Lusso WindBloc S/S Base Layer

Lusso has been knocking out cycling gear since 1982, and it's made in Manchester, Italian name notwithstanding. Here it's taken the short-sleeved baselayer that impressed Mike recently and added a windproof layer on the front of the torso. It works a treat, offering excellent moisture wicking and a useful amount of protection for fast descents.

A good baselayer wants to sit closely against the skin to maximise its ability to 'wick' – to take sweat from your skin and move it away for evaporation. Various fabrics can do this effectively, including merino wool and some synthetics, and the construction of the fabric can play as significant a role as the raw material itself.

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Here Lusso uses Dryarn, made from polypropylene, which it claims is "more breathable than polyester, more insulating than wool and lighter than any other fibre" – bold claims. In use I found it did indeed perform very impressively – the Dryarn is used across the whole baselayer except for the black windproof panel on the front. Even working hard on big Pyrenean climbs I found not a hint of moisture build-up in the usual sweat-trap areas.

Its neatest trick, though, is when you turn around to go back down the mountain – usually time to don the gilet to fend off the high-speed chills. I found that there were often occasions where I could do without a gilet, thanks to the wind protection on the front panel of this base. This wasn't always the case, not least if mist or drizzle came into play – there's no protection from water here – but the extra comfort it offers descending on a dry day is really quite something.

Lusso isn't the first to include wind blocking into a baselayer – see here – and one of the big challenges in doing so is to avoid seriously compromising the primary function of a baselayer, namely the movement of sweat away from the skin. The Polartec Windbloc fabric used here does an excellent job at managing the balance between movement of air and moisture even when you're working hard on a climb. On a really hot day it probably wouldn't be my first choice, but for the rest of the time it does an excellent job.

> Check out our guide to cycling baselayers here

Downsides? Not many, to be honest. On some of my jerseys, I found the ends of the baselayer sleeves would work their way down and out under those of the jersey, which wasn't a great look. Mike, by contrast, liked the sleeve length when reviewing the non-Windbloc version, feeling that it helped avoid jersey-armwarmer gaps.

Overall though, this is an excellent baselayer. The comfort and wicking performance is on a par with the best that I've tried from the likes of Craft, and the Windbloc layer is a real benefit when the temperature is a little bit lower or you're going really fast. Pricing at £35 makes it reasonable value when measured against other summer baselayers without windblocking, many of which are around the same mark.

Verdict

Ultra-comfortable baselayer with wind protection – great for riding up and down mountains or cool mornings