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I love hiking but hate the feel of every base layer I've tried so far- including merino wool. Cotton t-shirts are comfy but really holds on to the damp- which can be a problem on a long, multi day hike. Has anyone found a solution that is as comfy as cotton but dries as quick as the synthetic stuff?
I have an ancient North Face t shirt which is exactly what you describe. Feels like cotton, dries quickly. I don't think/can't recall if it had a name for the fabric.
There is a fundamental issue though; for good wicking the garment has to fit against the skin. That often means some sort of "stretch" in the fabric. If it's that close--fittingness you don't like then anything else will be a bit of a compromise.
North Ridge do some that feel like cotton. They're fairly cheap in Go Outdoors
I have an ancient North Face t shirt which is exactly what you describe. Feels like cotton, dries quickly.
This sounds ideal. Happy with a close fit, it's just the feel of the fabric really
Berghaus Argentium. I am wearing a t-shirt of theirs right now that's 9 years old, performs well and still looks fine despite being worn for literally weeks at a time.
Try bamboo? Nice and soft, dries quicker than cotton, IME.
I’ve just invested in a Brynje super-thermo, following recommendations on here.
Brilliant for cycling and I’m planning to use it for walking too. I’ve been a lifelong merino fanboi too but the mesh design dries so much faster
+1 for bamboo. Prefer merino myself, but bamboo is the closest to cotton in feel IME.
Bamboo (which is actually synthetic)
You want the mountain equipment thermal tops. I forget the material but the ground up t shirt is made from it. Feels like cotton but is synthetic and quick dry. I have heaps of them, long and short sleeve as they look ok off the hill. Usually about forty notes but I swoop on them when in sales
Mountain equipment ground up tee
Fox do some t-shirts in some sort of active flavour. I've got 3 of them, bit older now, but far less sweaty than normal tees
I might give bamboo a go!
Try bamboo? Nice and soft, dries quicker than cotton, IME.
I don't find bamboo / rayon to be much quicker drying or better at wicking than cotton. Although its marketed at a premium when you call it 'bamboo', rayon's main USP in the past was that you could pass it off as a cheap substitute for cotton. My rayon t-shirts in the past came from 'What Everyone Wants' and were £1 each. So its one the most cotton-like of the various synthetic fabrics but the cotton-likeness means it... behaves a lot like cotton... and isn't especially fast drying.
If it has a benefit its that its springier/stretchier than cotton so is a bit less clingy and uncomfortable when its wet but when it gets wet it tends to stay wet.
Marmot Transporter Tee does it for me. Has a nice feel, wicks well and almost as stink-free as merino.
I bought a 7mesh Elevate tee shirt in the sale last year, and it really is now my go-to base layer and you can get it long and short sleeved to sir's preference
I don’t find bamboo / rayon to be much quicker drying or better at wicking than cotton.
Agree with maccruiskeen on this, though it could depend on the weight of the material. Comfortable as a base layer, but not as functional as synthetic stuff when over-doing it.
I have an ancient North Face t shirt which is exactly what you describe. Feels like cotton, dries quickly.
I've bamboo t-shirt x2.
They're very comfy and 'normal' to wear.
But they don't wick or dry any way as quick as a proper baselayer.
I do think there are some poor baselayers out there - I was bought a Regatta merino top that itches like crazy, and some old Berghaus manmade fibre that have a really odd 'slick' inner face, which feels cold to wear.
Good wicking and nice fabric tops from HellyHansen or Patagonia are so much nicer.
Brynje
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Just wrong.
Thinking on it - that NF t-shirt is possibly CoolDry?
Montane Dart baselayers are worth a look.
I've got a madison t-shirt. Most comfortable wicking/active top I've got, really comfy. Feel very like cotton. I'll try to find the details.
EDIT...
it is madison, but it's 25% cotton that's why it'll be so comfy.
I have others from mountain warehouse/north ridge/regatta that are merino blend and are also very comfy and don't stink as much as full poly Baselayer
Cotton/poly mix T-shirts are reasonably common and cheap. Get on CRC and SportPursuit and see what's about.
Not sure how they perform as baselayers, but they're OK for normal bike riding if you're not absolutely caning it.