Reviewed by: Bike Rides, 13 October 2020.
Products reviewed:
FINDRA Seamless merino Base Layer
I’ve been tasked with reviewing FINDRA’s base layer and I’m not complaining one little bit! The base layer is made from 100% seamless Australian merino wool, designed as active wear functional for all sports, not just cycling. I actually bought this top last year and have worn it most days for doing most things in; work, school run, ski club, hiking, skiing, washing up, family get togethers, and of course biking and bikepacking.
I’m confident I’ve put it to the test.
It feels so soft to wear which is an added bonus considering the functionality of the layer. The ethically sourced merino wool keeps you warm when it’s cool, and cool when it’s hot. Sounds too good to be true? This is one of the reasons why merino is such a good material for active wear.
The wool fibres dissipate the sweat from your skin, the size of fibres allow the moisture to evaporate their way through the wool and away from your body. Because of the size of the fibres the bacteria doesn’t get trapped in the material, hence your top doesn’t smell. Yipee! No more stinky synthetics that can start to smell not long into your ride and sometimes still smell despite being washed. Argh.
One example was on a cold wet weekend in December we headed up to Scotland to ride for the weekend. I wore the top for both rides, two consecutive days and the top did not smell. I got warm on the climbs, but I didn’t feel hot and sweaty. On the descents I have to say I didn’t notice, so this tells me the top made the perfect climate.
I love the features too. As well as being the best fabric, it has a high neck to keep you regulated, perfect length arms with thumb loops to keep it in place, a long body to either tuck in or go down over your bum. I’m a size 10/12 and wear a medium, but I think, I could get away with a small. I don’t like clothes too tight so I tend to size up. The top is also very light weight and packs down small which is great for those bikepackers or for packing into your suitcase for any kind of trip away.
It’s wool but it washes great in the washing machine on a 30 degrees wash, so no worries if it gets all muddy. Another trick is just to air it rather than washing it. It really works!
A few other key benefits I’ve noticed are that it is not, and has never been itchy. It is seamless which means no irritation and looks great.
I can’t think of any negative points for this top. Some might think that it is pricy, but you get what you pay for. For a 100% merino functional active top useful for any eventuality or sport and long lasting, I think it is 100% worth the £85.
