dhb Aeron Merino Base Layer

dhb's Aeron Merino Base Layer is priced at the lower end of the baselayer spectrum, but given it's only 65% merino and suffers from fit shortcomings, it's not one I'd rush to buy.

To my mind, baselayers really only have to do two things – fit snugly and feel nice. In the fit stakes, use of stretchy fabric should make covering a varied populus easy enough, and modern synthetic and natural fibres have rendered feeling sweaty or itchy pretty much to the bargain-bin of history. It's against this ever-higher bar of fit and performance that the Aeron baselayer is measured – and for me it comes up short, literally and figuratively.

In the medium size, the sleeves aren't quite long enough, though I do have arms 2in longer than the norm for my height of 6ft, so if you are of normal proportions you should be OK. There's no sort of thumb loop or elasticated wrist, so you do need to get the length right or risk a draughty cuff.

dhb's 'Performance' size guide has me being a small in waist and chest but large in hip, which is bizarre as the medium felt pretty snug around the shoulders and chest, and with the short sleeves I'd err towards a large. Keep that receipt and use Wiggle's returns policy wisely. (I'd also like to point out that a medium dhb Classic Roubaix Long Sleeve Jersey I've been testing – review to come – which is likewise in the 'Performance' fit range, fitted me perfectly.)

Another point to note is the rear hem length: it's level with the front, so when bent over on the bike you risk a draughty back if your bibs don't come up high enough to cover the gap. From a cycling-specific brand like dhb this is a surprising omission.

> Read our guide to 10 of the best cycling baselayers

The merino/polyester mix didn't feel as nice as pure merino baselayers I own – a little scratchy, to be honest. Once riding and warmed up I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, riding slow or at actual race-pace now the cyclo-cross season is upon us. The '37.5' technology involves a coating added to the fibres, to increase the surface area and therefore evaporation of sweat. In practice it's near-impossible to quantify the benefits unless you create a Frankenlayer of the same fabric that's half-37.5, half normal, but what I can say is that it felt much the same as other decent-quality baselayers in terms of moisture transfer.

So all-in-all, a mixed-fabric-feature bag. If it fits you, the price can't be sneezed at.

Verdict

Good value if it suits your shape, but not especially soft against the skin or the best cut for cycling