Short answer: Choose a baselayer, or thermal underwear, by how much you will be moving and how cold it is outside. The winter range suits skiing and frost, the all-season or lightweight range suits fast movement in the cold and spring, and merino also works for hikes and everyday wear. Synthetic (polyester with DRYFOR fibre) dries quickly and copes with heavy exertion; merino is soft on the skin and keeps you warm even when damp. A baselayer is worn directly against the body and should fit closely without being constricting.
Which baselayer should you choose for which activity?
What matters most is your pace: the more you warm up while moving, the thinner the layer you need, and the more you stand around, the thicker it needs to be.
| Activity | What to choose | What to bear in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Downhill skiing, snowboarding | winter range | Sitting on the chairlift and queuing are chilly; the winter knit keeps you warm even when you are standing still. In spring warmth, the all-season range is enough. |
| Cross-country skiing | all-season or lightweight range | You warm up as you go, so a thinner layer is enough. At a slow pace and in hard frost, choose the winter range. |
| Winter running | lightweight or all-season range | The lightweight range is designed for high exertion in the cold. If you stop along the way, take the all-season range. |
| Winter hike | winter range or merino | Walking alternates with stops. The winter range keeps you warm when standing still; merino is soft on the skin and holds its warmth when damp. |
| Everyday wear in winter | all-season range or merino | A thin layer under a jumper or sweatshirt. Keep the winter range for long spells standing outdoors. |
The table is a rough guide: how warm you feel also depends on wind, damp and what you wear over the baselayer. You will find all the ranges in the collections women’s thermal underwear and men’s thermal underwear, and for the slopes in the collections women’s ski baselayers and men’s ski baselayers.
What is the difference between winter, all-season and lightweight baselayers?
All three synthetic NORDBLANC ranges are made of polyester with elastane and have DRYFOR functional fibre. Fine grooves on its surface carry sweat from the skin to the outer face of the fabric, where it evaporates. The ranges differ mainly in the thickness of the knit and the proportion of elastane.
Winter baselayers
Warmer than the all-season range. It is a two-layer knitted fabric of 96% polyester and 4% elastane: moisture travels from the inner layer to the outer one, and the thicker knit holds the warmth even when you are standing still. It stretches less than the lightweight range. According to the product details, most models are intended for skiing, and some also for cross-country skiing and snowboarding. You will find them in the collections women’s winter thermal underwear and men’s winter thermal underwear.
All-season baselayers
Thinner and finer than the winter range, so you can wear it all year round as a baselayer under a sweatshirt or softshell: on an autumn hike, on the bike or for spring skiing. Some models are 100% polyester, others 88% polyester and 12% elastane. On colder days you can wear two all-season tops over each other, but in hard frost the winter range is more practical. Collections: women’s all-season thermal underwear and men’s all-season thermal underwear.
Lightweight baselayers
It is 88% polyester and 12% elastane, so it stretches well. It is worn in warm weather, roughly above 15 °C, and in the cold for high-exertion sport, such as fast running or cycling. For a hike with frequent stops, the warmer all-season range is better. Collections: women’s lightweight thermal underwear and men’s lightweight thermal underwear.
When should you choose merino and when synthetic?
Merino is a fine wool made of very thin fibres. It feels softer on the skin than ordinary wool and keeps its warmth when damp, but it dries more slowly than polyester. Synthetic fabric barely absorbs water, so it dries quickly. The choice therefore depends on how much you will sweat and how long you will stay out in the cold.
| Property | Synthetic (polyester with DRYFOR fibre) | Merino |
|---|---|---|
| Drying | quick | slower, the fibre holds more moisture |
| Next to the skin | smooth, stretchy knit | soft, pleasant to the touch |
| When it suits | intense movement and heavy sweating: skiing, cross-country, fast running | slower pace, hikes, longer spells in the cold, wearing through the day |
| Care | follow the label, no fabric conditioner | gentle wool cycle, dry flat |
| In the NORDBLANC range | tops and bottoms in the winter, all-season and lightweight ranges | short-sleeved top, bottoms, and shorts for women too |
NORDBLANC merino baselayers are 96–100% merino. According to the product details, they are intended for hiking, running and cycling, best worn under a sweatshirt or jacket. If you expect heavy sweating, for example during a full day’s skiing or cross-country skiing, synthetic is the more reliable choice. You will find merino in the collections women’s merino thermal underwear and men’s merino thermal underwear, and for your feet merino socks are a good choice.
How should a baselayer fit and which size should you choose?
A baselayer wicks sweat away only where it touches the skin, so it should fit closely. A loose baselayer does not carry sweat away, while one that is too tight restricts movement and presses under the arms and at the crotch. When trying one on, stretch your arms out in front of you and above your head and squat down: nothing should dig in, your back should stay covered and the sleeves should not ride up past your wrists.
Men’s thermal tops and bottoms come in sizes S to XXXL, and most models also in XS. Most products have a size chart on the product page, and the size charts page gives a general overview. The synthetic ranges have flat seams, so the seams press less, for example under rucksack straps.
How do you layer a baselayer with a sweatshirt and jacket?
The baselayer is the first of three layers, each with a different job:
- The baselayer, worn directly against the body, wicks sweat away from the skin.
- The middle layer adds warmth. It is a sweatshirt, fleece or gilet; in milder weather you can leave it out.
- The outer layer protects against wind, rain and snow. The guides How to choose a winter jacket and How to choose a ski jacket describe how to choose one.
Adjust the warmth mainly with the middle layer: a thicker sweatshirt or gilet in frost, a thin fleece in milder weather. When climbing, take off the middle layer before you start sweating, and put it back on as soon as you stop. You will find clothing for the slopes in the Ski / snowboard collection.
How do you care for a baselayer?
- Synthetic fabric can be washed normally according to the label; merino belongs on a gentle wool cycle.
- Leave out fabric conditioner: it impairs the fibres’ ability to wick moisture.
- Dry it naturally and away from heaters, merino laid flat.
You will find general advice on washing and care on the Product care page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a baselayer and what is it for?
A baselayer is a functional bottom layer worn directly against the skin that carries sweat away into the other layers of clothing. Moisture therefore does not collect under your clothes, and you are less likely to get chilled in the cold. The outer layers do most of the warming, but the thicker winter knit is warmer than thin all-season baselayers.
Can you wear a baselayer every day in town?
Yes, it is a good idea when you spend a lot of time outdoors, for example at a bus stop or on a walk. For overheated rooms, choose a thin all-season baselayer or merino under a jumper; in the winter range you might get too hot there. Keep that for long spells standing in frost.
Can I combine merino and synthetic baselayers?
Yes, you can mix the materials, for example a merino top with synthetic bottoms. Both pieces should fit closely to the body, and you should wash each according to its own label, merino on a wool cycle.
How many baselayers should I take for a week in the mountains?
Two or three tops and two pairs of bottoms will be enough for a week. Synthetic dries quickly, so washed items are often dry after one night. After a hard climb or run down the slope, change straight into dry kit so that you do not get chilled in a damp top once you stop.
Why do I sweat in a baselayer even when it is cold outside?
Most often you are wearing a thicker range than your pace requires, or too many layers. A baselayer does not stop sweating; it only carries sweat away from the skin. Choose a thinner range (all-season or lightweight), leave out the middle layer, or unzip your jacket so that the moisture evaporates before it chills you.