Best Merino Wool and Thermal Base Layers for Hunting

Best Merino Wool and Thermal Base Layers for Hunting | Hillman UK

Discover Hillman’s merino wool and thermal base layers for UK hunting. Breathable, antibacterial, and engineered to keep you dry and warm in cold, wet conditions.

A cold morning in the UK countryside doesn’t always wait for your jacket to warm up. It moves in early, settles low, and stays through the day. Hunters feel it in their fingers, on the back of the neck, and deep into the legs after an hour in damp grass. The right thermal base layer is not about luxury. It is about keeping your focus when the cold starts working against you.

At Hillman, we build layers that begin with the skin. These are the clothes that shape your comfort, hold your heat, and keep you dry when it matters most. They are light enough to forget and strong enough to matter. We call them essential because they are. Not all hunting gear starts on the outside.

Why Every Hunt Starts with a Good Thermal Base Layer

When you first step out into the field, the jacket is still zipped, the boots still clean, and the air still sharp. It is in that moment that your base layer begins its work. It draws sweat away as the pace picks up. It seals heat in when you stop. And it does all of this quietly, without you ever needing to think about it.

The 2BL Merino Wool Long Sleeve Thermal T-shirt is made for days that begin below freezing and stay there. Its fibres trap warmth while still releasing moisture. It keeps your torso dry, which is the first step toward staying warm. There is no bunching, no sagging, and no itching. Just clean contact with your skin and reliable control over body temperature.

Pair it with the 2BL Merino Wool Long Johns and you complete the lower-body system. These trousers follow the line of your legs without gripping too tightly. They move with you. They breathe when you climb. And when the wind picks up across open fields, they don’t let that cold get far.

Base Layers Built to Support the Whole System

A good base layer needs to be more than soft. It must be engineered to work under pressure. It must fit under your fleece and jacket without building bulk. It should come in sizes that match your build, with room for layering in different ways. At Hillman, we offer a full range from close-fitting tops to flexible bottoms, all tested in the weather they’re made for.

These are the pieces that sit closest to your skin. They shape how your entire kit performs. When they work efficiently, you move more freely. You sweat less. And you stay warm longer, even when the skies change.

Merino Wool Base Layers with Antibacterial Performance

Not all wool is made the same. The reason merino wool stands out is simple. It works when you need it to. It holds heat even when damp. It resists odours after hours in the field. And it feels good against the skin, no matter how long you wear it.

Hillman uses only high-grade merino in our base layers, because we know how often hunts last longer than expected. Rain sets in. The route takes a turn. Or you stay an hour longer because the wind shifted at the right moment. Through it all, your base layer needs to keep doing its job. That’s why our merino products come with natural antibacterial properties that hold up through sweat, moisture, and long wear.

Merino That Keeps Working When the Weather Turns

A strong base layer also needs to support movement. Our cuts follow the body without gripping too tightly. Shoulders stay clear for lifting. Waistbands sit clean without rolling. Nothing shifts or rubs as you climb, crawl, or rest against a tree.

Both the 2BL Merino Wool T-shirt and the 2BL Long Johns are made for men’s and women’s builds. The fabric adapts to shape. It stretches enough to give. And it never holds onto moisture longer than it should.

These are lightweight garments, but their performance is heavy-duty. Worn under your mid layers or on their own in milder weather, they stay in place and stay effective. They become the piece of gear you stop thinking about, because it simply does what it’s meant to do.

Not Just Wool – Bamboo and Cotton Base Layers for Warmer Days

There are days when merino base layers are more than needed. Early autumn mornings turn into warm, dry afternoons. You cover ground at a fast pace. Or you’re stalking through thick brush where overheating happens quickly. That’s where our bamboo and cotton base layers shine.

The 1UL Bamboo Short Sleeve T-shirt and 1UL Bamboo Long Sleeve T-shirt offer a lightweight, breathable feel with smart moisture control. Bamboo is soft, wicks fast, and stays comfortable even as temperatures climb. It’s a good base layer for when wool might be too much, especially on warmer hunts or early-season scouting.

For those who prefer classic fibres, our cotton base layers are cut for versatility. The DGT Cotton Long Sleeve and DGT Cotton Short Sleeve are staples for any gear bag. Durable, simple, and familiar – they’re items that work as standalone shirts or under lightweight jackets. When movement is high but the weather is mild, they keep you dry without bulk.

Add the DGT Cotton Polo Shirt to the range, and you have a refined option for shooting events, travel, or just looking sharp before and after the hunt.

All garments come in a full range of men’s and women’s sizes, including XXL and XXXL, designed for an adaptive fit. Whether you need a breathable base or a reliable extra layer, these shirts do the job while completing your system.

Thermals Designed for Cold, Damp Hunts in the UK

British weather doesn’t just turn cold – it turns wet, sticky, and unpredictable. The kind that creeps in during a still September morning and settles deep in your bones if you're not dressed right. That’s where a thermal base layer becomes truly essential.

Our 2BL Merino Wool Base Layer garments are not generic thermals. They’re engineered to work efficiently in the kind of field conditions UK hunters know all too well – fog rolling through hedgerows, boots sinking slightly into wet ground, and the wind cutting sideways across an open setting.

The 2BL Merino Long Sleeve Thermal T-shirt offers full upper body coverage without bulk, while the 2BL Merino Long Johns keep your legs warm, dry, and protected without restricting stride.

Every seam, hem, and cut has been considered – not for show, but for performance. When your base layer does its job, you move better, conserve heat longer, and make sharper decisions. That’s the value of true quality.

Whether stalking deer at dawn or sitting still in a hide through hours of drizzle, this is the winter gear that earns its keep.

How to Choose the Best Merino Wool Base Layer for Hunting

Not all wool is created equal, and when it comes to base layers, merino wool stands far above the rest. But how do you choose the best merino wool option for your next hunt?

Start with feeling. A good piece should sit close to the skin without itching, rubbing, or bunching. It must deliver comfort during stillness and stretch smoothly with every movement. Cheap thermals can cause friction or sag, but high-grade merino wool naturally adapts to your body, regulating heat even during long sits or active movement.

Then there’s function. The antibacterial properties of merino help it resist odour even after multiple wears – ideal for multi-day trips where packing light matters. That same structure makes it both lightweight and warm, which is rare in the world of technical fabrics.

Freedom to Move, Whatever Your Size

Finally, avoid anything that ends up restricting movement. A base layer is your foundation – if it’s stiff, the rest of your kit won’t perform. Whether you wear XXL, XXXL, or any other size, the fabric must stretch and rebound reliably. Both the 2BL Merino Top and Long Johns are available in a range of sizes, engineered with active field motion in mind. To complete your hunting underwear collection, explore our light hunting boxers available in various colors.

In the end, the best merino wool base layer is the one that disappears on your body. It works quietly, holds heat, keeps you dry, and never distracts from what matters – the rhythm of the land, the call of the game, and the precision of the moment.