Whatever sport you practice, you’re likely to need certain bits of kit to do it in comfort.

Some speciality sports require speciality gear.  For example, skiing and climbing both require clothing adapted for the particular sport.

What the majority of people taking part in any winter sport need, though, is a good base layer. The base layer is vital for keeping the core body warmth in.  A good base layer fabric will hold the body’s warmth, while still allowing sweat to wick away from the skin. If the base layer you choose doesn’t allow moisture to escape, your sweat will cool on your skin and will leave you feeling chilled.

The typical kinds of materials found in base layer clothing include man-made materials like polypropylene. These can also be blended with natural materials like wool. Natural fibres alone, such as cotton, don’t make for good base layer fabric because they absorb too much humidity, and will become damp on the skin, rather than allowing the moisture to pass through the fabric.

Hot weather sports still require base layers, but these will be without thermal properties and the fabrics are even thinner than winter base layers and of a fine weave.

In order to be most effective in both cold conditions and warm humid conditions, the base layer (or foundation layer) should fit snugly, and hold the body’s contours. The garments usually have flat lock seams to reduce chafing or abrasion during exercise.

When going out to exercise in the winter, as well as putting on a good base layer, you’ll need a middle layer for insulation and a waterproof shell layer to keep the weather off.  Don’t forget thermal gloves and thermal socks, as hands and feet are sometimes forgotten in the base layering process.

Get some professional advice on the best base layer garments for the particular sport you want to do. Don’t try a one-size fits all approach if you do a variety of sports.