Midlayer

The Helix Long Sleeve Zip from Icebreaker has probably become my most-used garment over the last year, as it excels in a number of areas.

The First Light Hybrid Hoody from Black Diamond combines highly insulating Primaloft with breathable merino wool in a body-mapping process: merino is used in areas where you are more likely to sweat.

Arc'teryx is adding another component to its insulation elementary particle collection: in addition to Atom and Nuclei, there is now the particularly breathable Proton series.

With the Helix LS Zip Hood, New Zealand-based merino wool specialist Icebreaker is expanding its collection with a sporty thermal layer that is also available without a hood (Helix LS Zip) or as a vest (Helix LS Vest). The properties of merino wool that athletes appreciate have been packaged in a new concept: recycled merino wool serves as an insulating lining between water-repellent nylon and skin-friendly, odor-inhibiting merino wool. We tested how this concept performs in practice on snow, sand and asphalt.

According to a survey, 40% of all clothes in my closet are never or rarely worn. When I look in my wardrobe, my non-wear rate is probably even higher. In everyday life, I wear two pairs of pants, have two or three favorite sweaters and I wear a handful of shirts, alternating between them depending on the day of the week. When it comes to skiing, it doesn't get any better. You have your favorite ski underwear, your favorite ski socks - which are worn throughout the season and are only washed when others complain about the smell.

With the Atom series, Arc'teryx has various jacket models in its range that are intended as an insulating middle (or sometimes outer) layer. The in-house Coreloft filling provides high thermal performance with low weight, even when damp. The jackets are available in the light version (LT) tested here and in the somewhat more robust all-round (AR) version, as well as in a version without a hood (Atom LT).

The Arc'teryx Cerium LT hooded jacket is designed as a lightweight mid-layer that packs down small and can be worn under a hardshell when needed. European down is combined with synthetic material, which guarantees maximum thermal performance in strategic areas, even in damp conditions.

The onion principle is now familiar to everyone and has become an integral part of the world of outdoor clothing. Fleece is often used as a mid-layer, the insulating layer, as it is warming, lightweight and quick-drying. Today we are introducing you to the Innomiata jacket from Mammut, a particularly warm mid-layer.

When I held the jacket in my hands for the first time, I immediately noticed its extremely low weight. Accordingly, I was initially rather skeptical about the jacket's function. I can say it right away: my concerns were more than disproved in the practical test (approx. four weeks).