The map
This is a useful resource to save to your phone or print out and carry with your permit in a zip lock.
Gear: what is a baselayer or base layer?
In sports or activities other than long distance backpacking the term “baselayer” has a specific meaning.
The brand Under Armor defined baselayers for a generation as sweat wicking compression layers worn like underwear in athletic competitions. The compression dampens vibrations when sprinting or in similar effort and thereby improves endurance.
In many winter sports a base layer also provides a degree of extra warmth being basically a name for thermal underwear.
In backpacking circles, the term can mean:
- Sleepwear or pajamas. Many hikers use their “baselayer” as a replacement for pajamas, sleeping bag liners and similar things.
- Thermal underwear. Many hikers use a base layer for extra warmth while hiking.
- Finally, as a moisture management layer. Generally, sun hoodies take that place for tops and tights, shorts and such take that place for bottoms.
The result is that the term “baselayer” ends up with a sometimes different meaning in backpacking circles than it might have to a football player or a skier.
“Baselayer” also gets used a lot by backpackers in discussions without any explanation of what the word means.
They are sold made from the following materials:
- Synthetics. 32 degrees and similar groups sell very light synthetic base layers that are very inexpensive and great for mild weather.
- One step up from these are silk baselayers sold at places like REI, especially for summer camping. You will not see those used by long distance backpackers.
- Next heavier are military “silk weight” products that are synthetic but heavier than silk or traditional synthetics. Sample silk weight. Note the prices. Very, very competitive.
- Then for weight/warmth comes Capilene (from Patagonia) and other synthetic or blended high performance fabrics. Note that the lighter Capilene is the same as the ECWCS silk weight.
- Finally, in different weights from 100 to 250 are merino wool layers (including alpaca and possum fur versions) that add more warmth and weight. Many of these have up to 10-12% nylon and elastine to improve wear and fit.
- On the same tier, sort of are mesh layers. These are very popular in Nordic countries.
Other products are outside the normal ones used by backpackers but anything worn next to the skin as a “base” over which other gear is worn would count as a “baselayer” as well as anything worn as a primary sleep layer.
I’ve owned and hiked with 32 degrees, similar products, silk weight, capilene, wool and wool blend baselayers. Of these, my favorite top that I managed to somehow lose last year was an REI quarter zip merino long sleeve t-shirt.
The bottoms I’ve hiked the most with were Capilene. I’m leaning to them again especially since my wool bottoms I gave to Happy6 and she wore them out. Silk weight bottoms are not quite as warm though I’ve been tempted as they are close.
Notes:
- Silk needs to be washed every time you wear it. That makes really not suited to a thru-hike and why you don’t see it in use by long distance backpackers.
- Lighter poly layers are great for summer and for beginning gear. A set for $7-$9 is a lot less expensive than gear at $90+ per item.
- Heavier polyethylene and polypropylene layers make excellent thermal underwear, are hydrophobic and the latest generation versions avoid stinking. Smell was their Achilles heel.
- Once a merino blend is less than half merino it is just a fancy synthetic, especially at 20% or less. There is a lot of that sold now. Some of it is very good. A review of such a base layer I wear as every day wear.
- Merino had a lot to recommend it. Warm. Resists smelling. You can get long sleeve merino t-shirts and compare different weights to get an idea of how they work and what weight is best for you.
- Mesh weighs a tiny bit more than merino but isn’t as warm. It excels at moisture management.
- A base layer can really extend the temperature range of your sleeping bag for less weight than a bag liner or an over quilt for the bag.
- A base layer can also work for cold weather hiking instead of a fleece or jacket.
Baselayers are on everyone’s gear lists and often come up without much discussion about what they are, the choices a hiker has or a framework for what works best for your hike.
Note that brands don’t matter much (unless you are fronting for affiliate marketing websites). The differences between brands at the same weight/thickness are minimal.
As for synthetic brand names, currently the two custom synthetics are Silkweight and Capilene and they are definitely more than “just” synthetic layers.
This bottom line is why legitimate sites tend to recommend REI wool baselayers as they have equivalent quality to many others at half the price. My favorite base layer top was an REI I somehow lost in 2024 after owning it for years.
You can also find great gear on sale if you shop the product and not the brand. I’ve bought merino t-shirts that way (shopping product, not brand and looking for what ever was on sale) for years and saved substantial amounts over the last decade or so.
Long essay explaining military baselayers and how they came about.
Afterword: mesh layers.
These are a hot thing in Nordic countries. No weight saving over wool or synthetic at any weight —but— they hold less water. If you are expecting high exertion in cold weather and to sweat a lot these really move sweat.
For warm/hot weather they are inferior to Underarmor, but in the cold they are much warmer than Underarmor.
