Layering just isn’t sophisticated. It is the method of including and eradicating layers of clothes to maintain your physique snug in altering climate and temperature situations.
Billions of {dollars} have been spent making an attempt to optimize this course of (and promote you stuff), but it surely’s actually quite simple: Put clothes on while you’re chilly, take clothes off while you’re sizzling. Which clothes? That is the rub, as they are saying. However don’t be concerned. We’ll stroll you thru what every layer is, methods to layer, and while you’ll need it. When you’re finished right here, take a look at our guides to the Greatest Base Layers, Greatest Puffer Jackets, Greatest Merino Wool, and Greatest Rain Jackets for extra.
Up to date February 2026: We have up to date our recommendation primarily based on new experiences, and put in a number of new picks culled from all of the gear we have examined within the final yr.
Layering Fundamentals
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{Photograph}: Carol Yepes/Getty Photographs
The important thing to layering is figuring out what the layers are for and when so as to add and take away them. The excessive stage overview seems to be like this:
- Base layer: The layer that touches your pores and skin. These present some heat, however they’re primarily essential for wicking sweat away out of your pores and skin. Being damp means being chilly.
- Mid layer: The layer that is—anticipate it—within the center. That is the layer the place you truly begin insulating, or trapping physique warmth. That is the important thing to the entire system and may often be multiple layer (e.g., a light-weight fleece and a puffer jacket).
- Outer layer: The highest layer is the waterproof, windproof layer that makes positive that nature doesn’t steal all that treasured warmth you’ve got retained within the mid layer. That is generally known as a “shell.”
When you will not all the time be carrying all of those, particularly while you’re exerting your self whereas strolling, working, et cetera, it is often price carrying all three. If it is chilly, you can begin with all three on and peel them off as you get hotter. When it is sizzling you are able to do the other, pulling out a shell while you cease on a windy ridge. Clearly there are conditions the place you need not carry all of them. Climbing the Florida path in July? Skip the mid layer, ya lunatic.
Base Layers
SmartWool
Merino Basic Lengthy-Sleeve
Let’s begin with underwear. Whether or not boxers, briefs, boxer briefs, or bras, go for supplies which can be going to assist transfer moisture away out of your pores and skin. I’ve discovered merino wool to be splendid for underwear, but it surely’s price making an attempt completely different materials to search out which works finest for you.
Subsequent comes what we typically consider as base layers: comparatively tight-fitting however not overly restrictive pants and shirt with the twin objective of insulating in chilly climate and wicking sweat in sizzling. Once more, there’s a big range of materials. For those who go for merino wool right here, you profit from wool’s pure capability to clean out temperature variation throughout your pores and skin, maintaining you extra evenly heat/cool (I name this temperature modulation).
There are additionally different choices for material right here, which incorporates Nuyarn. It has a lot of the advantages of merino (it is often greater than half merino) however provides some nylon to offer further energy and sturdiness, in addition to rushing up drying instances. The latter will be essential in very moist climates. In my expertise, artificial base layers don’t carry out as nicely at both insulation or moisture removing, although they’ll typically dry sooner, last more, and are sometimes cheaper.
