365skinz Base Layer Review

365skinz have kindly sent me their long sleeved top and bottoms to try out and review.

I recently tried out some new base layers from 365Skinz, a UK company producing performance and recovery clothing. I was keen to try out this fabric which is designed to reduce excessive heat, therefore preventing lactic build up in the muscles.
The under garments come in a selection of styles including a long sleeved top, a short sleeve top, long pants and shorts.

My initial reservations were that they might not be warm enough in colder conditions and I personally wear combinations of fabrics, including merino wool, as under garments when it’s really cold outside. The fabric itself is relatively thin in feel and really stretchy.

What I liked about it when I first saw it is the way it looks. A simple design with a good cut meant that it felt comfortable to wear and looked really smart on. Just to be clear, I had the long sleeve top and the long pants, the long pants are not so flattering on my legs, but no-one sees that!

The first time I tried them out was on a snowy, but not too cold a day, at around -2 degrees centigrade. As I do feel the cold more than some I wore the 365 Skins as a base layer, with another merino wool thermal top, a fleece and an outer layer. Although I never felt cold that day I guess you could say I was well wrapped up for the conditions. Even so, what I liked about the fabric was that it felt really comfortable, and I noticed that I didn’t seem to sweat, which after some fairly hard skiing, I would usually expect.

Although they are billed as a garment to keep you warm in cold conditions, I do feel that I would need extra thermal garments on in really cold weather, say -8 degrees centigrade and below. But what I will definitely be doing is wearing them again, in these conditions and alongside further layers, as the feel and ‘wicking’ nature of the fabric is fantastic.

I’m now looking forward to trying them out on my mountain bike soon, as I do think they will be perfect for all weathers.

You can find further information on the 365Skinz website.