20 Best Men’s Base Layers (Review) in 2021

The MERIWOOL Long Sleeve Thermal Shirt is arguably the best men’s base layer as it combines comfort and durability to create the perfect top for your outdoor activities. It is made of Merino wool, which is incredibly soft and comfortable. It’s a breathable shirt that regulates body temperature, keeping you both cool when it’s hot outside and warm on colder days. This lends itself well to versatility as it makes it an ideal option for any kind of weather.

This base layer has just the right amount of thickness meaning you can wear it as your only piece of clothing or underneath a jacket. It remains comfortable and makes a great shirt for everyday wear if that’s how you choose to use it. The level of ease the thermal top offers is top-notch; just be rest assured that however you choose to use it, it will serve you well. It also has a handy moisture-wicking feature to keep you dry all day. So,  regardless of how hard you go, you have worries of sweat stains making you feel uncomfortable in public or weird odors ruining your day.

Why stop at just the top? If you already have a perfectly comfortable top that keeps you warm/cool as the situation demands, it’s only reasonable that you get the perfect pair of pants to also match this. That’s when the MERIWOOL Men’s Base Layer Thermal Pants comes in handy. They are made from 18.5 microns of merino wool which makes it lighter than most fabrics out there while still keeping you as snug as possible. What’s more, it can act as a very decent pair of underpants.

As everyone knows, cold weather requires various layers of clothing. These thermal pants can be the best candidate for this and as a piece of clothing that comes in contact with your skin, it is the ultimate comfort wear. Clothing that touches your skin is always important as you could find yourself itching when in contact with inferior material. The Merino wool is a fiber that is not only smooth to the touch but also itch-free. With longer, softer fibers, the MERIWOOL Men’s Base Layer 100% Merino Wool Thermal Pants is the best Men’s Bottom Layer on the market for you and your skin.

Whether hiking, hunting, exercising or power walking, the MERIWOOL Womens Thermal Shirt has you covered (literally) and you’re enveloped with the softest fiber that you can get. Also made of merino wool – which is remarkable for a number of reasons but mostly because it’s superior to other materials. Merino wool has become the go-to material when making base layers. It doesn’t tear easily and you can be almost certain that your base layer top won’t be featuring distressing holes all over the place.

It might be more pricey than other materials, but there’s a good reason for this. It’s also rather convenient for when you want to wash it and it takes the possibility for outdoor use into consideration; what’s more, it comes designed with a loop that can be used to hang dry it when you’re out camping. This flattering layer can be worn under several other layers or directly under a jacket – which works just as well. It’s also excellent at regulating body temperature keeping you at the ideal temperature whether it’s sunny outside or if it’s terribly cold.

The MERIWOOL Womens Merino Wool Base Layer Thermal Pants is, without a doubt, the perfect women’s bottom layer for your everyday activity. With its moisture-wicking feature, you will have no problem with wetness – even though we all naturally sweat, these thermal pants’ ability to move moisture away from your body as well as its quick drying nature will make this a non-issue for you.

Soft to the touch and against your skin, you’ll always be at the right temperature in these. They adapt to your body’s cold or heat levels and act accordingly so that you’re never feeling uncomfortable no matter the weather you’re using it in.

The pants also keep away bad smells, remaining always pleasant to the nose and can be worn all day without issues. What’s more, once you machine wash them, they retain their freshness and are available for use again.

Of course, we are kicking off our Best Men’s Base Layer review with something from the powerhouse brand, Under Armour, who practically built their enviable and most deserved reputation on thermal base layers. It’s no surprise then that they are heading up the list and that they have a tone of impressive garments lined up for all kinds of winter sports and outdoor pursuits. Keeping it classic, athletic, streamlined and of course comfortably warm and dry, is their 4.0 Crew Top. It’s a snug fit, a classic showdown between synthetic and merino and is just superb at wicking moisture. You can wear it under your favorite flannel shirt as well.

A more lightweight alternative to base layering, this Helly Hansen is relatively cost-effective and will keep you moderately warm in most conditions thanks to its headlining unique fabric constitution. It features Lifa fabric which is made from Polypropylene and is just superb at wicking moisture away from the body so fantastic for those active sports enthusiasts among you. Talking of which, we also like the athletic fit and design of this crew neck which will make a perfect base layer for skiers and climbers. It may not be the warmest of the base layers in our Best Men’s Best Layer review, but it is undoubtedly one of the highest performing. Our handy guide to the best Carhartt jackets features more great products like this.

Don’t let that cold weather dampen your spirits or your appetite for adventure with these Carhartt Base Force Leggings. They make the ultimate protective, warming base layer for everything south of your waist!  Team these mens thermal leggings with the matching crewneck cotton top for the ultimate in base layer style and comfort. Moisture-wicking and also featuring stain breaker technology. And you can wear them comfortably under your chinos.

These Duofold Men’s leggings deliver thermal protection with all the warmth you require but none of the bulk or weight that might slow you down. With a moisture management system, they wick moisture away from your skin so that you always remain dry and comfortable. They feature Duofold original technology which has two layers of fabric knit together to form a super effective thermal barrier. All the comfort, all the warmth and definitely all the performance.

Constructed from soft and sublime Merino Wool, SmartWool is one of the brand’s most popular base layers and has a refined and elegant slimline, chafe-free fit that feels just lovely against the skin. There’s seamless knit, flat lock construction in this mid 250 garment which is their warmest base layer. It could even work as a single layer in cold weather as well as a base layer in much colder weather. It’s also moisture wicking and odor repelling for when you are working up a sweat. Durable, dependable and also has a UPF 50+ rating so can be work for biking, hiking and running too. Just put on your running jacket over and hit the road.

Up next in our Best Men’s Base Layer roundup we have a comfortable and classic mid-weight technical bottom. Put these on under your favorite pants and will stay warm and dry for hours and be ready for all that outdoor extreme sports fun. These mens long underwear make an excellent thermal base. With flatlock seams to reduce friction and chafing as well as stretchable rib knit cuffs which keeps pants and socks in place, these Minus 33 Merion wool leggings are tagless so no more itching or scratching either. They deliver next level, next to skin, base layer performance. Be sure to combine this with one of the ski pants from our list.

Like the Crewneck from Smart Wool that we evaluated earlier in our Best Men’s Base Layer review, this ¼ zip top from Smart Wool really is the full package and an excellent piece of base layer clothing. It offers just the right amount of warmth, is incredibly soft against the skin thanks to that Merino 250 construction and it makes a great thermal option for all kinds of outdoor sports, especially skiing. The zip design provides extra ventilation as opposed to their Crew neck but still all the same great moisture wicking qualities. A fantastic technically performing garment. Be sure to also check out our list of the best down jackets for more great items like this.

For all the fans out there of Under Armour technical garments, you’re going to love these base mens base layer leggings that provide heavyweight protection but in a lightweight layer meaning that you can fight the cold without feeling restricted at all. Under Armour are hard to beat when it comes to top to toe layering. They manufacture some of the best base layer clothing for cold weather. They are so comfortable that you can wear them under your hiking pants and not feel any pressure.

This Icebreaker Merino Crew neck base layer top is certainly versatile as well as being ultimately breathable too. It’s super soft and has a good, high performance, athletic fit that works particularly well for skiing and cold weather hiking. It’s designed with clean lines, comes in a multitude of color options and is so stylish you might find yourself wearing it as part of your casual winter look, and not just as a sports base layer. It’s comfortable, moisture wicking and won’t trap nasty odors either.  For top to toe layering, Icebreaker ca n’t, and that’s why they’re on our Best Men’s Base Layer product review today. Love this product? Check out our review of the best Patagonia jackets for our top picks.

The perfect, easy to wear base layer that is moisture wicking and keeps you warm and dry no matter how strenuous and sweaty you are getting. With Phasic AR technology, this is an exceptional technical garment that uses different polyester yarn structures. Arc’teryx Men’s Phase AR is stylish and streamlined and has an athletic fit. Available in a range of colors it makes a fantastic insulating base layer. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best overalls for men.

Carharrt is known for making some of the best workwear in the world. So it stands to reason that their base layers are worth checking out as well. Whether you need to stay warm on the construction site or in the mountains, the Carhartt Force Base Layer Pant will do the job. They’re made from 100% polyester and have a waffle knit design that traps heat inside and wicks moisture away from the skin. They also feature Rugged Flex Technology, allowing for easy movement and sports performance. Other features include smooth flatlock seams and a pull-on closure. 

Next up, we’ve got the long sleeve shirt that goes with the pants above. The Carhartt Force Base Layer Long Sleeve Shirt is made from the same material (100% polyester) and has the same high-quality feel that you’d expect from Carhartt. It might be slightly more expensive than other base layers on the market (the whole set will cost you over $60) but they will last a lifetime. Like the pants, they have a waffle knit design that traps the heat inside, FastDry technology to wick away moisture, and Rugged Flex technology for easy movement. 

If you’re looking for an affordable pack of base layer tops, this two-pack from Hanes is absolutely perfect. They can’t compete with the Carhartt or Arc’teryx base layers on quality or performance but they definitely beat them on price. They also provide an impressive level of extra warmth, ideal for snowsports, cold-weather hiking, and working outside in the winter. Features include rapid-dry interlock jersey knit for moisture-wicking, 50+ UPF protection, and a comfortable loose fit. Plus, you can get them in a bunch of different colors. 

The Rocky Thermal Underwear Set is perfect if you’re looking for a multipurpose and affordable set of thermal base layers. Thanks to the versatile design, they are suitable for skiing, construction, hiking, and much more. They aren’t designed with a specific purpose in mind, just to keep you warm through the winter. Made from a mixture of ultra-soft polyester (92%) and Spandex (8%), they’re stretchy enough to allow free movement, without compromising on warmth. They’re also naturally moisture-wicking, keeping you dry even when you’re sweating. 

We had to include the Thermajohn Men’s Ultra Soft Thermal Underwear in this list. With around 12,000 reviews on Amazon (and most of them hugely positive), this set of base layers has been road-tested by customers thousands of times. That tells us that they do their job – they keep you warm. Of course, we’re not surprised by that fact. Made from ultra-soft polyester (92%) and Spandex (8%), they are similar to a lot of the base layers on this list already. We like them for the simple design (available in five colors), comfortable fit, and affordable price. 

The last set of base layers on our list are from a lesser-known brand called Meetyoo. You might not have heard of them before but this set of thermals has a couple of thousand positive reviews on Amazon, so we can confidently recommend them to you. Made from a blend of ultra-soft polyester (92%) and Spandex (8%), they provide a lot of extra warmth without restricting your movement. This makes Meetyoo Men’s Thermal Underwear Set ideal for winter sports like skiing and snowboarding. We also like the fact that they’re available in five awesome colors.