ELEMENTAL Layers Are Key to Staying Warm Outdoors
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- Опубликовано: 1 июн 2024
- Shop the Finetrack L1 Elemental Layer Warm and L2 Drought Quad Base Layer over here (affiliate link): bit.ly/3O3BcpP
This video is sponsored by Finetrack (@finetrackweb).
In this video, I test the Finetrack Elemental L1 layer to see how it works in real-life conditions. It’s essentially a mesh layer with a twist - it’s waterproof. This means that it’s very efficient at wicking sweat away from your body and out to the outer layers. You’re always supposed to wear a base layer over it, so all of the sweat is soaked up by the base layer. This means that the fabric that’s touching your skin is pretty much always dry, which helps you stay dry and warm when hiking in winter.
▼ TABLE OF CONTENTS
00:00 - Intro
00:47 - About Finetrack
01:08 - How it Works
02:24 - Water Test
03:11 - Real-Life Test
03:46 - Normal Base Layer Test
05:31 - Finetrack Test
07:15 - Test Results
08:49 - Final Verdict
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▼ AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
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Shop the Finetrack L1 Elemental Layer Warm and L2 Drought Quad Base Layer over here (affiliate link): bit.ly/3O3BcpP
I've lived in Japan for most of my life (over 50 years) and have been using Finetrack gear since they first started the company. In fact, the owner of the company is a friend whom I've hiked, bicycled, and skied with, and one of the company employees was a partner for several years. So I'm very familiar with Finetrack gear, and own and have used a lot of it.
The "Dry Layer", as it is called in Japanese (I've not seen "Elemental Layer" yet), does indeed work at keeping you drier and warmer. I've used both the "Dry Layer Basic" (general use), and the "Dry Layer Warm" (for cold weather, that you are using here). The Dry Layer Basic I've used throughout the year, usually with a thin synthetic T-shirt or merino T-shirt over it. This works for cooler weather, but even the more airy Basic Layer is usually too hot for me most of the year, so I always end up taking it off and just wearing the T-shirt. In winter, especially sub-zero temperatures, this system works great. It helps eliminate extra mid-layers, often with just an active insulation layer over it, or just a windjacket. If the winter day starts getting warmer even a little, it gets way too hot. That's why I always carry a baselayer to wear alone if the Dry Layer gets too sweaty. Lately I've been wearing the Dry Layer Basic Long Sleeve Crew Shirt with a Mountain Hardwear Air Mesh Long Sleeve Crew Shirt (active insulation using Octa), and that has been so breathable and dry that I may stick with that during the winter months, and cover them with a wind jacket when the wind picks up.
As to smell... almost always, after 2 days of constant use, the Dry Layer (SS T-shirts, LS Crewneck shirts, underpants, liner socks, and long johns) begins to take on a really bad funk that no amount of washing completely eliminates. The only Dry Layer that didn't take on the stink was the armless T-shirt. Here is where wool fishnet next-to-the-skin baselayers have a great advantage over Finetrack's Dry Layer offerings. They also make a very fine, almost gauzy, Merino-Spin baselayer that I find works well on its own, though doesn't keep the skin surface dry as well as the Dry Layer.
For anyone in Europe, America, or from places where American and European sizing is the norm, who is thinking of buying Finetrack clothing, please be aware that Japanese clothing sizing runs quite small, and body proportions tend to be different. For me pants here are almost always too short, and shirt arms too short. I tend to buy one size larger than my usual size, but then the waist or hem are too large. It seems Finetrack has recently started including longer pants legs, but only for a select few models. It can be a frustrating experience. Finetrack makes great gear, but usually they don't have my size.
Wow, next level. Thank you for taking one for the team.
That sounds realy interessting.
Good information. At time 8:22, please don't wring out garments. Over time wringing out garments will tear the fabric.
Real life results, great video
The thing about synthetic base layers I learned is that when they become wet then they provide 0 warmth in chilly weather (60 and below). As soon as I switched to merino wool base layers the problem was eliminated since wool gives warmth even wet. But when I don't move I put on down jacket to continue to stay warm.
I wouldn't say 0 from my personal experience. But yeah, wool definitely does keep you warm better when wet! The good thing about this system is that it doesn't really matter what type of base layer you wear on top. The key idea is that underneath you're wearing a mesh layer that doesn't soak up water and transfers all the sweat out to the base layer. Your system works well (wool base layer + down jacket on top). But it will work even better with an elemental layer underneath. ;)
I have a few questions.
In the video you compared it to a regular synthetic base layer but how does the elemental compare to the more traditional mesh layers such as the brynje shown at the start of the video.
Also what size are you wearing? Whats your height and weight for reference? I live in Japan and the cut of products usually run way shorter in the arms and the sizes off by one size… for example an L in Japan is usually an M in European sizes.
So essentially, Brynje is made for giants and Finetrack for medium - shorter people, as you said. :D I'm 185 cm tall and the elemental layer is S and the base layer L. I think the elemental layer sized in M would also work for me, but S seems to be a bit better since it's meant to be pretty tight-fitting. The Finetrack L base layer is perfectly sized for sleeve length height, but a bit too loose overall. So not perfect, but I don't mind that it's a bit loose because it meant that it also dried a bit quicker from more ventilation.
When comparing Brynje vs the Elemental layer, I think the key takeaway is this: Brynje is better for extremely cold temperatures (-30 to -5 c). Finetrack is better for medium winter temps (-5c to +5c) or very high-intensity, low-temperature (-20 c to -5 c) situations. Brynje gets way more wet after serious activity, but because of larger gaps and being thicker in general, it keeps you warmer. Finetrack Elemental Layer I think only barely increases your overall insulation, but it does keep your skin much more dry.
Japan is kind of somewhere in the middle, in terms of winter coldness, right? I imagine something similar to the Latvian Climate (where I'm from originally). For Japan, I think both layers would do well, but I would recommend Finetrack for someone who does more high-intensity stuff and Brynje for someone who mostly does hiking on flat or easy terrain. But again, both would work in Japan. For Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, etc, I would recommend Brynje because a lot of times you'll be hiking in -20c. For Italy, France, the middle-south US, etc, I would recommend Finetrack. Finetrack also has a bonus that you can use the elemental layer in summer as a regular shirt when doing high-intensity stuff because it doesn't look like a fishnet. I imagine trail running with it (without another layer on top) in the summer would be pretty nice since it's so ventilated.
Another factor is size. If you're tall (over 180 cm) and skinny - Brynje's sizing seems to be better. If you're on the shorter side - Finetrack is sized more appropriately.
❤😂🎉🎉🎉 Thank you Oscar, great information 😊
Glad you liked it!
Enjoy your product reviews but would love to see more of your personal hiking and camping videos
Awesome bro, thank you for your useful tips 👌🔥🤘🍻💯
Happy to help!
What’s the stink factor on these? Wondering if they’d be ok for a thru hike. Merino wool and alpaca are amazing at withstanding the stink which matters to me on thru hikes.
❤ From 🇮🇪
Grazie!
but how does it compare to the Brynje-style mesh layer? Comparable? Better? The appearance is better, but what are your thoughts?
First of all, it looks like you're really trying to make a sincere effort at comparing both without too much bias and I'm not questioning that.
It's obviously a non-scientific test and I wonder how skewed the (subjective) results are and how to make a most accurate assessment. Again, I should say, because I had the same reaction after seeing your video about the Brynje mesh layer.
To me, the time difference doesn't seem that impressive and could possibly be explained by changing conditions: the sun's higher in the second hike, and your body temperature is not the same either, since you've done it before. Could such differences in conditions be the reason for those few minutes?
How about doing the same test again another day but first with the mesh layer? It would be interesting to see if the conclusion is the same.
It would also be quite interesting to compare the Brynje mesh layer to this one...
Just my 2 cents ;)
When doing the second test, the sun was already starting to set, so it was definitely colder with the mesh system.
But I agree with your suggestion of switching the testing order in place. It is possible that maybe on the second test, my body is kind of warmed up more and already used to cold weather. And I agree that the time difference wasn't so big in the first place.
I think the key takeaway with this system is that 1) there was much less sweat on the inner (elemental) layer because it doesn't absorb as much as a normal base layer 2) It dried out 3x as quickly. So if you, for example, you do a lot of high-intensity hikes in winter, and you notice that your base layer is always wet when you stop, then wearing something like this underneath will definitely help. You can wear anything on top of it - an already existing base layer that you have, fleece, sun hoodie, etc.
My idea is to wait outside of the sun instead of in the sun on top of the hil.
When I was on top of the hill both times, I was specifically sitting in the shadows btw behind a small tree. A few light rays might have gotten through, but it was minimal.
We dont really need more dwrs in nature or pressed against our bodies for marginal performance gains. Regular baselayers with fibers that dont absorb moisture work perfectly fine. And this baselayer will become just that after a certain amount of washes as well. Its quite telling that the he doesnt compare with a mesh baselayer. Enjoy your free stuff i guess
Finetrack sells a wash-in liquid that completely revives the water-repellency of the Elemental Layer. You can keep using your Finetrack garments for a long time. I’ve had some of my Finetrack gear for more than 15 years, with regular use.