HikingNimsdaiBase Layer

Nimsdai Grid Crew Baselayer review: a warm grid fleece between base layer and midlayer

Exceptionally comfortable, properly warm and packed with useful details. Built as a base layer for sub-zero days, it works in the UK as a throw-on midlayer. The catch: it’s bulkier than a lightweight base layer.

Some base layers disappear under everything else. This one doesn’t. We’ve worn the Nimsdai Grid Crew Baselayer on Dartmoor hikes, chilly Woodbury Common walks and a trail run, and it’s the warmth and the comfort that stand out. It’s a substantial grid fleece that feels closer to a lightweight fleece than a thin next-to-skin layer, which is both its appeal and its one real trade-off.

✓  RecommendedNimsdai Grid Crew Baselayer Weight335 gFabricGrid fleeceRRP£90 The good✓  Exceptionally comfortable
✓  Reassuring level of warmth
✓  Substantial, well-executed thumb loops
✓  Zipped YKK chest pocket
✓  No overheating or breathability issues so far
✓  Stretch fabric that moves with you
The not-so-good✗  Not an ultralight option at 335 g
✗  Packs to about the size of a Hydro Flask bottle
Check out the Nimsdai Grid Crew Baselayer →

At a glance

Overview

The Grid Crew is a warm, technical grid-fleece base layer designed for cold conditions and active outdoor use. It pulls on much like a jumper, and that simplicity is part of the appeal: you get substantial warmth without any fiddly adjustments or an involved layering system. The stretch fabric, comfortable thumb loops and practical chest pocket make it an easy layer to live in on a hike.

Where it gets interesting is the position it occupies. It’s built as a base layer for properly cold, sub-zero conditions, and it has the warmth to do that job. In the milder UK climate, though, that same warmth and thickness put it somewhere between a base layer and a lightweight fleece, which makes it a very handy throw-on midlayer. How you use it will depend on fit, activity and personal preference, and we’ll be clear about how our own choice of size shaped the way we use it. The grid-fleece fabric has a familiar feel to some Polartec products, and the label lists it as 86.4% recycled polyester and 13.6% spandex. 

A note on price

At £90 the Grid Crew sits in the premium technical base-layer category, and we think the price is reasonable for what you get: real warmth, genuine comfort and a couple of well-judged practical details. We’ve also bought a comparable layer for around £120 (more on that below), and in terms of performance, comfort and practicality so far, the Nimsdai is certainly comparable. It’s designed for winter, and the warmth we’ve felt on UK autumn days shows it.

How we tested

We’ve worn the Grid Crew on several hikes across Dartmoor in UK autumn conditions. It has been exceptionally comfortable, with a welcome level of warmth that has stayed comfortable while moving over the terrain. When we needed extra insulation, we simply added an insulated gilet over the top, which made for a flexible system as conditions changed. We noticed no overheating or breathability issues. It feels very warm when you first pull it on, but it settled down nicely once we were moving.

It has also been out on walks around Woodbury Common, particularly on the cold, nippy mornings during our testing period, where it stayed comfortable with no overheating or breathability problems. And we took it on a trail run to see how it behaves at a higher level of exertion. Again, no noticeable issues, which is encouraging for a layer that feels this warm straight out of the bag.

Our testing so far has been in UK autumn conditions, where it comes into its own as a throw-on midlayer. It’s designed to be a base layer in sub-zero temperatures, and we’re looking forward to January 2027, when it joins us on the Great British Adventure Club’s winter expedition to Scotland, and we’ll report back on how it does there.

Features and performance

Warmth and the grid fleece

This is the Grid Crew’s party piece. The substantial grid-fleece construction gives a reassuring level of warmth, and it feels more like a lightweight fleece than a very thin base layer. It’s comfortable while you’re moving and gives useful insulation when it’s chilly, and the stretch from the spandex keeps it moving with you rather than against you.

“It feels very warm when you first pull it on, yet it stayed comfortable once we were moving.”

Thumb loops and sleeves

The thumb loops are particularly well executed. They’re thick rather than thin, minimal loops, which gives a comfortable amount of material around the wrists, adds useful coverage and warmth, and keeps the sleeves exactly where you want them. We sized up to a Large, and the slightly longer sleeves work especially well with the loops, staying comfortable through a whole walk.

The chest pocket

The chest pocket is a genuinely practical addition on a layer that otherwise keeps things simple. It uses a small YKK zip with a grippy pull cover over the metal fastening, so it’s easy to find and operate, and it gives you somewhere to stash small essentials without complicating the design.

Fit and sizing

Nimsdai Store describes the Grid Crew as a fitted layer, so if you like a close-fitting base layer, stick with your usual size. We deliberately sized up to a Large as a personal fit preference based on current build, and that choice has shaped how we use it: as a layer we can add or remove as conditions and effort change, rather than a skin-tight base. That’s our own interpretation rather than a claim about how Nimsdai intends it to be used, and someone in their usual, closer-fitting size may well experience it differently.

Weight and packability: the catch

All that warmth comes with bulk. At 335 g in a size Large, the Grid Crew is relatively substantial compared with lightweight synthetic or merino base layers, and it isn’t the sort of layer that disappears into a corner of your rucksack. Packed down, it’s about the size of a Hydro Flask water bottle, which is a useful guide to the space you’ll need to leave in your pack.

For winter hiking and colder-weather layering, that’s a reasonable trade-off. Our usual approach on the mountain is a close-fitting, lightweight base layer that packs down to about the size of a sock, plus a separate fleece or insulating layer. The Grid Crew offers an alternative: one warm piece that can do the job of both, depending on conditions and personal preference. If minimum weight and pack size are your priority, a lighter base layer and a separate fleece will still be the better call.

How it compares

The closest comparison we can draw from experience is the ThruDark Siege Tech Fleece Half Zip, which we bought for around £120. In comfort, performance and practicality so far, the Grid Crew is certainly comparable, and it costs about £30 less. The Siege is a useful reminder of how a garment’s role can shift: in the UK it was long seen as a base layer that could double as a fleece, and the Siege range is now marketed more towards the midlayer category. We see similar potential in the Nimsdai. The ISOBAA 260 Merino Blend Grid Fleece follows a similar recipe, with a grid fleece, chest pocket and thumb loops, while the Alpkit Griffon Half-Zip Gridded zip-neck microfleece is a different animal: a lighter synthetic base layer built around moisture management, so it’s a contrast in weight and purpose rather than a like-for-like rival on warmth. For one warm, comfortable layer that sits between base layer and fleece, the Grid Crew is the one we’d reach for.

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Our verdictA winter-built layer that doubles as a throw-on midlayer in the UK.The Grid Crew Baselayer has made a very positive impression. It’s exceptionally comfortable, reassuringly warm and has proved practical on several Dartmoor hikes, walks on Woodbury Common and a trail run. The substantial grid fleece, thick thumb loops and zipped chest pocket make it an appealing choice if you want more insulation than a conventional lightweight base layer offers, and the stretch fabric keeps it comfortable on the move.It isn’t perfect. It’s heavier and bulkier than a lightweight base layer, and our choice to size up has influenced how we use it. It’s built to be a base layer in sub-zero temperatures, but for UK conditions we’d happily treat it as a throw-on midlayer. We’ll be taking it to Scotland on the GBAC winter expedition in January 2027. Until then, we’re happy to recommend it, particularly if you like the idea of one warm layer instead of two.Check out the Nimsdai Grid Crew Baselayer →

FAQs

How warm is the Nimsdai Grid Crew Baselayer?Very. The substantial grid-fleece construction feels closer to a lightweight fleece than a thin base layer, and it gave us a reassuring level of warmth on cold autumn hikes and walks.

Does the Grid Crew overheat when you’re moving?Not in our testing so far. It feels very warm when you first put it on, but we noticed no overheating or breathability issues on Dartmoor hikes, Woodbury Common walks or a trail run.

Can you use the Grid Crew as a midlayer?Yes, in the UK at least. It’s designed as a base layer for sub-zero temperatures, but in our milder climate we treat it as a throw-on midlayer, especially in the larger size we chose. That’s our interpretation, not Nimsdai’s claim.

Should I size up?Nimsdai Store describes it as a fitted layer, so if you prefer a close fit, stick with your usual size. We sized up to a Large for a looser fit, which suits how we layer it.

Is the Nimsdai Grid Crew Baselayer worth the money?We think so. At £90 it compares favourably with the premium technical layers we’ve used, and its warmth, comfort and practical details justify the price. It’s bulkier than a lightweight base layer, though.