Travel Photography

Winter Photography Clothing: Vallerret Base Layer Review

November 16, 2022

As an expert journey photographer, I discover myself out taking pictures in all types of climate circumstances and climates. Whether that’s chasing the Northern Lights in Finland, taking pictures waterfalls in Iceland, or capturing Scotland in winter, I’m not one to let the climate get in the way in which of my objectives.

That stated, I additionally grew up within the tropical Seychelles islands, and I’m not precisely a fan of being chilly. So, when Vallerret contacted me to ask if I’d wish to check out and overview their new line of images particular clothes designed to maintain photographers heat in chilly climate, I used to be very happy to take them up on the provide!

Regular readers of this weblog would possibly recall that not too way back I did a overview of Vallerret’s winter images gloves, which stay my favorite gloves for images in chilly circumstances. I’ve been utilizing them for years.

So I used to be undoubtedly to see what their method to images targeted chilly climate clothes can be, and whether or not or not they might discover a spot in my winter images clothes getup.

In this publish, I’ll be reviewing two gadgets of images clothes from Vallerret, their Merino Wool Long Sleeve Tee and their Merino Wool Zip Jersey.

Who is Vallerret?

First, let’s do a fast introduction to Vallerret, in case you aren’t aware of the model.

Vallerret is a Norwegian model, launched in 2015, with an preliminary deal with creating excessive efficiency gloves designed to serve the wants of photographers.

Whilst there are various gloves in the marketplace, Vallerret felt that none of them adequately met the wants of photographers taking pictures in chilly climate circumstances. And being primarily based in Norway, they know a factor or to about images in chilly climate!

So they launched their very own winter images gloves, and at present they’ve an intensive vary of images gloves to select from. You can learn my overview of a few of their winter images gloves right here.

Of course, photographers must preserve greater than their arms heat! Recognising this want, in 2022 Vallerret expanded their vary to incorporate attire. This attire vary begins with excessive efficiency images targeted base layers. Which is what this overview shall be protecting.

As a part of this introduction, I really feel it’s price mentioning that Vallerret are additionally part of 1% for the planet. That means they’ve been licensed to donate 1% of annual gross sales to environmental causes, so your assist additionally does good for the planet.

You can see their whole vary on their web site right here. Many of their merchandise are additionally obtainable on Amazon right here.

Vallerret Merino Wool Zip Jersey Winter Photography Base Layer

Why Base Layers?

When planning for spending extended durations of time outdoor in chilly climate, it’s generally really helpful that you simply gown in a sequence of layers.

The layer system originates within the nineteenth century, and was popularised by the US Army within the second world struggle. The thought is that as an alternative of sporting one or two gadgets of heavy clothes, you put on numerous gadgets of lighter clothes in layers.

This has the benefit in that it traps heat air between the layers to take care of physique warmth, while additionally permitting the wearer to take away or add layers as dictated by circumstances and exertion ranges.

The layers closest to the physique are referred to as base layers.

What to Look for in a Base Layer

There are numerous issues to search for in a base layer, no matter whether or not you’re utilizing it for images or not. It ought to:

be light-weight
dry rapidly
be snug in opposition to your pores and skin

Generally, base layers are designed to take care of your physique temperature and wick moisture away from the pores and skin. It can also be vital that it doesn’t retain moisture and get damp as this will make you chilly over time.

For instance, cotton is usually not really helpful as a base layer materials because it retains moisture, which might make you colder.

Popular base layer supplies are pure merchandise like wool or cashmere, or artificial merchandise like polyester. They ought to be light-weight, heat, and dry rapidly.

My private choice is merino wool, a pure fibre which has odor resistant, wicking, and fast-drying properties. However, not everybody likes to put on wool in opposition to their pores and skin, so your choice could also be for a unique materials.

When evaluating related merchandise for heat, it’s a good suggestion to verify the “gsm” score. This refers to grams per sq. meter, and primarily signifies how heavy a sq. meter of the fabric can be. The next quantity means the fabric goes to be thicker and due to this fact normally hotter.

Under 200 gsm goes to be a lighter-weight materials, while over 200gsm goes to be a thicker materials providing extra heat.

What to Look for in a Base Layer for Photography

Before Vallerret created their base layer vary, I hadn’t actually considered what includes a photographer would possibly want in a base layer past the usual options.

Whilst gloves have some apparent function necessities to mean you can function your gear whereas nonetheless maintaining your arms heat, base layers don’t appear to have such apparent options.

However, if you happen to learn my suggestions for winter images, you’ll discover that I do suggest maintaining batteries near your physique for heat, which is able to protect battery life. So if a base layer has a battery pocket for instance that might be very useful.

Otherwise, you need one thing that’s light-weight, heat, fast-drying and cozy to put on.

Let’s see if Vallerret have achieved these goals with their merchandise!

Vallerret Merino Wool Long Sleeve Tee Features and Review

The Vallerret Merino Wool Long Sleeve Tee is, because the identify suggests, an extended sleeve t-shirt primarily constructed from Merino Wool with a 150gsm score. Specifically, the label on my t-shirt states it’s:

84% Merino Wool
12% Nylon
4% Elastane

This mix of supplies offers you the heat and softness of merino wool, with the stretch and energy of the nylon and elastane.

The tee is at present obtainable in two colors, black, and a gray/black combine. I opted for the black. There are 4 measurement selections obtainable, I went for medium, however sizes can be found from small via to extra-large. Sizing data is offered on the Vallerret web site for every product they’ve.

In phrases of options, this long-sleeved t-shirt has a number of you’ll count on from a merino base layer, and some you won’t. Let’s undergo them.

It is tremendous mushy. I’ve numerous merino wool base layers which I take advantage of for images, and the Vallerret base layers are by far the softest I’ve ever tried. Vallerret say it is because they use an excellent tremendous merino wool and I’ve to consider them as a result of it truly is amazingly mushy.
It is fast-drying, breathable, and thermo-regulating. These are all qualities of merino wool, which make it nice as a base layer.
It’s anti-bacterial / odor resistant. Again, that is right down to the merino wool. Studies have proven that wool normally has anti-bacterial properties, so odor-causing micro organism don’t develop as quick. This makes it nice for journey as you received’t have to clean it as a lot
Speaking of washing, the t-shirt is machine cleanable on a wool/delicate setting and may be tumble dried on low. You can in fact additionally hand wash it.
It has four-way stretch. As images usually requires us to maneuver our our bodies into odd positions, you undoubtedly need clothes that may adapt to that!
It has a built-in button-up battery pocket and lens fabric.

So these are all the principle options. What do I take into consideration this shirt?

Well, there are some things I actually like. First, and I already talked about this but it surely bears repeating, it’s extremely mushy and cozy. I’ve by no means worn such a cushty merino wool base layer. I’ve personally by no means had an issue with itchiness from any merino wool base layer, however I’ve additionally by no means worn one which feels this good in opposition to the pores and skin.

Second, I like that the shirt is longer than a standard t-shirt could be. With a base layer, you need to make certain it goes down over your trousers so there isn’t a probability of a niche creating between your shirt and your trousers that may let chilly air in. That is unquestionably not an issue with this shirt which has a number of inches to spare in my case.

Of course, I additionally admire the photography-oriented particulars. Having a built-in battery pocket to maintain a battery heat on these chilly shoots could be very good.

Having stated that, if you happen to have been sporting this below a number of layers it could be awkward to achieve the battery pocket. I feel the breast location is an efficient possibility as you can attain down via your neck space, however it’s simply one thing to remember when utilizing a pocket that’s designed to go below a number of layers.

The built-in lens cleansing fabric can also be good, as you possibly can by no means actually have sufficient lens cloths! It’s proper on the backside of the tee-shirt which means it’s straightforward to entry, and it’s generously sized as effectively.

Over time, I do really feel that there’s a threat it would choose up pores and skin oils and so turn into much less efficient, however that’s one thing I should revisit as soon as a while has handed. Because the shirt is good and lengthy, this a part of the shirt usually sits over my trousers, so this helps mitigate that threat.

In phrases of sturdiness, I haven’t had this shirt for lengthy sufficient to know if it should stand as much as the rigours of journey, out of doors images and life normally. It definitely seems to be and feels very effectively made, and all my different Vallerret merchandise have stood the check of time. So I’m assured it will too. I’ll undoubtedly replace this publish if I encounter any points.

The foremost draw back of the product is that the associated fee is sort of excessive, though the product high quality is superb, and to be honest, prime quality merino wool is all the time going so as to add price to a product.

Vallerret do provide free transport over a sure basket worth. In addition, they’ve a stable and documented sustainability focus, which I admire. The shirt label states that it’s designed in Norway and made in Poland. The solely factor I didn’t like is that it’s shipped in a plastic bag which looks like it could possibly be a simple factor to repair.

Overall, I feel this is a wonderful base layer, and one I’m blissful to suggest. However, you may also need to contemplate the opposite product I’m reviewing, which is analogous however does differ in a number of key methods.

Vallerret Merino Wool Zip Jersey Features and Review

The Merino Wool Zip Jersey can also be an extended sleeve base layer, nevertheless, it’s a bit totally different to the tee. One of the principle variations is that it’s constructed 100% from merino wool, and the merino wool is a heavier 240gsm. So that is designed for places the place you would possibly want extra heat in comparison with the tee.

The heavier wool is stronger, so there’s no want for elastane or nylon. The heavier wool can also be hotter, and evaluating them facet by facet it undoubtedly feels thicker.

That stated, it’s simply as mushy and cozy, and feels nice in opposition to the pores and skin.

In addition, while that is primarily designed to be worn in opposition to the pores and skin, I really feel that with the zipper and thicker wool, it could possibly be worn as a mid and even outer garment on days the place it’s not so chilly and there’s no precipitation. It is definitely good sufficient to work as an outer layer, and I’ve worn it comfortably over my Vallerret lengthy sleeve tee.

The jersey is at present obtainable in a single color, black. There are 4 measurement selections obtainable. I went for medium, however sizes can be found from small via to extra-large. Sizing data is offered on the Vallerret web site for every product they’ve.

Here’s a fast overview of the important thing options and specs.

Like the tee, the jersey can also be tremendous mushy because of being constructed from 100% super-fine merino wool. It is unquestionably snug to put on in opposition to my pores and skin.
It is fast-drying, breathable, and thermo-regulating. These are all qualities of merino wool, which make it nice as a base layer.
It’s anti-bacterial / odor resistant. Again, that is right down to the merino wool. Studies have proven that wool normally has anti-bacterial properties, so odor-causing micro organism don’t develop as quick. This makes it nice for journey as you received’t have to clean it as a lot
It is machine cleanable on a wool/delicate setting and may be tumble dried on low
It has four-way stretch. As images usually requires us to maneuver our our bodies into odd positions, you undoubtedly need clothes that may adapt to that!
It has two built-in zippered battery pockets on the entrance, one on the decrease left and one on the decrease proper. It additionally has a built-in lens fabric.
It has 1 / 4 zipper constructed from recycled plastic, which you need to use to assist regulate your temperature

I really feel that a lot of what I stated in regards to the lengthy sleeve tee applies right here. For this shirt, I like that you simply get two battery pockets that are zippered. Personally, I desire the situation decrease down the shirt for entry, however that’s a private factor.

Again, I like that it’s good and lengthy so comfortably goes down over my waist belt space for further heat. The lens fabric can also be appreciated.

I like each outfits, however of the 2, personally I desire the jersey. It is a bit more costly, however I really feel that the additional weight will turn out to be useful on these colder shoots.

I additionally really feel that the thicker materials shall be extra sturdy, I desire the battery pocket location (and that there are two) and there’s a quarter zipper for temperature management.

I’ve additionally worn each collectively, with tee beneath and the jersey on high, and so they match properly and positively stored me very heat!

Overall although, I feel they’re each unbelievable merchandise, and a really spectacular launch from Vallerret by way of base layer clothes for photographers.

I look ahead to seeing what different attire choices they provide you with within the coming years!