• Howies Sportswool base layer
• £25 (s/sleeve); £30 (l/sleeve)
• www.howies.co.uk
• 01239 614122

Howies probably isn’t the first brand you’d associate with technical clothing. The Cardigan Bay clothing collective is better known for thought-provoking t-shirts. But as the Howies range gradually expands it’s taking in some more functional niches. The Sportswool base layer’s been around for a while, but the Merino wool content in the mix is now up to 35% from 30% – the rest is polyester.

If you’re not familiar with Merino wool, you should be. It’s remarkable stuff, being warm even when wet, with excellent wicking properties and a resistance to ponginess that’s the envy of most synthetic base layers and anyone who has to share a confined space with them. It’s all the more amazing since it comes straight off the back of magical New Zealand sheep, a natural, eco-friendly renewable resource that’s right up Howies’s street.

The base layer itself is super-simple. No zips or anything, just a well-cut, comfy garment that’s really very pleasant to wear and keeps you warm and unsweaty. And you can just chuck it in the regular wash with the rest of your stuff too. It’s available with short or long sleeves as you prefer.

Verdict
Warm, not piffy, environmentally sound. Can’t really ask for more…

Performance 5/5
Value 5/5
Overall 5/5