Chill Out man!

Long term review of Oxford Chill Out undergarments

4 years ago Keyport Lock, the Canadian distributor for Chill Out garments, sponsored The Planet Tour with some great gear from Oxford. Probably my favourite, and most used, item has been my Chill Out undergarments.
For cool weather, wet weather and less than mild temperatures they are fantastic at keeping the chill off your body. They breathe so well you almost never feel any body moisture build up.

Made from Chilltex™ they are Waterproof, Windproof yet Breathable. They also contain an insulating  lining, which is soft in touch to the skin and possess a wicking action to remove moisture.
While wearing rain gear, they helped prevent that clammy feeling so many waterproof outer shells create.

The front zips up like a high turtle neck giving great wind protection to the neck area while keeping the chill air from sneaking in under your jacket's collar.
There are extensions on the sleeve, with a thumb hole, to keep drafts from sneaking in past your gloves and chilling your arms.

A lot of my touring has taken me through the Rocky Mountains of Canada and to both coasts in North America where temperatures can fluctuate wildly. The Oxford Chillouts provided great protection, comfort and warmth without a lot of bulk.  I found them comfortable up to 24 Celsius (75 Fahrenheit). You can easily zip open the neck to cool down while riding, if necessary. If the mercury climbed any higher I would switch to a lighter base layer, at least on my torso. For early spring or late fall rides they are invaluable for keeping a rider warm and comfortable which also relates into a safer rider with less fatigue.

 The fabric itself is anti bacterial and rarely became "ripe" smelling even after days of non-stop use. While you can machine wash them I often used a sink or motel bath tub, with a small amount of soap, to give them a quick clean. Hanging them to dry they are usually ready the next day for more use.

Multifunctional

As a touring rider that also camps,  they also served double duty as insulating pajamas on cold nights.  I have also used them as my base layer for many downhill ski trips and winter hiking trips.
Combine an Oxford balclava and you have a makeshift Halloween outfit as shown here in my "Ninja on vacation" costume last year.

After 4 years of hard use and over 120,000 kms of travel they are still in great shape and will be used for at least another season or 2.
If you are looking for a way to extend your riding season/days I highly recommend a set of Chillouts. I believe you will find them as indispensable as I have.
If you live in the Calgary area these are available at Universal Cycle
Happy riding and be safe out there.

Cheers
Daryl Makk