When it comes to staying warm and dry on the hill, your outerwear is only ever going to be as good as what you put on under it. You can buy the fanciest jacket out there, but if you layer up with a big ol’ cotton t-shirt, chances are you’re going to get sweaty only for that sweat to hang around and start freezing. So, what base layers are best for snowboarding?
“We’d recommend going with something loose fitting for freedom, rather than those figure-hugging lycra abominations”
Enter thermals. Usually made from polyester or wool, these materials both keep you warm and wick away moisture, ensuring you stay as dry as possible. As you’re moving your torso around a lot, we’d recommend going with something loose fitting for freedom, rather than those figure-hugging lycra abominations. This is snowboarding after all, not road biking, and your friends don’t need to see you peeling your dad-bod out of a second skin after a day’s riding.
Luckily, there’s loads of tech and stylish offerings available these days. Through shooting our Buyer’s Guide of biblical proportions over the summer and testing a few more in the pre-season, we’ve selected our favourite top-half base layers for 2017/18. Not only are they a (relatively) inexpensive way of increasing your comfort and enjoyment whilst snowboarding, they also make great Christmas gifts!