ARTILECT Boulder 125 wins Editors Pick in POWDER
Artilect’s Boulder 125 series top and bottom was a particular standout in the women’s base layers tested this year. They’re made from a blend of 85% Superfine Nuyarn merino wool and 15% nylon, giving them a pretty classic wool feel as well as the breathable, sweat-wicking, and odor-fighting properties of a good merino base layer. Part of that “classic” wool feel meant that the fabric had that tiny-bit scratchy wool feel for a few moments when worn right out of the box. However, while testing how much the layer retained smell, I wore this top several times without washing it and found that the more I wore it, the softer it got. By the third or fourth wear, I didn’t notice that scratch at all, and actually found myself excited to put it on and lounging around in it post-activity.
As I see it, base layers aren’t meant to be the thing that provides warmth, but rather keeps it in your body when you’re sweating in a cold environment. With this in mind, I loved how thin both the Boulder 125 top and leggings were and that they didn’t add any bulk when layering to ski or run in the cold. You could wear either under a number of other layers, like an insulated knicker or several mid layers on top. The Long Sleeve Crew is cut longer and hits my hip flexors, which makes for nice extra coverage when layering under ski pants or bibs. There are ‘thumb holes,’ but they’re integrated into the wrist cuffs, so they don’t feel like extra bulk when not used. The armpits are also gusseted and have eyelets strategically placed to maximize breathability.
The Boulder 125 Long Sleeve Crew did a superb job at moisture wicking and remaining breathable. I wore it while riding my bike trainer in my garage, which tends to be a pretty sweaty activity, and didn’t find myself overheating or feeling too ‘swampy,’ for lack of a better term. Following a trainer ride, I hung the top up to dry and then wore it again for a trail run several days later and didn’t notice any built up stench, despite the fact that it had been thoroughly sweat in. I paired it with a vest for a chilly trail run and was plenty warm, without overheating. Once again, it was tossed in my ‘worn, but not to be washed pile’ and then pulled back out for a particularly warm day of skiing. Still, no smell lingered in the top and the layer was perfectly breathable, and sweat-wicking.
The Boulder 125 Leggings were similarly thin, and made of the same Nuyarn merino and nylon blend although initially, the fabric felt softer than the top. A nice amount of stretch and flatlock seams made them easy to push up over ski socks/boots without overstretching the cuff or adding a bulky roll of fabric below the knee. They were warm enough to be worn with the leg vents on my ski pants wide open on a balmy day, but weren’t too toasty. In the very best way, Artilect’s Boulder 125 Leggings are the type of base layer that you put on and don’t think about again until you take them off at the end of the day.