Being out and about in the great outdoors means you need to be prepared for any weather. Golfing, cycling, fishing, camping, hiking or just taking in the wildlife on a leisurely stroll you need the ability and flexibility to be able to keep warm when the weather suddenly turns against you. Being active though will also mean that you can quickly get too warm and end up drenched through perspiration, so on a rainy day you can get soaked from without and within, a particularly unpleasant experiences. The solution to this starts with a high performance base layer, but why is it that base layers are so important?

It is good advice to wear several layers of thinner clothing rather than just one thick one. This will enable you to regulate your temperature more easily and any way several layers trap heat more effectively than just one. With one thick layer it is harder to control your temperature and thick clothing is harder to fit into rucksacks etc. Obviously the most important of these layers is the one that is in direct contact with your skin, this is known as the base layer.

It would be very difficult to over stress the importance of properly regulating your temperature. If you get too hot and are wearing several thin layers it is easy to take one off and put it in a rucksack or bag, however getting too cold can be very dangerous and even be fatal. Getting too cold is known as hypothermia and it can result in serious illness, even death if it goes unchecked. Should you be out and about and are concerned that a friend is becoming dangerously hypothermic one of the tell tale signs is irrational behaviour. Should a companion start to behave in a strange way it is important to warm them up as quickly as possible and the best way is wrapping yourself in as many layers as you can with the casualty and call for help. The casualty will benefit from the heat from your body.

Returning to the topic of base layers, proper technical base layer garments are designed to move moisture away from the skin keeping you drier, warmer and more comfortable. So, leave behind the cotton tee-shirts, and look for fabrics that are soft, odour-resistant, high-wicking, and can act as an outer layer when the going gets hot.

The key feature of any base layer heat gear garment is that it should wick sweat away from your body and into the air so as not to carry around any excess moisture and weight. They are also specifically designed to be a tight fit, preventing muscle oscillation which can waste energy. Due to lightweight fabrics being used then your comfort will not be compromised plus there is the added feature of anti-bacterial agents keeping your base layers smelling fresh no matter what you put them through.

Base layers appear in all colours, shapes and sizes. Base layer tops can double as tee shirts and can be bought with short or long sleeves; they can also be shaped to follow the contours of the body which is particularly important for our female customers. Base layer pants or leggings also come in many varieties, crop or full length and obviously choosing the right length is important to ensure maximum comfort.

Bruno Blackstone is Marketing Director at My Outdoor Store, the premier walking and hiking outdoor gear store.

Author's Bio: 

Bruno Blackstone is a freelance writer interested in all things to do with the outdoors and helping others get the most from the outdoors. Starting with a psychology degree his early career was as a social worker and family therapist working with families to help them achieve more positive and stable relationships. In his more recent career he has coached many senior executives in both small and large organisations in areas such as strategy, human resources, organisational design and performance improvement. He now continues his work in the business world but he is also co-owner of My Outdoor Store a price comparison site for outdoor enthusiasts.