Endura BaaBaa Blend long-sleeve baselayer review

Endura's BaaBaa Blend is a baselayer with a difference, blending Lyocell and Merino wool into a well-priced package.

Wool is known for its excellent temperature regulating qualities – keeping you warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot – but it is generally heavier than synthetic fibres and can ‘wet-out’, taking longer to dry.

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The Merino here adds that warm-to-the-touch feel and all-important odour control, while Lyocell, which is man-made but derived from wood pulp, is very light and highly absorbent.

The result is an itch-free and very comfortable baselayer. I’ve worn this in all weathers from warm, sunny days in transitional months to more wintery conditions, and even if it gets a touch on the sweaty side it stays warm and dries quickly.

Despite the Merino content, I suspected the BaaBaa might need washing after each ride, but it’s way more robust than that and has seen more outings between washes than I’m prepared to admit.

When it does find its way into the laundry pile there’s a distinctly non-temperamental attitude to a brisk machine wash, after which it usually dries overnight and is ready to go again the next day.

The cut is slim but not skinny, meaning that it’s one that I’m prepared to wear for casual duties too. The longer length back hem combined with a mobile sleeve and shoulder cut give great freedom of movement, too.

I mostly wear this as a single layer underneath a soft-shell jacket, which is a combination that works across a wide range of conditions without the need for constantly adding or removing layers. When it got properly cold, adding a warmer layer, in my case Endura's MT 500 Freezing Point jacket, made for an almost perfect pairing.

It’s hard to fault the BaaBaa blend; it's versatile, comfortable and robust in the face of a non-selective laundry habit. Available in three colours and for £45 it's incredible value for money.