Gore M Base Layer Thermo Long Sleeve Shirt review

Gore’s long-sleeve Thermo baselayer is made from a mix of fully synthetic polypropylene and elastane. Gore says it quickly wicks moisture away from your body, keeping you comfortable while exercising.

Dubbed Thermo-stretch, the 92 per cent polypropylene and 8 per cent elastane mix uses Gore’s Slim Fit design that’s intended to conform to your body’s contours without being skin-tight.

Its seams are flatlock-stitched, meaning the joins between each of the top’s panels are smooth with only minimal contouring.

My size-large test sample weighed 148g, slightly more than Gore claims.

It’s available in five sizes, from small to extra-extra-large.

Gore M Base Layer Thermo Long Sleeve Shirt performance

I preferred the fit of the large over the medium; its tight-fitting, stretchy material hugs your body well, even in a slightly bigger size.

The shirt has a long cut, with the waist hem dropping low, almost below your backside.

This is great for tucking it into MTB shorts or waterproof trousers when worn over the top of bibs or padded shorts, and helps reduce the amount of exposed skin.

The arms are long, but their skin-hugging form prevents them from swamping your hands when your elbows are bent. The sleeves roll up easily, thanks to the cuff elastic not being too tight.

However, the neck opening is quite low. This exposes a reasonable amount of skin, letting cold air in, and feels at odds with the rest of the garment’s skin-tight and long-cut design.

True to Gore’s claims, its fabric feels smooth and soft against your skin. When saturated in sweat, the material doesn’t feel cold or sticky as other baselayers can.

Its seams are imperceptible against your skin, boosting comfort further.

Also matching expectations is how warm it runs prior to sweat saturation and out of the wind. On colder days (below 5ºC), it’s best paired with a windproof shell (a cycling gilet or mountain bike jacket) to maximise heat-retention performance, and on warmer ones (above 8ºC), worn on its own.

Its black colour hides sweat patches and water saturation, unlike lighter-coloured garments.

Once saturated in water and sweat, and if exposed to wind or very cold temperatures, despite the material feeling comfortable, your core’s temperature can drop quickly. The material is unable to defend against the elements.

Although I didn’t expect this model to be windproof (and Gore sells a dedicated windproof base layer), it offered no protection against cold drafts and its performance when wet was slightly disappointing given its cost.

To boot, its rather ordinary blend of fabrics isn’t befitting of its cost, and neither do they deliver premium performance, even if the workmanship is top-notch.

To maximise its effectiveness, then, the Gore shirt is best worn with multiple layers rather than relied on as your only form of protection.

Gore M Base Layer Thermo Long Sleeve Shirt bottom line

With a good cut and soft feel, the Gore Thermo baselayer is comfortable to wear all day.

It runs warm, as claimed, but is best paired with other layers to offer increased protection from the cold.