Base Layer
The garment worn next to the skin, designed to wick sweat away from the body.
What is Base Layer? The garment worn next to the skin, designed to wick sweat away from the body.
A base layer sits against the skin and manages moisture. Its job is to keep skin dry, which is the foundation of staying warm in cold conditions and cool in hot conditions. Best base layers are made from merino wool, polyester, or polypropylene. Cotton is not a base layer fabric for active or cold-weather use — it absorbs sweat and holds it, conducting heat away from the body. Common base layer weights: 140-180 gsm (lightweight, hot weather), 180-200 gsm (mid-weight, three-season), 250+ gsm (heavyweight, cold weather).
Base Layer in our guides
Base Layer appears in the following WhetherWear guides (showing 18 of 141):
- Best Base Layer for Cold Weather: What to Look For (and What to Ignore)
- Best Base Layer for Men: What to Look For (and What to Ignore)
- Best Base Layer for Travel: What to Look For (and What to Ignore)
- Best Base Layer for Wet Weather: What to Look For (and What to Ignore)
- Best Base Layer for Women: What to Look For (and What to Ignore)
- Best Fabrics for Every Season: A Buyer's Guide to Wool, Cotton, Linen, and Technical Materials
- Best Rain Jacket Buying Guide: Waterproof, Breathable, and Worth the Cost
- Fall Layering Essentials: The Transitional Wardrobe That Lasts From September to December
- How to Dress a Baby for Cold Weather: A Parent's Layering Guide
- How to Dress a Toddler for Snow: The Complete Snow-Day Outfit Guide
- How to Dress for Rain Without Overheating: A Practical Guide to Wet-Weather Layering
- Layering for Office Air Conditioning: The Hidden Climate Problem
- What to Wear at 0°F: A Complete Cold-Weather Outfit Guide
- What to Wear at 10°F: Outfit Guide for Severe Cold
- What to Wear at 15°F: Outfit Guide for Deep Winter Cold
- What to Wear at 20°F: Outfit Guide for Cold Winter Days
- What to Wear at 25°F: The Layering Kit for Solid Winter Cold
- What to Wear at 30°F: Outfit Guide for the Freezing Point