Best Golf Base Layers 2025: The best undershirts and arm sleeves for hot and cold weather
GolfMagic rounds up the best base layers and undershirts to keep you feeling comfortable and swinging easy on the hottest days and in the depths of winter.
Base layers are now as ubiquitous at a tour level as they've ever been.
Introduced in the 2000s by sportswear companies looking to give their athletes a competitive edge out on course, they're now a popular choice among golfers both young and old, some of whom wear them for their performance benefits and others enjoying the aesthetic and added sun protection they provide. Tiger Woods, Viktor Hovland and Min Woo Lee are just a couple of the game's most stylish players to work a base layer into their wardrobe over the years,
Base layers perform two main duties according to the weather they're designed for. Thinner base layers add a layer of protection and moisture management in sunny conditions, immediately wicking away sweat to keep you cooler and more comfortable as things heat up and providing vital SPF protection.
Winter base layers, on the other hand, provide an immediate layer of insulation and warmth on cooler days, helping you stay warm while wicking away moisture and helping negate the the need for multiple bulky layers of outerwear.
As such, with winter golf on the way and plenty of golfers looking to escape to play warm-weather golf as a result, GolfMagic has taken a look at both categories to round up the very best golf base layers you can buy right now.
The best winter golf base layers for cold weather
J.Lindeberg Ello Brushed Top
Price: £90
Materials: Polyester/Spandex
Based on J.Lindeberg's popular Ello compression top, this brushed variant adds a little extra texture and warmth against the skin to help keep the chills at bay without weighing you down. The 4-way stretch fabric is soft to the touch, breathable from the inside and engineered to flow with your swing, while the higher neck and added branding adds that signature touch of J.Lindeberg swag.
Galvin Green Edwin Thermal Base Layer
Price: £65
Material: Polyester/Elastane
Designed by one of the undisputed leaders in cold weather golf gear, Galvin Green's high-neck thermal undershirt is made from a soft, stretchy Bluesign-approved SKINTIGHT thermal fabric that keeps the cold out while retaining incredible breathability and stretch. We prefer the high-neck design of the Edwin model given the coverage it provides where your golf shirt's collar won't reach.
Oscar Jacobson Hampton Debossed Camo Compression Base Layer
Price: £39.99
Combining affordability with a unique sense of style for the brand's AW25 season, Oscar Jacobson's new Hampton compression base layer provides a layer of engineered thermal insulation with added wind proofing for complete protection in harsh winter conditions. The debossed camo pattern adds a little extra flair to any outfit, and comes in a choice of white, black or navy to suit any outfit.
The best warm-weather golf base layers
Lululemon Mockneck Golf Long-Sleeve Baselayer
Price: £78
Materials: Nylon/Lycra
Designed to keep you cool and comfortable out on the course, Lululemon's Mock Neck baselayer was designed specifically for the course, providing golfers like Min Woo Lee with stylish protection, comfort and mobility. The specially-engineered yarns on the baselayer feel cool to the touch and wick away sweat while maintaining have a UPF factor of 40.
The addition of Lycra helps the base layer keep its shape over countless rounds, while it also has an added underarm gusset for greater mobility throughout the swing. The mock neck design also sits far more nicely under a golf shirt, adding an extra layer of style to help your confidence out on the course.
Nike Pro Dri-FIT mock-neck long-sleeve
Price: £37.99
Materials: Polyester/Elastane
Beloved by athletes in a multitude of sports, Nike's Pro compression line is just as well suited for the course as it is for the pitch or the running track. The mock neck construction looks great under any golf shirt and the added length of the hem lends itself well to tucking in to golf trousers. Nike's tried and tested Dri-Fit material is perfect for keeping you cool and dry when the heat of competition starts to ramp up.
Under Armour HeatGear Compression Mock Long Sleeve
Price: £36
Materials: Polyester/Elastane
As the name suggests, Under Armour is one of the original names that made base layers popular in sportswear. As such, their undershirts remain among the best in the business. Battle tested in just about every sporting arena you can think of, Under Arour makes both HeatGear compression tops for warmer weather and ColdGear base layers for the cold. We particularly love the cooling effect the HeatGear fabric has when battling through particularly hot and humid weather.
Shop now: £36 from Under Armour
The best golf sun sleeves for added arm protection
Solbari Elite Arm Sleeves
Price: £35
Founded in Australia, Solbari is dedicated to making high-performance clothing that excels at protecting both locals and people world wide from the harshest summer sun. Their Elite Arm sleeves are designed specifically for athletes who want added sun coverage without having to don a full base layer, with UPF 50+ sun protection and a cooling-effect fabric that's breathable, moisture-wicking and anti-odour.
What are the specific features to look for in a base layer for sun protection?
Base layers designed with sunny-weather play in mind are typically detail the UPF (or Ultraviolet Protection Factor) that the fabric has. If sun protection is of particular concern, look for a UPF rating of 40+ or 50+, as these denote the highest-protection fabrics generally available, however it's worth keeping in mind that even highly protective fabrics can lose some of their protective qualities if they're heavily used, stretched or gotten wet.
How do I choose the right base layer for different weather conditions while golfing?
As with choosing the rest of your golf outfit, we always recommend checking out the weather to gauge exactly the kind of base layer you'll need. While Thermal base layers are great for protecting you from wind and added chills, they can quickly have you overheating once the sun comes out, so it's worth checking exactly how golf and windy it's going to be before heading out.
As such, it's worth having both a cold and warm weather base layer in your wardrobe, as both add an extra layer of insulation under your golf shirt while having very different temperature regulation properties.
How do I properly layer my clothing for winter golfing beyond just base layers?
While a thermal base layer is a great initial layer of protection for winter golfing, we generally recommend layering light, comfortable pieces on top on top of each other to provide a combination of warmth, comfort and mobility out on course. As a general rule when playing in the coldest conditions, a long or short sleeve golf shirt and a golf mid-layer or golf hoodie are essential. This can all then be covered with a water or wind-proof golf jacket depending on the conditions.
Golf rain pants, which you can slip on or off in particularly wet conditions as an extra layer of weatherproofing, are also a great optional extra to have stashed away in your bag.
Brad Nash is Reviews Editor at GolfMagic, having joined the team in June 2025 to look after all things reviews, soft goods testing and equipment alongside Equipment Editor Tom. Primarily a writer, you may see him pop up in videos or on the GolfMagic socials from time to time.
