Originally Posted by
bikerjp
I have a LS silk base layer and I hate it. I find that it's hot and doesn't breathe.
REI's article on layering says:
"For outdoor comfort, your base layer should be made of merino wool (popularized by brands such as SmartWool, Ibex and Icebreaker), synthetic fabrics (such as REI MTS, Capilene, PowerDry and CoolMax polyester) or, for less-active uses, silk."
I suspect the "less-active use" qualification has to do with silk's less than ideal breathability.
I think this sounds right. I have a silk baselayer that will get soaked on hard rides. Not as bad as cotton, obviously, but it certainly doesn't move moisture out the way polypro or wool does.