Craghoppers have been active in adopting sustainable practices. This Merino Crew Neck base layer is 80% merino wool, and 20% recycled polyester – Craghoppers claim that approximately 7 bottles were recycled to make this product. It is also guaranteed for life.
Price: £70 | Weight: (Size medium) 210g | Materials: 80% merino, 20% polyester | Features: Part made from recycled plastic bottles. Blended merino and synthetic fibres. | Sizes: S – XXL | Women’s version: Yes | craghoppers.com
This was quite a warm base layer during testing and It proved to be a wise choice on chilly days in the spring. It dried quickly when I wore it as my only upper layer in showery conditions. It also did a good job of wicking away moisture from my skin when I was heating up rapidly on a particularly steep ascent. However, at 210g this is the heaviest men’s base layer in the round-up.
Overall, comfort was very good. The fit is not quite as slim as some of the other layers in the test, but it still felt nicely contoured to my body. The sleeves felt a perfect length and the shoulders allowed plenty of movement. I did find the neckline quite low at the back, and I found this a little irritating on occasions. I also found the material around the neck a little scratchy on occasion.
Odour control was good on the Merino Crew Neck, but not quite as effective as some of the other base layers I tested. Durability seems impressive, and I had no issues with abrasion on rock whilst scrambling wearing the top. The price of £70 is quite high, but this is a really good all-rounder for 3 season usage, particularly when the weather is on the chillier side.
