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megmeister drynamo long-sleeve baselayer
a baselayer fulfils at least two important functions: firstly, with a bit of luck, it keeps you warm, fuzzy and as dry as conditions will allow. and secondly, and arguably more importantly, it fulfils a similar purpose to that offered by the mips liner in several contemporary cycle helmets. in other words, if, for any unfortunate reason, you hit the deck at speed, the baselayer forms a middle-man (so to speak), between your jersey and skin, possibly saving you from highly uncomfortable road-rash.
the latter, however, is probably not the garment's primary purpose, and possibly not at the top of the design list.
it has long been common advice to those indulging in adventurous outdoor activities, that the most pragmatic means of dressing for the weather, is to layer one's garmentage. working from the inside out, commencing with a thermal baselayer, under a seasonably appropriate jersey, topped, if conditions demand, with a windproof or waterproof breathable outer shell.
the theory behind so doing is the ability to add or remove layers as conditions demand across the course of a day and trapping warm air between each layer. in practice, it tends to work better for hillwalkers or hikers, who probably have a backpack capable of accepting an outer shell. the three rear pockets on a cycle jersey are usually found wanting when wishing to stow a full-size outer jacket. who hasn't found themselves in that situation?
however, for the purposes of today's discussion, we're looking specifically at the humble (or, in this case, not so humble) baselayer, a garment i confess to wearing at every point of the year. in summer, that will most likely consist of a short-sleeve and relatively lightweight item, either of merino wool construction or some blend of polyester. merino is often the preferred fabric, if only for its odour-free demeanour, but the primary function in summer is to wick sweat away from one's personage and pass it on to the jersey and subsequently to any outer garment worn as a barrier to wind or rain. even in a hebridean summer, keeping warm is of a secondary consideration.
an erstwhile cycling colleague of mine swore by the cotton t-shirt as the finest of base layers, a recommendation with which few of us would find favour. when cotton gets wet, it tends to remain so, and there's no denying that you'll be perfectly well aware of that propensity both during and after the bike ride. perfection in a baselayer is either one that conceals its saturation, or, better still, passes it outwards, leaving itself in a most amenable state of dessication. megmeister's branding of this particular baselayer as drynamo probably gives some indication as to where it lives on that sliding scale.
it is rare that i find myself requiring a long-sleeve baselayer, even in the depths of winter. the hebrides are renowned for vast quantities of rainfall at this time of year, but unlike scotland's east coast, our climate is reckoned to be of a more temperate constitution. climate change, however, might be in the throes of altering this; over the past year or so, the prevailing south-westerly winds appear to have changed tack, and we are on the receiving end of easterlies far more than was once the case. easterlies are, by definition, colder. and on the first day of the review period, islay was on the receiving end of a north easterly blast, dropping the temperature display on my garmin to marginally in excess of three degrees (excluding wind chill).
day two was a tad less onerous, but still an excellent opportunity on which to check the veracity of a seamlessly constructed baselayer. to return to my original mention of merino wool, it comprises 68% of the garment, aided and abetted by 4% regenerated lycra, and 28% amni-soul. if the latter is new to you, it's also new to me. it is, apparently, a soft to the touch, biodegradeable polyamide fabric, meaning that, when the baselayer reaches the end of its useful life, it will naturally decompose, unlike many modern, man-made fabrics that tend to last, and last, and last.
if you will allow me to be quite blunt, this is possiby the finest baselayer in which it has been my good fortune to be cossetted. as previously mentioned, a long sleeved baselayer is something i'd be inclined to keep in storage for special occasions, perhaps better known as january. however, the combination of cold weather (though relatively windless) and the second-skin feeling as described by megmeister on their website, meant that it was remarkably cosy, and all but invisible in use. and despite wearing a long-sleeve winter jersey and thermal jacket, comfort, in every sense of that description, was undoubtedly the watchword following my return to the croft.
the lack of seams undoubtedly played a part in that situation. the sleeves are well judged in length, featuring thumbholes at the cuffs, either to ward off any untoward draughts when riding, or keeping the sleeves just where you want them while donning a tight-fitting long-sleeve jersey over the top. and though it would be naive to expect the layer to be 100% dry at ride's end, it kept that pretty much to itself.
if i have any complaint, and it's a relatively minor one, i'd have preferred a higher neckline. i tend to wear a richard sachs monogrammed colsino over all my jerseys, so in practice, it's a moot point, but i would have liked it to have been a smidgeon higher. that said, megmeister also offer a turtleneck version to suit those of us with wimpish tendencies. if winter weather is about to, or already afflicting your riding, this might just be the very solution for which you seek.
the megmeister drynamo long-sleeve baselayer is available in small/medium (as reviewed), or large/xl at a cost of £90. colour of the review garment is focus olive. however, if you're quick, it's currently on sale at £72, if you're interested.
monday 27 november 2023
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