Alternative to a sleeveless cotton vest

[HorseGuy]

Hello all.

Following on from my previous thread last week asking about mid-layers during winter I now have another question. When out on Dartmoor during the wintertime I currently wear a British army surplus sleeved base layer top (to be replaced by a Keela merino wool one soon). Then on top of the base layer I add a cheap cotton Premark vest to provide a little extra insulation before adding the insulating mid-layers and outer jacket shell. I've was told that cotton is the wrong material to wear as it tends to hold moisture if I sweat too much can make me colder.

So my question is what alternative to the cotton vest would you suggest?
A merino wool sleeveless vest or something else?

 

[hughtrimble]

Cotton is really best avoided. Sure in summer as a loose fitting cool bit of sun protection, but otherwise I'd avoid it if you're out and about given how it behaves when wet (whether through rain or perspiration).

I'd go merino or a directional wicking polyester, but are you sure you're not applying too many layers? It'll be hard to dump excess heat with all those layers underneath your outers, especially if it's a close fitting garment on top of your base layer. It's not just about staying warm, it's more about thermal management, being able to balance the temperature to limit excessive perspiration.

 

[MikeLA]

Can’t beat these by Brynje the super thermo shirt, they do sleeveless

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[hughtrimble]

Can’t beat these by Brynje the super thermo shirt, they do sleeveless

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This is definitely a good base layer, but not useful for putting on top of another base layer. I'd recommend this (or the merino blend one) as the actual base layer. Other brands available too, like Aclima and I think there may be some military surplus ones too but can't comment on those.

 

[johnnytheboy]

Can’t beat these by Brynje the super thermo shirt, they do sleeveless

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This! It doesn’t get any better!

 

[Laurentius]

I got one of those black New Zealand merino sheep shearers vests years ago, extra thick and extra long. It has got a couple of holes in it now, but still does a good job.

 

[Watch-keeper]

Cotton is a pretty decent insulator unless it gets wet then you open your self up to a whole host of dramas from drying to heat loss, .
I have a merino wool T-shirt I think it came from a company called wool and prince, anyhoo that's what i use if the conditions rule out a cotton T.

 

[HorseGuy]

Has anyone here ever tried a SubZero Factor 1 base-layer?

They have some end-of-line sleeveless vests (in size small only) available with almost 2/3 off the original price at the moment. Synthetic material rather merino wool but they have some good reviews and are made in England.

 

[FerlasDave]

Meh… the old nonsense of “cotton kills” is (imho) a load of baloney. I think it comes from the days when cotton was used in 90% of the garments one wore. I always wear a decent cotton t-shirt as a base layer and have never had any issues when it gets wet. Unless you’re in a cold, wet environment and only wearing items made of cotton I really wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[stonepark]

My set up for standing about in cold

Tops
Base layer for wicking either wool or polyester thermals
Bottom layer MW Camber 2 micro fleece
Mid layer Ridgeline 300g fleece or Swazi fleece
Top layer soft shell (sharkskin)
Waterproof layer goretex or equivalent.

Legs
Thermals
Windproof trousers
Waterproof trousers

Leather boots
2 layers wool socks

No cotton As retains water (sweat) and doesn't insulate very well.