Getting layered up for Winter can mean the difference between being warm and shivering. I usually go for the Three Layer system of base, insulation and outer.

Getting the base layer right is important for three main reasons:

1. Wicking Moisture – Classic cotton base layers hold on to moisture and, as your body cools down, the damp cotton continues to draw heat from the body risking over-cooling after activity.
2. Weight – Using three layers increases bulk; a thinner base layer cuts down on bulk that could otherwise restrict movement.
3. Comfort – Being in direct contact with skin means the base layer must be non-irritating and help to reduce odour and the possibility of fungi.

Camping, skiing, trekking, climbing and other outdoor activities can be strenuous and generate sweat, even in cold weather. The Mountain Junky Technical Bamboo T-Shirt is probably the softest base layer I’ve ever worn, and the 5% Spandex kept me moving like Legs & Co!

95% bamboo, 5% Legs & Co!

Once I’d put the t-shirt on it became a second skin. Light and easy to wear the fit is naturally generous. I’ll probably go down a size or two for the next one to get a closer fit, I’m sure the Spandex will cope. This will also increase the t-shirts moisture wicking properties as the material gets closer to the skin.

Made from 95% bamboo and 5% Top of the Pops dancers, the manufacturers claim the anti-bacterial nature of the material will stop me from getting too stinky. I wore it solidly for three days during a not too strenuous two night camp. I was pongy but not as bad as normal so maybe there’s something to be said for bamboo.

Verdict

All-in-all a great base layer that is easy and comfortable to wear; and it keeps you warm. Go for a size smaller for a closer fit and enhance the wicking properties of the bamboo material.

Related posts:

1. Mountain Junky Bamboo Shirt – a real life review!
2. Bamboozled
3. Wool Undercrackers for Enhanced Bedroom Performance!

Making her first public appearance at Lakeland Bushcraft is wildelycreative talking about the Snugpak Elite Softshell.

Snugpak Elite Softshell

Getting ready for my next bushcraft weekend in Kent and feeling slightly deficient in the kit department, I got some great recommendations from Lurch. Lovely guy, a bit tall, but I suppose some of us have to be. He suggested a Snugpak Elite Softshell wind proof jacket to keep me warm and dry should the weather be typically English.

A bit wet and windy, perfect for trying out the Snugpak

Eager to try it out I headed straight for Castlerigg Stone Circle on the way back from Cockermouth. While it wasn’t a particularly cold day, the breeze was cool enough to warrant something other than the thin jumper I had on.

Clouds clung to the hill tops and the wind picked up somewhat on the exposed Castlerigg site. I was surprised. While the wind made it into the collar area, I imagined with a polo neck jumper underneath, this would stop. The extra layer of fleece inside the jacket provided just enough insulation to keep my torse and arms warm; but without a jumper underneath this Snugpak jacket is definitely not a winter alternative.

Inside the generous pockets I found the natty little stuff sack that would make this jacket a must carry for Spring, Summer and Autumn pursuits. (They’re also big enough to carry an A5 reporters notebook with ease.)

Luckily, or unluckily depending upon how you look at it, after five minutes being in the stone circle, the rain started. Drops beaded on the outside of the Snugpak jacket and there wasn’t any liquid penetrating through seams. Although I’ve yet to experience it in a real down pour, with the integrated hood I reckon it would be a great emergency backup. Incidentally, all folded away, the hood did provide some measure of neck protection, but not as good as a scarf.

There aren’t any inside pockets but I truly realised the jacket’s windproof abilities when I pulled the zip down to check. The wind whipped in, cooling me quickly so I didn’t check properly. There might be some there. (There aren’t, I checked in the comfort of home afterwards.)

Verdict

All in all a great addition to any walker/bushcrafter/camper kit bag – small enough to chuck in “just in case”, substantial enough to do the job. The only cold bits were my hands, face and legs. Better get a hat and gloves next!

Related posts:

1. Snugpak SF Bivvi Stands Up to October Downpour
2. John Fenna on the Snugpak Response Pak
3. Getting cold in Oxon

The Bison Guide wool shirt in Summer and Spring colours are now available.

Bison Guide Shirt - Summer

Roger at Bison Bushcraft commissioned the Guide shirts following a period where the old stalwart Swanndri Ranger became unavailable due to issues with the importers.  The consensus is that the Guide shirt raised the bar.  I’d have to agree, the shirt is a definite improvement over the Swanni.

The grandad collar really works for this style and the cut of the shirt means that wearing the shirt like a jumper (as many people do, including me) looks less odd.  The Swanni is cut long (too long) for tucking in so if you don’t tuck in it looks stoopid.  No such troubles with the Guide.  The build of the fabric is better too, without a doubt.  Not only this it is UK built with UK wool, Swannis these days are built in China not New Zealand as they were.

I bought the Summer and Spring colours and I’ll probably add the autumn at a later date when my wallet recovers.

Here’s me again pulling a rather odd face in the Spring colour.

Bison Guide Shirt - Spring

Related posts:

1. Mountain Junky Bamboo Shirt – a real life review!
2. Bamboozled
3. The Importance of a Good Base Layer

A review of the Mountain Junky bamboo shirts from a real life user:

Mountain Junky's, on the mountain!

I am one of those people who could sweat for their country. I only need to think about going on the hill and I start leaking. With that in mind I am writing to say that the bamboo base layer is probably the most comfortable base layer I have ever worn. I wore it on our ascent of Half Dome and this was a really fabulous test as the ascent encountered lots of different weather conditions and gradients.

When the shirts are first taken out of the packaging they give the appearance of being heavy but once on they seemed light and they were extremely comfortable to wear. We set off at 5.15 in the morning and I just wore my bamboo shirt as a top. It was quite cool at that time of the morning but I felt really comfortable.

Within about 1 hr 15 minutes we had climbed to the top of Vernal Fall a distance of about 1.6 miles and height gain of 1000 feet including about 700 granite steps – the first of 3 steep climbs. When we reached the top of the Fall I was soaked with sweat. (see picture). I did not feel cold or uncomfortable. I was really pleased and this helped to keep my morale up. I was absolutely amazed at how quick the bamboo shirts dried and how they wicked the sweat away.

As the walk went on and the gradient lessened my shirt was soon dry and as we reached the top of the wires to gain the summit the photographs clearly show that my shirt had dried despite being on the most strenuous and stressful part of the ascent.( See picture)

The shirt was worn for 12 hours and was absolutely superb – I cannot recommend it highly enough.

As a matter of interest I have used the bamboo towel as a scarf in really cold weather and found that to be excellent too.

Mountain Junky Bamboo T-Shirt

Related posts:

1. The Importance of a Good Base Layer
2. Bamboozled
3. Bison Guide Shirt

We just got some shirts from Mountain Junky in.

Mountain Junky Bamboo T-Shirt

Wow. These are crazy soft!

Read our readers real life review of a Mountain Junky Bamboo T-Shirt here.

Related posts:

1. Mountain Junky Bamboo Shirt – a real life review!
2. The Importance of a Good Base Layer
3. Bison Guide Shirt

The Merino's are convinced!

I recently received a report from our friends at Chocolate Fish Merino regarding the various wonderful properties of merino wool. Included in these are the usual things we know about merino such as it’s non scratch, low stink and high water vapour transmission.

Page 5 takes things up to a whole new level!

“Studies have shown decreased sexual activity (measured as a ratio of successful copulation to
mounting) in rats wearing polyester and cotton/polyester blend underwear (Shafik 1993), but an
enhanced ability in those wearing wool garments (Table 2) – proving wool truly is a performance fibre!”

So there you go, it’s wool skanks for increased sexual function.
I’d like to state for the record that I wear merino wool underkeks all the time…..

Related posts:

1. Bison Guide Shirt
2. The Importance of a Good Base Layer