Leave your cotton at homeįirst up note that cotton is a no-go area for hiking underwear! This is because cotton is an absolute front-runner when it comes to fabrics that can absorb the most water. We discuss the pros and cons of each of these materials and try to help guide you towards the perfect choice of baselayer for your next outdoor adventure. In this article we describe and compare the most popular materials used for hiking baselayers and thermal underwear - merino wool and synthetics. But sometimes it isn’t obvious which one is best. On the other hand, materials designed for active use like merino wool or synthetics are ideal for such purposes. Even worse, it can lead to hypothermia if you get wet whilst wearing a fabric that won’t insulate.įabrics like cotton - that are great for wearing to the local cafe or to work - are often not suitable for use in an outdoor or wilderness environment. A poor choice of baselayer can lead to chaffing or rubbing when you sweat. Regardless of what you call them, your next-to-skin clothing layers are vital for ensuring your backpacking trip is safe and comfortable. They go by many names… baselayers, next-to-skin layers, thermal underwear, long johns.

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Merino mix base layer