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review

Madison Isoler Merino Mens long Sleeve baselayer

8
£44.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Highly versatile baselayer just at home racing as it is pootling about.
Weight: 
199g
Contact: 

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The Isoler Merino Mens long sleeve baselayer from Madison offers plenty of versatility for when things turn chilly. With casual looks and fit it's just at home as part of a layering system as it is on its own.

Merino baselayers can be found cheaper than the Isoler's £44.99 price tag but the key fact is that the Madison version here is manufactured from 100% of the wonder wool, rather than a mix. That means you get the full range of benefits from the Isoler: impressive wicking, maintaining warmth when wet and probably the most important, the whiff killing antibacterial properties.

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Once temperatures started to drop into single figures the Isoler really came into its own. I found on evening rides with temps around 8-9°C and a long sleeved jersey above I could still ride pretty hard without building up too much of a sweat. Even on the steepest of climbs, once overwhelmed and becoming damp with perspiration, the Isoler would still keep you comfortable. You didn't get cold even when you've stopped and the material didn't become clingy like some man-made fibres can.

Madison Isoler Merino Mens long Sleeve baselayer - rear

The cut is a decent compromise between performance riding and a more relaxed pace too. This means it's just at home on the commute in civvies as it is under lycra. The fact that it's not skin tight allows you to wear it as a stand-alone top without it screaming "Cyclist!" should you wander into a café. There is plenty of length in the arms for when you're stretched out on the bars and a dropped tail keeps out any draughts.

Against the skin the merino wool is soft and totally itch free, and the flatlocked seams mean you don't get any irritation from those either making the Isoler the perfect choice for those long steady winter rides getting the base miles in. The fact that the merino doesn't suffer from odours due to bacteria means it's also ideal for a week of touring if travelling light.

> Read our buyer's guide to base layers

In value for money terms I reckon the Isoler is pretty much on the money for a 100% merino wool baselayer especially when you take into account its comfort, fit and performance.

Madison Isoler Merino mens long sleeve baselayer - cuff

You get a limited lifetime warranty and as long as you follow the washing instructions (and keep it away from the moths) I can't see too many issues. The Isoler looks and feels pretty robust so there are no issues with quality.

As far as options go the Isoler is available in two colours – black and blue – and in a range of five sizes. We also reviewed a zipped version back in January which costs an extra fiver. There is also a women's model available.

Verdict

Highly versatile baselayer just at home racing as it is pootling about.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Madison Isoler Merino Mens long Sleeve baselayer

Size tested: Medium, Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

An ideal first layer, the Isoler Merino baselayer provides unrivalled moisture absorption

The 100% Merino wool is 190gram in weight, ideal for sports by keeping you warm on the cool days and quickly wicks the sweat away on the warmer days

Unlike man-made fibres, Merino wool retains its thermal properties when itÂ's wet to better regulate the bodyÂ's temperature

As Merino is a natural fibre it naturally wicks sweat away from the body and doesnÂ't hold the odours that man-made fibres do, keeping you dryer and odour free for longer

The Merino hugs the body and stretches as you move making it the perfect fabric for a base layer

Worn by itself, over a jersey or under a jacket as a mid-layer, the Isoler merino base layer is perfect for cycling, skiing or hiking and everything in-between

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

100% Merino Wool

Flat-lock stitching

Round-neck collar for casual jersey look

Reflective detailing for added visibility

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Machine Washable

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Exactly as you'd expect a merino baselayer to work, breathable, warm, cool and non-stinky.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Its ability to deal with varying temperatures and conditions.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A slightly closer fit would be better for performance rides.

Did you enjoy using the product? yes

Would you consider buying the product? yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? yes

Use this box to explain your score

The Madison Isoler is a good quality product, it's well made and considering it's 100% merino I think the price is good. A solid score for a solid baselayer.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Mason Definition

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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