The Rapha Guide to Baselayers
In the hierarchy of technical cycling apparel, the base layer is often the most overlooked or misunderstood. As a piece of kit in constant contact with your skin, it is the foundational layer that can enhance your comfort. Choosing the right option is not merely about warmth; it is about maintaining a stable microclimate, regulating your core body temperature by wicking moisture away from the skin.
The primary function of a base layer is to move sweat away from the body. If moisture remains on the skin, you risk overheating on climbs and chilling on descents. By creating a thin layer of air against the body, a well-chosen base layer provides an insulating buffer that keeps you dry and comfortable. Whether it is a high-summer race or a sub-zero winter epic, when your base layer is working properly, you won’t even know it is there.
RACE BASE LAYER
The high-performance foundation for racing in hot and humid conditions. Designed to work as a cooling system with the Rapha Aero Jersey, this layer accelerates evaporative cooling. By spreading sweat across a wide surface area, it converts liquid sweat into vapour faster, the process responsible for 85% of your body’s heat loss. The close-to-body engaged fit leads to high-speed wicking yarns keeping your skin dry and your core temperature stable, even as the intensity and the mercury rise.
FIT
Features a Pro Team silhouette with a prominent low scoop neckline to match the cut of a Pro Team Aero Jersey, ensuring there is no aerodynamic penalty. The shorter body length is tailored for seamless integration with Pro Team bib shorts, offering a sharp aesthetic silhouette without bunching.
MATERIALS
Constructed from 72% Recycled Polyester, 16% Polyester, and 12% Elastane. This lightweight, majority recycled synthetic mesh provides the mechanical stretch required for a race fit.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
Engineered for pinnacle moisture management. The polyester yarns actively pull sweat away from the skin to aid rapid evaporation, preventing the heavy feeling of a saturated garment during flat-out efforts in hot and humid conditions.
MERINO LIGHTWEIGHT BASE LAYER
The natural all-rounder for all-day adventures and variable weather. This highly versatile merino mesh layer is the ideal choice for rides where the forecast predicts wide temperature swings. Merino wool is a wonder yarn that feels cool and comfortable against the skin in the heat, yet keeps you warm as the evening cools by trapping air in its porous fibres. It is the perfect partner for multi-day tours, where reliability and performance are as paramount as avoiding odour buildup.
FIT
A close, low-profile fit designed for all-day comfort. The natural elasticity of the blend follows the body's contours with a soft feel, while the traditional neckline and slightly longer body provide increased coverage for a wide range of riding styles.
MATERIALS
A technical blend of 53% Merino Wool and 47% Recycled Polyester. This combination harnesses the incredible natural thermoregulation of wool with the fast-drying performance and durability of synthetic fibres. Merino’s odour management properties will give you the confidence to stop at a cafe without worrying about smell, even after multiple days of use. This works by trapping bacteria within the yarn, preventing odour from being released into the air. It’s then highly efficient at releasing these bacteria out of the fibres during the wash cycle, resulting in a fresh garment that’s more than ready for your next adventure.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
Merino mesh offers class-leading moisture transfer, creating a true all-rounder that can regulate body temperature rapidly. It wicks moisture along the yarn surface in the heat and absorbs moisture into the core of the yarn as the needle drops, keeping it away from direct skin contact.
MERINO BASE LAYER – LONG SLEEVE
Pinnacle comfort and protection for endurance riding. Our new generation of merino base layers is built for supreme comfort when the temperature drops. By using super-fine merino yarn, we have created a layer that feels exceptionally soft next to the skin while minimising bulk. This is the definitive choice for long miles in cooler or flat-out cold temperatures, providing a natural climate control system that keeps you cosy without the risk of overheating.
FIT
FIT Updated with additional elastane to bring the garment closer to the body for improved comfort and wider compatibility with all Rapha jerseys. Low-profile flatlock seams are strategically placed to minimise chafing during long days in the saddle. The elastane content of the material contributes to the shape retention of the garment, minimising any distractions during your ride, allowing you to layer under all of our cold weather garments comfortably, and ensuring it performs as intended for longer.
MATERIALS
A high-performance blend of 74% Merino Wool, 16% Nylon, and 10% Elastane. We use Südwolle Betaspun® merino, where wool is combined with nylon to vastly increase durability and resistance to abrasions compared to 100% merino garments. At 18.5 microns, feels exceptionally soft and comfortable next to skin, minimising chafing, especially around sensitive areas.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
Merino is perfect for riding in cooler climes, helping you stay warm by absorbing moisture vapour before it even turns into liquid. As the wool absorbs this moisture, it triggers a natural reaction that releases a small amount of heat, preventing the icy-towel feeling against your skin when you stop moving at a cafe or summit. Merino’s odour management properties will pay off at those stops, even after multiple days of use. This works by trapping bacteria within the yarn, preventing odour from being released into the air, it can keep doing this for multiple days before requiring a wash.
THERMAL BASE LAYER
Maximum insulation for the coldest days of the year. For cold, winter conditions, the Thermal Base Layer uses technical Polartec® fabric to offer supreme warmth. The material features a brushed-back finish in a grid pattern which raises the yarns off the skin. This creates air pockets that warm with your body temperature, providing an exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio while maintaining the breathability required for high-intensity winter riding.
FIT
An engaged fit with a high-collar construction that doesn’t restrict your movement in combination with warm layers for high-tempo, deep-winter efforts. The integrated neck warmer can be turned up to cover the mouth, nose and ears for extra protection in biting winds. Elastane content keeps the garment engaged against the skin to ensure pinnacle performance.
MATERIALS
Made from 85% Recycled Polyester and 15% Elastane. Engineered for active warmth. The grid pattern deliberately creates air pockets for superior temperature regulation, allowing the body to breathe during hard climbs while trapping essential heat during fast, cold descents.
MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
The hydrophobic polyester yarn ensures that moisture is efficiently wicked away to evaporate, preventing you from rapidly cooling down if the pace slows or you pause for a mid-ride cafe stop.
ALL ABOUT THAT BASE
The most vital function of your base layer is to maintain your body’s equilibrium. By managing the moisture produced by your skin, these technical garments protect you from the flash-chill that occurs when sweat cools down on your body. Every element of a Rapha base layer is carefully considered to help you maintain performance from the first kilometre to the last.
Moisture Management
The wicking process is a mechanical one. Technical fibres pull liquid away from your skin and spread it across the surface of the fabric so it can evaporate into the atmosphere. In high-summer, this keeps you cool; in winter, this keeps you dry and warm.
Temperature Regulation
Whether using the natural crimp of merino wool or the hollow-core fibres of our thermal synthetics, Rapha base layers work by trapping a thin layer of air. This layer acts as an insulator, protecting your core temperature from the external elements while allowing excess heat to escape.
Material Innovation
We select materials based on the specific demand of the ride. Our Merino is sustainably sourced according to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), and features natural performance and odour resistance, while our synthetic meshes are chosen for their mechanical stretch and ultra-low weight.
The best base layer is an investment in managing your body’s natural fluctuations in temperature when you’re riding in a range of conditions. When you find the layer that perfectly matches your intensity and the conditions, you’ll have a partner that allows you to fully focus on the effort at hand.