Alpinus Men’s Thermoactive Base Layer Sets

Excessively bulky clothing and rifle shooting do not go together well, making it essential during the colder months to recognise the benefits of insulating base layers for retaining body heat. Dynamic hunting generates a lot more body heat to keep you warm, but the more sedentary options, specifically long waits in a hide or high seat, can be bone-tinglingly cold. Sometimes, all that moves are your eyes!

Dynamic or sedentary
Alpinus is a Polish brand, and I was sent two of their base layer options to use during the winter. The ‘Active’ set is pretty much self-explanatory, while the ‘Tactical’ set is for more static adventures. Both sets are visually similar, other than the colour options, with leggings and a shirt featuring seamless construction to prevent any abrasion. The fabrics differ slightly in composition, with the Active being comparatively ‘silky’ compared to the slightly more fibrous texture of the Tactical set. The materials used are incredibly flexible, and when you first open the box, they all look miniature, but step in, and the material becomes a second skin. It’s a strange feeling at first, but it feels like it bonds to you and is never uncomfortable or restrictive, nor does it feel clingy.

Similar but different
Both fabrics are advertised as wicking, and they certainly achieve this. The Active is stated to be anti-static, whereas the Tactical set is described as anti-allergic, yet both have an almost gossamer-thin double layer to trap heat, and they are quick-drying too.
I have worn both sets in appropriate conditions, and while the fabric differences are subtle, they are more noticeable when first putting them on than after prolonged wear. The Active set contains slightly more elastane (7%) for added flexibility, whereas the Tactical set has 5%, though it is by no means restrictive.
The key difference lies in the polyester and polypropylene content, alongside the polyamide base of the fabric, which determines the level of insulation and the texture of the material. Importantly, both garments are phenomenally comfortable and grip well against your skin, and they don’t sag or slip throughout the course of the day.
I would also say that both provide immediate warmth, but the Tactical set can feel almost uncomfortably warm until you step out into the cold. The Active set functions more as an insulating undergarment, while the Tactical set is better regarded as a foundation for thermal comfort when facing very cold conditions, even if it feels slightly uncomfortable at first. Neither set restricted movement, and both appeared to wick naturally produced moisture effectively.

Roles
Overall, the Active set is good for a night out foxing, with broken-up movement patterns, never staying in one place for too long, whereas the Tactical set is definitely for times when you won’t be moving for hours on end.