craft 贴身层 居家运动必备佳品

The wind is howling, and people are shivering. As a Southerner living in an area #unsuitable for centralized heating#, facing the damp and cold air of the South, thermal underwear often becomes the first choice for many. Although ordinary thermal underwear seems warm, it comes with many problems: it's not breathable, heavy, and lacks elasticity. If you want to exercise, you're bound by layers upon layers of clothing. Is the only hope for winter to pass quickly?

Craft, a Swedish functional sports brand founded in 1977, has won the German Red Dot Design Award and the ISPO (Asia-Pacific's leading sports goods trade platform) Winter Product Award! It was the first to propose the 'three-layer dressing principle,' which means that outdoor sportswear must follow the 'three-layer dressing' rule: a base layer, an insulating layer, and a protective layer. As the base layer, sports underwear is naturally indispensable. Some might ask: isn't it enough to wear ordinary thermal underwear as the base layer? But Craft disagrees because its underwear can be worn both inside and out, serving dual purposes!

Speaking of Craft, I believe everyone should be familiar with it after so many product reviews. (For those who are not familiar, please check out the equipment reviews. From last year's green label to this year's green label, red label, vests, shorts, pants, cycling clothes, and more, Craft's extensive range of products and the value of its brand story are evident.) Today, I will introduce the Be Active green label from the base layer series (the three series are: blue label for freshness, green label for active sports, and red label for cold weather insulation). In practical use, in the cold winter, Northerners can choose red label products for daily wear, which focus more on insulation. For relatively warmer Southern regions or for wearing during exercise, the green label is more suitable as it is more breathable and moisture-wicking. I was fortunate to get the green label comfort series this time. After saying so much, let's test it together!

First is the packaging, a transparent plastic bag. Through the plastic bag, the green label is clearly visible. Simple and clear, in line with the minimalist style of Nordic design!

The overall style is more fitted, and in actual wear, it doesn't feel loose. When choosing clothes, I usually struggle between size S and M. This time, I decisively chose a smaller size for a more fitted feel, which enhances the insulation effect!

The fabric is 75% polyester and 25% nylon. When you touch it directly, it is noticeably thicker than summer running clothes. The material is very comfortable and smooth. The torso part uses a seamless integrated knitting method. The smooth knitting structure is particularly fine and dense. If you zoom in on the picture, you can see the knitting pattern, which is somewhat like the sweaters we wear outside, warm and cozy. So when the wind blows from the front, it won't penetrate your body immediately, effectively enhancing warmth and comfort.

The collar is a common round neck design. It doesn't have the inconvenience of a turtleneck, which can feel constricting around the neck, nor does it have the exposure risk of a deep V-neck. The back of the collar has a Be ACTIVE COMFORT (meaning comfortable active sports) strip. In this frequently washed and easily worn area, such thoughtful design undoubtedly reflects the meticulous care of the brand's designers!

The tailored fit, combined with the three-dimensional lines on the back, makes movement more comfortable and free, always maintaining a graceful posture!

The edges and cuffs have elastic binding with fine stitching, windproof and warm, and comfortable to wear close to the body!

The washing label and the back of the hang tag are in English, which some older runners might not understand. However, you can look at the symbols to know that the water temperature should be below 40°, it should not be tumble dried, ironed (nylon is flammable), dry cleaned, or bleached. I personally suggest placing the washing label on the inner waist side. Although this position doesn't cause discomfort, it might accidentally be exposed!

Experience

In the cold winter, I don't want to engage in high-intensity exercise, especially during the harshest days. Getting out of bed itself can be a struggle. Everyone knows that machines need to be preheated before operation. The human body is the same. Wearing a green label base layer plus a lightweight down vest, I ride my bike to the bus stop and put on the jacket from my backpack. This keeps my core temperature within a certain range, maintaining a certain level of activity without catching a cold due to sudden temperature drops. It's worth mentioning the human body hot spot technology under the armpits. The most uncomfortable place when sweating during exercise, in actual wear, doesn't feel like wind is blowing in. The breathability is good when sweating. The special mesh knitting can quickly expel excess moisture/heat. Containing 70% polyester fiber, the channel structure fiber quickly wicks sweat to the next layer. When the weather warms up, in crowded buses and subways, you no longer have to worry about the embarrassment of being sweaty!

Finally, let's talk about temperature control and insulation performance. In cold weather, when the air is not fresh and it's damp and cold at night, we can choose indoor training. On aerobic fitness equipment, you can get a good workout, and it's also a great form of cross-training. The effect is quite noticeable. Wearing it alone also provides plenty of warmth. Now, with the heater on, I usually wear an extra lightweight down vest from Bimai. But now, just wearing the Craft base layer, I can feel my back sweating a bit, but it doesn't feel stuffy. The different parts with fine, lightweight, and highly elastic micro-polyester fibers strike a balance between warmth and breathability!

The Craft base layer effectively ventilates the body and wicks moisture from the skin to the outside of the clothing. It breaks the limitations of traditional underwear, making it comfortable to wear both at home and during exercise, without the hassle of choosing. Although it's not cheap, the effect is excellent! I hope they can launch matching sets in the future, so everyone can wear less and still enjoy themselves!

Advantages: The human body hot spot areas use special mesh knitting, which can quickly expel excess moisture and heat.
Soft and elastic fibers help regulate body temperature during exercise.
Seamless integrated knitting in the torso enhances comfort.
Ergonomic tailoring reduces the feeling of restriction during exercise.
The smooth and comfortable fabric can be worn as a base layer or directly as outerwear.

Disadvantages: The position of the washing label is not very reasonable.
The sleeves are too long, and the cuffs are tight, so they can't be pulled down to cover the hands.