For any of you with $80 - $100 cycling baselayers, what do you think of them? Worth that crazy premium?
For what it’s worth, I just ordered and received some Assos hi-end stuff including their $90 baselayer. It’s really lightweight, has a great cut, my wife wants me to keep it. But I’m sending it back! Even though I can afford it, I can’t fathom how this baselayer will serve me any better than my trusty $15 baselayers I got from some random Chinese company on Amazon.
I absolutely love my merino wool base layers. They are super comfortable, and have a wider temperature range than most other synthetic undergarments / base layers. But so is my $15 Duo-Therm underwear. And my $10 Champion wicking T is my go to baselayer on warm and hot days. Assos garments are well thought out, and constructed. And of course, they are fashionable in the cycling venue. But they are no better than the cheaper garments you can get at Walmart, Amazon, your local outlet store or where ever. While there can be small differences in comfort, I put function before comfort in the hierarchy. I’m suitably comfortable in most any base layer that fits, so it’s not my priority. Function is a priority, and in my experience paying higher prices doesn’t buy any degree of added function - the wider temperature range of wool notwithstanding.
Do you air dry the merino wool?
Generally, I wash on delicate cycle, then dryer on delicate or super delicate, then hang to finish.
In my 25+ years of cycling I can only thing of once that I paid that much for a jersey. No way I’m paying that much a base layer. Amazon knock-offs for me or Craft Cool Mesh when I can find them on sale.
I have a Spatzwear baselayer that I impulse purchased a while back, and it’s pretty great. When it’s authentically cold out, I don’t really want to ride in any of the other stuff in my collection.
They make the best booties in the business, too, for anyone who is venturing out in truly cold/wet conditions.
I have some Craft base layers that are about ten years old and still wear as new. Assos stuff a little younger. I run and ride a bit during the winter so pretty regular use. I have little experience with other brands but the few I have been given as gifts over the years have not held up over time. I am pretty rough on my gear.
Nothing is better than Brynje in my opinion. I’ve used almost every base layer and Brynje is the best.
https://www.brynjeusa.com/product-category/super-micro/
It looks like it would never work because of the mesh. However, it works the best of anything I’ve ever used.
The reason it works the best is because it is light and doesn’t soak up sweat. The goal of a base layer is to move sweat from the skin outwards.
The worst baselayer for sweaty and high moisture cold weather activities is wool IMO. A wool shirt will weigh like 2 lbs more after a workout than a brynje layer. You’ll end up freezing to death if you stop with all that sweat stuck to your body. Wool is great for low sweating activities but not for actives like xc skiing or cycling or running.
Downside of Brynje: It is not cute whatsoever. There is a reason companies don’t copy the mesh design…no one will buy it. Bryne got a more S&M vibe that some people are into.
Assos garments are well thought out, and constructed. And of course, they are fashionable in the cycling venue. But they are no better than the cheaper garments you can get at Walmart, Amazon, your local outlet store or where ever.
I’m all for saving money, and sometimes, I bargain shop. And, if people want to do that great. And, Assos prices can certainly be ridiculous. But, the quality is far superior than even industry-known brands, let alone a generic brand at Walmart. The idea that the cheaper garments referenced above are on par with Assos quality is complete nonsense, in my opinion.
Assos garments are well thought out, and constructed. And of course, they are fashionable in the cycling venue. But they are no better than the cheaper garments you can get at Walmart, Amazon, your local outlet store or where ever.
I’m all for saving money, and sometimes, I bargain shop. And, if people want to do that great. And, Assos prices can certainly be ridiculous. But, the quality is far superior than even industry-known brands, let alone a generic brand at Walmart. The idea that the cheaper garments referenced above are on par with Assos quality is complete nonsense, in my opinion.
As someone in this industry, different consumers have different expectations / values. This is true on things like “Quality”, “Design”, “Aesthetic”, etc.
For some the increase from Hyundai to Mercedes has “value”, for others, not so much.
Such is the same for cycling apparel:
Some think “All I do is sweat in this, so I’m not going to invest!”
Others think “All I do is sweat in this, so I am going to invest!”
Assos garments are well thought out, and constructed. And of course, they are fashionable in the cycling venue. But they are no better than the cheaper garments you can get at Walmart, Amazon, your local outlet store or where ever.
I’m all for saving money, and sometimes, I bargain shop. And, if people want to do that great. And, Assos prices can certainly be ridiculous. But, the quality is far superior than even industry-known brands, let alone a generic brand at Walmart. The idea that the cheaper garments referenced above are on par with Assos quality is complete nonsense, in my opinion.
As someone in this industry, different consumers have different expectations / values. This is true on things like “Quality”, “Design”, “Aesthetic”, etc.
For some the increase from Hyundai to Mercedes has “value”, for others, not so much.
Such is the same for cycling apparel:
Some think “All I do is sweat in this, so I’m not going to invest!”
Others think “All I do is sweat in this, so I am going to invest!”
Well said. That was my point but not said as eloquently. You can argue that the value proposition of Assos may not be great, but the quality is top notch.
Nothing is better than Brynje in my opinion. I’ve used almost every base layer and Brynje is the best.
https://www.brynjeusa.com/product-category/super-micro/
It looks like it would never work because of the mesh. However, it works the best of anything I’ve ever used.
The reason it works the best is because it is light and doesn’t soak up sweat. The goal of a base layer is to move sweat from the skin outwards.
The worst baselayer for sweaty and high moisture cold weather activities is wool IMO. A wool shirt will weigh like 2 lbs more after a workout than a brynje layer. You’ll end up freezing to death if you stop with all that sweat stuck to your body. Wool is great for low sweating activities but not for actives like xc skiing or cycling or running.
Downside of Brynje: It is not cute whatsoever. There is a reason companies don’t copy the mesh design…no one will buy it. Bryne got a more S&M vibe that some people are into.
I was going to mention these, I wear mine for cold rides that I’m going to sweat a lot and am always both warm and dry. Really weird looking, also shrink like crazy if you accidentally put them in the dryer. It’s the only base layer I would buy for high output winter activities.
Brynje works, real deal. This stuff also very durable. I’ve had it about 8 years, I bought it after a similar Castelli item lasted about 3 washes.
Any thoughts on North Face base layers? I’ve never bought anything from them, but they have a nice nurses discount through the end of the year.
I’ll be honest, I’m a Pactimo ambassador, but I haven’t tried their base layers yet.
I do have some base layers from a mainly European company, Decathlon. I bought mine in London. I think they’re sold online too for $20.
https://www.decathlon.com/collections/bike-base-layers/products/cycling-sleeveless-base-layer-500?
If you want a discount code to try Pactimo’s give me a message.
Haven’t seen them, but if you’re getting a discount on nurses you definitely take advantage!
Any thoughts on North Face base layers? I’ve never bought anything from them, but they have a nice nurses discount through the end of the year.
I believe strongly that base layers need to be on skin to be effective as a “baselayer” and not just another layer. This does not mean “tight” persay, but they ought to be engaging stretch.
Looking at The North Face base layers, they are hanging loose which I believe is less than ideal.
Well said. That was my point but not said as eloquently. You can argue that the value proposition of Assos may not be great, but the quality is top notch.
Agree completely.
For a brand this is a common conversation. How do best serve both consumers? It’s very difficult to support both high-end product and value-oriented product. The more you focus on one, the more it detracts (in the consumer’s eyes) from the other. There’s a reason Toyota Motor Corp. Has three brands (Scion, Toyota, and Lexus) to serve 3 price-tiers.
For any of you with $80 - $100 cycling baselayers, what do you think of them? Worth that crazy premium?
For what it’s worth, I just ordered and received some Assos hi-end stuff including their $90 baselayer. It’s really lightweight, has a great cut, my wife wants me to keep it. But I’m sending it back! Even though I can afford it, I can’t fathom how this baselayer will serve me any better than my trusty $15 baselayers I got from some random Chinese company on Amazon.
$90 for a baselayer. No f’ing way. $10-20 base layers from AliExpress, or there commercial identical twins for $20-50 are good enough for me. Even those I wait until they go on sale.
Care to share a link? I went to buy a Black Friday Craft, and got irritated with the $75 price point.
Yes, I should just drop the coin given that the vast majority of us have come to terms with this sport being expensive. However if you’ve found a nice $20 alternative…I’m in!