How to shop for the perfect base layer. Plus: Six buys to try | Canada Voices

The right base layers can help keep you warm and comfortable on blustery, cold days or when you’ll be outdoors for hours.

Designed to be worn next to your skin, and under mid and outer layers, base layers have two functions: to regulate your temperature and keep you dry, says Emily Hinton, a merchant at MEC with retail and buying experience for apparel and base layers.

These tops and bottoms should be close-fitting without being too tight, which can cause discomfort, cut off circulation or lead to chafing and blister issues. A well-fitting base layer will trap warm air closer to your skin, and be better for absorbing sweat “so that it’s not sitting on your skin and cooling you down,” says Hinton.

Most base layers are made with either 100 per cent merino wool, merino wool blends or a synthetic fibre such as polyester or polypropylene. Merino is a natural fibre that’s “superabsorbent” and “even when it’s wet, it’s going to keep you warm or cool depending on what your body needs,” says Hinton. Additionally, pure merino base layers can feel soft and luxurious against your skin and are naturally odour-resistant. However, they won’t be as durable as synthetic options, and can be both harder to care for – Hinton recommends washing wool garments on a cold cycle and hanging them to dry – and more expensive.

Finding the right base layers to get you through winter will depend on factors such as your preferred fit and style, budget, local weather conditions and the activities you plan to engage in. “I don’t know if there’s a perfect base layer for everything,” says Hinton. “It depends where you are in the country. It depends on your activities. It depends on your body and how warm you stay, how much you sweat, how hard you’re pushing it.”

Six buys to try

In the men’s section

This medium-weight, 100-per-cent merino wool top is designed for both snow sports and everyday use such as staying warm during a dog walk or during the commute to work. The topographical map-inspired pattern is subtle but adds a nice touch in case your base layer peeks out.

Icebreaker Merino 260 Vertex long-sleeve top, $160 through icebreaker.com.

Made with a merino wool, recycled polyester and elastane blend, this lightweight top has a bit of stretch for easier movement. Design features such as flat seams and a quarter-length zipper improve functionality without adding bulk. It’s sleek and minimal enough to wear from the ski hill to the chalet.

Outdoor Research Alpine Onset Merino 150 1/4-zip top, $140 through mec.ca.

Known for its winter footwear, Stoney Creek, Ont.-based Baffin also offers lightweight, form-fitting base layers. This seamless bottom is made with a fast-wicking polyester, polyamide and elastane blend. Wear it with sweats for winter hikes, or under technical mid layers and snow pants for activities such as ice fishing and snowmobiling.

Baffin base-layer bottom, $65 through baffin.com.

In the women’s section

This merino-blend top is designed to be a base layer, but looks great on its own, too. The graphic print is eye-catching and features such as the four-way stretch fabric and flatlocked seams offer a more comfortable wear. The pattern will lift your mood when you get outdoors and ski, snowboard or go for a long walk.

Mons Royale Cascade Merino Flex 200 long-sleeve top, $160 through altitude-sports.com.

This polyester-blend base layer comes with a fitted hood that can be worn several different ways, including as a full-face balaclava. Use this one when you’re planning to be outside for a long haul or in blustery conditions. It’s available in four colours, and in sizes XXS to XXL.

Arc’teryx Rho hoody, $140 through arcteryx.com.

Made with a merino wool, nylon and spandex-blend fabric, these leggings are machine-washable. They also feature a ribbed, extra-wide waistband that’s designed to stay in place whether you’re on the move snowshoeing or need an extra layer on your way to the office.

Knix Merino Sculptwool seamless legging, $98 through knix.ca.