Patagonia Capilene 4 Expedition Weight One Piece Suit is made from Patagonia’s 3.8oz Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency fabric. This is the brand's warmest and most breathable baselayer fabric in the Capilene family. The inside is brushed fleece, which boasts of great insulation and breathability. It also feels super soft against the skin. The outside is smooth-knit and while the women’s version also comes in black, I have the Ikat Purple. It is a lovely bright colour, although not really very important since most people will be wearing other layers over the top.

This is your ultimate baselayer, with no room for a gap between the top and bottoms so you’ll never feel the cold air on your mid-drift.

Features of the Patagonia Capilene One-Piece

It’s made from 3.8oz Polartec Power Dry High Efficiency fabric, which boasts “Polygiene permanent odour control”. Also:

·      A high collar with anatomical shaping to hold in heat

·      A long front zipper

·      Thumb loops to keep sleeves in place

·      Spandex for stretch and ease of movement.

In addition, the Patagonia Capilene 4 Expedition One Piece Suit is made from Recycled Polyester.  Patagonia recycles used fizzy drinks bottles, unusable second quality fabrics and worn out garments into polyester fibres to produce many of their clothes.

The other feature that I like is the “side-zip drop-bottom”. This allows you to go to the toilet without having to completely strip off. It’s an excellent feature and one that immediately impressed me when I tried it on.

This feature also had my partner sniggering and guffawing. “Easy access,” he muttered. I ignored him and went off to see if the bum flap did as it should when the call of nature occurs. The side zips are easy to undo and you simply hold up the flap a bit at the back while you take a pee. (The men’s version has a front fly, too, for obvious reasons.)

I wonder if there are any cycle clothing companies that could come up with a similar feature for bib tights in the winter. I hate that moment when you need to go to the toilet while out cycling and then have to strip off in a chilly environment to take a pee.

Patagonia Capilene One-Piece on test

I actually really like the fit of this suit. I am a tall size UK10/12 and medium is a good fit because it is long enough. I think that if I was smaller in height I’d go for the “S”. The shape of the women’s suit is lovely and contours into all the right curves.

The suit is lightweight and stretchy so you have great freedom of movement when wearing it. Adding clothes over the top is no problem because it is like wearing a second skin. I put on a mid-layer and waterproof jacket and then simply wore loose-fit waterproof trousers on my legs.

The test was a brisk and sweaty hill walk on a fairly chilly day. I wanted to see how it coped with sweat, because it is obvious that this suit will offer a warm baselayer. And when I carried out the sniff test I can confirm this fabric stays non-whiffy. I haven’t walked for days on end in this baselayer so I can’t be sure if it continues to be odour-free but so far so good. (I confess I have worn this about the house like a onesie and especially on chillier days at my desk when I tend to end up shivering. In the interests of research I didn’t wash it for days and there was no discernible odour.)

This baselayer suit is a fantastic idea and very easy to wear. If you end up very warm while doing an activity it might not be ideal for you because once it’s on there is no taking it off (unless your strip to your underwear). But for cold condition activities, especially climbing in winter, it is a brilliant product.

Priced £140 from Patagonia

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