Craft Cool Mesh Superlight Sleeveless Baselayer

Craft's Cool Mesh Superlight Sleeveless Baselayer is – at risk of stating the obvious – mostly intended for warm-weather use, and marketed as being the extra cooling layer you want when you're getting too hot. I found that quite an amusing concept when I first heard it, but it does make sense as a good base layer is likely to do a better job than just a jersey at pulling the sweat away from your skin.

During the review period I've really only had one or two rides where being too hot was on the cards, but that was enough to confirm that Mat was spot on in his earlier review. However counter-intuitive it may sound, adding an extra layer really can help keep you more comfortable on a hot day. The clever mesh has a holey structure that wicks moisture fantastically well, and it is so light that you'll forget you're wearing it.

Most of the riding lately, however, has been colder and sometimes wetter, so I figured it would be interesting to see whether this would be any good in these conditions. Layered up and riding hard, winter riding can be a sweat-inducing affair too, and sure enough, this base layer offers excellent comfort against the skin in the colder months too. You obviously need some other layers for warmth as this won't contribute much there.

I found it particularly effective when worn underneath a tight-fitting water-resistant jersey, like the Castelli Gabba (or the ever-increasing number of similar products from other brands). I find that this sort of jersey can feel a bit clammy against the skin, and sticking a suitable base layer underneath really makes a big difference. I now never wear my Gabba without it.

Since Mat's review the basic design hasn't changed much; that's no bad thing. There are now some Craft logos front and back, which no-one's ever going to see (I've yet to be seen in public wearing only this). I'll admit I'd expected the logos to soon fall victim to the washing machine, but they're still in place. The neck and arm holes are particularly roomy, and as the fabric is so light, this can mean that it's prone to getting pulled around by your bibstraps when dressing.

A medium fits me well - you want your base layers to be close fitting. All in all it's pretty hard to fault. An RRP of £28 might sound a lot for a vest but you can often find it for quite a bit less than this if you shop around. Other brands sell similar summer base layers for quite a lot more, too. I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of it once summer is again upon us, but it's a surprisingly useful layer to have for winter riding too. Thoroughly recommended.

Verdict

Very well-regarded summer base layer works well for winter use too