary
About the base layers compared this time
Below are the eight models compared this time. All of them were made from 100% synthetic fibers.
- Patagonia Men's Capreen Cool Lightweight Shirt
- Mammut performance dry zip
- Millet Jaman Delta Zip Long Sleeve
- The North Face Long Sleeve GTD Melange Crew
- Arc'teryx Mortus LS Crewneck Shirt
- Mountain Hardwear Estero Long Sleeve Zip T
- finetrack drout tough alpine long
- mont-bell Geoline LW round neck shirt
Test environment
Regarding evaluation items, we set the following five points as indicators, and evaluated them by wearing the same base layer all day long, walking and running on mountain paths and paved roads with ups and downs.
- Comfort: Can you continue to wear it comfortably, such as the stickiness after sweating and the low stress on movement?
- Breathability: Not only is it simple to air well, but also whether the air circulates well even when it contains moisture.
- Water absorption: We compared the functionality that absorbs sweat when sweating.
- Quick-drying... After absorbing sweat, we compared the speed of drying after washing.
- Durability: Even if it has high performance, it's no good if it quickly falls apart. This is an indicator of the durability of the fabric.
Test results and spec comparison table
If you find it difficult to see the table because it is lightweight for smartphones, click here
| comprehensive evaluation | AAA | AAA | AA | AA | AA | AA | A | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| item |  Patagonia Caprien Cool Lightweight Shirt |  MILLET Jaman Delta Zip Long Sleeve |  Arc'teryx Mortus LS Crewneck Shirt |  The North Face Long Sleeve GTD Melange Crew |  Mammut performance dry zip |  Mountain Hardwear Estero Long Sleeve Zip T |  finetrack drout tough alpine long |  mont-bell Geoline LW round neck shirt |
| Reference price (excluding tax) | ¥6,800 | ¥9,900 | ¥9,000 | ¥6,300 | ¥9,200 | ¥7,900 | ¥6,800 | ¥3,239 |
| This is ◎ |
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| This is △ |
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| Comfort | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Breathable | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Quick drying | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Water absorbency | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Durability | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Specs | ||||||||
| Official weight | 74g | － | 120g | 180g | － | 118g | 140g | 125g |
| Actual measured weight | 89g(S) | 186g(S) | 120g(S) | 147g(M) | 127g(M) | 117g(M) | 147g(M) | 105g(M) |
| material | 100% polyester | Polartec® Delta™ | Phasic™ FL with DAO™ | FLASHDRY™ Melange Knit | PRIMALOFT(R) Performance Fabric Gold DRY | Delta Crash Waffle | 100% nylon | Geoline® |
| UV protection | － | ○ | ○ | ○ | － | － | ○ | － |
| Odor-resistant | ○ | ○ | － | ○ | － | － | ○ | ○ |
Impressions of each model
For midsummer and high-intensity activities (trail runs, etc.)
Patagonia Men's Capreen Cool Lightweight Shirt
This is ◎
- Anyway, it's light and light
This is △
- There is almost no heat retention
Although it is thin, it has a slightly unevenness and firmness, ensuring water absorption and breathability.
Caprien is Patagonia's super classic series. Of these, it is the lightest lightweight Caprene and Cool for spring and summer . It weighs very light and is in its 80g! It feels very light and feels very comfortable on the skin, so I forget that I'm wearing it. The skin side is slightly uneven, but it quickly absorbs moisture. It also has good breathability, and dries very quickly. It keeps you dry almost always with a trekking exercise. Even if you run, if you take a little rest, it will dry out in the meantime. Even after washing, it's so powerful that you can just wear it if you dry it out.
The fit is slim fit, so it feels like it's tight. It's not that stretchy, but it's designed with movement in mind, so I don't have to worry about movement. This one piece can be used for a variety of activities in the summer, and as a base layer in spring and autumn, it can be used as a heavy base layer. It's extremely lightweight, so if you carry two of them with you on long-term trekking, you'll be able to enjoy your daily life comfortably.
Arc'teryx Mortus LS Crewneck Shirt
This is ◎
- Performance does not drop
This is △
- If you sweat a lot, it gets on your skin
When water drips, it spreads immediately along the woven fabric sideways.
The Mortus shirt uses Arc'teryx's unique Phasic™ FL with DAO™, which is hydrophobic and does not absorb water. Therefore, even if you absorb sweat, the clothes themselves will not become heavy, making them perfect for trail runs where weight affects performance. The fabric does not absorb water, so it also maintains high quick drying. When you sweat, it quickly absorbs and spreads, evaporates, keeping you feeling unpleasant even when you sweat a lot.
The fit is not tight but has room to keep, and is designed to be easy to move around, and is highly mobility and stress-free. The fabric is tightly woven, so it seems to be more durable than a honeycomb fabric with mesh. Although it is slightly less breathable, the fabric is thin and dry quickly, so it will keep you cool even when it's hot, making you always comfortable to ride.
The North Face Long Sleeve GTD Melange Crew
This is ◎
- Very comfortable to wear
This is △
- Feel the weight
The lining is clearly visible, so it reduces contact with the skin and keeps you comfortable.
From The North Face, this is a heathered shirt made from FLASHDRY™. FLASHDRY™ uses porous materials to improve the surface area and improve moisture permeability and evaporation capacity. It feels very soft on the skin and is comfortable to wear. It's not fit, it's not tight, it's loose, it's not stressful when you move. It also absorbs sweat well and keeps the skin dry. It dries slightly less quickly, but it is breathable so I was able to run comfortably on a run.
The sleeves are slightly shorter and the fit is spacious, so it would be best to use it on its own for trail running, rather than as a base layer for mountain climbing or trekking. From hot days to cool, it's likely to be a piece you'll always wear when you have one.
For spring to autumn trekking and mountain climbing
Millet Jaman Delta Zip Long Sleeve
This is ◎
- Good balance between water absorption and evaporation
This is △
- It might be hot in the low mountains in the middle of summer
Using hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials, weave lattice-like fabrics to provide both high water absorption and quick-drying properties, maintaining comfort.
A base layer made using POLARTEC DELTA, a relatively new material for base layers from POLARTEC. When I hear the word POLARTEC, I feel like it's getting warmer, but this DELTA is a cooling material for summer use. The fabric is in a lattice shape with unevenness, and the convex parts that touch the skin are hydrophilic, absorbing and evaporating moisture from the skin. The concaves that do not come into contact with the skin even if you sweat a lot is made of hydrophobic mesh, ensuring breathability. When you actually wear it, the area that comes into contact with the skin is small, so even if you sweat a lot, it will not get sticky and feel almost unpleasant, and it is breathable, making it extremely comfortable to wear even on hot days.
Even if the fabric retains moisture, there are few surfaces that come into contact with the skin, so it also prevents cold from sweat, and is very compatible with trekking and mountain climbing that often involve stop-and-go, so you can use it comfortably for a long time from spring to autumn. Although it is a summer material, the fabric itself is a little thick and retains quite a lot of moisture, making it not suitable for running. However, it may be comfortable to use for running during cool seasons.
Mammut performance dry zip
This is ◎
- Breathable and cool
This is △
- I want odor prevention
The best way to treat the seams is. It's very flat and doesn't bother me at all.
A base layer made from PRIMALOFT Performance Fabric Gold DRY, a summer material from PRIMALOFT. The fabric is thin and lightweight, and feels light when worn, but the surface that comes into contact with the skin has a three-dimensional structure, which prevents stickiness caused by sweat. The water absorption is very quickly absorbing sweat. However, when the amount of sweat increases, the absorption of water will not keep up, causing a lot of sweat to accumulate, which is a concern for sweat frightening. If you sweat moderately, it will maintain a dry environment, making it comfortable to use for trekking and mountain climbing.
The fit is quite tight, but it has moderate stretch so it doesn't feel difficult or too tight. It is thin and breathable, so you can stay very comfortable in the middle of summer. However, when I wear it all day in the middle of summer, I was a little concerned about the smell in the evening...
Mountain Hardwear Estero Long Sleeve Zip T
This is ◎
- Highly versatile
This is △
- Can't expect heat retention
The same fabric is used from the sides to the sides to the cuffs to improve mobility. Easy to use even for climbing.
The Estero series is a quick-drying shirt from Mountain Hardwear, which has been updated with slight changes. The skin surface is a lattice-like fabric with uneven surfaces, and absorbs and releases sweat, so it feels good to keep you cool and dry. It is breathable and dries quickly, so it fits tightly, but it is not a perfect fit and has some room to go with, making it easy to operate.
The unique cutting pattern makes it easy to use not only for trekking and mountain climbing, but also for dynamic climbing. It's thin, so you can use it with just one piece in the summer without any problems, but in spring and autumn it doesn't have enough heat retention and feels chilly, making it a great base layer for layering.
finetrack drout tough alpine long
This is ◎
- Anyway, it's tough
This is △
- Sweats a lot increase the weight
The fabric is made of nylon yarn woven into a slightly thicker fabric for increased durability. However, the fabric is both thin and thin, so it is breathable.
Finetrack's Drout Tough is a base layer that not only provides basic performance required, but also provides strength to stress such as rubbing and snags. To achieve toughness, the fibers are processed using a special knitting method to reduce snags, and nylon, which is often made of polyester, is used to increase durability against friction. This is the only base layer we compared this time made of nylon. It seems to be very useful in environments where there are lots of bushes and rocky areas, where the clothing is required to be durable. It gives the impression that it is specialized for durability, but it is also water-absorbent and quick-drying, and actively absorbs, spreads, and evaporates sweat, so it is not a problem for use on trekking or mountain climbing.
However, the thick fabric holds a lot of moisture, and if you sweat a lot, it takes a while for it to dry out. It may be difficult to use in places with high temperatures in the middle of summer, but it is likely to be useful in rocky areas in spring and autumn, or in low mountains where there are many bushes. There is a seam allowance on the inside and it has not been processed, so compared to other base layers, it is a bit of a concern when it hits the skin.
mont-bell Geoline LW round neck shirt
This is ◎
- Cost Performance
This is △
- Long water retention time
Because it is lightweight, the fabric is thin. When it is exposed to light, you can see through the other side. However, it is well absorbent.
This is the thinnest type of Geoline, the base layer series from domestic manufacturer Mont-bell. LW stands for Light Weight. As it is light, it weighs about 100g, making it lightweight even within this base layer. It is comfortable to wear with 100% polyester, but it feels like cotton, giving it a sense of security. It absorbs sweat quickly when you're on a trekking basis, so it doesn't feel sticky or sticky, but it evaporates slowly, so it's not suitable for activities that require a lot of energy. It has excellent heat retention and is not as good as heat-generating material, but after wearing it you can feel it warm a little.
But is the highlight of its high cost performance? Although it is less than half the price of other base layers, its specs are not inferior, so you can easily use it not only in the mountains but also as everyday wear. It's lightweight, so you can bring several of them with you to change clothes. In that sense, it's a very excellent piece.
summary
Although there are various base layers, the essential function required is to absorb sweat and evaporate it, making the skin comfortable and maintaining body temperature. Among these, depending on the activity, the priority functions vary, such as the fact that the exercise intensity increases the amount of sweat, which is highly administered, and that it maintains body temperature while removing sweat when trekking and mountain climbing. If you've never been aware of a base layer before, please refer to this article to try using a Bayslayer with features that suit your activity. It should be completely different from before. People who wear it with the base layer in mind understand the importance, but the amount of sweating and the functions they feel comfortable for each person will vary, so if you can go into more detail and find the perfect piece for you, you will be able to enjoy it more comfortably!
