Gravel Underwear with best fit
On gravel rides, the base layer is the layer that decides comfort. It is directly on the skin and must transport sweat away before the descent comes.
Why the bottom layer matters in gravel
Gravel tours are long and have an uneven profile. A sweaty climb on loose ground is followed by a descent on which you hardly pedal. If you then wear a soaked base layer, you get cold within a few minutes. Performance base layers move the moisture outwards into the next layer, where it can evaporate.
There are two approaches to materials. Merino blends smell much less on multi-day tours and stay warm when damp. Synthetic fabrics dry faster and are lighter. For bikepacking, there is a lot to be said for merino; for fast day rides in summer, for synthetic fibres.
One detail that is often overlooked: the fit must be tight so that the base layer absorbs sweat directly from the skin.
Sleeveless base layers are enough in summer; from autumn, short sleeves close the gap at the shoulders, where the headwind gets under the jersey.
