DeebieSkeebiesIm not sure what the materials are but i switch off between some baselayers that ive been using for the past few years, but theyre worn out. i got some EVO merino wool bottoms last season that were really nice, i sometimes throw some nike running training sweatpants on over them cuz i wear bibs and i stay pretty warm, especially on cold days. i need some help in keeping my torso warm cuz i dont have good moisture wicking fabrics
Gotcha, yeah I prefer fairly lightweight (~150 g/m2) merino base layers (Trew's are by far my fav), since they tend to be the most versatile for me (I'll run them everyday from December–April). They breathe well, can absorb a good amount of sweat without
feeling really wet, don't stink, and the warmth is right for me. Most of the synthetics I've used
wick moisture better (particularly when skinning without anything over them), but when you've got another layer or two over them, that moisture doesn't really have a place to go, so they usually feel wetter and colder to me once I've started sweating, compared to merino.
Then I've found that an "active insulator" like a Patagonia Nano-Air or Strafe's Alpha Insulator keeps me comfortable across a much wider range of temps than a more traditional puffy (usually too warm for me) or most fleeces (usually too cold for me). I'll wear one of those as my midlayer until the temps get above around 30°. I think I've worn those Trew base layers + Nano-Air midlayer for like 80% of my winter resort skiing and been totally comfortable.
Then for the resort I just throw any waterproof shell over that kit. I basically never wear anything other than that wool base layer bottom and a shell pant, since my legs almost never get cold. And once it gets above freezing, I'll just ditch my top midlayer and just do base + shell.
For touring, I almost always wear just a base layer top while skinning. I'll throw a breathable wind shell (OR Ferrosi, Patagonia Mission Peak, old Strafe Recon) over it if it's dumping snow and I don't want to soak my base layer, and then just wear my waterproof shell on the descent (or skip the shell and just wear my puffy on the down).
