Last Updated on: 8th October 2025, 01:58 pm
Base Layer Buying Guide
What is a base layer for?
When the weather turns cold, keeping warm during football training or matches is essential. A good football base layers helps you stay comfortable, dry and focused when the temperature drops. Base layers are designed to sit close to your skin, trapping heat while wicking away sweat. They make a big difference in how you feel and perform. Whether you’re training in the rain or you’ve got a match on a cold day, the right layers are the key to playing at your best.
Why Footballers Need a Base Layer in Winter
Football involves bursts of activity followed by short breaks. Without the right clothing, your body can cool down too quickly, which increases the risk of muscle tightness or injury. A good base layer keeps you warm by holding heat close to your body and regulating your temperature. It should also be made from moisture wicking material to draw moisture away from your skin. This stops you from getting cold or uncomfortable. Maintaining the right temperature helps your body function more efficiently for longer periods.
How a Base Layer Should Fit
Football base layers are meant to be like a second skin, which means they offer a pretty snug fit. It should be tight enough to trap warmth but still allow you to move freely. You need flexibility for running, tackling and kicking. That means looking for layers made from stretchy fabric.
Stay Dry with Moisture-Wicking Fabrics
Sweating is a natural part of football, but wearing the wrong materials can make you feel heavy and uncomfortable. Pendle base layers use moisture-wicking fabric that draws sweat away from your body and helps it evaporate quickly. This keeps you dry, light and focused throughout your session. A good base layer will be helpful during long matches or training sessions in all weather.
FA Regulations
Before purchasing a set of base layers for your team, ensure they comply with FA regulations.
- Undershirts must be a single colour that matches the shirt sleeve.
- Undershorts or tights must be the same colour as the main colour of the shorts.
- All players in the same team must wear the same colour.
It won’t be a problem for you to stick to the rules when you shop at Pendle. We offer 14 different colours so you will be able to find the perfect match for your kit. We also offer base layer bottoms in black.
Base Layers vs Compression Wear
Base layers are often confused with compression wear. That’s not to say that base layers can’t also offer the benefits of compression wear but they serve slightly different purposes.
- Base layers focus on warmth, comfort and moisture control. They help regulate body temperature and keep you dry during cold weather.
- Compression wear (like our Braga training suits) fits tighter to provide muscle support and improve blood flow. This can help reduce fatigue and aid recovery after intense sessions.
If you’re training outdoors in winter, a base layer is the perfect choice. Although, players that want an extra edge to their performance could add compression gear to offer additional benefits.
Braga Compression Wear
Our Braga training suits are perfect for wearing as the weather gets colder. They’re close-fitting tops and bottoms made from moisture wicking material, so they’ll also trap heat and draw moisture away from the skin. However, these tops have some additional benefits that help your performance.
Muscle Compression
When you exercise, your muscles will oscillate, which wastes energy and can lead to injury or trauma. Wearing a slim fit top will compress your muscles to limit their movement while you play. This not only helps to prevent energy from being wasted but can also reduce the vibrations in your muscles. Ultimately, this causes less of a risk of injury and trauma to the muscles.
Blood flow
Wearing compression wear can help improve the flow of blood around your body. When you exercise, the heart struggles to pump blood quickly enough. This means your muscles start having to produce energy in an alternative way. When this happens, there ends up being a build-up of lactic acid. This is what causes the burning sensation in your muscles during intense exercise.
How do you prevent this build-up? Your body needs to deliver oxygen more efficiently during exercise. This is where a base layer can help you. Compression clothing promotes blood flow back to the heart which means the whole process is sped up. The quicker your heart can pump oxygen to your muscles, the longer you can keep going.
Recovery
Football base layers are not just useful during exercise. Wearing an item of compression wear after a football match or training session can help increase recovery time. It means your body can remove built-up lactic acid quicker, allowing your muscles to recover faster.
Deciding Between a Base Layer or Compression Wear
Choosing between the two comes down to your game and your goals. If staying warm and dry through training sessions or matches is your priority, go for a base layer. If you want extra muscle support, stamina, and quicker recovery between drills or games, compression wear is the smarter choice.
Pendle Base Layers and Braga Training Tops
Playing football in the cold can be tough, but with the right layers, your team will be ready for anything. Stay warm, stay dry and keep performing at your best with quality base layers that work as hard as you do.
Pendle base layer tops and bottoms are made for comfort and warmth, ideal for cold-weather football. For players who prefer a tighter, performance-based fit, our Braga training tops and training bottoms are the perfect choice. Both ranges come in multiple colours and sizes, making it easy to keep your whole team prepared for any conditions.
Pendle Recommendations
Tags: football kit, Football Kits, Football training, Pendle Sportswear, Sportswear, Training Wear
[…] Base layers compress your muscles to limit movement whilst you play, which helps prevent the wastage of energy and reduces the potential for muscle trauma or injury as a result of the muscle oscillation that occurs as one engages in physical activity. […]