Womens Base Layer Clothing For Outdoor Camping and Activities
Choosing the correct base layers when taking part in outdoor activities is crucial. There are a couple of main points to consider when making your decision:
- Warmth
- Moisture resistance
A good base layer should keep you at a comfortable body temperature, and should keep moisture away. Purchasing a base layer with a high wick is aways suggested, as this draws the moisture away from your body. Synthetic materials and merino wool are the most common materials for a base layer to be made from.
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Comparing and Checking Women's Outdoor Base Layers
As mentioned above, warmth and moisture resistance are the key things to consider when purchasing a base layer. Most base layers are made of synthetic materials and Merino Wool because materials like these have a high wick system, which draws moisture (mostly sweat!) away from your body, therefore keeping you dry and comfortable. Merino wool also has a natural anti-bacterial property. We would not recommend a base layer made of a material like cotton, as this type of material soaks up the moisture, which would leave you feeling damp and cold.
Fitting of Women's Base Layers
It is also very important to consider the fitting of your base layers, as these need to be as comfortable as possible! A base layer should act as a 'second skin' underneath your clothes. It should be snug to your skin, but you must also ensure you can move freely, as you don't want to be restricted in your activities.
A base layer that is loosely fitting will not keep you warm, and the wicking rates will be reduced meaning that moisture is more likely to gather, there is also a possibility of a loose fitting base layer causing skin sores due to excessive movement of the clothing against your skin.
How can you check whether a base layer is too tight?
Firstly, see whether you can pinch any of the material and pull it away from your skin. If this proves a difficult task, then the base layer you have chosen is too tight!
Check the fitting underneath your armpits, by moving your arms up in the air and by your side, if the base layer digs into the skin under your arms, this is also a sign that the base layer does not fit the way it should.