“Cold feet are only for weddings ….
Stay cool … Stay comfy … FISH ON!”
We are an authorized dealer of fishing or any outdoor related Fishing Layering and Undergarments for the leading manufacturers listed below.
See here for a list of our Fishing Layering and Undergarments that are on SALE or Clearance.
Dress for success!
Contact us for current inventory and sizing details our Fishing Layering and Undergarments.
What is a base layer and why do you need to wear one?
A base layer is an insulating layer worn next to your skin. Base layers help regulate your body temperature by moving perspiration away from your skin, which will help keep your dry. Staying dry allows you to stay warm and happy in the winter as the moisture freezers anywhere else rather than next to the bare skin. Base layers come in many forms from T-shirts to tights to briefs. Some are designed to contour to your body while others are loose fitting. Base layers come in different weights or thicknesses to suit different temperatures and activity levels.
Base Layer Weights:
Generally, there are three different base layer weights:
Lightweight:
This is a thin first layer that goes next to your skin with the ability to easily add layers over it. Lightweight base layers are a crucial step in layering as they must be comfortable on the skin and are designed to fit tighter for the best moisture management. Worn alone they are best suited for mild to cool conditions with high levels of activity like you would experience while walking a day on the river.
Midnight:
A midweight layer can be worn as a warmer first layer or as a second layer over your next-to-skin layer, providing a combination of insulation and moisture wicking. Alone it is best suited to cool or moderately cold to cold conditions with medium levels of activity where you will be moving some of the time but standing still at others. It can be combined with lightweight layers underneath or heavyweight layers over it to accomplish the desired warmth.
Heavyweight:
This is designed for cold conditions combined with any level of activity and often referred to as “expedition weight”. Almost always worn over a lighter weight layer, heavyweight layers are designed to add insulation and are worn looser without as much focus on moisture management. These layers are thicker due to their higher loft for insulation.
Material:
The majority of base layers in today’s world are composed of either Merino wool or synthetic fabrics like Polypropylene. Rather than absorbing moisture, these fabrics wick (transport) moisture and perspiration away from the skin and disperse it on the outer surface where it evaporates. Both of these fabrics do roughly the same things: efficiently transport moisture away from skin, dry much faster than conventional cotton underwear and reduce the risk of dramatic swings in body temperature.
Synthetic vs. Wool:
Synthetic Wool
The Good:
- Soft;
- Easy care;
- Lightest base layer;
- Abrasion-resistant;
- Wrinkle-resistant;
- Very stretchable;
- Excellent moisture management;
- Excellent drying time;
- Fairly priced;
- Soft to skin lightweight fabric;
- Stain and wrinkle resistant;
- Natural finer;
- Excellent moisture management;
- Excellent temperature regulation;
- Excellent odor resistance (it doesn’t stink);
- Very good stretch.
The Bad:
- Slightly slower temperature regulation than wool;
- Synthetic fiber;
- Odor can build up if not consistently washed;
- Petroleum-based synthetic finer;
- Potentially vulnerable to staining;
- Slower drying time than synthetics;
- Potentially vulnerable to shrinkage if not washed properly;
- More expensive than synthetic base layers.
We are the leading provider of Fly Fishing Lessons, Corporate Team Building, and Guiding on the Upper Grand River, the Upper Credit River, and the Conestogo River.
No Guelph, Fergus, Kitchener or Cambridge Fishing Tackle Retailer will boast as complete and diverse a store inventory, including a vast selection of Centerpin / Float Fishing Reels, Rods, Clothing and Accessories.
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