Obsessed with Gear

The pursuit of human-powered recreation requires paying attention to three interconnected elements: the mental aspects of commitment, physical training, and using the best tools necessary to perform the activity.

Silent Sports has regularly published articles exploring the first two. All three are essential to success, however you define that. Think of months of gritty, hard work training for a fall marathon. The mental grit is there, the training log is filled, but no matter how much you’ve paid attention to the first two, running in a worn-out pair of ill-fitting shoes isn’t going to work.

With this issue, we’re introducing Obsessed with Gear to explore new gear, equipment, and apparel trends to help you find the most effective tools for your pursuits.

Wool is Basic

Trail running, cycling, and paddling remain part of our autumn fitness routines. The only visible difference in the gear used is the addition of a base layer to address the chill of an early morning or sunset workout.

Although base layers are crafted from both synthetic and wool fibers, this guide will focus on the benefits of wool.

Traditionally, wool comes with a set of long-dispelled myths. Wool itches, shrinks, stays damp, and isn’t very durable. Forget every one of these complaints. Brands like Smartwool, Minus33, Icebreaker, and a long list of other specialty brands offer apparel with impressive performance qualities. Nuyarn, a fiber manufacturer, builds wool fibers for familiar brands like The North Face, Black Diamond, and Ibex.

Long sleeve, short sleeve, half zip, quarter zip, hooded or not, there are enough base layer options to match the level of moisture-wicking and insulation needed for your environment and activity.

Most brands offer base layers in three levels of insulation: lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight. Like cross-country skiers selecting wax, users can pick the model and style that fits their needs. Wool meets all the performance criteria fitness enthusiasts demand. The fibers keep the wearer warm, wick away moisture to stay dry, and are durable enough to last multiple seasons.

With busy lives, workouts often morph into meeting friends or running errands. In the past, base layers’ colors were as basic as light brown, grey, or black, and were expected to be worn under a sweater or fleece. Now, brand designers incorporate fashion elements to make base layers suitable for use as athleisure apparel. Rich colors, patterns, and configurations turn apparel into a fashion statement.

Performance, style, and price are standard purchasing criteria. Today, consumers are looking into a brand’s stance on environmental sustainability. Wool manufacturers have created open systems that allow a consumer to track the source of the wool used to construct the garment and every step in the supply chain process.