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 Thermal underwear will give you a protection against
the winter chills: owing to the high-tech fabric it retains the heat of the
human body, and absorbs moisture at the same time. As an effective substitute
for regular underwear, thermal underwear is popular with people who engage in strenuous
physical activities and travel a lot, including explorers, and geologists. However,
it would be a mistake to think that thermal underwear is designed exclusively
for men working in harsh climates, or extreme sports enthusiasts. There is thermal
underwear for women that has many undisputable advantages over the regular
underwear. Various thermal underwear styles are designed for various weather
conditions, from cool to very cold, as well as for sports or everyday wear.
How Thermal Underwear is Different From Traditional
Underwear?
In cold temperatures, the body may battle
against wind, snow, sleet or rain and sometimes altitude. The
next-to-skin
layer or thermal underwear layer should include a top and bottom
component. The
main purpose of this layer is to wick away moisture from skin and allow
warm
air from your insulating-mid layers to reach your body. Thermal
underwear can
mean the difference between hypothermia and a satisfying trip.
The key difference between thermal underwear and
regular underwear is the fabric: owing to the high-tech synthetic
fabrics, the
former is much warmer and more comfortable, while the latter is often
superior
in quality and delicacy, though even flimsy thermal underwear is often
warmer
than knitwear. Besides, it is seamless or has minimum seams.
There are natural and synthetic thermal
underwear fabrics. Wool, cotton and silk are natural layers and
polypropylene,
polyester, and nylon are synthetics. There are different blends and
thicknesses
of thermal underwear depending on the brand and what season it is made
for. For
example, a thick layer or wicking polypro dries quicker in the sun after
use
and absorbs more heat whereas a lighter colored and thinner weave of
fabric can
be worn as breathable sun and insect protection on a hot day. They are
made from
lightweight to expedition weight. Lightweight nylon with some percentage
of
spandex is often worn by climbers for a bit of added warmth while
maintaining
full range of motion during a climb.
Thermal underwear works based on the predetermined
number of «cells» that function as a sort of air layer between the body
and the
environment. By absorbing the warmth of the human body, the air layer is
keeps
this warmth for a longer time, thus reliably protecting human body from
the
cold temperatures. In addition to retaining the heat, thermal underwear
has another
important function - it effectively
absorbs moisture from the skin surface which is also due to the cellular
structure of the fabric. Perspiration molecules are pushed through the
fabric «pores»
with warm air, which has more pressure than cold air outside. As a
result, the fabric
itself virtually repels moisture, and sweat either evaporates or is
absorbed by
outer clothing.
Staying dry is a number one concern for
mountaineers or winter back country travelers. If using thermal
underwear,
consider getting some that also wicks moisture away from the body as you
will
still get cold if wet. Never wear cotton base layers if taking part in
any
outdoor activity. Cotton thermal underwear is not good for much other
than an
extra layer while cozying next to the fireplace at home.
Choosing Thermal Underwear
Choosing the best thermal underwear can be
daunting, particularly if you're unfamiliar with the varieties and
options
available. What you put against your skin
has a lot to do with your comfort and safety in the wilderness. As with
almost
any clothing, prior to choosing underwear it is necessary to determine
what
thickness or weight to buy, depending on conditions and activity: the
colder
the temperature and the less activity you'll be engaged in, the thicker
the
underwear. Look for wicking underwear - material that spreads out
moisture and
dries quickly. Ask about odor retention. Older materials such as
polypropylene
tend to get stinky; several newer materials hardly retain any odor. Find
materials that are easy to care for - that is, those that are
machine-washable
and, preferably, machine-dryable.
Thermals of any fabric come in different
weights across the spectrum, and each weight offers different
advantages.
Lightweight is more conducive to moderate temperatures, and is also
preferred
for a high level of aerobic activity. Midweight is the most versatile,
and can
be used for the biggest variety of sports and recreational activities.
Expedition weight is preferred for frigid temperatures, when more warmth
is
needed.
Caring for Thermal Underwear
The rule of thumb when caring for thermal underwear
is frequent washing: if rarely washed, the «pores» in the underwear
fabric are
clogged, which results in the obstruction to moisture removal. It is
recommended to wash thermal underwear at 40-60 °C without any
conditioner, as
its particles may accumulate on the surface and clog the micropores of
the fabric
and thus prevent the removal of moisture.
Thermal underwear dries much faster than regular
natural fabric clothes, so wear it again after washing can be done much
sooner.
However, remember that thermal underwear should never be ironed asunder
the high
temperature of the iron fibers of synthetic material can melt, and the
effectiveness of thermal underwear will be deteriorate significantly.
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