A guide to Base Layers
Compression baselayers are a fairly new innovation in sports science. Baselayers offer a range of benefits to the sportsperson in a variety of activities. A Compression Baselayer has three direct functions in acting on the body:
– Regulate body temperature
– Compress core muscles
– Aid Recovery
Baselayers are not just for top athletes though. Performance baselayers benefit everyone, from the supreme athlete to the Sunday league footballer.
Compression Baselayers function by controlling body temperature and reduce the build-up of lactic acid by compressing the muscles before during and after physical exercise. One of the key chemicals compression sports baselayers regulate is lactic acid. This product of the body builds up in the muscles when toil takes place and can lead to cramps and tiredness – baselayers compact the muscles and so push this chemical away from the muscle, meaning recovery and stamina are enriched. Scientists have shown that in reducing the build up of lactic acid during and following exercise, an athlete’s recovery rate is greatly improved and their susceptibility to injury greatly reduced.
By compressing the muscle groups during and after use, you are also helping to protect them from potential damage and thereby making your athletic attainment better. The specific compression patches engineered into athletics baselayers also offer real support for integral areas of the body – this protects the muscle and supporting tissues from the worst effects of over exercise when training or playing sports and can improve the performance of an athlete.
Couple this compression with correct materials designed to cancel moisture, eradicate or retain body heat and you have the basis of what is termed Technical Apparel which is designed to provide the wearer with a moistureless, contented resolution to their workout needs in whatever climate condition they may find themselves in. This is especially noteworthy with animated snow sports, where the wearer needs to remain dry and free from sweat so that body heat is not leeched away when stopped.
There are many deviating materials used by different brands for thermal base layered apparel. Polyester is a typical and common fabric used in the fashion of thermal ski wear. Now and again the polyester material is blended with Lycra to give extra stretch and durability. Polyester is a type of polypropylene, a plastic material that is regular in the manufacture of outdoor clothing. The fabric has a weave that is minute and very tight, allowing good thermal and breathable qualities.
Another popular material that is now widely used in ski clothing base layers is Merino wool. This fine wool variety is appropriate for under garments as it is both comfortable and efficient in its thermal qualities. Being an organic fabric it is sometimes preferred to the polyester type materials.
When selecting your thermal base layer it is important to decide what kind of garment you require. There are a few different varieties of the thermal top. Long sleeved tops are recommended for skiing for obvious reasons, although you might want to decide between a crew neck and a zip top which would give extra neck warmth. Having a few of each in your wardrobe will give you the choice depending on the conditions of the day. When it comes to the thermal leggings, some garments are designed to come down to just below the knee. Most people wear full-length leggings, as the thin material tends not to inhibit you in any way.
To see our complete range base layers including the Canterbury Baselayer Cold, come see us at Mad4Sport.
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