Madison Isoler Merino Baselayer

Madison's Isoler Merino zip-neck baselayer is luxuriously soft against the skin, warm and cosy – just the ticket on cool morning or evening rides or through the winter under a jacket.

A lot of thought seems to have gone into the design and detail, with various panels shaped to ensure a body-hugging fit and all the seams flatlock-stitched to prevent skin irritation. This helps justify its £50 price tag, which is about mid-price compared to similar merino baselayers.

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The Isoler is made from 100 per cent merino wool, a midweight 190gsm that strikes a balance between warmth and wicking ability. Although Madison boasts 'unrivalled moisture absorption' – and it has three external 'M:TEC Wicking' labels – I found it performed just the same as my other merino baselayers, not surprisingly.

During moderate exercise the back got sweaty but, thanks to wool's thermal properties, it stays warm even when wet. Another advantage of wool over manmade materials is its anti-pong attribute, so a baselayer like this is ideal to wear on a multi-day touring trip, for example, as it won't stink to high heaven.

> Check out our guide to cycling baselayers

The fit of the Isoler is good on the whole, the natural fibres stretching and moving with your body. I like the half-zip neck (with zip garage so you don't have a zip pull against your skin) – I use it frequently to aid temperature regulation. The collar fits snugly but I'd prefer it to be a little taller.

My main niggle with the Isoler, though, is the length of the sleeves. Off the bike they're fine, but in the riding position the cuffs sit above my wrist bones, so there's exposed skin between them and my gloves. Another two inches would be perfect. Ideally, I'd like the body to be longer as well; there is a slight drop hem at the rear but when it's cold I prefer a nice long back to cover my hips.

Thoughtful design details include raglan sleeves, which means no shoulder seams to potentially rub under a pack, and a lozenge-shaped panel underarm, so again, no seam chafing issues there. The side seams run assymetrically back towards the hips, but I'm not sure what purpose this serves. Lastly, there's no annoying label to cut out, the care instructions instead being printed inside the top.

Madison lists reflective detailing as a feature, but I couldn't find any – the M:TEC labels are just white.

The Isoler comes in black as well as this Aqua Blue, and for a fiver less you can get the crew-neck version.

Verdict

A cosy and warm baselayer but the sleeves could be a little longer