By: Levi Opsatnic
As winter’s really wrapping her icy hands around the town of State College, I’ve been consistently reaching to my base layers a lot more often. Not too long ago, Jacob gave us a pretty in-depth overview of a proper cold weather layering system, and now I find it to be the perfect weather to discuss one of my favorite, non-wool, base layers-Patagonia’s Capilene 4 tops.
Like most things outerwear, Patagonia has their Capilene system down pretty darn well; ranging from their Capilene 1, a thin, warm-weather base layer that wicks away sweat all the way up to their toasty Capilene 4. These base layers come in both upper and bottom layers, and whenever you pair the two together, you’re in for a day filled with heat and comfort no matter what the climate or occasion is.
Upon getting myself a Patagonia Capilene 4 top, I quickly realized that it can be put to use on just about any chilly day. I began to test out this top on a cold fall day spent fly fishing, and I was quite impressed to say the least. On this trip I made a mistake that I find myself doing pretty frequently on unpredictable fall days, which is wearing too much clothing. In the past, I have found this to be a large problem as a result of working up a sweat and then having my wet top make me cold as I go about the day. However, on this occasion I was pleasantly surprised to find that my Capilene top kept me dry all day long, even after hiking up some pretty intense hills.
Now, in terms of a warmth factor, the Capilene 4 works a heck of a lot better than any other synthetic top. To ensure you stay nice and toasty, Patagonia added some pretty cool ribs on their Capilene 4 line. This lofted ribbing technique helps to wick away moisture, but it also works to trap your body’s natural heat and provide a bit of a buffer between your skin and first layer. With a heating method like this, don’t be surprised if you find yourself getting a little more than warm on cold days where you’re on the move.
The fun of Patagonia’s Capilene 4 doesn’t end there, as there are still a few more pretty impressive factors to these layers. One of my favorite aspects of the Capilene system is that it is treated with Polygiene to prevent any odor from building up. This means that you’ll be able to wear this top more than once without washing it and that it is pretty ideal for multiple day excursions. Another pretty awesome feature to these layers are its smooth face fabric and thumb loops. The smooth outer fabric makes adding additional layers a lot less trouble, while the thumb loops give you a bit more hand coverage, but also prevents your top from sliding up your arm whenever you’re adding in more layers.
With the base layer being your first layer, it is vital to ensure that it’s a layer that serves you well, and one that keeps you dry, warm, and comfortable all at the same time. I have found that the Capilene 4 layers are able to do all of these incredibly well, leaving you feeling great under any cold conditions. From cold days spent around town to subzero nights in the wilderness, I have been able to put my Capilene 4 layers to use without fail.