Lara Dunn likes the Artilect Flatiron 185 ¼ Zip base layer after rigorous testing. Find out why in her full review.
It’s hard to see past a price tag for £120 for a baselayer, but the Artilect Flatiron 185 ¼ Zip does come with a few extra bells and whistles in addition to high-quality merino.
Lara Dunn recommends
If Goldilocks wore merino… this is warm, but not overwarm, soft yet sturdy, and with good ethics in its non-mulsed Australian wool.- soft, high quality merino
- ethical merino
- good ventilation
- weight
- versatile
- expensive
| Quick specs |
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| Price: $160 / £120 (available from Cotswold Outdoor) Weight:227g (size L) Materials: 91% non-mulsed merino wool/9% nylon Features: Flatlocked seams, gusseted underarms, YKK ¼ zip, ventilation panels Sizes: XS-XL Men’s Version? Yes www.artilect.studio |
If Goldilocks wore merino… this is warm, but not overwarm, soft yet sturdy, and with good ethics in its non-mulsed Australian wool. The front YKK zip is long enough for truly immodest levels of ventilation, and perforated panels that run right down each side and along the full length of the arms help keep the body a steady temperature and encourage any moisture to keep moving outwards. The fabric is supremely soft next to skin, with flat seams and a nicely covered zip at the front to prevent any chafing issues.
Fit-wise, it’s billed as ‘easy’ by the manufacturer, but it’s far more contoured than that, yet not overtight and torso length is excellent. It’s the sort of fit that works well with other layers rather than on its own. Thanks to that sleek fit, the sleeves are a little on the neat side for easy pushing up if you have more muscular forearms. Comfortable thumb slits at the cuffs make it easy to keep wrists cosy.
Comfort levels are excellent, with the top keeping just the right levels of warmth stable and steady on very cold or even just slightly chilly walks thanks to the intermediate weight of the fabric and the ventilation (perforations and zip).
Moisture management is good and the top dries quickly both out on the hill and also after washing. This should be a long-lived top, great at keeping pongs at bay inbetween washes.
A pricy top, but effective enough to be a sensible investment.
Testing conditions
Lara Dunn wore the baselayers during wet autumn and cold, snowy winter conditions on a mix of walks in the Malvern Hills, Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. She takes a high street size 14, sometimes 16 and is 5’5” tall. This review was first published in the March 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.
