• Helly Hansen Stripe T baselayer
• £23.99
• www.hellyhansen.com

Helly Hansen has been a name synonymous with baselayers since about the year dot, or least as long as we can remember. Its Stripe T is a classic and its simplicity and performance has seen it remain a staple item of clothing for many.

Its baselayers are helpfully divided into Warm, Dry and Cool categories which make plumping for the right baselayer for the conditions you’ll be encountering or the level of exertion you’re planning easy.

The Stripe T sits in the Dry category. It’s made from Helly Hansen’s Lifa Stay Dry fabric which does a sterling job of removing sweat from the skin during rides where you normally turn into a big sweaty blob if you were wearing anything else. It’s all held together with non-chafing flat lock stitches and is ruggedly well made; we wouldn’t expect anything other than it to happily last 10 years or more.

Fit is definitely on the body hugging side, but this close fit serves to enable the Lifa material to work more effectively, drawing dampness quickly away from the skin and towards the next layer.

Several colours are available but we’re particularly fond of the Olive Night colour pictured. It’s short sleeve only which is ideal for this time of year, though other long sleeve variants are available.

Ups and downs

Positives: Lifa material, keeps you dry, fit, easy to wash, colours, durableness

Negatives: Not quite as comfortable as Merino

Verdict

There’s a huge range of baselayers available but Helly Hansen’s have stood the test of time, and its Stripe T is a classic that still lives up to its reputation.

Ratings

Performance: 4/5
Value: 5/5
Overall: 4/5