Weather in India can be very extreme and it’s all dependent on what part of the country you live. Most of us travel north to south or west to east and that’s when you can feel the drastic changes in weather. Lot of motorcyclists dread riding during the summer months where temperatures can reach 40-45 degrees celsius and that’s when the question arises of wearing another layer inside?

There are a few general misconceptions to base layers, firstly more layers means more warmth, so base layers on a hot day is not the right way to go. Secondly most of us believe that base layers are for keeping warm in cold weather. Rukka is one of those brands that wants to change that and has developed base layers as a protection for both hot and cold weather.

What is a base layer?

Let’s go back to our biology class for a moment. When we exercise we sweat and sweating is our body’s way of cooling itself to ensure we don’t overheat. Without the ability to sweat, our body couldn’t regulate its temperature appropriately.

To stay cool you want this evaporative cooling to happen as close as possible to the skin and this is why having a base layer, fitted to the body, can greatly improve the cooling effect. This becomes your second skin.

Base layers are the first layers before your gear. And they need to keep you cool or warm and dry. They wick sweat away from your skin to keep you cooler and drier, and can act as a trap for a layer of air that’ll keep you much warmer in cold weather. A cotton tshirt does not have the properties and material to match what a base layer can do.

When it’s cold, the main objective of a base layer is to wick away any moisture, and reduce that wet feeling you’ll often encounter when wearing a cotton T-shirt under layers.

To summarise when it’s hot, base layers help you keep cool by allowing your sweat to evaporate and when it’s cold, base layers with some thermal properties dry away the moisture and make you feel comfortable and warm.

Which base layers are the right base layers?

There’s a ton of options available on the market but, in my experience, the differences are small. What is important is to pay attention to what weather or season those base layers are designed for. Summer base layers tend to be thin while winter base layers will often be thicker, with more insulating properties.

What do we have in store for you?

Rukka has been at the forefront of manufacturing technical and functional garments made from high-quality materials. As a sportswear manufacturer, Rukka knows just how important your first layer of clothing really is with the Rukka Max Seamless Pants, Tops and the Rukka Outlast layers. The Max Seamless base layers are specific to hot weather riding but the Outlast gear is different and unique.

Rukka Max Tops and Pants

To quote, Outlast® technology, originally developed for NASA, utilizes phase change materials (PCM) that absorb, store and release heat for optimal thermal comfort.  Outlast® technology is comparable to ice in a drink; as it changes from solid to liquid, it absorbs heat and cools the drink, keeping that drink at the desired temperature for longer. This encapsulation process makes the Thermocules™ exceptionally durable for many applications. These Thermocules™ can be incorporated into fabrics and fibers and have the capacity to absorb, store and release excess heat.  This gives any product containing Outlast® technology the ability to continually regulate skin’s microclimate. As the skin gets hot, the heat is absorbed, and as it cools, that heat is released.

Outlast® technology is not wicking technology, which manages moisture by reacting to your sweat and pulling it away from the skin. Outlast® technology will proactively manage heat while controlling the production of moisture before it begins.

Rukka uses Outlast with their full suit Base layer – Outlast Overall, offering a middle ground that’ll be usable throughout most of the year, 

Rukka Oulast Overall

Getting the most out of a base layer

In order for a base layer to do its job you’ll want the base layer to be snug and have a good fit. It should be your second skin.

When your base layers fit right, they also provide better comfort. When riding on the dirt I tend to put my armor above it which helps the base layer breathe. Same is the case with leathers and touring gear which is what I spend most of my time in and it just helps get in and out of the gear that i am wearing with the added benefit of staying cooler 😉