Choosing The Right Base Layers for Summer with Leo Workwear
For outdoor workers, summer brings a different set of safety challenges. Heat, humidity and UV exposure can all affect comfort, concentration and long-term wellbeing. While sunscreen, hydration and shaded breaks all play an important role, the clothing worn closest to the skin is one of the most practical ways to support day-long protection.
That is where the right base layer becomes essential.
A high-visibility polo shirt or T-shirt is often thought of as a simple everyday garment, but for teams working outside through the warmer months, it can do much more than provide visibility. When chosen carefully, it can help protect the skin from harmful UV rays, manage moisture, improve wearer comfort and support compliance throughout the working day.
Why sleeves matter
When temperatures rise, it can be tempting to choose the lightest or most minimal garment possible. However, for workers exposed to direct sunlight for long periods, greater coverage often means greater protection.
Choosing a high-visibility polo or T-shirt with sleeves helps protect more of the upper body from UV exposure, particularly the shoulders and upper arms, which are among the areas most exposed when working outdoors. It is a simple choice that can make a meaningful difference, especially for workers in construction, highways, utilities, rail, logistics and other outdoor environments.
All Leo Workwear base layers are tested to UPF 40+ under EN 13758-2, giving wearers proven protection against solar ultraviolet radiation. This means that, alongside high-visibility performance, Leo base layers provide an additional layer of reassurance for teams spending long hours outside.
Of course, UV protection only applies to the areas covered by the garment. That makes garment choice important. For the best practical protection, employers should consider sleeved polo shirts and T-shirts as part of a wider sun safety approach.
Comfort that supports compliance
Protective clothing only works when it is worn correctly. In warm weather, uncomfortable garments can lead to wearers rolling up sleeves, removing layers or choosing alternatives that may not provide the same level of protection or visibility.
This is why fabric performance matters.
Leo Workwear’s Comfort poly/bamboo, EcoViz Performance and EcoViz Performance+ ranges all offer good wicking properties, helping to move moisture away from the skin and support wearer comfort during active work. This helps the garment feel better throughout the day, particularly when workers are moving between indoor and outdoor environments or dealing with changing weather conditions.
The higher the level of performance chosen, the more the garment is designed to support the wearer in warmer working conditions.
For teams looking for the strongest combination of comfort and sun protection, the EcoViz Performance+ range is a particularly effective choice. It combines UPF 40+ protection with lightweight fabric and mesh ventilated underarm panels, helping to improve airflow in key heat zones. This makes it well suited to active outdoor work where heat build-up and moisture management are daily concerns.
Choosing the right base layer
Different working environments call for different levels of performance, but the same principle applies across the Leo base layer range: comfort, protection and sustainability should work together.
The Comfort poly/bamboo range provides a soft, comfortable option for everyday wear. By replacing conventional cotton with bamboo, the range offers improved performance and stronger environmental credentials, while still delivering the wearer comfort expected from a daily base layer.
The EcoViz Performance range steps up the technical performance, offering a practical balance of moisture management, durability and sustainable fabric choice for busy working teams.
The EcoViz Performance+ range provides the highest level of warm-weather performance, with lightweight fabrics and ventilation features designed to help workers stay cooler and more comfortable while maintaining the protection required on site.
Across all three ranges, Leo base layers are designed to help wearers remain protected, visible and comfortable throughout the day.
Protection with lower impact
As well as supporting wearer safety, Leo Workwear base layers are designed with sustainability in mind.
Every product is made using recycled polyester and sustainably sourced fabrics, helping organisations make more responsible choices without compromising on performance. From recycled content in the EcoViz ranges to the use of bamboo in the Comfort range, the aim is to improve both the environmental profile and the practical performance of the garment.
This matters because modern workwear needs to do more. It must protect the wearer, perform in real working conditions and support the sustainability goals of the organisations specifying it.
A smarter approach to summer workwear
Sun safety should not be treated as an afterthought. For outdoor teams, the right summer workwear can help reduce exposure, improve comfort and support safer working practices throughout the warmer months.
By choosing sleeved, UPF 40+ tested base layers from Leo Workwear, employers can give their teams high-visibility protection, UV protection and warm-weather comfort in one practical garment.
Whether selecting from the Comfort poly/bamboo, EcoViz Performance or EcoViz Performance+ ranges, Lyreco Intersafe customers can choose base layers that are designed for the realities of outdoor work: lightweight, moisture-managing, responsibly made and built to help workers stay safe in the sun.vely supports wearer wellbeing, productivity, and long-term value for employers.
Content created in partnership with Leo Workwear.
