Until recently I didn’t know that you could make clothing out of bamboo.  When I did find this out I thought it would look something like hemp clothing — shapeless and ugly. I was very, very wrong.

Bamboo clothing is silky soft, well tailored, antibacterial, keeps off 98 per cent of the sun’s harmful UV rays, is anti static and can be worn by people with sensitive skin.

BAM, a UK based company that specialize in bamboo clothing, offered to let me try out the long-term ziptech baselayer. The softness of the fabric surprised me – it’s softer than Icebreaker. It caresses the skin — sometimes you even forget that you have it on. There are thumb holes on the sleeves, which as I get cold hands even when it’s warm, are a nice added addition.

It’s warm. I’ve worn it hiking on Vancouver’s North Shore Mountains on a frosty day. I wore the BAM baselayer and my Helly Hansen H2 flow midlayer – - I didn’t need anything else. My softshell stays in my backpack. I’ve used it for yoga because it has lots of room to move. It’s so warm and comfortable I will wear it round the house. The tailoring is also flattering — even if you are like me and have a bit of flabby tummy.

Bamboo’s clothing environmental credentials are close to squeaky clean. The grass thrives without pesticides and fertilizers, the fabric is biodegradable, has a higher yield than cotton and needs considerably less water. Also, as bamboo is cut and not uprooted, it creates soil stability

The biggest test came in Whistler, where as I’ve mentioned in my post on the Helly Hansen W Quasar jacket, it was seven degrees at alpine level. I was sweating like a pig, but the baselayer absorbed all of that unsightly perspiration and kept me dry. I wore it boarding three days straight and it didn’t smell. I have not used my old baselayers since. I love it! The price is reasonable £45. An Icebreaker will set you back £80.  One criticism is that after a couple of washes it has faded.

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