Peter Macfarlane recommends the Jack Wolfskin Seamless Wool Long Sleeve base layer after testing. Find out why.
Two things struck me when I pulled the Jack Wolfskin Seamless Wool Long Sleeve base layer on for the first time. The first thing was finding that the top has a body hugging slim fit as I pushed my arms down the sleeves and pulled the hem down. The second was that I couldn’t really feel any tightness it once it was in place.
Peter Macfarlane recommends
The fit might not be for everyone and it is pricey but as a pure performance piece it’s been excellent.- light
- comfortable
- excellent fabric performance
- price
| Quick specs |
|---|
| Price: no US shipping / £130 (available from Jack Wolfskin) Weight: 194g (L) Materials: 55% merino wool, 43% nylon Features: seamless other than where the arms are joined, crew neck Sizes: S-XXL Women’s Version? Yes jack-wolfskin.co.uk |
The fit is close enough to feel that you’re wearing a second skin, but the fabric is exceptionally comfortable against the skin – soft and very, very stretchy indeed. The articulation at the shoulders is excellent with no hem lift when I lift my arms high. The only actual sewn seams are on the sleeves and those that attach to the arms are very low profile.
The fabric itself is a light merino and nylon mix. The merino gives general comfort and some odour resistance, and the nylon content brings strength, durability and a faster drying time. The thinness of the fabric means it dries very quickly even when overloaded and layers extremely well under other clothing.
It’s an excellent top to sleep in too, the slim fit works very well in a slimmer cut sleeping bag. The round neckline is comfortable and unrestrictive and the sleeves are long enough to pull down to my knuckles for a warmth boost.
I’ve worn this throughout the seasons and the performance has been consistently good. The fit might not be for everyone and it is pricey but as a pure performance piece it’s been excellent.
Testing conditions
Peter has used these base layers as daily wear for nearly a year, on and off the hills, working hard on Munros or while repairing deer fencing as a countryside ranger. Each had a week’s constant wear to test the anti-odour qualities, and they’ve been through dozens of wash cycles. Peter is a size large and is 5’9’ tall. This review was first published in the March 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.
