Although not everyone chooses to wear a base layer in summer, a lightweight base layer can be a useful adjunct to your summer cycling kit.
Summer base layers are designed to wick sweat away, helping to keep you cooler without weighing you down or leaving you with chilly damp patches. Made from technical fabrics and usually with an open mesh weave, they’ll promote good airflow while not adding too much bulk under a summer cycling jersey.
Below, you’ll find our pick of the best summer base layers, while lower down we’ve got advice on how to choose a base layer for warm weather riding.
Our pick of the best summer base layers
- Assos Summer NS Skin Layer P1: RRP £65
- Castelli Pro Mesh 2.0 Base Layer: RRP £55
- GripGrab Ultralight Mesh Sleeveless Base Layer: RRP £30
- Le Col Pro Air Base Layer II: RRP £55
- Lusso Paragon Sleeveless Base Layer: RRP £40
- MAAP Team Mesh Base Layer: RRP £65
- Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Pro Sleeveless Base Layer: RRP €86
- Q36.5 Base Layer 0 Mesh Sleeveless: RRP £60
- Rapha Merino Lightweight Base Layer: RRP £65
- Sportful Pro Baselayer Tee: RRP £50
Why trust Cyclist‘s advice?
We’re out riding year-round to bring you our reviews of the best that cycling has to offer in Cyclist magazine and on our site, but like most cyclists we tend to enjoy summer riding more. Our Big Rides tend to take us to hotter places than the UK as well, usually with plenty of climbing and breezy descents on the way back down. For indoor workouts too, a base layer can also be a handy replacement for a cycling jersey that’s lighter and more comfortable.
For such rides a base layer is essential, so we’ve used a fair few different ones. We know what to look for in a summer base layer and we’re not paid for product placement, so you can trust us to provide unbiased advice.
The best summer base layers
Assos Summer NS Skin Layer P1
£65 | Buy here
The Summer NS Skin Layer P1 is claimed to be suitable for temperatures of 21°C or over, with a new fabric that’s claimed to be more elastic as well as 15% lighter and permanently odour resistant thanks to 3% carbon fibre content.
Available in three sizes, it’s claimed to be quick drying, with a 48g weight. There’s a similar size range for women, but grey only in both cases.
Castelli Pro Mesh 2.0 Base Layer
£55 | Buy here
An option with sleeveless as well as short sleeved variants, the Castelli Pro Mesh 2.0 base layer is available in four colours and sizes XS to XXL for men and three colours for women with sizes from XS to XL.
The open mesh is claimed to handle moisture well in cool to mild temperatures, with a suggested 15°C to 28°C temperature range. There’s a sublimated print Castelli logo while the bottom hem is designed to lay flat under shorts and the weight of around 100g won’t slow you down on hot climbs.
GripGrab Ultralight Mesh Sleeveless Base Layer
£30 | Buy here
GripGrab’s mesh base layer is sold singly or as a three pack, which drops the price to £25 each for the sleeveless option. There’s also a short sleeved variant priced at £40. Both are available for men in white and black and in sizes S to XXL and for women in XS to XL.
The open weave polyester-based fabric has Polygiene silver chloride-based anti-odour treatment that GripGrab says is permanent. 11% elastane ensures a close fit for efficient wicking.
Le Col Pro Air Base Layer II
£55 | Buy here
The updated Pro Air II base layer has a slightly different mesh pattern to the original, but is similarly open to ensure good airflow, while providing the wicking performance for comfort on hot rides. Le Col says that it’s updated the collar and the fit for greater hot weather performance. Available in white or navy blue, there are sizes from XS to 3XL.
Le Col also sells the Pro Air in a sleeveless version, which saves £5. There’s a women’s version available too in sizes XS to XL.
Lusso Paragon Sleeveless Base Layer
£40 | Buy here
Lusso hand makes its clothing in Manchester, with its Paragon sleeveless base layer designed for temperatures between 16°C and 40°C.
The ultra-light mesh offers stretch and a close fit thanks to 6% elastane, while there’s a lay-flat waist hem and limited seams, allowing it to fit comfortably under a summer jersey. It’s available in black or white and sizes from S to XXL and the cut is designed to fit both men and women.
Maap Team Mesh Base Layer
£65 | Buy here
Maap’s recycled nylon base layer is sleeveless with flatlocked seams and a low collar to fit under a summer jersey. The panels are a mix of larger circular knit mesh on the front and lower back and a pinpoint fabric on the sides and upper back.
13% elastane ensures a stretchy fit and Maap claims it’s suitable for rides in temperatures from 18°C right up to 35°C. There’s a choice of white or black and men’s sizes from XS to XXL, as well as women’s from XXS to XL.
Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Pro Sleeveless Base Layer
€86 | Buy here
Pas Normal Studios claims that its Mechanism Pro base layer can handle temperatures in excess of 30°C thanks to its high breathability and low weight, stated to be 50g. Made of 65% polyamide with 35% elastane, there’s plenty of stretch for a close fit, although the seven sizes from XXS to XXL also provide a good range of sizing options. There’s a choice of black or white.
The Mechanism Pro base layer is in men’s fit only, but the lower priced standard sleeveless base layer is also available for women.
Q36.5 Base Layer 0 Mesh Sleeveless
£60 | Buy here
Q36.5’s lightest weight base layer is sold sleeveless only. With the brand’s focus on temperature stability, the Base Layer 0 is claimed to keep you comfortable in temperatures down to 26°C. It has a 51g stated weight in size M and is made of a mix of polyamide and polypropylene with 12% elastane to ensure a good fit.
The seamless knit and open mesh structure are designed for comfort in hot, humid conditions. There are just three sizes thanks to the base layer’s stretch, although there are four colours to choose from and the fit is unisex.
Rapha Merino Lightweight Base Layer
£65 | Buy here
Rapha’s summer base layer range includes an all-synthetic recycled polyester option, the part-recycled Pro Team sleeveless and this 55% merino blend base layer, available with or without sleeves and in five colours. There’s a new chartreuse option if you want to ring the changes, with the base layer sold in XS to XXL for men and XXS to XL for women.
Rapha claims that the merino wool content helps with odour resistance, while there’s good moisture transfer and ‘class-leading comfort’.
Sportful Pro Baselayer Tee
£50 | Buy here
Made from polyester with 7% elastane for stretch, Sportful’s base layer is claimed to handle temperatures up to 30°C, with the striped fabric designed to improve breathability and sweat management. Despite the Pro name, Sportful says it’s a good option for anyone from casual riders to racers.
Sportful offers an unusually wide eight size range from XXS to 3XL for men and seven sizes up to XXL for women. There are short sleeved and sleeveless choices, although colour-wise it’s white only.
How do I choose the right summer base layer?
Fabric
While winter base layers aim to add insulation, summer base layers are designed to wick sweat from your skin to their outer layer, where it can evaporate. They typically have a differential weave, where the inner surface sucks up moisture and the outer surface spreads it out and helps it to evaporate.
It’s usual for summer base layers to be made of synthetic yarns, with either polyester or polypropylene dominating. Some may include merino wool, which can help absorb sweat and is also odour resistant, while not adding too much warmth over an all-synthetic option. Elastane content can help ensure a close fit, which will enhance the base layer’s performance.
To maintain the fabric’s technical qualities and efficient wicking, it’s important to wash with a specialist detergent, as wetting agents, enzymes, optical brighteners and other additives in standard laundry detergents and fabric conditioners can degrade performance and reduce the fabric’s longevity.
Weight
Most short sleeved or sleeveless base layers are low in weight, typically between 50g and 100g. Ideally, you want a base layer that will wick sweat without impeding air circulation to help keep you cooler.
That means a more open weave, with many summer base layers made of open mesh fabric to promote airflow.
Odour management
Synthetic base layers, in particular, can be prone to odour build-up. This seems to be a problem that manufacturers have conquered more recently though, with modern base layers getting much less smelly than those marketed a few years ago.
In some cases there are specific antibacterial treatments used that are designed to reduce odour. Silver is popular for its inhibition of bacterial growth and the subsequent odour. Assos claims its base layer’s carbon fibre content reduces odour, while other brands make summer base layers with merino wool content, as this is also claimed to reduce bacterial growth and suppress odour.
Sleeves or sleeveless?
We reckon it’s up to you. Although a sleeved base layer might feel more comfortable under a jersey, it could also feel tight under the arms. On the other hand, you may find that wicking at the shoulders and upper arms is better with sleeves than without. A sleeved base layer may also provide more protection if you crash.
Many base layers are sold both with and without sleeves, so you can choose which you prefer.
If you want to get into the base layer weeds, we have a detailed look at whether you should still wear a base layer in the summer, where we consult with the experts.