Base Layer

Devold advertises the Merino Wool Mesh Man underwear combination as an all-rounder: it promises good moisture transport, low weight, high breathability and quick drying paired with odour inhibition. 100% merino wool should also ensure optimum heat regulation.

When I unpacked it, I was initially curious about what to expect. After all, the hoodie has a considerable retail price, but this can definitely be justified by the Norwegian company's sustainable, animal-friendly production methods. But the quality should also be right.

Most of us know the Icelander not only as a breed of horse, but also as a scratchy, woolly turtleneck sweater with a classic design from the north of Europe. The Norwegian brand Devold has helped shape the change from scratchy to warm and soft in the company's 150-year history and has been producing extremely attractive merino wool underwear for years. Since this winter, the signature line has been available in new colors with various traditional patterns.

Merino underwear has been state of the art for some time now, but the Norwegians at Devold have come up with something new. The Tuvegga Sport Air line is not only made from highly breathable merino mesh, but can also be worn on both sides thanks to body mapping and a roughened structure. The shirt is warmer when worn on one side and more breathable on the other.

Merino wool underwear has become an integral part of skiing and outdoor sports. The advantages are too great, such as the comfortable feel, the avoidance of perspiration odor and the good temperature regulation. In addition, although the good pieces are generally more expensive than the various synthetic fiber pieces, they are also more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Of course, this also applies to the garments from our partner company Devold from Norway, which has been processing wool there for over 150 years.

PowderGuide partner Devold is a traditional Norwegian manufacturer of wool clothing that has been dressing fishermen, farmers and polar pioneers like Fridtjof Nansen since the 19th century. Nowadays, in addition to the classic Norwegian sweaters that kept Fridtjof warm and cozy, there is also an extensive range of merino underwear for all kinds of sporting activities. This week, the Breeze ski underwear ensemble is our Gear of the Week.

So far, I haven't given much thought to my baselayers. My main focus when buying underwear was really only on whether it was warm or less warm. I didn't pay much attention to the material or the fit. However, since I tested the Fjellrapp baselayer from Bergans, my attitude towards mundane underwear has changed fundamentally.

Not so long ago, people still went skiing and touring in the tried and tested woolen undershirts and pants. Nowadays, it's normal for ski underwear to be made from dozens of different textiles and adapted to the body's different requirements in terms of breathability and heat capacity. We put the Arc?teryx Phase SV Comp LS functional shirt under the microscope and subjected it to extensive wear tests during ski tours and freeriding.

When it comes to merino wool, Icebreaker comes to mind. The New Zealand company is the market leader in the sale of merino wool products for good reason. In order to remain so, they develop innovative, new types of clothing such as the "Realfleece" or the "GT-Base-Layer"series. You can find out what this is all about and what else distinguishes the company here in the partner news. You can also win the exclusive products in the competition and test them yourself.