Two things matter to me in a base layer: moisture management and warmth. Duofold’s Varitherm Mid-Weight Brushed Back Long Sleeve Crew offers both, at a budget price.
Made out of a stretchy, brushed polyester that looks like a ribbed T-shirt on the outside and is as soft as cottony on the inside, the Duofold Varitherm Mid-Weight Brushed Back Long Sleeve Crew does a good job of pulling sweat away from my body so I don’t get chilled during my outdoor adventures. I’ve been wearing the top under a thin insulated vest and a soft shell jacket for hour-long power walks in temperatures between 30-35 degrees F, and have been happy to find that my skin is dry at the end of these outings. That means when I walk back to my car from the trail or to my home from the park I don’t get clammy when the cold air hits me post-exertion.
I often wear the Duofold Varitherm Mid-Weight Brushed Back Long Sleeve Crew as a pajama top, too, on cold nights when I turn down the thermostat to 52 degrees F. I like sleeping in the cold (and saving $ on my heating bill), and the top keeps me warm.
I like the basic style and cut of the Duofold Varitherm Mid-Weight Brushed Back Long Sleeve Crew. It looks and fits just like a regular T-shirt, and doesn’t have any visible logos (or any tags; the label on the inside of the shirt is a decal.) The top surface of the fabric definitely feels like a synthetic material but the underside is soft and almost fleecy. The seams are all flat, so I never experience any chafing.
The Duofold Varitherm Mid-Weight Brushed Back Long Sleeve Crew is available in men’s sizes S-2XL and women’s sizes S-XL, in Black and in Mid Charcoal Heather. I found a good fit in a women’s size L, my usual size, but since I’m 6′ tall, I wish the top was cut longer and had longer sleeves.
Bottom Line: A good mid-weight layer for low- to moderate-level activity in cold weather.
Manufacturer: www.duofold.com
$25, click for women’s top. Click here for men’s top.