You shouldn’t choose the right ski base layer based on the temperature, but on your activity. If you sweat a lot (ski touring, cross-country skiing, children on the slopes), you need rapid moisture-wicking. If you’re standing still or skiing at a leisurely pace, you need more warmth. Löffler addresses both needs with six different grades of transtex® fabric – ranging from pure polypropylene to a two-layer merino hybrid.

Löffler has been designing and knitting its own ski base layers since 1976 at its headquarters in Ried im Innkreis, Austria. The transtex® technology mechanically wicks sweat away from the skin. It requires no chemicals and no silver ions to do so. For skiers, ski tourers, cross-country skiers and families, this means staying warm without getting chilled by your own sweat.

Ski base layers are the first layer in the layering system. They sit directly against the skin and fulfil three functions at once.

• Wicking moisture away from the skin. Wet skin cools down up to 25 times faster than dry skin. That’s why a good base layer wicks sweat away immediately. Cotton base layers absorb sweat and trap it against the skin – on the slopes, this will leave you feeling chilled.
• Retaining warmth without overheating. The fibre insulates, but releases excess heat. This keeps you dry on the ascent and warm on the descent.
• Preventing odours. Polypropylene and merino wool absorb hardly any odour. You can wear the same shirt for several days of skiing without it going off. Neither fibre requires chemical odour blockers.
• The fourth, often overlooked task: not to chafe. Under tight-fitting ski clothing, traditional seams rub against the shoulders and waistband. Löffler uses super-soft flat seams to ensure nothing pinches.

The fibre remains the same, but the style and choice of designs vary.

Löffler designs its women’s styles with a close-fitting SLIM FIT cut in sizes 34 to 50. The base layer fits snugly, as it only wicks away sweat when in direct contact with the skin. For bottoms, you can choose between briefs and hipsters rather than boxer shorts. The crew neck has a loose fit, whilst the raglan sleeves allow for free arm movement.

The men’s styles come in a close-fitting SLIM FIT. The bottoms are available as briefs, boxer shorts and knee-length Midway boxer shorts. For windy days, Löffler offers WINDPROOF versions: a windproof front protects the chest and thighs from the wind whilst skiing downhill or cross-country. Turtleneck styles with a pull-over collar provide additional protection for the neck.

Children are constantly switching between running about and standing still. They overheat quickly and then cool down just as quickly. That’s why Löffler recommends sets made from transtex® light 100, transtex® warm 180 and transtex® Merino 200 for children, in sizes 104 to 164. A set is easy to put on and take off, lies flat against the skin and doesn’t chafe. The priority: not too warm, not too cold, and no cooling down after sweating.

• A child who runs around a lot and sweats → transtex® light 100 set (pure polypropylene, item no. 28289, EUR 59.99)
• A child who tends to ski at a leisurely pace and feels the cold → transtex® warm 180 set (item no. 30339, EUR 69.99)
• Very cold days, but the child stays warm nonetheless → transtex® Merino 200 set (item no. 28290, EUR 89.99)

Löffler categorises its ski base layers across six materials. Each category covers a specific combination of warmth and activity level. You can find the full comparison matrix, including composition, guide values and key products, in the table below.

transtex® light 100 (100% PP). The world’s lightest fibre absorbs zero per cent water. It dries extremely quickly and stays dry even during the most strenuous activity. Your choice for ski touring ascents, cross-country skiing and days when you work up a sweat. Recommended temperature range: 0 to +10 °C at high intensity.

transtex® warm 180 (PP / Modal / cotton). Softer, warmer, with a brushed texture. This layer provides noticeable warmth whilst still keeping sweat under control. Your choice for cold days on the slopes with moderate to high activity levels. Recommended temperature range: -5 to +5 °C.

transtex® warm 220 (PP / Lyocell / PA). The warmest purely synthetic layer. It provides intense warmth and dries quickly. Your choice for very cold days with moderate activity. Recommended temperature range: -10 to 0 °C.

Merino light 130 (95% wool). Pure merino wool regulates temperature and remains odour-free. It feels soft and is suitable for quieter, cold days. Recommended temperature range: -3 to +8 °C for low-intensity activity.

transtex® Merino 200 (63% wool / 37% PP, double-layered). The all-rounder and the true strength of Löffler. Merino on the outside keeps you warm, whilst polypropylene on the inside keeps your skin dry. This gives you warmth and moisture-wicking in a single garment. Recommended temperature range: -8 to +3 °C.

transtex® Merino 260 (44% wool, two-layer). The warmest option of all. Your choice for very cold, quiet days or for people who feel the cold easily. Recommended temperature range: -15 to -3 °C.

Pure merino wool keeps you warm and is odourless, but it soaks up sweat when you’re working up a sweat and then stays damp against your skin. This is exactly where the two-layer transtex® merino knit comes in. The inner polypropylene layer wicks sweat away from the skin to the outer merino layer. You get all the benefits of wool without any of the drawbacks. Most suppliers offer only pure merino or only synthetics.

Think first about the intensity, then about the temperature. The second table below links activity and cold directly to the appropriate level.

Skitour and ascent (high intensity, lots of sweat).
→ transtex® light 100. Pure polypropylene wicks away sweat the quickest. For the descent, put a warmer mid-layer on over the top.

A slope with lots of breaks on the lift (varying exertion, cold).
→ transtex® Merino 200. The hybrid keeps you warm during breaks and stays dry whilst you’re riding.

Leisurely skiing on the slopes, quite days (not much activity, cold).
→ transtex® warm 220 oder Merino 260. Beide wärmen kräftig, wenn dein Körper wenig eigene Wärme produziert.

Cross-country skiing and skating (sustained high intensity, wind resistance).
→ transtex® light 100, the WINDPROOF version for windy days. The windproof front keeps the cold out, whilst the back remains breathable.

A multi-day tour with limited washing facilities (odour management).
→ one of the merino grades. Wool remains odour-free for several days.

Löffler knits around 70 per cent of its fabrics in its own knitting mill in Ried im Innkreis. 98.4 per cent of all products sold carry the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 label. The merino wool comes from mulesing-free farms (RWS- or ZQ-certified). You can trace the supply chain via a QR code on every product.