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  Base Layer

Why have a wicking base layer? Simply this. Water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air. Therefore you are more likely to put yourself in danger of hypothermia without one. Due to its moisture absorbent nature, cotton is a big ‘no no’, making you feel cold and clammy. Once you use a technical base layer, you will never look back.

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Water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air so a quality base layer is vital. The fabric used generally is ‘hydrophillic’ which wicks away moisture from your skin to be picked up by the next layer or taken away by the wind. Of the various fabrics, polyester, polypropylene, polymide or merino wool are used in base layer construction.

Polypropylene is thin and a can really smell after a day on the trail, polyester has a low wicking ability and doesn’t feel good on the skin, merino wool is natural, absorbs 35% of its weight in water before it gets overloaded, doesn’t smell but can be too warm and polymide, although the most expensive, is light, stretches to conform with the skin which helps wicking, doesn’t smell and feels great on. Certain materials also have UV benefits and close reading of the technical details of each garment is important.

Various thickness are available to suit your activities. They can be round necked or have a neck zip. During cooler weather the latter is good for venting. Usually with long or short sleeves some have longer lengths than others, which help the comfort when backpacking, running or cycling.

Please note that for reasons of hygiene we are unable to exchange Boxers, Briefs, Pants or Slips.

Short Sleeve Crew (Mens and Womens)
Silk Body
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Our Price £29.99
Only a few!

The same fantastic product as the long sleeved version. Fabulous material, great against the skin, smart and always wicking and best of all it doesn't smell!

Mens Long Sleeve Crew
Silk Body
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Our Price £34.25
New in the UK!

Why should women have all the luxurious materials for base layers?

It has to be said, as soon as Rose I put on these products they felt great! The feeling against the skin is so luxurious one immediately thinks 'this is too good to take outside!'. However, durable, comfortable and technically efficient pieces of clothing they certainly are.
Womens Long Sleeve Crew
Silk Body
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Our Price £34.25
New in the UK!

It has to be said, as soon as Rose I put on these products they felt great! The feeling against the skin is so luxurious one immediately thinks 'this is too good to take outside!'. However, durable, comfortable and technically efficient pieces of clothing they have proved to be.

We have worked ourselves into a good sweat with them, and the 72% silk, 13% wool and 15% cotton doesn't appear to cause any concerns as the reviewers state below, regarding skin cooling. Personally I feel very smart in them, comfortable and certainly warm. I shall be keeping mine in the pack year round and using the long sleeve version as cold weather base layer and 3 season camp wear.
Womens Boxer Briefs
Smart Wool
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Our Price £23.48

SmartWool Next-To-Skin keeps your body dry and comfortable, no matter the weather. By itself or as a base layer, it's luxuriously soft in all conditions, with no trace of itch or smell. Comfort guaranteed.

Naturally anti-microbial ensures your SmartWool will be the cleanest garment in your dirty laundry. Smart Wool comes from a free roaming four legged resource in New Zealand, which comes into the yard once a year for a haircut.
Womens Lite Slip Brief
Vaude
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Our Price £14.67

This is a comfortable womens brief which thanks to the seamless nature of the design, is easy to wear in walking and high activity outdoor conditions.

Typical of this style of pants, they look much better on! The cut is ideal for sporting and activity use and feels comfortable against your skin. The nature of the design means it doesn't 'ride' where it shouldn't and best of all, it washes and dries in no time.
Mens Lite Slip Brief
Vaude
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Our Price £14.67

This is a comfortable mens brief which thanks to the seamless nature of the design, is easy to wear in walking and high activity outdoor conditions.

Warm condition super light underwear with minimum bulk. Maximum ecologically compatible and allergy safe with 'Bluesign'. Seamless construction in body area.
All Active Short Sleeve Top
Sub Zero
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Our Price £20.54
Promotion
RRP Price: £25.99

All Active garments are manufactured from super light-weight polyamide fabric.

This totally new range of garments has been in development for over two years and represents the cutting-edge in textile manufacture and design. The short sleeved version for those who prefer more freedom.

All Active Long Sleeve Top
Sub Zero
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Our Price £22.50
Promotion
RRP Price: £29.99

All Active performance tops. Induces the body's own cooling system to pull moisture away from the skin while you maintain maximum comfort feeling drier and cooler.

The long sleeve is ideal for the cooler months.

All Active Shorts
Sub Zero
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Our Price £19.56
RRP Price: £20.99

A smooth superfine knit and highly breathable seamless construction ‘wicks’ perspiration away to the outer surface of the garment. Feels good on and doesn't 'ride up'.
Factor One Long Sleeve
Sub Zero
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Our Price £29.35
Promotion
RRP Price: £34.99

Factor One Wicking base layer keeps you dry and comfortable. Soft rib fabric knitted from polyamide fibre, lighter and better performing than polyester.

The Factor One base layer is designed to maintain a warm and dry micro-climate next to the skin by the totally effective removal of perspiration while retaining body heat in cool to cold conditions.

  Information:
Women's Trekking Expedition
X-Socks
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Our Price £11.73

There is so much said about X-Socks in the marketing bumph that it can be confusing. What you want to know is, are they good, do they smell and will they work with my chosen foot ware?

Silk Glove Liner
Silk Body
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Our Price £9.78
New in the UK!

I used to use silk liner gloves during my motor biking days, and they were such a benefit when the cold felt like it was seeping into my bones, adding extra warmth and pleasure during winter biking.
Men's Bionic T
Montane
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Our Price £29.99
RRP Price: £34.99

High wicking, lightweight, SPORTWOOL® technical base-layer. 2009

Women's Bionic T
Montane
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Our Price £29.99
RRP Price: £34.99

High wicking, technical base-layer for women. 2009

Lightfoot Socks
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Our Price £12.71
TWIN PACK! - In Stock!

Now in stock!!
Lightweight socks for backpackers, hikers, adventure racers and travelers providing maximum performance for minimum weight.

Lightweight outdoors specialist Backpackinglight.co.uk have teamed up with innovative sock manufacturers in Italy to bring you the exciting new Lightfoot series. A technical sock designed specifically to work in harmony with lightweight trail or sports shoes giving you maximum performance for less weight.

Photo coming soon!

Air Force One
X-Socks
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Our Price £13.69

Clambering over rocks or beating a path through the moors, your feet need support for serious work.

This sock incorporates a revolutionary new solution for foot odor and athletes foot. Uses 22% Merino Wool, 7% Silk and 7% Silver Nodor for maximum thermal and wicking efficiency on longer treks.
Trekking Expedition
X-Socks
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Our Price £11.73

As per the Trekking Light socks, but with the added comfort and warmth of 23% Merino Wool. This sock allows you to perform well no matter what the climate.

Featuring padding where the foot is subjected to the greatest stress and strain. The steady exchange of air helps the foot adapt to the outside temperature naturally.
Trekking Light
X-Socks
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Our Price £9.29

A 100% synthetic sock, ideal if you have a wool allergy. Ideal trekking sock for all climates, high wicking and quick drying. Ideal for use with Innovates etc and other activity footwear.

The varyng density of the cushioning zones ensures that your feet never lose contact with your shoes. The Air-Conditioning Channel in combination with high tech materials, create a stable climate for dry feet.

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