Giro Chrono Long-Sleeve baselayer review

Constructed from Giro’s own Wikpro fabric, which uses a blend of nylon, polypropylene and elastane, the long-sleeved Chrono is a superb example of a synthetic baselayer.

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It’s Giro’s heaviest-weight fabric and is designed for cold-weather performance, managing changing temperatures and perspiration.

Straight out of the box, I was concerned it wouldn’t fit because it looked tiny. However, not only did the stretch of the fabric mean it fitted true to size, it was very comfortable and warm too.

Baselayers rely on having good skin contact all over to wick away moisture and trap air effectively, and the Chrono ticked that box admirably.

The body-hugging fit kept sweaty and clammy patches completely at bay, while the seamless torso meant there were no irritating stitching lines to cause hotspots when tucked under bib shorts or worn with backpacks.

The more I wore it, the more I loved it. The Giro became the baselayer I reached for when I was planning a hard day out on the bike.

It coped admirably with the heat and sweat of high-intensity riding and in a range of conditions, and remained as comfortable as can be expected when cooling down during stationary moments, too. It’s a terrific all-rounder; not too hot and not too cool.

When riding, it wicked sweat away efficiently, didn’t hold on to moisture and the cut was perfectly suited to the riding position. Even though it looked small, the waist and sleeves always remained in place.

With its mid-weight, it could certainly be used right through a UK winter, from autumn to spring, without overheating or getting too cold.

It isn’t cheap at £55, but what you get is a tremendously durable and versatile mid-layer that all our testers were unanimously positive about.