Specialized Merino LS Underwear Baselayer £55.00
A great performing merino base layer. It’s all day comfortable, wicks moisture away effectively and doesn’t smell, despite washing it less than one should
Adam Wight
|
Jan 4 2018 |
Base layers
Overall
Quality
Performance
Value
What's good?
- Good athletic fit
- All day comfortable
- Regulates temperature effectively
What's not?
- More expensive than some good competition
Buy if...
You want a well performing base layer that does everything it should and will be useful all through winter and the shoulder seasons
Specialized have been delving into the world of cycle specific clothing for some time now and overall with great success. Their Merino LS Underwear baselayer is a fine example of this, its warm, comfortably stretchy and worth the higher price.
This long sleeved underlayer arrived at the perfect time, the days were getting chillier and shorter meaning the phrase ‘be bold, start cold’, once again becomes my quietly muttered motto. Specialized’s offering is made from Australian Merino with a Dryarn polypropylene microfiber inner which helps aspire moisture away from the skin and to the surface for evaporation. Whilst I can’t comment on whether Aussie sheep yield better fur for such a garment, I can say it does exactly as it says on the tin. Its all-day comfortable, wicks moisture away very, very well and hasn’t developed any funny smells, despite using it a few times too many without a wash.
The fit is an athletic one meaning its snug but it retains enough stretch to pull the sleeves up should you wish and ensures fitting and removal are as stress free as possible. Although I’ve worn it a load, its barely showing signs of wear apart from a few hooked strands on the arms - to be expected after snagging it on a few bushes here and there.
If like me, you like Specialized’s kit and accessories anyway, you won't be disappointed when you use their baselayer too. At £55 it’s up there with the best of the competition, well £5 more expensive than an Endura Baa Baa for example, but it performs just as well, and is even a little comfier than the competition.
Spesh also do a high neck/rollneck version for men and there is also a women's fit version with a regular neck at the same price.
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Test report Specialized Merino LS Underwear Baselayer £55.00
Base layers
Product purpose:
An underlayer to wick moisture away from the skin and regulate temperature
Product construction
Product construction extra:
Material has snagged slightly on brambles but this is to be expected in my opinion
Product performance
Product performance extra:
Baselayer has been useful in the autumn and winter, regulating heat well when It gets warm and insulating well when it is very cold.
Product durability
Product durability extra:
The product has had plenty of washes and has retained its shape and stretch well, it will be interesting to see if this continues. Review to be updated long term.
Product comfort
Product comfort extra:
A nice amount of stretch, if you like a figure-hugging design±
product value
Product value extra:
It's £5 more expensive than the best of the rest, something I think is worthwhile due to the comfort on offer
Enjoy:
Yes
Buy:
Yes
Recommend:
Yes
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