100% Cotton

Keeping warm and comfortable at work can sometimes be difficult. Whether you are in an office where coworkers keep turning down the thermostat, or you are working outside in harsh weather conditions, getting too cold makes you unproductive and can even be dangerous.

Finding the right warm underwear for work is important. If you are in an office setting you may not want to embarrass yourself by wearing a big coat and a pair of snow pants. There are a variety of thermal underwear for work that come in different colors and materials to keep you warm, comfortable, and in fashion for the office.

You can shop for thermal underwear for work according to the temperature and style. They range from cold - very cold - extreme cold and are available in comfortable merino wool, 100% cotton, polypropylene, and other blends to suite your needs. Choose the right thermal underwear for you and simply wear them under your normal work clothes around the office.

If you work outside then you may endure more harsh weather conditions. Not only is it important to get the right thermal underwear for work outside, but there are other considerations such as socks, gloves, and balaclavas that can get you through the day. Expedition weight thermal underwear is designed for coldest and wettest conditions imaginable. They maintain their thermal properties, keep you warm even when wet, and will wick moisture away from your skin to keep you dry.

Maybe you're an avid extreme winter mountain trekker or you simply get the chills while working in the cool office, you operate heavy mining equipment year round or you work for the US Coast Guard. Either way, thermal long underwear, also known as base layer or long johns, may be just what you need to stay warm and comfortable. The type you choose will depend on your activity level, your budget, and the temperature.

There are many types of thermal underwear but our customers usually choose one of these top three.

Merino Wool

Merino Wool thermal underwear is our warmest underwear. It doesn't itch or smell like regular wool can. It is very soft and comfortable against your skin. It wicks moisture away from your skin when you get wet. It also maintains its thermal properties, keeping you warm, even when it is wet. Best of all, it is made from natural materials that are environmentally sustainable. Merino sheep need a haircut once in a while just like you do - no harm done.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a popular material for thermal underwear because of its affordability. It is less expensive than many other options, but has many of the same benefits. Polypropylene will stay warm when it gets wet. It is durable and will last a long time. It dries very fast compared to other materials and it also wicks moisture away from the skin.

100% Cotton

100% Cotton thermal underwear and long johns are hands down some of the most comfortable, warm underwear you can get. It is very affordable, comes in a variety of colors and styles, and is made from renewable and natural fibers. The comfort and feel of cotton is hard to beat.

Here are some of our reader's favorite articles:

100% COTTON-COMFORT ENEMY #1 - How can such a soft, snuggly, comfortable fabric like cotton be so hated among veterans of the high activity sports world? In this post, we'll cover the basics of why cotton is a definite no-no when putting together your wardrobe for any outdoor or otherwise high intensity sports activity.

Florida Residents Buying Thermal Underwear in the Spring! - It doesn't make sense to many people when I tell them that around 70% of our online sales for thermal underwear during the months of March thru June come from Florida and other southern states. So why would so many people from the warmest states want thermal underwear in the spring and summer?

Layering for Cold Weather Activities - For many, when the trees shed their leaves, the grass stops growing, and winter sets in, the human hibernation begins. It’s time to crawl into a centrally heated cave, and wait out the cold winter months. After all, without a natural fur coat, humans were never meant to brave temperatures below 65 degrees right?

Trekking Poles: How useful can they be? - If you've been on a hike recently, you probably noticed some of your fellow hikers trekking along with what looks like ski poles in their hands.

How can such a soft, snuggly, comfortable fabric like cotton be so hated among veterans of the high activity sports world? In this post, we'll cover the basics of why cotton is a definite no-no when putting together your wardrobe for any outdoor or otherwise high intensity sports activity.

The first part of the dilemma with cotton doesn't necessarily have to do with cotton. It has to do with you. Your body has a built in cooling system that tells itself to produce sweat when it gets hot. While sweat is great for cooling your body down, it can also cause extreme discomfort if it is able to remain against your skin through the duration of your activity and long after you have finished. And this is where cotton comes in. Cotton has the ability to absorb larger amounts of water than other fibers acting as a sponge when you sweat. This sponge-like feature of cotton does not allow your sweat to dry very quickly. So, after just a short while of hiking up that steep mountain, playing a friendly game of tag football at the park, or even just rowing your canoe across the lake, your cotton clothing will begin to get wet with sweat, soggy and very uncomfortable. If your activity lasts for an extended period, then the problem doesn't stop there. Remember when you were little and you would play around in the pool long after your mom told you to get out and your hands and feet would start looking like prunes? That very same thing happens within your cotton socks and clothing often causing chaffing and more discomfort.

Now, let's say that you are finished with whatever sport it was that caused you to sweat so profusely. Let's also suppose you don't have a locker room to change in and going home is not an option either. Your cotton underwear, cotton shorts, cotton socks and cotton shirt are no longer the warm, cuddly garments they used to be. Cotton is not able to retain heat very well when wet. You're now stuck in wet clothing with a drying out time ranging from hours to possibly days. For you, this might only mean a short period of discomfort. However, if you are going to be somewhere overnight or even for a few hours where the temperatures are around 50 degrees or lower, your wet clothing can become a killer. Many hypothermia deaths are caused by wet clothing in mild to cold temperatures. Your body just can't warm itself quicker than your wet cotton clothing cools you in colder temperatures. That's almost a tongue twister.

Until fabric companies really started digging into the whole science of fabrics, there really weren't many options. So the outdoor sports participants, team sports players, joggers, and anyone else who sweats just had to suffer through all of the downsides that cotton has to offer.

Summary:

Cotton retains water, dries slowly, and does not keep you warm when wet so it is not ideal for high endurance activities that involve sweating.

Tips:

1. Take all of your 100% cotton clothing that is supposedly for outdoor sports or athletic activities and donate it to your local charity.
2. When you're at the meeting for your first winter klondike receiving instructions on the dangers of such an activity, don't raise your hand and ask how many pairs of COTTON thermals they would recommend you bring along.
3. If you have an annoying inlaw that is really into hiking, backpacking, outdoor sports, etc., make sure that the clothing you give them is 100% cotton and tell them it is for their next trip.