Don’t underestimate the base layer. It’s one of your secret weapons to stay comfortable on the slopes. The Swiss premium manufacturer X-Bionic specializes in exactly this often overlooked category, combining unique technologies and materials to create some of the most high-performing base layers on the market.
Gear
hey sweaty
Gear Spotlight: X-Bionic Base Layers
For example, the newest edition of the Energy Accumulator Collection is targeted specifically for athletes in search of the best-performing base layer. This means a compression fit that includes X-Bionic’s 3D Bionic Sphere system that cools when the body is sweating and warms up in cold temperatures, plus a zone system called AirComPlex that routes warm and cold air to the appropriate places.
World Cup Alpine dominator Marco Odermatt has his own signature model, which tells you all you need to know about this collection. If you’re about to go barreling down an icy, thousand-meter-plus descent—whether on the race course or in the backcountry—and need to perform at your best, this fit is for you.
X-BIONIC Energy Accumulator Long Sleeve
€109-180 on x-bionic.com
With a compressive fit that X-Bionic rates at 4 out of 5, the Energy Accumulator isn’t fooling around when it comes to performance. Pay tribute to Odermatt with his signature turtle neck edition (€180) or rep the colors of the Swiss, Italian or German alpine teams. There’s even an Armadillo version (€280) that integrates an Impact Pro yarn to protect against ski edge cuts. What’ll they think of next?
- Patented 3D Bionic Sphere System with ThermoSyphon technology: a complex structure of air channels that cools when you sweat and heats up when you’re cold
- Expansion ribs that optimize temperatures at joints, even when the arms are bent
- AirComPlex-Zone system that protects sensitive areas, storing warm air where it should be and removing sweat from where it shouldn’t be
- ISO Shoulder: An insulated layer to keep the shoulders from getting cold
If you’re looking for a slightly less aggressive option, check out the Energizer Collection. This classic line offers a lot of the same features as the Energy Accumulator, and comes in a variety of colorways.
X-BIONIC Energizer Long Sleeve
€120 on x-bionic.com
A less compressive (aka more relaxed) option than the Energy Accumulator and a classic in the X-BIONIC lineup. It’s got many of the same features, all focused on effective thermoregulation and keeping you focused on skiing, not on your sweaty bod.
- Patented 3D Bionic Sphere System with ThermoSyphon technology: a complex structure of air channels that cools when you sweat and heats up when you’re cold
- AirComPlex-Zone system that protects sensitive areas, storing warm air where it should be and removing sweat from where it shouldn’t be
- ISO Shoulder: An insulated layer to keep the shoulders from getting cold
X-Bionic has a few more tricks up their sleeve (literally)—like a Light version of the Energy Accumulator for gram-counting ski tourers that also includes a half-zip option, and a merino option for staying warm on those really cold days.