Icebreaker Baselayers - First Look

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It also has fantastic anti-odour properties. We found we could wear it for several days without nasty pongs developing, which is great for multi-day trips and travelling, or simply if you're lazy. It's machine washable too, unlike most conventional wool which has to be handwashed.

Are there any downsides? As far as we can see, the only area where merino loses out to synthetics - though durability may be another - is in moisture management. The best lightweight synthetics, Berghaus's Xstatic Powerdry for example, wick noticeably better than even the lightweight merino, which definitely holds more moisture and takes longer to dry. The good news is that damp merino still feels comfortable and wool's exothermic properties - it generates heat when wet - means that you miss out on that damp, cold sensation, so it's not a major problem unless you sweat like a Turkish wrestler in a sauna.

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As far as the individual garments go, predictably the lightest weight Oasis Crew worked best for high tempo activities and in warmer conditions and, becauser of the thinner fabric, wicked more effectively than the heavier Tech Top. Ideally we'd use it in zip-neck, long-sleeved guise for more versatility and some sun protection for the back of the neck.

The Tech Top uses a thicker fabric and is a great winter baselayer that still feels comfortable when the going gets hot. We like having the zip-neck for ventilation, but the collar is on the generous side and while it offers great protection when zipped up, it's a bit floppy when the neck is open. We weren't particularly bothered with the thumb-holes, but the big plus is that they're unobbtrusive enough that they aren't at all bulky and annoying when the sleeves are worn normally under a shell or midlayer. We're not sure if regular use of the thumb loops wouldn't cause accelerated wear in that area of the cuff however.

Last but not least, the mid-layer weight Sport 320 Coronet is the loveliest thing we've tested since the Arc'Teryx MX Gamma Hoody. It simply looks and feels fantatic and we've been living in it for weeks now. The styling is spot on with a really funky, erm, contemporary look to it. It's almost too lovely to wear on the hill...

In purely practical terms, we'd have to admit that microfleece beats it for warmth to weight ratio and handles moisture and dries faster too, but the Coronet has that feel good factor in spades.

The best synthetics do handle moisture better - they wick faster and dry more quickly - but merino still feels comfortable even when it's damp, so any downside is minimised. On the mid-layer side of things, we have to admit that, although we love the Coronet top, a standard microfleece is much cheaper and arguably performs as well or better, though it'll smell more in the process. Then again, it lacks merino's feel good factor and the Coronet's great look.

Which leaves the price - 65 quid is a lot to pay for a baselayer top and the £100 price tag on the Coronet is also steep, even if it does reflect the amount of work that's gone into the detailing - we comepared it to a functionally similar, but much cheaper Aldi merino top for reference. Of course, value is a very personal judgement and if you can afford Icebreaker, we don't think you'll be disappointed based on our experiences so far. Very, very nice.

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