Craft Zero Extreme Mens L/S Crew Neck Base Layer

Although they make a full range of cycling, running and skiing clothing, Craft are best known for their base layers and this is another top performer to keep you comfortable on high-intensity autumn/winter rides.

The way Craft name their base layers is confusing, to be blunt. The Craft Pro Cool clothing is designed to keep you cool in warm conditions. Okay. The Pro Warm is designed to keep you warm in cold conditions. Okay. Then, sitting between those two is the Pro Zero that's designed to keep you comfortable in fair to cold conditions.

Then there's Pro Zero Extreme - this one - which merges Pro Zero and Pro Cool fabrics. You don't get different panels made from different materials; rather, the Pro Zero is positioned on the inner face and the Pro Cool on the outer - so this base layer is lighter and more airy than the standard Pro Zero (130g/m2 as opposed to 170g/m2). It's 'Zero Extreme' in that it's intended to allow zero moisture against your skin no matter how extreme your level of exercise.

It's 100% polyester with what Craft call a hexa-channelled fibre against your skin - six tiny channels to shift moisture away. The hollow Thermolite fibres outside continue transporting the moisture while also providing insulation. That's what Craft tell us, anyway; all of this is way too small to see.

The proof of the pudding, though, is that this base layer does its job incredibly well. Put it on and the Pro Zero Extreme feels immediately warm. It's super-soft and very stretchy, especially crossways. That means it's easy to get a snug fit without any tightness whatsoever, and there's no constraint when you shift your body position. You also get a good, long back and a high collar -exactly what you want on the bike.

There are no seams at all in the body and those on the shoulders, arms and collar are all flat-stitched so you don't feel them. There are no labels to get on your nerves either; the washing instructions are printed inside. I've ridden in dozens, probably hundreds, of base layers over the years and Craft's are the most comfortable I've ever known.

The Pro Zero Extreme impresses most when you work up a sweat. It just whips the moisture away. It will become heavier than some lightweight base layers if you really do open the floodgates but you have to get your outer-layer clothing badly wrong for that to happen. In normal circumstances, it does a brilliant job.

You can get base layers that provide more warmth but this one offers a middling level of insulation. I've been wearing it under various different outer layers from about 12C and under. Clearly, it depends what clothing you use over the top but I reckon the temperature range for this is about 5-12C... something like that. I'd probably go for something warmer when it gets really cold but for autumn and spring and milder winter days, this is a really good choice.

The only issue I'd take with Craft is that although this top features an antimicrobial treatment to stop odour setting in, I've not found it to smell especially fresh mid-ride. Fair enough, it washes well, but at the caf stop it's not the best.

Verdict

Superbly comfortable base layer; excellent for keeping you sweat-free on autumn/spring and milder winter rides