Base Layers for Hunting and Fishing – Quiet, Warm and Dry

Short answer: A base layer for hunting has to keep you warm and dry for hours without moving and without rustling. Bamboo is an obvious choice, because the fabric is silent, moves sweat away after the walk out to your spot and stays odour free, which also means less scent for the game.

The problem at the stand

Hunting and fishing alternate between activity and long periods of standing still. If you sweat on the way out, you get cold when you stand still. Bamboo viscose moves the moisture away from the skin, so you do not cool down in wet clothes. Read more about layering in the guide to the bamboo undershirt as a base layer.

The right base layer for hunting

Start with a bamboo undershirt or a long sleeved bamboo T-shirt on top and a pair of bamboo long johns below. On top of that you add wool or fleece and your hunting clothes. Bamboo is also completely silent when you move.

Feet and odour

Cold feet end more hunts than rain does. Dry feet in bamboo socks keep the warmth for longer in rubber boots and hunting boots, and the bacteria slowing properties of bamboo mean less odour after a long day.

Frequently asked questions

Why is bamboo good as a base layer for hunting?

It is silent, moves sweat away after activity and keeps you warm and dry during the hours of standing still.

Should I choose bamboo or wool closest to the skin?

Bamboo is softer against the skin and smells less; in hard frost you can combine it with wool as a mid layer on top.

Do bamboo long johns work in rubber boots and waders?

Yes, they move the moisture away from your legs, so you avoid the clammy cold when you stand still for hours.