Chris Townsend find this to be a very stretchy, very comfortable bamboo top – but it’s slightly let down by the collar.
The Bearah top from BAM is a warm, fairly thick base layer designed for cooler weather. The fabric is very stretchy as it has a fine rib-knit plus 4% elastane. It’s also very soft and feels pleasant against the skin. The content is 68% bamboo viscose, which is very absorbent and soaks up sweat but still feels fairly dry next to the skin. The Bearah also has a 28% cotton content. I was concerned this would make the garment unpleasantly cold when damp, but this hasn’t been a problem, any initial chilliness quickly wearing off when stopping walking. Drying time is quite slow however and I suspect the cotton is a factor here.
The Bearah has a high double-layer collar, a short neck zip for ventilation, and thumb loops. It’s longer than many base layers and stays well tucked into trousers. The sleeves are long too. I can easily pull them over my hands and keep them in place there with the thumb loops. The collar however is a tight fit and isn’t stretchy. I tested a medium size, and it fits fine apart from the collar. In fact, the stretch is such that I can pull it over a fleece jacket. I wouldn’t wear it on a walk like this, but I do think it makes an excellent midlayer as well as a base layer.
I’ve worn the Bearah in a mixture of conditions and found it a warm base layer in freezing weather and surprisingly not too hot in mild weather. The sleeves can be pushed up if necessary.
Overall, I think this is a good base/mid layer at a reasonable price. It is superbly comfortable. I just wish the collar was roomier.
RECOMMENDED: This product has been awarded our ‘Recommended’ endorsement, meaning our reviewer believes it is a strong product which works well for its intended purpose.
