A high-quality merino blend base layer that will keep you comfortable and smelling fresh.
Pros
+
75% Merino wool content
+
A slightly more relaxed fit is versatile
+
Comfortable and warm
Cons
-
Slightly scratchy feeling for the first few minutes of wearing
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The Long sleeve Merino Baselayer is the warmest base layer offered by the British brand Albion and is the sole long-sleeve base layer in the range.
Depending on who you ask, Albion is generally accepted as being the earliest known name for the island of Britain. Albion the cycling clothing company hasn't quite been around that long but draws inspiration from the name. The company does claim however to focus on making cycling kit for British conditions where the weather is often changeable.
The Merino base layer is made in Italy for Albion and featured a merino wool blend. The makeup is 75% merino, 18% nylon and 7% elastane. The Long Sleeve base layer is described as a mid-weight base layer and is similar in weight and thickness to the MAAP Thermal base layer. The Thermal is priced at £60 / $72 / €68 and is available in the black version which I tested or dark slate colour. It's available in both mens and women's versions.
I've spent months this winter riding in a range of winter base layers to see how they fared in the cold. Many of which I have included in our best cycling base layers guide.
The Albion logo, find that coastline! (Image credit: Future)
Specification: Albion Long Sleeve Merino base layer
Price: £60 Material: 75% merino wool, 18% polyester, 7% elastane Available sizes: XS-XXL Colours: Black / Dark Slate
Design and Aesthetics
I wouldn't say the Albion Thermal base layer is a super tight, performance-focused garment. Its fit is more along the lines of tight fitting t-shirt than a race base layer. That said, the elastane content provides a good amount of stretch despite the looser fit. Its a similar cut but a lot more stretchy than the Galibier barrier base layer I recently reviewed. It also features a scooped neck which reminds me of mid-2000s UK Indie band fashion (I'm not knocking this). The sleeve and hem length are both spot on and in the size small I tested tucking the hem into tights and arranging the cuffs with jacket sleeves was really easy.
Neat flat lock seams run up the side of the torso and join the arm seams where they are sewn onto the torso. There's some small, subtle Albion branding and logo and a small soft label just above the hem. The Albion logo itself could be a climb, road or section of Britain's coastline.
This is a Merino blend base layer and the piece does feature 75% Merino wool content. It's really soft to the touch but the Merino properties extended further than just softness. Merino wool is the wool of the Merino sheep, it's both thinner and softer than regular wool and does a good job of neutralising odours and transporting sweat or moisture away from the wearer.
Albion also stands by its kit and offer a free repair service should your garment need it as well as offering a DIY repair kit where the customer only pays the shipping cost.
Arms seams over the rear of the shoulders aid movement (Image credit: Future)
Performance
The Merino base layer performed well in use over a range of temperatures. It's close fitting enough that it sits nicely under a jacket or as part of a few thinner layers in a more complex system. I probably wouldn't wear it under a tight-fitting jersey but you can wear it with a wide range of kit options.
I did find it slightly scratchy when pulling it on for the first few minutes. I assume due to the wool content, but this feeling disappeared quickly and became something of a non-issue. It was most present when I pulled on the Merino thermal for the first time.
I didn't wash the base layer after a couple of rides to test the merino properties and it did stay smelling fresh I have to say. One ride was in slightly warmer conditions and I did get a bit of a sweat on. With this in mine the Thermal may be a good option if you ride consecutive days on a tour/bike packing etc.
Warmth-wise, I never found it lacking, and, with the right layers, it will keep you snug. I'd probably go for a slightly higher neck on really cold days for a bit more protection but the slightly lower neck cut didn't cause me any issues in British conditions.
Flatlock seams are well flat, and most importantly comfortable (Image credit: Future)
Verdict
The Merino Thermal base layer uses 75% merino content to keep you feeling snug and warm. I didn't have any issues wearing it down to single digits. The cut is such that you could even wear it off the bike or as a single layer if you wanted to.
It kept me warm and snug on some cold rides and stayed smelling fresh without being washed for a few rides. If you want a long sleeve merino base layer for winter and cooler conditions the Albion will serve you well.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Design and Aesthetics
Stylish design that uses a high merino content
8/10
Value
£60 gets you a high merino content and impressive warmth
Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Literature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of.
He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.
