Cycling Midlayers for Warmth and Breathability

By Kenny Stocker 07 May 2024

Cold starts, loose climbs and long, exposed descents: a gravel day asks a lot of one layer. How to choose a midlayer that stays warm and keeps breathing.

Picture this: You're on day three of the Badger Divide, bags loaded, rolling through the Highlands on forest tracks and estate roads. You have found your happy rhythm, pedalling through mind-blowing landscapes, flies in your hair, grit on your shins, feeling invincible.

Not every day has been like this. You have survived doubt, cold mornings, drenchings and being chased by cows. Each time you have found warmth and comfort from your cosy versatile midlayer, a welcome hug around your chest that wards off being drenched in sweat, shivering uncontrollably, and longing for the ride to end.

Midlayers play an important part in your technical clothing system. They're the bridge between your base layer and outer shell, playing a crucial role in regulating your body temperature. The right midlayer can be the difference between an epic cycling adventure and a miserable slog you want to abort at the first station.

The most useful riding midlayer combines two jobs in one piece: a wind-resistant outer that still lets air through, over a wicking lining that keeps warmth near your core. It handles a frosty start and a long climb without a stop to change. Rab's Cinder Vapour-rise, built on this idea for mountain biking, has an RRP of £160.

Our Morphosis does the same job for £99.99. Its outer lets 6 CFM of air through, so you don't boil on the climbs. Grid fleece sits around the core and arms, and the side panels are left bare to dump heat. It costs less because we sell it to you directly, with no distributor or shop taking a margin along the way.

Let's delve into some factors that affect your cycling comfort:

Environment: From windswept moors to sheltered forest fire roads, each terrain presents some unique challenges. A gravel route can switch between the two every few miles. Are you going to be riding from sea level to 2000 metres? How long are you going to be up there and do you have the clothing that will allow you to do that in comfort? You just want to ride, not feel like you are a quick change artist.
Weather: Unpredictable and ever-changing, it's your constant companion. You can't control the weather but you can choose what you wear. Layering offers adaptability and your midlayer is at the heart of this.
Intensity: One moment you're whistling and cruising with your feet up on your bars, the next you're huffing and puffing up a gruelling climb on loose stone. Your midlayer should prioritise breathability so that you don't need to keep adjusting your layers with every change in effort.
Off the bike: We love our bikes, but there is more to cycle touring and bikepacking than the riding. When it's time to dismount throw on an extra layer for warmth or even just to look more human as you dive into a cafe.
Season: In the summer months a midlayer makes a great breathable outerlayer. It can take off the evening chill as you wind down your ride. In winter the extra layer gives you an inner force field, but we recommend you still eat your Ready Brek.
Fit: Too tight restricts movement, too loose allows cold air to circulate and reduce aerodynamics.
Duration: A day ride or commute requires different considerations than a multi-day expedition. One you might be able to endure, the other you will want to manage. If you are comfortable you are more likely to keep going, but making these decisions from the comfort of our centrally heated or air conditioned homes can be challenging.

Solving these issues isn't just about comfort-it's about safety, enjoyment, and if you are feeling it, pushing your limits. The right midlayer, as part of a broader layering system addresses all of these.

Material choices matter. Synthetic fibres excel in high-intensity activities like cycling, wicking sweat efficiently and drying quickly. merino wool offers natural temperature regulation and odour resistance. It is brilliant for extended days in the saddle, or longer trips where you have limited access to washing facilities. Both options provide excellent warmth-to-weight ratio. Each has its place in your saddle bag.

Environmental considerations are increasingly important. Look for recycled materials and brands with strong sustainability credentials.

Our range offers solutions for every adventure cyclist:

Griffon: A lightweight, packable synthetic midlayer perfect for bikepacking and cycle touring rides. The Griffon is a lightweight addition to your layering system, great for chilly days at high cadence on the bike or as a super breathable midlayer under a windproof or shell.
Woodsmoke: The Woodsmoke is an innovation in shirts. Made from ThermoTech(R) polyester with hollow core fibres that trap more air to give you more insulation. It has a higher warmth-to-weight ratio, making it an ideal mid layer. Woodsmoke has found its spiritual home in gravel riding: warm enough for a frosty start, smart enough for the café stop.
Morphosis: - Highly breathable, wind resistant and water shedding outer fabric with zones of grid fleece around the core and arms for insulation. Fleece-free panels under the arms/sides dump heat and moisture. The Morphosis can be worn over a base layer in warmer temperatures and high output activities like cycling.
Akita: A highly breathable layer for fast-paced activities like mountain biking and road riding on frosty mornings and autumn days. Lightweight, fast-drying and breathable fleece with a streamlined active fit for fast-paced activities. The soft brushed inside and durable wind-resistant outer protect you from windchill.

Your midlayer is the linchpin of your entire layering system. Choose wisely, and you'll be ready for whatever the ride throws at you.