looking for a base layer

The Brynje mesh ones are outstanding as long as there’s no chance you’ll be removing the layer above in the presence of other people…

I use a pretty standard Montane one for cycling which works well, no idea about skiing, sorry.

What's mid budget?

I've two, Either the Rapha short-sleeved merino, which TBH, is a brilliant bit of kit but £70.00, or when that's not going to cut the mustard - and it has to be v cold really as the Rapha one is genuinely good for temps down to a couple of degs. below, the the Patagonia Capilene long-sleeved, which has alpha grid backing, and equally good - instant toastiness, currently in the sale at £52.00, but normally same as the Rapha one; £70.00.

Both are pretty pricey to be fair, but are very very good bits of kit, if I lost either one, I'd replace it like for like.

I've been really impressed with the Sportful BodyFit Pro base layer I bought last year - I sweat quite a bit and it does do a good job of managing it without wetting out. Bear in mind they run very small though - I'm a M/L and had to go to XL.

+1 for the Brynje polypro mesh. Works like an old string vest, looks like something by Right Said Fred, functionally brilliant, aesthetically disastrous.

Beyond that, most wicking polyester baselayers from technical brands wick well and dry reasonably quickly. Pure merino is comfortable and works well for scenarios where you're not sweating much - apparently it can hold a limited amount of water vapour within the structure of the fabric - but tends to get damp beyond a certain point and dries relatively slowly. Doesn't smell though. Honestly they're all much of a muchness, though some smell more than others. Polygiene anti-microbial treatment is a good call.

Merino/polyester blends are good compromise. Rab and Montane used to do versions, both of which were a pretty good mid-point ime, comfortable, faster drying and wicking and more durable than merino, more pleasant against the skin than pure synthtics.
Polypropylene, is the other often-used synthetic fabric. It's what Helly Hansen used for their Lifa stuff. It's hydrophobic, so doesn't really absorb moisture at all, which means it dries super fast, can also be washed at 60˚C if needed. Can smell, but modern versions are better than the original Lifa, which had a lot of blunt, debris-trapping ends.

In really hot conditions, Polartec does a fabric called Delta, which is amazingly good, though quite rare.

I have a couple of Craft base layers bought on sale from Wiggle - they are often reduced, so maybe worth a look?

Decathlon. £7. As good as anything else you can buy.

Off to Norway next week fatbiking and the guide recommended them.

Another for the Brynje, in retro old man vest white or Eurotrash gay bar black, brilliant.

Decathlon. £7. As good as anything else you can buy.

I'm wearing one now in the office which is like a fridge, they are very good but nothing beats the Brynje if you are going to get sweaty, and when its really cold a cheap one like the decathlon one over the top of it. The best way of avoiding feeling of something damp against your skin.

Isobaa 240 merino is what I've been wearing commuting in the cold conditions. Its lovely.. would take it if I was going to the mountains and wear it every day 🙂
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/2554448

Another vote for the Patagonia Capilene. As well as being warm and non sweaty they last for ages. I'm still using one I bought in 2006. Obviously they don't get used in the summer but come winter they are always on for cycling and building snowmen with the grandkids.

+1 for Brynje and if you opt for the 80% merino version that one single baselayer will serve a weeks worth of skiing without any sweat, smell or discomfort

And if you ever felt the need to wash it, a quick hand wash in a sink in the evening means it is dry and ready to go in the morning

I have an icebreaker merino 200 with zip. It wasn't cheap, but oh it is absolutely lovely. Also serves as a top on its own. I don't like wool, and this is the only merino I can tolerate next to the skin, but as I said, I love it. I'd replace it in a heartbeat. I'd also like another, but it looks like it will not have a zip.I wear it under my club windproof jersey for rides of three hours, and it keeps me warm but not damp.

Last base later I bought was Craft entry level,quite thin,  around £30, it's loose fit so warm because the trapped air pockets insulate. Once warmed up I can get away with wearing nothing else on top from about 5 - 6C and above, below that and a fleece goes on. No need to spend more if you're on a budget

Helly Hansen Lifa have been popular for ages for good reason and you can always find them with a good discount, but brynje are good as are montane dart. Not a fan of merino or merino blends although I persevered with them for ages due to all the hype!

Endura BaaBaa for me. Mines taken a right kicking and is still going strong!

One thing that really threw me with the Brynje polypropylene mesh base layer was how warm it is - I guess that should be no surprise because the actual mesh is quite thick. And obviously if you wear it with nothing on top it has almost no insulation but (in black) it also looks like you’re going to a fetish night.

So it’s taken a bit of figuring out when to wear it - I’d say if it’s going to be maybe 7 deg or colder I’ll wear it for MTBing with a short sleeve lightweight polyester base layer over the top and then a lightweight windproof on top of that. Then I can unzip the windproof and/or remove the short sleeve layer for temperature control without the specialist nightclub look being revealed. I have resorted to short sleeve base layer over exposed long sleeve mesh and that looks strange but tolerable, especially on a night ride!

Because of the mesh, once you get a breeze through to it, it dumps heat like nothing else. I should add that I run quite hot, others are often in riding trousers and big waterproofs when I’m still in shorts and a thin windproof.

Chiggle were doing merino base layers for a tenner..

SportPursuit worth a look for base layers too, often see cheap merino on there.

The Rapha Pro Team base layer is by far the best winter base layer I've used.  If anything it gets too warm wearing it unless it's getting down to freezing and below.

A couple of friends use them for skiing and mine regularly gets used on the motorbike in winter when I'm commuting on it.

https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/mens-pro-team-thermal-base-layer-long-sleeve/product/PLY01LSBLK

Coming at you with a Decathlon Wedze ski base layer on.

My workshop is unheated and these are standard issue for me. Brilliant things.
Maybe a bit warm for mtb once you get going but really nice base layers.

Merino if you won’t be sweating much. Patagonia Capilene if you will.

have an icebreaker merino 200 with zip. It wasn’t cheap, but oh it is absolutely lovely.

+1

I have a 260 merino top with a zip and in really cold conditions it's fantastic. As stated they aren't cheap, but mine has lasted well over 15 years so far so great VFM.

The Rapha Pro Team base layer

Yep, but wait until summer they will be half price

I really like my merino baselayers for damp and cold days. Like a warm hug.

But. They do stay sweatier for longer. And even expensive ones have not lasted well plus need faffy washing and drying to work at their best.

The *best*, by quite a margin, winter baselayers I have are Helly Hansen hybrid merino and Lifa. Super warm from the merino, super wicking from the Lifa, fit well and really long lasting.

Update on the Brynje mesh - I wore the long sleeve base layer under an Endura MT500 jacket last night for a 3 hour singlespeed MTB ride when it was just a few degrees below zero. For the first 20 minutes of the ride I had a grid microfleece in between but that was too hot even with all the vents opens.

Really impressive pairing, it’s amazing how much better it handles a wide range of exertion and/or temperature than normal base layers. Not had the MT500 long and that’s bloody good too!