Joe's Picks

← Underwear and Swimwear Worth Investing In

Vests Worth Layering Under Worth Having in Your Wardrobe

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Joe's Top Picks

Base Layers With a Lightweight Edge That Works SOCK SHOP Pack Black Microfleece Base Layer Bottoms Men's Large Jump to section ↓

$16.99 SOCK SHOP

Base Layers With Thermal Detail Done Properly SNEAKIN UK zip base layer super.natural Arctic Jump to section ↓

$98.27 SNEAKIN UK

Black Base Layers Worth Building an Outfit Around VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals Adventure Base Layer Tee - Black - S Black Jump to section ↓

$34.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

Breathable Base Layers That Don't Cut Corners SNEAKIN UK Merino wool base layer zip Helly Hansen Lifa Jump to section ↓

$69.34 SNEAKIN UK

Cotton Pyjamas That Hold Their Shape ETHICAL SUPERSTORE Kite Hello Bear Pyjamas Jump to section ↓

$23.95 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

Long Sleeve Base Layers That Look Sharp Without the Squeeze BLACKS Newbury Long Sleeve Base Layer Jump to section ↓

$14.97 BLACKS

Polyester Base Layers That Justify the Fuss BLACKS Men's Base Layer Coolmax Liner Boot Socks Pair Jump to section ↓

$22.00 BLACKS

Base Layers With a Lightweight Edge That Works

Most men either ignore base layers entirely or treat them as purely functional kit with no thought given to how they sit under everything else. Both approaches cause problems. Too thick and your shirt collar bunches. Too rough and it itches through a long day. Too visible at the neck and the whole outfit reads wrong. What actually works is a base layer light enough to disappear under a shirt but considered enough in its construction that it earns its place against your skin from early morning to late evening. We have been looking specifically at options that work year round rather than just in deep winter. Merino is the obvious answer for most of these because the fibre breathes, resists odour, and holds its shape in a way that cheaper synthetics simply do not. Fit matters too. A base layer that bunches at the waist or pulls across the shoulders will ruin whatever goes on top of it. These are the ones that do their job without drawing attention to themselves.

SOCK SHOP Pack Black Microfleece Base Layer Bottoms Men's Large $16.99 SOCK SHOP

SNEAKIN UK Base Layer Blaklader Xlight $72.45 SNEAKIN UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Tog 'snowdon' Thermal Base Layer Leggings In Black $22.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

GHOSTBIKES.COM Fox Racing Tecbase Compression Base Layer Shorts $44.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Tog 'snowdon' Thermal Base Layer Crew Neck In Lavender $24.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

INSTOCK UK Recycled Long Sleeve Base Layer: Mens - X Jet Black $16.00 INSTOCK UK

GHOSTBIKES.COM Spada Crucible Crew LS Long Sleeved Base Layer Black $39.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

INSTOCK UK Recycled Long Sleeve Base Layer: Mens - L Jet Black $13.00 INSTOCK UK

BLACKS Kids Sunstopper . Zip Base Layer $18.97 BLACKS

GHOSTBIKES.COM Oxford Advanced Base Layer Pants - Charcoal Marl S $19.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

INSTOCK UK Kids Thermal Base Layer Set $11.02 INSTOCK UK

BLACKS Men's Long Sleeve Zip Base Layer $23.97 BLACKS

Base Layers With Thermal Detail Done Properly

Most men treat base layers as an afterthought and then wonder why they're cold or uncomfortable the moment the temperature actually drops. The thermal detail is where it goes wrong most often. Either the fabric is too thin to do any real work, or it's thick enough to be warm but looks ridiculous the moment a collar peeks above a shirt. We've been looking specifically at pieces that solve both problems at once. The thermal construction has to be functional enough to trap heat without adding bulk, and the collar and cuffs have to sit cleanly under whatever goes on top. Merino blends tend to win here because they regulate temperature properly and don't hold odour the way synthetics do on a long day. Fit matters more than most people realise with base layers. Too loose and the warmth escapes. These are the ones we'd actually layer under a good shirt without thinking twice about it.

SNEAKIN UK zip base layer super.natural Arctic $98.27 SNEAKIN UK

SOCK SHOP Pack Black Microfleece Base Layer Long Sleeved Top Ladies Large $16.99 SOCK SHOP

SOCK SHOP Pack Pink Compression Base Layer Leggings Ladies - Ladies $26.99 SOCK SHOP

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Equi Base Layer $69.00 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

SOCK SHOP Pack Black Microfleece Base Layer Long Sleeved Top Men's Large $16.99 SOCK SHOP

BLACKS Men's Classic Thermal Merino Base Layer Bottoms $105.00 BLACKS

GHOSTBIKES.COM Oxford Advanced Base Layer Top - Charcoal Marl $24.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

SOCK SHOP Pack Grey Compression Base Layer Leggings Ladies - Ladies $26.99 SOCK SHOP

BLACKS Men's Thermal Base Layer Pants $19.00 BLACKS

GHOSTBIKES.COM Fox Racing Tecbase Fire Base Layer Leggings $79.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

INSTOCK UK Mens Fleece Lined Base Layer Thermal Long Sleeve Top - S XX-Warm $20.64 INSTOCK UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Tog 'meru' Cashmere Touch Base Layer Roll Neck In Blue $30.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Black Base Layers Worth Building an Outfit Around

Black does something specific in a wardrobe that no other colour quite replicates. It removes the decision. You stop wondering whether the base layer works with the overshirt, the jacket, the coat, and you just get dressed. The problem is that most black base layers are either too thin to look like anything or cut in a way that only works tucked in and nowhere else. We've been looking specifically for pieces that hold their shape, sit right under an open jacket, and look intentional rather than accidental. A good black base layer should work as a second layer in winter and a standalone piece in the shoulder months. Crew neck, fitted but not tight, fabric with enough weight to drape properly. Those are the things that matter. The ones we've pulled together here do all of that without charging you a fortune for the privilege of figuring it out the hard way.

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Originals Adventure Base Layer Tee - Black - S Black $34.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Chiltern Base Layer $69.00 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

GHOSTBIKES.COM Alpinestars Ride Tech Winter Long Sleeve Base Layer Shirt - Black Grey -" | $85.49 GHOSTBIKES.COM

GHOSTBIKES.COM Black Windproof Base Layer Top - Black -" | | -" $19.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

GHOSTBIKES.COM Black Windproof Base Layer Trousers - Black -" | | -" $19.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

INSTOCK UK Mens Fleece Lined Base Layer Thermal Long Sleeve Top - S X-Warm $20.64 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Recycled Polyester Long Sleeve Base Layer - M Black $19.00 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Mens Fleece Lined Base Layer Thermal Long John Bottoms - M XX-Warm $21.22 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Mens Microfleece Winter Thermal Base Layer Long Johns Bottoms - Large Black $18.99 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Mens Breathable Thermal Base Layer Long Sleeve Top for Winter - L Grey $24.99 INSTOCK UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Men's Ski Base Layer Legging Black - Size: $27.99 SUPERDRY_UK

Breathable Base Layers That Don't Cut Corners

Most men don't think about base layers until they're standing at a bus stop in January, sweating through a merino crew neck that cost forty pounds and pilling after three washes. That's the wrong way to approach this. A good base layer is the foundation of how comfortable you feel for the entire day, whether you're layering under a suit, a heavy overshirt, or just trying to make a t-shirt work harder in cooler weather. The breathability question matters more than most men realise. A base layer that traps heat without managing moisture is just a slightly thin jumper. What we've been looking for here is proper fabric construction, flat seams that don't announce themselves under fitted shirts, and a fit that works tucked or untucked without bunching. Natural fibres where they earn their place, technical blends where they genuinely perform better. Nothing in here is a compromise dressed up as a choice. These are the ones worth wearing closest to your skin.

SNEAKIN UK Merino wool base layer zip Helly Hansen Lifa $69.34 SNEAKIN UK

GHOSTBIKES.COM Spada Chill Factor Ladies Base Layer Trousers Black - $31.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

INSTOCK UK Mens Microfleece Winter Thermal Base Layer Long Johns Bottoms - Small Black $18.99 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Breathable Thermal Base Layer Long Sleeve Top for Winter - M Grey $24.99 INSTOCK UK

BLACKS Kids' Newbury Long Sleeved Base Layer - Red -Y $12.97 BLACKS

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Tog 'snowdon' Thermal Base Layer Leggings In Grey $22.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

GHOSTBIKES.COM Spada Chill Factor Base Layer Trousers Black $31.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

INSTOCK UK Mens Microfleece Winter Thermal Base Layer Long Johns Bottoms - X-Large Black $18.99 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Mens Breathable Thermal Base Layer Long Sleeve Top for Winter - M Black $24.99 INSTOCK UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Tog 'snowdon' Thermal Base Layer Quarter Zip In Grey $24.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

Cotton Pyjamas That Hold Their Shape

Most men own pyjamas that started fine and turned into something else entirely after six months of washing. The fabric goes thin, the trousers lose their shape, the jacket collar starts to curl in ways it never fully recovers from. It is one of those purchases that looks like a small decision and then reminds you it was not. Cotton is the right material for pyjamas. It breathes, it feels good against skin, and it has a weight that synthetic fabrics never quite replicate. The problem is that not all cotton is made the same way. Thread count matters. Construction matters. The quality of the elastic and the cut of the trouser leg matter more than most brands will admit. We have been looking specifically for sets that still look like themselves after a year of regular wear. No pilling, no warping, no mysterious bagging at the knee. These are pyjamas that treat sleep as seriously as the rest of your wardrobe does.

ETHICAL SUPERSTORE Kite Hello Bear Pyjamas $23.95 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

PIXIE DIXIE Rabbit Crew Neck Pyjamas - yrs - rs $12.00 PIXIE DIXIE

NATURAL COLLECTION Kite Lion And Mouse Pyjamas $23.80 NATURAL COLLECTION

MONSOON Dilli Grey Johari Floral Long Pyjamas Set Blue $51.00 MONSOON

SNEAKIN UK Long-sleeved pyjamas Admas Magnific Eclipse $33.55 SNEAKIN UK

PIXIE DIXIE Rabbit Crew Neck Pyjamas - yrs - yrs $12.00 PIXIE DIXIE

NATURAL COLLECTION Kite Hello Bear all-in-one Pyjamas $20.95 NATURAL COLLECTION

SNEAKIN UK Baby boy pyjamas Kite Captain Croc $33.06 SNEAKIN UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cream Polka Dot Crinkle Button Up Long Sleeve Pyjamas $28.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

NATURAL COLLECTION Organic Cotton Colin Pyjamas $38.45 NATURAL COLLECTION

SNEAKIN UK Baby pyjamas Kite Woodland Walk $28.78 SNEAKIN UK

ETHICAL SUPERSTORE Kite Captain Croc Pyjamas $23.80 ETHICAL SUPERSTORE

Long Sleeve Base Layers That Look Sharp Without the Squeeze

Most base layers are built for the gym and it shows. Plasticky fabric, a fit that grips every part of you whether you want it to or not, and a collar that collapses the moment you layer anything over it. They function fine under a hoodie on a training day and look completely wrong under a shirt, a knit, or anything you'd actually wear out in the world. What we were looking for here is different. Long sleeve layers that do the thermal job without announcing themselves, that sit flat under a blazer, that have enough structure at the neck to look considered rather than accidental. Fabric matters enormously. The best options in here use merino or a refined cotton blend that breathes properly and doesn't pill after four washes. These work for travelling, for layering through winter, for the office when the heating is unreliable. They are not afterthoughts. They are the thing that makes everything worn over them look better.

BLACKS Newbury Long Sleeve Base Layer $14.97 BLACKS

GHOSTBIKES.COM Spada Chill Factor Long Sleeve Base Layer Shirt Black - $31.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

BLACKS Childs Team Long Sleeve Base Layer $14.97 BLACKS

INSTOCK UK Recycled Long Sleeve Base Layer: Mens - M Arctic White $16.00 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Fleece Lined Base Layer Thermal Long Sleeve Top - S X-Warm $19.91 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Recycled Polyester Long Sleeve Base Layer - Black $19.00 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Breathable Thermal Base Layer Long Sleeve Top for Winter - L Grey $24.99 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Ladies Fleece Lined Base Layer Thermal Long Sleeve Top - M Warm $19.91 INSTOCK UK

GHOSTBIKES.COM Fox Racing Tecbase Long Sleeve Base Layer Shirt $49.99 GHOSTBIKES.COM

Polyester Base Layers That Justify the Fuss

Most men buy a base layer once, find it acceptable, and never think about it again. That is a mistake. A bad base layer keeps you neither warm nor dry, bunches under a mid layer, and turns a good day outside into an exercise in irritability. Polyester gets dismissed as cheap but the best technical polyester constructions outperform merino in moisture management, dry faster, and hold their shape across a full season of hard use. The category has genuinely moved on. We have been looking specifically at pieces with flat seams that do not show under fitted outer layers, fabrics with enough stretch to move properly without losing structure, and fits that work with both next to skin layering and as a visible piece on lower output days. These are not afterthoughts. They are the ones worth spending actual money on, because getting cold and wet because your base layer failed is a completely avoidable problem.

BLACKS Men's Base Layer Coolmax Liner Boot Socks Pair $22.00 BLACKS