Gear Review: Thrift Store Baselayers

Nice day for a jaunt, aye?

When it comes to clothing, there are two types of climbers: the ones who want performance, and the ones who want value.  On the value end, you've got Kevin.  After countless pitches on granite, basalt, and sandstone, the seat on Kevin's Dickies finally blew out.  Instead of replacing them, he attacked them with a sewing machine.  Now they look like something out of The Nightmare Before Christmas.  He's drunk out of the same one-gallon Gatorade jug for years, and his "performance" layers are old enough to sell at a vintage boutique.  The other day he showed up at the crag with a brand-new pair of shorts.  "Yup, I invested in some technical bottoms for my trip to the Valley.  Fourteen bucks at Wal-Mart."

On the other end of the spectrum, there's Owen.  The trim of his jacket will match his pants—and they'll both be designed exactly for the environment where he's climbing.  You can scoff, but he got the last laugh when he and his party were running from a sudden downpour.  When they got to the car, everyone was all soaked through—except Owen, who stripped to reveal a crispy-dry t-shirt.  Someone pointed at his rain jacket and shouted, "I want that one!"

So, you can drop paychecks on performance gear, or you can drag the same fleece up the rock until it's more hole than jacket. 

But what if you could have it both ways?  The quality of what the pros wear, but at silly-low prices.

This bike sweater has your moisture-management system on LOCK.

Enter the Thrift Store Baselayer.  Ok, they're sweaters.   Really thin, once-fancy sweaters.  With moth holes.  But damn if they don't get the job done.  That's because they're merino wool, the stuff they make $35 t-shirts out of.  The thing is, wool has its wicking, odor-squelching properties whether you buy it at REI or at Goodwill.  I brought two TSBLs to J-Tree, one for the days and one for the nights, and they kept me comfy, sweat-free, and smelling like a rose (more or less) for the whole week.  Nowadays, if I'm outside, it's a good bet I've got one of these next to my skin.  As a bonus for us lanky folk, they're stretchy enough to stay tucked into your harness.  Yes, the V-neck and grampa cut are a little goofy—just tell yourself you're bringing a touch of class to the crag.

MSRP: <$6
Where to Buy:  your local thrift shop
Carbon Footprint: negligible
Labor Practices: probably pretty bad, like everything else…but the original buyer takes the rap for
Rating: *****

PS: A note on buying and care.  When I find a promising specimen, I wear it around the store for awhile to make sure it's not scratchy.  They can be hit and miss.  Also, make sure the label says 100% Wool or 100% Merino Wool—"Made With Merino Wool" means there's but a token amount of the good stuff.  To wash, toss in the washing machine on cold with gentle cycle, then hang to dry.

Perfect sending temps — FOREVER.