Rab MeCo 120 Long Sleeve Baselayer Review

Rab MeCo 120 is another good baselayer, this time from Rab. I've used this out in the hills, wearing around the place and even for sleeping in winter.

This is what Rab says: 

The MeCo 120 Long sleeve is a light weight long sleeved base layer made from a blend of Merino wool and Polyester with Cocona technology.  

The top is pretty good in terms of keeping away nasty miffs from under the armpits! This is one huge advantage of merino over some other materials like polyester, especially if the polyester is untreated! It may not quite be as a good as my Montane 100% merino in this way but the advantage is that the Rab MeCo is really nice to touch and wear - unlike 100% merino (generally anyway!)

The MeCo is fairly well fitting. I'm wearing a Medium size here and the MeCo sits pretty well on my average sized frame!

Modeled with baggy jeans on!

The neck is fairly wide, so while this helps with breathability, it's not as great in terms of keeping the chill off. Not a deal breaker by any means!!

If you like tops with a good length, the MeCo is great again, with the top hanging down well below the waist but also hanging fairly loosely. If you're wanting a fitted top, the MeCo isn't for you but it's a great top and baselayer!

Like a lot of Rab products, the baselayer has slightly overly long sleeves, which you'll see below. My thumb hasn't been cut off, it's disappeared under the baselayer length!!

If you care about things like colour, it's a really nice blend of royal blue and a dark-teal-black contrast under the arms and down the sides of the top.

So overall, a baselayer is a baselayer yes, but this one looks pretty good and works well. There's a small amount of bobbling around the place and I'm thinking this won't be the most resilient baselayer in the world. But it does its job, it doesn't pong and is pretty good all year round - barring hot summer days!

WED'ZE X Warm Ski Base Layer Review

This is a review of the Wed'ze W Warm Ski Base Layer which I've used for winter mountaineering and hill walking. 

Pic from the Decathon site

The mix is 20% merino wool and 80% polyester. Inside, the base layer has a brushed 'fleecy' type feel which is great against the skin.

The fit is very close and fairly athletic, so just be aware of that if you're slightly oversized. It is slightly 'loose' around the stomach are and is quite a long baselayer, so this is helpful if you want or need to tuck this in to keep the warmth in! 

Although it's a snug fit and not particularly articulated, I didn't find it restricted my movement in any way. Having some merino content I found that it didn't pong at all, despite a few days of intense use in the hills. Merino isn't brilliant at wicking moisture away, so I'd say that it may not be as good as other fibres at removing moisture from the body. But I did work this pretty hard!

Under the arms and slightly down the sides, the material is a wee bit more 'meshy' which really helps with breathability and is a nice touch. I got the baselayer in blue / white and it's a nice stylish top too if that helps you. There are white 'cuffs' which extend a bit and can cover the wrists which is nice - but then get a bit more mucky with the white - but a small point hardly worth considering!

I also like the half zip and pretty good cut on the neck which helps keep things warm but doesn't poke into your neck like a cheap softshell I once bought did! 

The best thing is that in March 2014 (date of this review), this is only £17.99 (plus delivery of £3.99) which makes it a brilliant bargain. Sometimes even cheaper too!

Again, I actually really don't like showing my face - but on a real wintery climb up Halls Fell, I was only wearing a softshell and this baselayer and was fine (I was moving fast). Only walking via another way on the way down did I put on proper mitts and a belay jacket!!

Scrambling up Halls Fell with axe and crampons needed!

A wee update (March 2015) is that this was worn in some very serious winter weather recently. Hail storms, snow and brutal winds and spindrift meant this thing was pushed to its limit and it was amazing. Wearing just this, a 100 weight polartec fleece and a Gore Tex Pro hardshell I was even a bit toasty at times going uphill ! Highly recommended and tested!

SubZero Cool T Short Sleeve Cooling Base Layer Review

A weight of 130g, sun protection of factor 100, 100% polyamide (hard-wearing) fabric... Welcome to the SubZero short sleeve cooling base layer!

The tshirt works (as far as I can see) by moving the moisture rapidly across the baselayer (not just where the moisture is) and letting it escape very quickly indeed. One thing I noticed was that when your back gets sweaty, you'll find the short spreads that sweat across a wide area to maximise wicking.

Looking down over Thirlmere

The fabric is 'bi-component' which means something to someone. What it means to me is that the fabric is very porous and at the same time, very breathable.

The actual tshirt fit is exceptional too (close fitting across the whole top but most restrictive in any way) and quite flattering too, if that's important to you at all...

Not much more to say except this does what it says it will do brilliantly!

Scrambling around the rocks again

Berghaus Mens Tech Tee Long Sleeve Zip (2011 version) Review

I have a few baselayers picked up in the last few years.

My favourite and 'go-to' baselayer is my Berghaus Long Sleeve Zip. I believe the updated version has a slightly different material.

Sometimes you have reviews that show the reviewer out in the field with the posed and other action shots. Not so with this review, sorry. But this is still a worthy review as this has travelled with me all over the place and been used under various items of gear and as a stand-alone top. It has stood the test of time.

The front of the baselayer and collar / zip

Like the current range, this top is a half-zip, two-toned affair. All using the same material (97% polyester, 3% nylon with silver 'argentium' lining). You can see that the fibre has a slightly 'porous' look which really does help with breathability (see pic below).

Looking close-up on the fabric

I do like the half-zip tops as it does allow more breathability (open those zips and show that hairy chest!) and of course the zip allows a bit more neck protection esp when those sun rays hit from behind. OK, so you still want a buff or sun hat but it helps!

The baselayer is a fairly basic affair but covers all the bases. I find that it dries very quickly and has served me very well under softshell, insulated layer or waterproof.

One thing that's worth noting is that I have read some reviews on baselayers where people have had problems with the baselayers tugging but I haven't experienced this. I say this from experience from mangling a HH baselayer Tugs and pulls often happen with rucksacks where the wearer lets the pack move around a lot or has a pack with an abrasive back (I got rid of an old Lowe Alpine pack because of this problem). So that may be a help to others...

The back of the baselayer with the arms folded

Bear Grylls Long Sleeve (Half Zip) Base Top Review

So a baselayer is a baselayer hey?

Well, pretty much, yes. But there are some differences.

This review is of the Bear Grylls half zip baselayer (made by Craghoppers).

Close-up of our strange pose (well, me at least...)

For some reason, three of us decided to strike a pose near the top of Scafell and this is my 'third' of the picture - showing the Bear Grylls baselayer in all its glory.

The baselayer is a polyester one. To my knowledge there's no 'anti-pong' treatment to it as you get with some baselayers.

In use it's absolutely fine and no better or worse than most baselayers. I did found it made me feel slightly warmer as especially in the top half it's got a slightly 'closer' fit than some. Bu that's good in terms of wicking potential, getting that moisture out more quickly!

So the downside. The downside is a very poor fit. A few years ago, England football team brought out a red shirt which was very tight around the shoulders and quite loose around the lower half. This top must have had the same designer. The top doesn't quite have enough room around the shoulders, but has way too much material for the lower half. This means moisture won't wick so quickly but I guess does allow the breeze to blow up your back!

I'm a medium and wearing a medium in the picture. I'd suggest that the design was made on someone with small shoulders and with a very large belly as that's the kind of fit! Maybe I bought a second, not sure. The top has been upgraded recently but with this one I'd recommend trying on first.

However, in terms of baselayer performance it is perfectly adequate!

The silly pose