gear-reviews
Best Base Layers for Hiking UK (2025): Merino & Synthetic Reviewed
The base layer is the most important item in your clothing system, it sits next to your skin and determines how comfortable you are across the whole day. Get it wrong and no amount of expensive outer layers will compensate. The principle is simple: the base layer manages moisture. When you’re working hard, you sweat. A good base layer wicks that sweat away from your skin and moves it outward, where it can evaporate.