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Best back country base layers and why?

This is an old debate (hint: search feature) but my vote is merino wool. Warmth, breathability, wide comfort range, doesn't stink after a couple days, won't melt to your skin,

+ 1 merino wool I like ibex and smartwool brands

those 2 posts are a great synopsis of this same question that gets repeated often around here



often runs 6 pages or better

well said gents

+1 wool

After using Merino a bit, I'm 100% sold. I'd look to icebreaker and smartwool, in that order.

Carl

Filson's good too.

Even cheap clearance rack items from Target work well until they shrink in the wash after a whole season.

Look for "Italian Merino Wool" or some such moniker on lightweight sweaters.

So definitely wool over synthetic. I only ask cuz I can get a deal on either sitka or smart wool base layers and I was trying to decide which way to go. The only draw back I can see with smart wool is that it doesn't come in camo. I know its not a huge deal in the colder months but I bowhunt beginning in August so a lot of times I end up just wearing the base layer as shirt.

Some people really like synthetics, I prefer merino wool from Icebreaker and Woolpower. Really a personal preference. Woolpower is really welcomed in subzero temps.

For a baselayer I like Icebreaker shortsleeve tee's and Smartwool longsleeve 1/4 zip shirts. This stuff is so comfortable, quite durable as well as warm and fresh smelling between washings. If you spend the entire winter in the bush of Northern BC and Alberta working around high pressure gas wells, as I do, you will not only be warm, but confident that it wont melt to your skin underneath your Nomex if something blows up. You'd also be surprised how comfortable a merino wool t-shirt can be in the Summer when it's +80F.

In August, I prefer to wear a synthetic during the day. They tend to dry faster and keep me cooler than wool. Odor control in the synthetic fabrics has really improved a bit the last couple of years. If you're set on a camo wool base layer, check out First Lite. They've got wool base layers in ASAT.
http://www.firstlite.com/products/

I prefer my Icebreaker (Made in China) and MEC merino (Made in Canada) wool more than my Capilene 3 or 4 baselayers. I've heard people complain about the durability of Smartwool products and they're expensive. STP has Icebreaker on sale a lot. However, I'm really pleased with my MEC merino. Almost as good as the Icebreaker. You'll have to wait until the fall though before they put the heavier stuff back up on their website.

tdbob: firstlite is thinking of everything: camo wool briefs!

Hides those pesky skid marks

As far as summer, IceBreaker makes a really lightweight and cool 140 wt top that really wicks and breathes well, and doesn't retain odors. I prefer it actually over cotton. Even in 90 to 100 degree heat.

Synthetics do not work for me. I always feel clammy when I wear them, but that's just me.

Thanks for all of the input...but if you had to choose between Sitka and Smartwool, which way would you go?

Sitka is the only synthetic that I feel equals or possibly exceeds the performance of the thin soft wools. I've only worn it 5 days max for one piece, but there was no stink then. It does not give me the clammy feeling Vigilguy talks about that is so common with the UA types. I'm typically bowhunting when I'm backpacking, so I like the camo of the Sitka Gear

Thanks guys. Maybe I'll just have to go with both...sitka for early season and then smartwool for later in year when its a bit cooler. Now if I can just talk the wife into it...

I've found synthetics, most notably Capilene to be fantastic and personally prefer over merino or smartwool; especially if you are going to be hoofing it heavy and sweating profusely at some point. If it's going to be really, really cold, I'd go with merino, since it feels so damn good when it's really cold.