Gear Guide 2012: Terramar HotTotties Thermolator Pro Crew and Tight Baselayers

Terramar HotTotties Thermolator (Courtesy Photo)

Terramar HotTotties Thermolator (Courtesy Photo)

Of all the baselayers in her overstuffed drawer, our tester kept reaching for this affordable, all-season combo for nighttime wear while backpacking and beneath shells on cold-weather hikes. Fit is better than most: HotTotties is Terramar’s women’s-only line, and it emphasizes femme-specific fit details. For example, the Thermolator Tight features flat-stitched panels around the hips that are far less bulky than a standard gathered waist. The wide waistband layers comfortably beneath an outer shell without rolling or twisting.

A gusseted crotch facilitates ease of movement and let our tester hike and scramble off-trail in Colorado’s Park Range, where fabric wicked well on moderate climbs (in terms of wicking, it ranks in the middle of the pack compared to other baselayers we’ve tested). “They maintain their shape without sausage-casing discomfort,” she says. Plus, the buttery knit (a blend of 90 percent polyester and 10 percent spandex) feels surprisingly plush for a midweight material. Streamlined, zipperless pockets on the tight’s waistband and the crew’s lower back stash a key or a lip balm, but don’t chafe beneath a pack (though the waistband pocket is hard to access, especially when worn beneath a shell). Downsides: The fabric’s spandex content makes these pieces slower to dry than some synthetics, so they’re best for low- to moderately-aerobic hikes. $36 (crew), $25 (tight); 7 oz. (top and bottom); XS-XL; hot-totties.com