Polarmax Mountain Skins Base layers : Superior Wicking and Warmth

I spent an arduous long weekend snowshoeing at 12,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park this March, and was happy to be testing Polarmax’s Mountain Skins long underwear. These have got to be some of the warmest base layers I’ve ever worn, and they’re soft and cozy to boot.

The Mountain Skins have an incredible ability to wick moisture, which, along with their mid-to-heavy weight, is part of the reason they’re so warm. No matter how much I sweat, I never felt like I had damp skin. Until I read up on Polarmax's Mountain Skins base layers I hadn't realized that they are designed to be well above military spec when it comes to wicking ability. Makes sense.

The Mountain Skins have an inside layer of soft, cushy fleece bonded to a denser, brushed layer out the outside. I found two benefits to that outer side: first, it is pretty slippery, so it doesn’t catch when I pull on my shell jacket or pants. That means I don’t have to fish my cuffs out of my armpits. Second, the fabric is pretty tightly knit so it provides a relatively good buffer against the wind. As a result, I can wear my Mountain Skins as outer layers in the spring and fall. In fact, I’ll be using these base layers to run, ride, and climb in almost year-round.

I most often wear my Polarmax Mountain Skin long sleeve zip top with a highly breathable soft shell jacket; it may be the ultimate winter top combination. It's almost guaranteed to keep me dry because it will wick sweat from my body so well. This was very apparent to me on the mountain as I plodded through the alpine sun with 30 pounds of camera gear on back. It was cold and windy, but the sun was super intense and I was breathing and sweating hard in the Colorado high country. Nevertheless, all that sweat just seemed to disappear thanks to my Mountain Skins.

In addition to the superior moisture wicking ability, I loved the flat stitching on all the seams. I never felt any pressure points beneath pack straps or under waist belts. Also, to be honest, I tend to recycle my base layers – which is the polite way to say I don’t wash them after each use. My clothes tend to stink up after a while, but these have a great ability to resist odor thanks to Polarmax’s Scent Prevent technology.

Polarmax’s Mountain Skins base layers (a pant and a 1/4-zip mock turtleneck) are available for both men (in sizes S to 2XL) and women (in sizes XS to XL). They’re available in blue, black and white.

Material: 90% Acclimate Dry polyester and 10% spandex.

Bottom LIne: Warm, odor-resistant, soft and dry base layer for extreme cold weather.--N.W. (April ‘11)

BUY ONLINE : $59 for the bottoms and crew, $69 for the ¼-zip top.

Manufacturer's Site: www.polarmax.com

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