Zerofit HeatRub Baselayers | Gear Review
Motorcyclists who enjoy spending all day in the saddle understand the value and flexibility of layering. Each layer of clothing traps insulating air molecules, so several thinner layers such as the Zerofit HeatRub baselayers typically keep you warmer than one bulky layer. And as temperatures change throughout the day, layers can be added or removed as needed.
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The Zerofit unique lineup of thermal baselayers called HeatRub come in two versions: Ultimate and Move. Inside the HeatRub Ultimate baselayers are extra-long fibers that gently rub against the skin to create frictional heat, which gets trapped in the tiny spaces around those fibers. The fibers are very soft, similar to cashmere or alpaca.
HeatRub Ultimate baselayers, which are available in a long-sleeved top and leggings, are made of a four-way stretch fabric blend of acrylic (69%), nylon (21%), wool (7%), polyester (2%), and polyurethane (2%). According to Zerofit, HeatRub Ulimate baselayers have a CLO rating – a measure of a garment’s thermal insulation – of 0.74. A thick sweater has a CLO of 0.35, so the Ultimate baselayers are said to be twice as warm as a sweater and five times warmer than a standard baselayer.
Those of us who live in America’s Sun Belt are blessed with climates that allow us to ride motorcycles year-round, but it can get quite chilly riding in the late fall, winter, and early spring months, which can lead to fatigue, loss of concentration, and in extreme circumstances, hypothermia. Recently I rode about 75 miles to a photoshoot location, and for the better part of an hour, the bike’s ambient temperature gauge hovered around 50 F. At 70 mph, wind chill was 38 F. With the HeatRub Ultimate mock-neck long-sleeved top and leggings under my riding gear, my torso and limbs stayed warm and comfortable. The important thing is to wear a wind-blocking layer over the baselayers so that airflow doesn’t draw body heat out of the garments.
The HeatRub Move is a lighter baselayer for milder days or activities such as dual-sport riding on trails. It’s noticeably thinner than the Ultimate, and its interior has the feel of ultra-soft fleece. Available only in a long-sleeved top, the Move is made of a proprietary “LABO” four-way stretch fabric that’s 45% polypropylene, which has good heat-retention and moisture-wicking properties, 50% polyester, and 5% polyurethane. Dual-layer construction helps manage body heat, and form-fitting compression supports circulation. By virtue of its lighter weight, the HeatRub Move is ideal for cool temps any time of year, such as riding at high elevations in the summer.
Zerofit’s HeatRub baselayers are comfortable and effective. They can be laundered in a washing machine, and they dry quickly in a tumble cycle or when hung up.
The Zerofit HeatRub Ultimate mock-neck long-sleeved top comes in sizes XS-3XL in Red, Black, Grey, Navy Blue, Cream, or Olive Green for $99, and the leggings are available in sizes XS-2XL in Black for $99. The HeatRub Move mock-neck long-sleeved top is available in sizes XS-2XL in Black, Titanium, or White for $76. Both versions can be purchased on the Zerofit website.
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