Craft WS BaselayerAsk any cyclist which element will cause them undue stress on a ride and many will answer "wind."  Not only does it sap the power from your legs, drain your willpower and slow you down, it definitely can put the hurt on your body temperature.  No matter how many layers you're wearing, without some sort of wind protection you're going to get cold.  Enter the Craft ProZero windproof base layer, but does it really work as well as advertised?  A couple months of riding in it has led me to say yep.

Ace of base

Craft is a company who is no stranger to base layer technology.  The ProZero is a polyester spun fabric that is designed to fit over the body like a second skin.  And unique to craft, their base layers feature a series of vertical ribs that are carefully designed to alternately contact the body and allow warm air to flow under the ribs.  The design has a dual purpose of wicking sweat away from the skin (preventing it from evaporating on and cooling the skin) and trapping warmed air against the body to insulate it.

The garment itself has a crew neck design which fits snugly and insulates the neck and front of the body from airflow.  The sleeves feature similar cuffs that prevent air from running up the sleeve.  It also features a longer "drop tail" to cover the lower back when in the riding position.  To top it all off, all seams are flat lock stitched for durability and comfort.

Gored

The unique aspect of this base layer lies in the large panel of Gore Windstopper fabric that's sewn over the front of the torso.  While it seems strange, this loose fitting layer is designed to block wind from the front while keeping a nice cushion of warm air surrounding the torso, thusly keeping the body warmer.  What is strange is the fit: Craft suggests that the "base layer" part of the garment be snug to the body like usual, but the Gore layer should be somewhat loose.  In this case, be sure to "try before you buy."

Craft ProZero Gore WS baselayer

impressions

After trying the ProZero Gore layer on a number of different days ranging from upper 30s to lower 50s, I can safely say that this is a keeper in so many ways.  The insulating effect of the ProZero fabric combined with the wind resistance of the Gore layer make for a toasty, comfortable ride all around.  The Gore layer, while loose in it's own right, snugs down under a jersey and is hardly noticed (although there is some soft "swishing" of the Gore fabric when moving around a lot.)  The effect of the windstopper fabric pretty much disappears when wearing a wind vest or wind proof jacket, but it will still keep you toasty warm anyway.  However, if conditions allow for just a thermal jersey and this base layer, I'll be pulling it on every time.  It does the same work as a wind vest (albeit with long base layer sleeves) and it doesn't inhibit access to jersey pockets like a vest or jacket.

All said and done, if you're looking to extend your riding season a few more weeks, this may be just the tool you're looking for to keep you warm happy on the road.