Winter Base Layers are Marketing Hype

My opinion on base layer fabrics - based on their molecular/chemical composition and how to build a layering system for winter backpacking and camping. Works for ski touring or any other cold weather activity.

Some of the gear I use:
Eddie Bauer Sandstone Backbone Grid Hoodie Softshell - 16.9 oz / 480 g
Mammut Alugator Light Shovel - 16.6 oz / 475 g
MSR Front Range Pyramid Tent - 28.7 oz / 814 g
Thermarest NeoAir XTherm MAX ground pad - 25.8 oz / 731 g
Marmot Lithium -18C Sleeping bag - 47 oz / 1333 g
MSR Whisperlite International Stove - 13.7 oz / 388 g
MSR Titan 2L Kettle - 6.8 oz / 193 g
Fenix HM50R Headlamp - 2.7 oz / 77 g
Garmin inReach Mini Satellite Communicator - 3.4 oz / 96g

Affiliate links to provide a small kickback to me at no additional cost to you. It helps support the channel.

#backpacking #hiking #wildcamping #ultralightbackpacking #gear

[douglasdoucette]

Once sweat is on your skin, it needs to be wiped off or evaporate. Wicking is simply the movement of water thru layers of natural and/or synthetic fabric. Cotton will soak up the moisture but doesn't release it as well as wool or synthetics (polyester, etc.). People who worked outdoors before advent of synthetic fabrics wore heavy wool pants & coats which kept them warm even when wet (& heavy). Compared to today's thinner wool fabrics, synthetic base layers are similarly effective & less expensive.
Living in Atlantic Canada, we're never far from the ocean, river or other water source. Our climate tends to be wet (higher humidity) & temps near 0*C cold go right thru you! When hiking in cold weather, I wear a synthetic base layer, merino mid-layer then fleece outer or down jacket (depending on conditions). A shell is also handy when the wind blows or threat of rain is present. Also depends on if I'm out for the day or overnight; the latter requires more attention to layering, not overheating, getting dry & warm quickly when done for the day. Happy hiking!

[kentmulter]

As far as I can tell, the only thing you're complaining about is the mis-use of the word "wicking." You don't seem to be denying that the newer synthetic fabrics are, in fact, good at keeping us dry: better than cotton, and less expensive than wool. No one really cares what buzzwords the manufacturers use. I think you've used a sensational headline to attract viewers to this video. I'd call that "marketing hype."

[mezmerya]

wicking in terms of baselayer means transporting liquid via capillary effect from your skin into the layer to increase surface area, so it evaporates faster. That's about it.
Sadly in winter it just doesnt work, because freezing air kinda negates the evaporation part of baselayer liquid transfer, so i understand your skepticism. In winter only way to manage mosture is to maintain exact level of activity so that your clothes dont overload.

As my primary activity in winter is skitour, for harder stuff (1500m up) i use two shirts, one polypro, other fleece, for uphill and downhill respectively.
For easier rolling skitour where you may do several 500-600m ups and downs only way to stay warm is to go slow and steady, so that moisture transfer still works despite cold.
XC runners cant go slow and steady, so they use super high race suits with a bit of wind resistance properties and nothing else, and they honestly look ridiculous.

Basically what i wear in winter is determined by pulse. close to max pulse aka running? baselayer and beanie, that's all, if you get cold, just run faster. Zone 2? add windstopper. Downhill zone 1? add softshell. Wool is my choice for resorts and assisted freeride only, but i know some people that climbed 8000 wearing nothing but wool all the way from kathmandu, so it's taste i guess.

[andycjohnston]

This is a fantastic explanation, and reminder about layering, and how to stop and think hard before buying something.

I've always been a fan of merino, back in the days when I was climbing rather than hiking. It was because it kept me warm, but when I was really sweating buckets it also didn't stink after a few days. (to me that's still a huge plus)

Recently I've been reading about wool base layered with polyester on top (same as what you are doing) and I've read that it works better than wool base and wool mid on top.
I've an icebreaker hoodie mid layer which I love, and I use with a RAB downpour shell on top. (down for camp), but I've also been thinking about swapping the merino mid layer for an Alpha Direct hoodie. These are lighter, and work really well when active (and I've the shell to combat wind), and would give me the opportunity to try polyester over wool like you have done.

Have you tried Alpha Direct vs the lightweight grid fleece?

[donnydread]

In the past year I have become I huge fan of wool. I’ve always done the wool socks, but lately I’ve invested a lot of money in replacing all my base layers and mid layers with wool. To me they seem much warmer and take a lot longer to develop an odor.

[Johnjds]

Great explanation, agree it’s all just layers. I do similar for running and layer like a quilt as needed. Synthetic stretch inside, wind or soft shell outside, then different weights of grid fleece between as loft. Conduction is the secret killer in the cold.

That would be a good video that I bet you have a good perspective on: the different principles that cause you to get cold.

[Pete]

Thanks for the technical explanation. Very interesting. Buffalo Gear from the U.K. works well without layers. I used in Iceland and on the east coast winter hikes. Smart Wool and Duck Worth wool is great too. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails.

[wanderworm]

I like your perspective on this. As I’ve been doing outdoor stuff I’ve often wondered how the magical mythical wicking happens. Marketing has a strong psychological component that is profit-driven. How does a company create a new perceived “need” for a product that is otherwise boring. Very much like laundry and dishwasher soaps. They’re just soap and soap is boring so how we get people to buy more? Change how it’s packaged and promoted with the “revolutionary “ introduction of pods that come in indestructible plastic bins and where each pod is usually wrapped in dissolvable plastic. WTH? There was nothing wrong with powdered detergent that came in a cardboard box.

[MsRotorwings]

I love Eddie Bauer’s grid fleece. They are one of my layers throughout the northeast winters.

[mortentoftdal]

As a former military member in the danish army i found that synthetics have no place unless it is polartec alpha.

For wet winter 0-5 degrees celcius i would usually wear wool mesh baselayer and a heavier weight terrywool or alpha fleece on top under my combat shirt this is to bind as much air as possible with having as little fabric touching my skin as possible cause i would never wear a rain jacket so i would get completly soaked.

Never had a problem with merino taking longer to dry than synthetics merino comes in many different weights and the spinning of the yarn also have a huge saying in how fast and well it breathes and dries.

One of the biggest mistakes people are making with merino wool is washing it with regular detergent the enzymes breaks down the wool fibers and overtime you have destroyed your wool clothing.

[opelfrost]

i was always wondering why they called it wicking lol it didn't felt like that
love how you explain everything and how it works! cause you need to find a system that works for your body/hiking style

for base layer i prefer synthetic for btm and merino wool for top. you don't sweat as much below, so there's less odour issue
prefer synthetic for the faster drying. merino wool takes forever to dry in winter/moist condition
and i sweat more than normal ppl, so my top is always wet no matter what i do (i even have a backpack that has a huge gap between my back to let it air and dry)

[GubbePaaTur]

Nothing beats wool. Coming from Norway, dressing for cold climate is something we know. We learn and experiance this from we are todlers. Thin layrs of wool and a outer wind proof. You are good to go.

[What_If_We_Tried]

Appreciate your explanation. I'm subscribing to see what else you have to say.

[yuriklaver]

A normal fleece sweater wicks moisture away just as well.

[largeformatlandscape]

Sadly missing the point that a material can be hydrophobic and still wick through it’s geometry. Just like a straw can pick up water through capillary reaction without being absorbent. Also, synthetic materials do need to be hydrophilic to some extent but not absorbent .. the two aren’t contrdictory

[RodneyClang]

I don’t know how it works but my merino base stay soaked longer from sweat and the thin synthetic does not. Might not be wicking but it has similar net effect. Skin layer should be non absorbing perhaps. Breathe and out. ? Dunno

[ipedros]

Great explanation. Exactly why the big thing of the moment, with large mesh layers going mainstream. Big pockets, very hydrophobic, not much actual material to absorb anything, then with the next layer covering creates air pockets of trapped warm air. Because the moisture is not in contact with the skin, you don't feel wet.
I can see the layering advice in the near future being: large mesh > merino > grid fleece, (whatever weights for the conditions). Then combinations of soft shell/goretex/insulation layer like down/primaloft/etc as appropriate.
Overall, in my mind, evaporation plays to primary role in pushing moisture out. Capillary, is on a secondary level. So long as there is warmth, and thus evaporation to force the transport, plus something to move the moisture to, there is transport.
Within our micro atmosphere, its the clothes capillary action, from the outer layer its the air. If we create too much warmth the whole conveyor belt of moisture is overwhelmed. Which is the issue with misunderstanding materials like gore-tex. If the exterior is too humid (atmosphere) there will be very slow movement of moisture to the air, and thus you might as well be wearing a plastic bag.

[fastlife]

I’m new to hiking so sorry for the noob question but how come hikers wear those down jackets in winter I thought you can’t get down wet?

[mountaineer]

Good video. Thanks. You obviously know what you are talking about.

[peterjohnson]

Love that! Someone who uses his head for more than marketing storage! Thanks