Blog

For me, a baselayer is all about comfort, and that means high wicking, odour control and those details that make a garment fit well.

Montane’s  Dart series are great examples of an ideal baselayer, the fabric has 4-way stretch and flatlocked seams which means they can sit against your skin without feeling restrictive in any way, and without the irritation that a conventional seam can have. A close fit is essential for wicking of sweat away from the skin, and Dart does this really well, I tested mine during an August Munro bagging backpacking trip and was comfortable all day whether I was climbing, descending or trekking at altitude. In windy conditions I added an outer layer, but even with that on I didn’t sweat or overheat.

To my eternal shame, I wore the Dart XT Zip Neck for 3 days straight, not even swapping shirts for sleeping, I remained comfortable and largely odour free for the whole time. Either that or others were being polite.

It feels good close to the skin and the pattern on the outer surface is attractive. Dart and the heavier weight Dart XT come in various guises, long sleeved, short sleeved, crew neck, zip neck etc. I always prefer the zip neck as this allows me to vent when I need to and long sleeves as these keep my arms at the same temperature as my body. My only niggle is the length of the zip, personal preference, but I like a longer zip to give me more flexibility.

On my August Backpacking trip to the Scottish Highlands, I mixed and matched the standard weight  Dart Zip Neck and the Dart XT Zip Neck, in warmer weather with less wind to contend with the standard weight Dart was perfect.

Personally I find Montane to be small fitting so I generally have to go up a size.

Which to buy? I prefer heavier weight base layers when I intend to use them as my ‘only layer’, which in the summer is most of the time, sure I carry a lightweight synthetic insulation layer just in case I need it during the day but most of the time I just wear the base layer.

In really hot weather though the standard weight makes more sense. Which one you need therefore probably depends on the conditions you expect and personal preference – if you want to wear it at either end of the summer then the heavier Dart XT will most likely be the better choice. If you are buying a base layer for hot weather walking or to go under something warmer then the standard weight Dart may be the one.

Mark Richardson
Mark was the founder of Ultralight Outdoor Gear back in 2006 and has completed long distance backpacking routes in some of the remotest parts of the world. His favourite hikes have been Torres del Paine (full circuit), the John Muir trail and the Markha Valley trail (Ladakh, India). Although semi-retired Mark has not lost any enthusiasm for minimalist backpacking and is tackling Scotland’s Munros choosing multi-day backpacking routes over the more usual guide book excursions. Read more from Mark Richardson