Having ridden for years with the aforementioned ‘posh’ Merino sheep’s wool as my material of choice for base layers – I had found synthetic ones to itch and also pick up smells all too easily – it was almost begrudgingly (alright it wasn’t all that bad) that I set to the task of putting the OneTen Intimo through its paces. Scepticism is never a virtue and I clearly should have known better. The Intimo base, on first inspection, appeared to possess the features that anyone shopping for a base layer is looking for: snug fit yet stretchy enough to accommodate all shapes and sizes, long enough to tuck into shorts, soft enough to avoid itchiness and at a price that is realistic.

The shape and fit are two key areas of a base layer and both boxes are well and truly ticked off by the Intimo base. Figure hugging this one sure is, but that’s never a bad thing with a base layer, its job is to hide away without interfering with other layers after all and the material is stretchy enough to hug its way around any ‘unwanted contours’. Length wise, the Intimo is definitely on the long end of the spectrum – pulled taught the medium size nearly stretched down to my knees! However, this can only be a good thing as it is really essential to be able to tuck a base layer in to your shorts and with this you have the option of tucking it in so far that there will be absolutely no chance of it riding up…

That material then. As someone who is regularly mocked by my friends for occasional hippy tendencies, you’d have thought that I would never be swayed away from my beloved Merino. In one sense, I do feel that a natural wool close to the skin should almost be a given, especially as Merino is revered for its sweat wicking and odour killing abilities (I need to take the latter very much into consideration with any clothing!). However, I really have had no issues with OneTen’s offering and it even passes the pong test – after back-to-back days of riding still no sign of a smell. The price on this one is respectable at less than 27 quid so perhaps the synthetic materials can be thanked for that (although admittedly it is possible to find a basic Merino base for similar price if you shop around enough).

So to the most important test, whether or not it actually kept me warm and dry. Although it certainly isn’t aimed at being a really toasty base, it did keep me plenty warm during autumn and recent fair-weather rides; on many of those I actually got away with wearing only the Intimo and a jacket, no mid-layer called for. For depths-of-winter riding you’ll need to pair it with a heavier mid-layer.

The front of the garment is a heavier construction than the rear, with the intention of stopping through-drafts whilst riding and still allowing sweat to wick and heat to dissipate at the rear. This final point bringing to light another key purpose of a base layer, that being its ability to draw moisture away from the body in order to minimise heat loss through cold moisture. The Intimo excels in this area and for that matter I currently rate it as one of my riding essentials, it’s light, comfy and yet wicks sweat enough to keep me warm on all but the most wintry rides.

The OneTen Intimo base layer is incredibly well constructed with material density for different areas of the torso well thought out. It’s light yet retains body heat thanks to quality construction and ability to wick sweat away from the body.

Price: £26.99
More information: OneTen Intimo base layer
UK supplier: Hotlines

The OneTen Intimo base layer helps you to maintain a constant degree of comfort and warmth even as conditions change from season to season and from hour to hour.

Engineered from ultralight and fast-drying microfibre polyester, the Intimo will keep you cosy in inclement weather by trapping a layer of warm insulating air next to your skin, but when the heat is on it works to draw cold moisture away from the body (‘wicking’) and allow it to evaporate.

• Ultralight and fast-drying microfibre polyester fabric
• Washable and durable
• Resistant to odour
• Simple microfibre polyester panel to front for wind protection
• 3D structured mesh to rear for optimum ventilation
• Structured shoulders for solar protection
• Minimal 3D seaming to prevent irritation
• Cycle-specific cut
• Available in short- and long-sleeve versions