I have decided after much recommendation to go the Paramo route for skiing this year. I just got a Velez smock and Mountain vent top and decided to test the setup to see if it worked. I put on the Velez, Mountain vent and a Polartec baselayer which is a few years old. Probably more than I needed, though the windchill was quite bad today but I wanted to test how well it removed sweat.

By the time I got to the top of a local fell, I was quite sweaty. Examination showed that the sweat was between my skin and the baselayer and the whole setup became quite cold in the wind on the way down. It looks like the base layer is not removing the sweat, so I will need to get something that does.

I'm not really up on the latest developments in baselayers, so what would be a good choce that provides effective sweat removal along with some insulation?

Merino wool. I use Icebreaker. Toasty warm. Seems to move vast amounts of perspiration with no bother. Comes in a variety of weights - so you can vary depending on whether you run hot or cold or on the conditions. If you have a weak heart, don't look at the prices. And they don't smell - even under fairly extreme conditions.

I don't think that I run hot so I will look at the merino base layers (Icebreaker or smartwool). I notice that Ellis-Brigham do Icebreaker, so I will have a look when I am in Manchester for the CAMRA Northern winter ale festival on 19th of Jan. I had better go to EB first though.

If I was wearing just the merino top and the Velez (doesn't seem like a lot) which weight of icebreaker should I go for - 200 or 260? 

Thanks for the suggestions.

What do you mean by a "Polartec base layer"

I've seen people refer to Polartec 100 weight fleeces or  even warmer Polartec Powerstretch as a base layers, which  they may well be if you're not very active in very very cold conditions. But with a P***** in typical winter UK conditions they will be OTT IMO. From your comments about a merino top and a Velez not seeming much I think this may be the case. 

 I you are talking of Polartec Powerdry (which with the addition of silver yarn for odour control purposes is the basis of Berghaus's X-static recommended by Guy) then thats a little more surprising, since I've found this to be a pretty good base layer material. If the combination of this and a P***** is too much, I'd suggest going back to whatever you wore before the P******. Changing a Powerdry base layer for Merino wool is unlikely to help that much - whatever people say merino is not partcularly breathable its just fairly benign all round. 

I find a 200 baselayer warm enough with a Velez when active most of the time but we are all different so its trial and error I'm afraid. It has to be cold to need more.

There are lots of synthetics as well - merino holds more moisture than synthetics but tends to feels comfortable when damp.

Brands to consider - Lowe Alpine, Helly Hanson, Paramo and Odlo as well as many others. I also like baselayers made from Polartec Powerdry material. Some manufactures now do hybrids of Merino and Polyester to get the benefits of both materials

 For more information and reviews go to the Home page and enter 'Baselayers' in the 'Gear and Reviews' setion for a glut of articles.

Jon did a good gereral article here a while ago looking at the pro's and cons of whats available.

HTH

Tired and weary, the base layers are a blue colour, turtle neck and have a Polartec label stitched into a side seam. I cut off the neck label as it was very scratchy. It's definitely not a fleece (I have some Lowe Alpine Polartec 100 zip T's) and it is not Powerstretch as I have some Powerstretch pants. The base layers in question are at least 6 years old.

PGJ, thanks, I saw the article about the base layers. 

What ever the base layers that I have are made of, they are obviously not working so it's time for a change. I will definitely be looking at merino, possibly at Paramo cambia as well as a few others.

"If I was wearing just the merino top and the Velez (doesn't seem like a lot) which weight of icebreaker should I go for - 200 or 260? "

That's pretty personal and depends on how cold the temperature was. Unless you actually run fairly cold I would suggest the 200 for almost much year round use and if you think that you're going to have a colder day, put a light weight fleece in your pack.

Keep in mind that a baselayer--always the most important layer--is even more important with Paramo. It's easy to overload a baselayer with Paramo because the capillary depression caused by the "pump liner" will push liquid water towards your body. You know how well Paramo keeps you dry from rain? Well, that's how well it keeps you wet from any liquid inside the jacket.

Eh???????? 

Surely not, how come I stay dry inside it then? Surely Paramo pushes water in one direction only, i.e. outwards, after all they are called 'directional' waterproofs!

http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/fabrics/index.php

Hi, have similar setup. The Berghaus X-static benefits from a closer (but stretchy so not too tight) fit with slightly longer sleeves to meet under your gloves, relative to the Cambia. However if you were wearing a backpack, there is a ever so slight force to make the rougher X-static get pulled up your back and exposure the trouser-line to the cold.

Cambia is smoother doesn't suffer from that problem, however it is baggier you don't tend to get as much contact in places across the back area, make sure you go for long-sleeve zip-neck variety.

Also, you went for mountain-vent but a Velez so the only venting which line-up to the skin is the neck one, so make sure you get a zip terminates no higher than the mountain-vent and Velez.

Skiing, that's quite a range of extremes depending how long the queues for the lifts and the reach of the lifts, I'd be thinking venting needing some thought to reduce how much sweat is actually produced - also limits how many liquids you need and if skiing at altitude then dehydration can be unpleasant.

Not 100% sure it was the right decision but the above logic made me go for the Explorer, it has vents which are between the Velez's chest and side vents, you can keep the "inner" zips open and then reach inside and open the outer zips through the Velez side to affect venting to baselayer. At present that's only theory I've not been in the situation where I've been too-warm with Explorer under Velez. 

I got the mountain vent before Christmas as it was half price, the idea being to get an Alta II which it would match but at the end of the day I didn't lke the cut of the Alta II much and the Velez was a really good price. 

I don't remember it being this difficult to get sorted last time I went skiing, perhaps I'm thinking about it too much.

I'll take all of your suggestions now and try them out .

Thanks for your help. 

I'm with tiredandweary on this - something doesn't sound right. Its sounds like you need something that wicks well. If your existing top is a proper baselayer material, then you won't find much that wicks the sweat away significantly better. Maybe a polypro top, such as the Helly Hansen Lifa ones? Also, you could try something with a closer fit. Really, any of the polyester or polypro base layers should be able to manage this. The Merino should, in theory, be worse as it doesn't wick all that well (good though it is for other reasons).

I would say the simple reason you got wet is because you were sweating more than the base layer could cope with as you were too warm.

I would suggest that you wear just the Velez and the 'baselayer' with out the Mountain vent as well then see if you have the same problem. Another way of testing the baselayer is go for a run in it (or activity that will get you sweating a lot) then if the baselayer performs badly change it.

As I said at the earlier, the tops have a Polartec label and are turtleneck baselayers bought quite a few years ago for skiing. They definitely aren't fleece and are artificial fibres. Other than that, I couldn't say except that they didn't remove the moisture from my skin any more efficiently than a cotton top. They are a close fit though. It's obviously time for something new. 

I have a credit note to spend at Ellis-Brighams and I see that they stock Lowe Alpine Dry-Flo and Patagonia Capilene 3. Which of them is the more effective at sweat removal in your opinions??

.... the Paramo reversible shirts are meant to wick better if worn shiny side in, and if worn as a midlayer the insulated effect is not as impacted by which direction its worn, i.e. if outerlayer then shiny side out, then reverse it to shiny side in and add the outer layer.

I can soak a cotton t-shirt, wear under Velez and it sucks it dry, so is there some overloading coming from multiple sources?

I would say PeteB has probably the best theory, but the Velez isn't necessarily that warm. A Velez over Merino may be optimum, i.e. a warmer base, and no middle.

"the sweat was between my skin and the baselayer " seems to be the secret. doesn't matter what baselayer you wear provided it's snug fitting then the sweat will have to go into the baselayer. i assume it's washed without conditioner whcih will make it harder for it to absorb the sweat.

i wear a powerdry (which may be what you have) top under a powerfleece under a velez. never had the problem you describe.

the powerfleece is "very snug" fitting about my none too athletic, expensively acquired form.

your set up doesn't hug the skin. the best base layer would be one that wicks (i.e. spreads the moisture over a large area - which merino DOES NOT, it just absorbs it). powerdry is just fine as are paramo's baselayers. the lowe alpine isn't as good for skiing imo.

because i am a completely crap skier i expend far too much effort and sweat like crazy.

 "the Paramo reversible shirts are meant to wick better if worn shiny side in" ? eh? don't understand that. drop water on the outside it soaks into the shiny side. drop water on the fluffy side it draws it to the shiny side i.e. away from the skin rather than retaining it next to the skin.