Wind Block Base Layers?
 

I'm looking for wind block base layers similar to the Under Armour Coldgear Thermo Wind Block long sleeve at the link below. It is no longer available.
Ideally it should have wind block all the way down the front of the arms as well as the front of the torso.

Suggestions warmly (pun) welcomed. Not looking for windproof/breathable garments or jackets and I already have plenty of gilets. Thanks.


-Tim-

I have absolutely no idea why one would want such a thing. If wind is getting all the way to your skin, something is seriously wrong with your layering. Your base layer should be very porous to get rid of heat and moisture, conducting those things away from your skin. Ideally a sort of waffle-looking synthetic material. Craft base layers are by far the most popular around here. I have both LS and SS base garments from them.

You took the words right out of my keyboard.

OP: Go Rapha or go home.

I honestly cannot say I know much about this win block base layer but I have found a shell or jacket (breathable) to be all I need over 2-3 layers max. I did try windproof-front bibs once (still have them) but after a while I found myself sweating and becoming clammy. If it is insanely cold and windy, I stay home though I ride fat bikes in the snow. I still layer properly and use a shell.

That said, look at motorcycle stuff...I recall they used to have windblock base layers, and it kinda makes sense there though I'd still use a windproof jacket. Maybe that would not be enough in certain cases but I'm no cold-weather moto expert.

Someone must like it. It's sold out.

I have the short sleeve version of the Craft Wind Stopper baselayer: Baselayer - Men

The long sleeve version appears to not have blocking fabric all the way down the arms, though.

To the naysayers, I've done a lot of cold weather cycling and the baselayer mentioned above was one of my best purchases. My torso catches far more wind than any other body part and when my torso gets cold, everything else gets cold. I overheat easily wearing any 'breathable' windproof jackets which seem to never meet their promise. The Wind Stopper baselayer keeps my core warm and dry like nothing else can.

That's interesting that you use these. I could see a wind block base layer might be useful if you have a porous jersey over it, to work in somewhat colder temperatures.

What other layers do you use with it? And what temperatures do you use these blocking base layers?

Like the other posters, I look for a wind resistant shell and very breathable base layers. But I do sometimes wear just a long sleeve jersey with two regular long sleeve base layers, which does reduce the wind that passes through, and still breathes very well.

And I've put a sheet of newspaper / wrapping paper under my jersey as a temporary wind vest. So that's a wind blocking base layer. It works great, but does get damp from sweat at times.

Exactly this. (Don't agree that it should be synthetic though.)

Wind is not getting all the way to my skin. Wind getting all the way to your skin are your words not mine. I never said anything about that.

I have plenty of high-end wind block jackets and gilets - Assos, Arc'teryx, etc. Morvelo Hemisphere and Thermoactive are my favorites. There is no problem with my layering system.


This. Exactly.

I'm susceptible to bronchitis and like to keep the cool air off my chest. I also perspire a lot. Sometimes a gilet does the trick but wind block on the outside leaves the garments under clammy. Other times I'll just put a piece of Saran Wrap over my chest under the base layer. Saran wrap works perfectly for me but sometimes leaves my arm pits or arms chilly. Hence my query re wind block on the arms.



Thank you for this post and for the link. Those garments look really nice. Seriously considering the Active Extreme 2.0 long sleeve.


-Tim-

It's always fun to buy gear for a specific purpose, but I have to agree that a simple sheet of newspaper or a piece of Tyvek is just about ideal for an actual cycling windblock. Too much arm coverage can quickly become uncomfortably warm. As the day warms up, it's easy to snatch out the newspaper and stick it in your jersey pocket, don't even have to stop riding.

My hunch is that you get clammy because your outer layer isn't breathing enough, so your sweat has nowhere to go and you stew in it. (Not always, just when conditions aren't favorable to you, probably during more intense rides.)

If that's the case, moving the barrier closer to your skin seems like it will make the problem worse.

Some people use a wind shirt immediately next to their skin when they sleep (camp). You could try something like that for a ride, use your smallest and tightest wind blocking jacket as a base layer, then add insulation over it. See how it works before you invest in more gear.

Have you tried merino wool? It's pricy, but (a) breathes, (b) stays warm even when damp or wet, (c) doesn't stink like synthetics [polypropylene, I'm looking at you] get stinky, (d) isn't scratchy like old-school wool.

Are you using the baselayer windstopper in addition to an external windstopper layer? If not, why would you prefer the windstopper closest to your skin? This is an honest question as I too hate for my core to get cold, but I've never tried windstopper close to my skin.

I"ve been using those recyclable wind blocks under my outermost jersey for deacdes. Theo ones the pros use. Newpaper. And yes, the pros are still using them. Just not the team leaders. But the lowly domestiques on smaller teams who crest the passes minutes after the leaders and get zero camera coverage still can be seen stuffing newspapers under their jerseys before the descent.

Ben

Another good way to be certain that your core stays warm is to protect your hands, feet and head properly from the cold. If those three things begin to get cold, guess where the heat is redistributed from? Yup, your core.

I appreciate this post and already use wind block next to the skin - newspaper, Saran Wrap, etc. It works fantastic for me and this is why I am ready to invest.

When the wind block is strategically placed, just the forward facing portions of the torso and perhaps arms, there is plenty of remaining surface area for evaporation. I'm not considering wind block for the entire upper body. That would be suicide for me.

Merlin has the Craft Extreme 2.0 long sleeve for $57.14 vs $130 direct from Craft. Still looking for a something with a little protection around the arm pits and perhaps the forearm. The Under Armour linked in the first post would be perfect and I found one at the UK Amazon site but it is $122 after shipping. Yikes!I found one here for $67.19 but never heard of this site and they only have red.


-Tim-

Rode this morning wearing my *disposable* wind stopping stuff . . .
A folded up couple sheets of folded newspaper between my bare chest and long sleeve jersey.

Think thermal underwear...

Stuff like this is why I find this forum less and less useful every single day.

Did the OP ask for alternatives to wind block base layers? No.
Did the OP ask whether a wind block base layer is effective? No.
Did the OP ask whether he should want a wind block base layer? No.

The OP asked very simply where he can find one similar to one that he likes, but sadly is no longer available.

It's not just the fact that people offer alternatives.... its the smug snarky tone they take in doing so. This happens again and again and again, and honestly I just grow wearing digging through this crap in every. single. thread.

BTW: Not picking on you personally... yours was just the first response on this particular thread.

NOW, NOT THAT ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO JUSTIFY WHY THEY WANT A PARTICULAR THING, BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHY I PERSONALLY WANT WIND BLOCK BASE LAYERS: BECAUSE I WANT TO WEAR MY REGULAR / EVENT / TEAM JERSEY OVER IT AND NOT HAVE IT COVERED UP WITH WIND BLOCK LAYERS.

Thanks for the question. It does sound counter intuitive.

Right now I am wearing gilets and jackets with external wind block on the front. I sometimes need to pull down the zippers a little to regulate temperature and moisture but then the cold air hits my chest. I'm susceptible to bronchitis and need to keep the cold wind off my chest.

To be clear, I'm not looking for wind block around the whole torso. Just strategically placed on the chest. The front of the armpits and forearms would be a bonus. Such a garment would allow me to pull down the zipper on the outer layers without a blast of cold air on my chest. Saran Wrap, newspapers and garbage bags have all worked well in this regard so why not a base layer with wind block on the chest?

The Craft garment has the chest covered nicely.

https://merlincycles-img.s3-eu-west-...base_layer.jpg

That said, I have been on this same mission this fall. I borrowed one at HGF so I wouldn't have to wear a jacket over my team jersey. 42 at the start, 60 ish by the end. Worked like an absolute charm. Yes, I was slightly overwarm by the end and a little sweaty, but not boiling hot or drenched, and overwarm works better for me than underwarm, and just arm warmers would have left my core cold with the 20mph winds that day.

So when I got home, I set out to buy one. Talk about a frustrating endeavor.

I found that bike shops don't have much in stock and I got tired of going from shop to shop. Surprisingly, sporting goods stores had nothing! The Nike store had nothing! The addidas store had nothing!

I found some Nike dri-fit, both crew and quarter zip, that were reasonable on weight and semi-windblock (which is all I really need) at JCP and Kohls. Bought one, but the smallest they make is a S, and it's a loose fit S, which looks sloppy and ill fitting under a tight jersey sleeve.

I found some Nike-Pro dri-fit at Marshalls... S is SMALL. Compression fit small. Perfect. But they're slightly less thick, and I only found one orange one. I intend to stop at more Marshalls this weekend (I have some other errands to run that will get me near 3-4 stores) because I want to pick up 2-3 more.

I think the Craft sounds about perfect, but with as much variability in design, weight, and FIT, as I've encountered in this search, I'm not willing to buy online sight unseen.

I ain't gonna lie. This is huge!

HUGE!!!

:lol:

I'm probably going to buy the Craft Extreme 2.0 windstopper from Merlin for $57. I need some Vittoria G+ tires anyway.

-Tim-

Yes, you are a very good example how some people make this forum less useful. Way to demonstrate! I appreciate it.

Original Poster, please let me know what you come up with. I'm going to have to get some warm stuff soon.

It's tough for the OP to have to sit through homilies by evangelists talking about everything except the question asked. "Off Topic" seems to be a thing everywhere except here.

I really hesitated before posting my question. It worked out this time though and I really appreciate the conversation here.


-Tim-