Review: Sondico 2013/14 Base Layer Range

Kit provider to English Football League teams Yeovil Town, Port Vale and Portsmouth and goalkeeper favorite Sondico have released their base layer collection for the 2013/14 winter season.

Now available at SportsDirect, the range includes short and long-sleeved shirts, core shorts and full length tights. Here are our thoughts on a couple of products from the range – the Sondico Mock Neck Base Layer Top and Core Base Layer Short.

Fit

Base layer garments can range in fit from being too small to too large for the same size based on manufacturer. In some cases this is by design. Other times we are not sure why a size Large might fit like a Medium or an Extra Large. We were pleasantly surprised to find that Sondico’s base layer gear were true to size and fit to near perfection. There was no unwanted tightness or looseness anywhere in the shorts or top that we tried.

Technology

The Sondico Mock Neck Long Sleeved Base Layer top and Core Base Layer short are made of a lightweight 92% nylon / 8% elastane fabric. The fabric is designed to be moisture wicking to keep sweat off the skin and also has 30 SPF sun protection built in. The gear also features tight ergonomic fits to reduce energy sapping vibrations.

Performance

Our tester wore the Sondico Mock Neck and Core base layer gear during a training session in cooler temperatures. The top and shorts both performed remarkably well. The shorts were so lightweight that you forget they were ever on – wonderful when playing football as the last thing that you want to think about during a match are uncomfortable shorts. Since they fit directly onto the skin, there was no chafing or other discomfort.

The Sondico Mock Neck base layer top was impressive on a number of fronts. It met all the criteria that you would usually expect in a compression top – a fit to keep your muscles warm, excellent sweat absorption, and rapid moisture dissipation and drying. It also features meshed ventilation on the inside of the arms and along the side. This worked wonderfully for producing a cooling effect for the underarm area where an enormous amount of sweat is produced.

The Mock Neck top also includes a rarely seen but largely hidden elastic waistband that keeps it in place. This most welcome feature is definitely a benefit in the midst of winter when you do not want to lose heat from your core body areas when training or playing. The mock turtleneck of the shirt is also designed for cooler weather and keeps your lower neck warm while absorbing sweat from the neck and upper chest.

Final Thoughts

Sondico base layer Mock Neck and Core shorts are amongst the best base layer products that we have tried. They work are good quality products that work excellently. Similar gear from bigger sportswear companies would cost at least twice as much as Sondico’s products.