Underlayer test

[gtodave]

This guy did a test on five of the leading base-layer gear offerings out there. It's not exactly scientific, but I think it's pretty interesting. The MD Pride Under Armour guys will be disappointed.

 

[OneGunTex]

Awesome thanks for sharing. Can confirm my old school long underwear lets my feet turn to ice cubes. Was thinking about getting First Lite, looks like a good choice.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

 

[TheBert]

Awesome thanks for sharing. Can confirm my old school long underwear lets my feet turn to ice cubes. Was thinking about getting First Lite, looks like a good choice.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

Silk sock liners - sedentary
Wool sock liners - semi-sedentary
Polypropylene sock liners - active
Cotton sock liners - really active

If you sweat change out your sock liners.

 

[Fredcohunter]

Despite some of my personal feelings about First Lite ownership as well as it being made in China I use First Lite base layer gear. I have used Under Armor Cold Gear as well as a few other options and can confirm through experience that First Lite is superior. I got my teenage son who hunts with me a lot the Cabela's ECW and he is pleased with it.

 

[geda]

Can confirm my old school long underwear lets my feet turn to ice cubes.

I bought the absolute cheapest pair of heated insoles on amazon this year for hunting season. $12 shipped and they plug into a usb battery pack. I extended the wiring harness to be able to keep the battery in my pocket. My feet were warm the whole time, It was amazing.

 

[jrumann59]

This guy did a test on five of the leading base-layer gear offerings out there. It's not exactly scientific, but I think it's pretty interesting. The MD Pride Under Armour guys will be disappointed.

UAs hot weather gear sucks. Their cold weather stuff is OK but expensive.

 

[SkiPatrolDude]

I have tried every base layer known to man. From the uber expensive Smart Wool stuff all the way down to walmart level.

I have found the REI Co-Op brand to be the best combination of warm, moisture wicking, and long term durability as related to cost. It's all I get these days and I wear it several times per week during the winter.

 

[Roksfr]

Two words- Union Suite

https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/47356?page=two-layer-union-suit-mens

 

[possumman]

The Walmart Athletech type stuff is polyester--Underarmour is polyester--Walmart stuff is about $6-10-- Underarmour crap and all the other high priced REI and Northface etc is many times that $6---none of it is magic but a couple layers of the Walmart brand works about as well as any---then go to Goodwill and get a WOOL sweater to put over it. Smartwool socks are actually pretty good. I bought a bunch of polypropylene base layer stuff when it first came out many years ago--worked ok but hard to get clean---the polyester stuff from Walmart is far more forgiving-it all wicks the same--thin fleecy leggings from the ladies department are are the best long underwear bargain out there---wait til they go on sale after Christmas and load up on the ugly ones--nobody sees them anyway

 

[lazarus]

The Walmart Athletech type stuff is polyester--Underarmour is polyester--Walmart stuff is about $6-10-- Underarmour crap and all the other high priced REI and Northface etc is many times that $6---none of it is magic but a couple layers of the Walmart brand works about as well as any---then go to Goodwill and get a WOOL sweater to put over it. Smartwool socks are actually pretty good. I bought a bunch of polypropylene base layer stuff when it first came out many years ago--worked ok but hard to get clean---the polyester stuff from Walmart is far more forgiving-it all wicks the same--thin fleecy leggings from the ladies department are are the best long underwear bargain out there---wait til they go on sale after Christmas and load up on the ugly ones--nobody sees them anyway

Even if it was the same material (and if you check labels, they aren’t necessarily), there are differences in weave, thickness and treatments often times. Yeah, sure, just out an extra layer on. But that isn’t always practical.

That said I am usually hitting the inexpensive Walmart, Cabela’s/redhead and midway brands for stuff.

Very happy with browning and Carhartt socks though.

 

[Fredcohunter]

Opinions are going to vary. I spent a lot of years using Wal Mart and Redhead gear with some being better than others. I hunt a lot and it was neither durable nor that warm. I guess if you pack enough layers maybe but that isn't always practical. The gear I wear now is thinner, warmer, and easier to be layered but that comes at a cost. It is worth the cost to me, but for a lot of people it wont be.

Someone above mentioned REI Co-Op gear. I agree it is pretty good but I would not trade my First Lite base layers for anything I have worn over the last 30+ years hunting, just my opinion of course. It works for me and the way I like to layer.

 

[Cuttyfunk]

I still remember my first hunting trip with under Armour cold gear.... I about froze to death. Went back to Columbia and grundens.. thier boots were uncomfortable and cold also.

 

[rgramjet]

Opinions are going to vary. I spent a lot of years using Wal Mart and Redhead gear with some being better than others. I hunt a lot and it was neither durable nor that warm. I guess if you pack enough layers maybe but that isn't always practical. The gear I wear now is thinner, warmer, and easier to be layered but that comes at a cost. It is worth the cost to me, but for a lot of people it wont be.

Someone above mentioned REI Co-Op gear. I agree it is pretty good but I would not trade my First Lite base layers for anything I have worn over the last 30+ years hunting, just my opinion of course. It works for me and the way I like to layer.

Sitka or Kuiu?

For the past 3 years, when my wife asks for bday or Christmas gift suggestions, my standard answer is "anything Kuiu". I steer her toward sales as she likes to shop early.

I prefer their synthetic over their wool.

 

[RockyTheDog]

Baselayers

I've used these skiing and alpine climbing. They're all good. Smartwool has some warm items but for me they're not durable enough and wear out too quickly. I'm currently using Patagonia capilene bottoms and Icebreaker tops down to -40f. Merino top because polyester starts to stink after a few days and takes about three days soaking in oxyclean before it stops. Poly bottoms because bottoms don't pick up sweat funk like tops do and because they're cheaper.

Brynje https://www.brynjeusa.com/product-category/arctic-collection/

Icebreaker https://www.icebreaker.com/en-us/mens-baselayers

Arcteryx https://arcteryx.com/us/en/c/mens/base-layer

Patagonia https://www.patagonia.com/shop/mens-baselayers

Rab https://rab.equipment/us/mens/all-mens-clothing?rab_live_us_products[query]=baselayer

Mammut https://www.mammut.com/us/en/category/5829-10/base-layer

Fjallraven https://www.fjallraven.com/us/en-us/men/tops/base-layer-tops

Black Diamond https://www.blackdiamondequipment.c...=Men's Apparel&sub_category=Base Layer&page=1

Outdoor Research https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/mens-base-layers

 

[rgramjet]

Meriwool boxer briefs stay shockingly fresh even after a few days of straight wear.

 

[Reloader]

What ever happened to Damart? I remember years ago it was what many NFL players wore before they were paid to endorse a certain brand.

 

[Fredcohunter]

Sitka or Kuiu?

For the past 3 years, when my wife asks for bday or Christmas gift suggestions, my standard answer is "anything Kuiu". I steer her toward sales as she likes to shop early.

I prefer their synthetic over their wool.

I have a good bit of Sitka gear but still prefer First Lite for base layers. A lot of the gear I have was purchased on sale or some kind of discount. Kuiu is great gear as well. The main reason I opted for Sitka was I hit multiple Cabelas/Basspro and Sportsman Warehouse stores visiting one of my kids at college so I accumulated a lot of gear on sale.