I just bought an Outdoor Research Marino Wool base layer hoodie, with a built in baklava, and it's amazing. Very functional. Super warm.

 

Sounds damp

 

I saw this vid a while back, Outdoor U-tube guy seems to like’em. Haven’t tried mesh myself, I like silk baselayer personally.

 

I saw this vid a while back, Outdoor U-tube guy seems to like’em. Haven’t tried mesh myself, I like silk baselayer personally.

I saw that vid recently as well and took a chance on one of these baselayer shirts: Unisex Super Thermo Long Sleeve with Inlay – Brynje USA

It's been a real game changer for me. Supposedly it holds air pockets against your body while absorbing no sweat, keeping you warm and dry. And...it works. It works remarkably well! Even on a day when I overdressed and got really hot I finished the ride absolutely dry. I've been wearing it with a light or mid weight mid-layer that wicks well and a 45nrtrh softshell jacket. When I think about the many many times over the years I've finished a fatbike ride chilled to the bone with my merino wool base layer soaked in sweat I just can't believe it. So I can wholeheartedly recommend these things-they seem really durable too, and since they don't soak up any sweat they don't seem to get stinky. (I've done 4 rides in this so far and it has no funk that I can detect.) Sizing is "unisex" but my medium fits like a men's medium should, snug enough to work as a base layer but not restrictive. I bought the one with the reinforced shoulders for backpack straps because it's the only kind they had in stock at the time but I don't think I needed that feature and it's a few more bucks, so I'd order this one if I were doing it today: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...jPmxCZ3XUeM5Si9SOYLCoKUPT0cbQEn76_QlmeKtWLX8O6PzG5yFLA0Ftnq4EnXB1FnW2rAR1GwFiMA

 

I've tried the Brynje mesh from Norway and it seems to work. It's hard for me to tell because honestly my conditions aren't extreme enough to expose subtle differences. I think I bought it on a recommendation from one of those 10 best bike product articles several years ago. The claims were that it does a better job creating stagnant air pockets for warmth when combined with a waterproof and windproof outer layer. Then it has the advantage of venting better when you open the outer layer to cool off.

The thing I've tried that has impressed me the most is the 7Mesh products using their "WTV" fabric (I think it stands for "Wind Thermal Ventilation"). I have their Pullover:
Men's Chilco Anorak - Men's Trail Riding Thermal Hoody | 7mesh
and it works surprisingly well. It's kept me comfortable from 30 deg F to 50 deg, which is all I need. At the lower temperature band, I put a thermal long sleeve jersey underneath and at the high end I use a very light summer jersey. It's a bit pricey, but I read a couple of reviews that raved about it and said it was genuinely different so I went with it. I haven't used it in the wet, but a couple of reviewers from the UK said it does a decent job in light rain. Surprisingly, it feels almost like a soft cotton, but is not.

There is also now a jacket made of a lighter version of the material and that has the full zipper for more ventilation if needed:
Men's Spruce Hoody - Men's Mountain & Gravel Hoody | 7mesh
This is what I would get if I was going to use it from say 40 deg to 60. The pullover is very warm.

 

I've tried the Brynje mesh from Norway and it seems to work.

That looks just like the Mormon Magical Undergarments. Anyone tried those?

 

Skeptical, yet impressed.

 

I've used the Brynje super thermo ice climbing, mountaineering, and backcountry skiing for years. Topped with a fast drying 100% poly summer weight base layer (eg lightweight Capilene, OR Echo) - as a sweaty person - it does keep me drier and warmer than any other thermal base layer and I've tried basically everything.

Up to you if you want to pony up for fancy clothes to ride a bicycle. For my other hobbies it can be a bit more dangerous to get cold, but maybe your bike rides are longer and more adventurous than mine.

 

as a sweaty person - it does keep me drier and warmer than any other thermal base layer and I've tried basically everything.

That is me as well. I am a heavy sweater and find baselayers (even wool) are really wet pretty early on. I am going to try a longer ride so I wanted to do a little better with the clothes selection.

 

No

 

Better than the first thing that came to my mind...

 

I have some cheap Coconut Ropamo ones from Amazon. I think they might help some. I would say 1 out of 250 rides I might get my layering right and not soak my baselayer. I think it makes the cold and wet part not feel as intense if that makes sense.

 

I am so fat my belly looks like the outside of a ham when I take mine off. No one paid me to post this.

 

LOL. Mesh Girdle

 

many years ago there was this old survivalist guy in grand junction that made sleeping bags, these mesh base layers, and other stuff. i bought a sleeping bag (relatively cheap, yet also very heavy and bulky) and he sent a free mesh top layer. i tried it a few times but really didn't like it. for some reason it just always felt cold against my skin. kind of like when you are winter camping and change shirts - when you first put the cold one on it's like "bizzat!!!". but it didn't seem like it warmed up that well as i wore it.

 

Wiggy's! He was on the fishnet train at least 25 years ago. His print catalog of husky men in fishnet made me doubt the tech for at least a decade until they started wearing them in the tour de france with castelli logos, then I tried them. I could probably model for Wiggy's now.

I bought one of his sleeping bags and the temp rating was at least 30 degrees off. It is tough, though, I still use it.

 

I use the wiggys lamilite “socks”. They work well for their purpose when using a vapor barrier. I also sewed little pockets on top to drop in chem heaters for super extreme conditions. Theres quite a few of us using nearly the same system, with the lamilite.

 

I don't know the claims, but I bought a few Przewalski brand (Amazon) mesh sleeveless tops. I've had good luck with their budget bibs.

Generally I wear the mesh top as a base layer when temps start to dip below 50*F. Above that, a single poly jersey whether long or short sleeve suffices. When temps dip below 35*F I start wearing a slightly looser poly base layer and then a long sleeve poly base layer below 25*F.

My experience is the mesh top transfer moisture better to the next layer and stay less soaked, wet and heavy. With normal merino or poly baselayers they can get drenched in sweat and slap around (like on my stomach).