Fox Women’s Tecbase LS Baselayer review

Detailed as a multi-sport baselayer for high-intensity activities, that’ll take you from the gym to the bike, the Fox Women’s Tecbase LS baselayer is a silky smooth tailored top

Made from recycled material, with a women's-specific cut, the Tecbase has a sleek, shiny appearance.

It's intended to work equally well as a cycling baselayer or lightweight jersey.

Fox Women’s Tecbase LS Baselayer details and specifications

Unlike many thermal baselayers, the Tecbase is a thin synthetic underlayer, with higher-intensity performance at the core of its design.

Moisture-wicking is key, with the material design reflecting this priority. While the majority of the fabric is composed of recycled polyester, 8 per cent elastane is added to give the generous four-way stretch.

The choice of fabric gives the baselayer an almost glossy, silky finish.

Unusually, both the bottom hem and the front of the neckline are welded seams, rather than sewn, giving a very low profile. The cut is female-specific, tailored at the waist.

Fox Women’s Tecbase LS Baselayer performance

Tested during some milder December weather at 10℃, the Fox Tecbase has proven it’s equally adept as a foundation layer underneath a cycling jacket as it is worn alone as a jersey.

While some baselayers can be a little see-through due to differing material weights or construction methods, the Fox Tecbase uses the same smooth and opaque fabric all over.

This means if you get warm and ditch your outer layers, you’re not left feeling exposed. However, the shiny appearance won’t be to everyone’s taste aesthetically – certainly not mine.

The cut of the Fox Tecbase is most definitely women’s-specific (a male cut is also available), thanks to the cinched-in waist and more generous width over the hips.

This was particularly appreciated because, with wider than average hips, some cycling kit can come up a bit tight at the bottom.

The Tecbase baselayer isn’t overly long, so it felt best layered over trousers rather than tucked in. It was easy to wear with other kit for trips to the gym. The slightly loose cut with material stretch meant there was no restriction on movement, either.

Tested on higher-intensity rides, the sweat-wicking effect of the Tecbase is pretty good. Where the jersey did get a little damp at the lower back under a hip pack and under the arms, this soon dried out.

Unlike some synthetic baselayers, the Fox Tecbase didn’t take on any nasty smells during testing.

I don’t use body armour, but I could imagine the Tecbase offering a good foundation for layering a body protector over in warmer weather on more technical trails and jump lines.

How does the Fox Women’s Tecbase LS Baselayer compare to other baselayers?

Warm-weather baselayers aren’t hugely common in the mountain biking world, because jerseys often double up as your sole layer.

Having said that, there’s no reason why you couldn’t wear the Tecbase as a riding jersey, because it’s nicely opaque and gives good coverage.

The Fox Tecbase uses recycled polyester in its construction, like the Rapha Trail Lightweight T-Shirt, though this is otherwise uncommon for baselayers.

Fox Women’s Tecbase LS Baselayer bottom line

The Fox Women's Tecbase LS Baselayer is a sleek, well-cut and versatile women’s mild-weather baselayer.

While it has many pluses and performed well in testing, it's a little on the shiny side, which may put some riders off.