Craft Fuseknit Comfort Long Sleeve Base Layer
Lee Macholz is one of our 2018/2019 RErun ambassadors. She is a stud! After work and family time, she still manages to volunteer and/or run many events through Runners Edge and Run Wild Missoula. We asked her to review the Craft long sleeve and talk about the importance of baselayers in the winter. Here are her thoughts below…
Fit: The Craft Fuseknit Comfort Base Layer fits me very well. I have a long torso and long arms and many women’s shirts that fit me in the torso are 
too short in the sleeves. The trend in adding extra length to sleeves to include thumb holes and cover the hands has been hit-and-miss for me as most mean that the sleeves are comfortable but the holes are useless. This Craft base layer, however, is great in that I can comfortably wear it with my thumbs through the holes and cover part of my hands! I love this because my hands are perpetually cold. The body of the shirt is seamless and fits close to my body but is not skin-tight. It is very comfortable because there are no seams through the arms to have to twist to just the right place to avoid rubbing and chafing. This also means it is super comfortable layered under another shirt or close-fitting jacket. When layering, it almost feels like it disappears – no bunching or twisting or chafing. It is just long enough to tuck into my cold weather pants. My only complaint is that when worn
with tights and a running waist belt, the fabric is a little slick and the bottom hem rides up a little; but not any more than most other shirts. Also, I like that it does not have a hood attached.
Function: A good base layer is super important as we move through the unpredictability of fall weather and on to colder winter temperatures. A quality fabric is important because let’s face it, we’re a sweaty bunch of people! A base layer acts as insulation in the cold, helping to regulate your body temperature by wicking away moisture. Many people like wool base layers for their ability to keep you warm and dry but I am allergic to wool and so I rely on the magic of today’s performance fabrics. I like this Craft Fuseknit because it not only fits me well for a base layer but the fabric really works to move sweat away from my skin so that I don’t get wet and cold.
Performance: You can wear the Craft Fuseknit in a range of temperatures depending on your layering. As the weather started to cool down this fall, just the shirt on it’s own was good as long as the wind didn’t pick up. With a little wind and 
cooler temperatures, I added a wind-stopper jacket and it kept me warm but not too hot. As the winter temperatures start to drop, I plan to wear the Craft Fuseknit under a warmer running coat or a quarter-zip and I’m confident that it’ll be just right.
Bottom Line: Overall, I have been pretty impressed with the Craft brand. It is nice to have another brand choice for quality running gear. Craft seems to be a slightly lower price point than some of the other name running brands, which I appreciate. I have several Craft items and so far the quality has really held up to my active lifestyle between running, hiking, cross-training, and kids. If you are active through the fall, winter and spring in Montana, you definitely need a good base layer. I would recommend the Craft Fuseknit Comfort Long Sleeve!
