Merino Wool

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.

We at Outersports have scoured through the internet and tried several ideas to find which awesome camping hacks work the best. We've gathered together 8 awesome camping hacks into one place for you to try out.

Burning dry bundles of sage in your campfire, or even spreading some smoke around your tent, will keep mosquito swarms away. Apparently it is one smell that reminds them of a desert fire and they will flee for their lives. This is one of those times you will be happy to let the campfire smoke drift over you to keep yourself from being eaten alive by bugs. Besides, the smell of burning sage is very pleasant. Native American tribes often used soft sage bundles for toilet paper. Our staff have tried both and can vouch for the benefits of sage as a camping hack. Once you have a nearly mosquito free campsite you'll always keep a bundle of sage in your gear.

Scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon is one of the best tasting breakfast meals when you are in the outdoors. Keeping your eggs from cracking inside your cooler can be problematic. Some companies offer fancy plastic carrying cases for eggs to keep them safe, but we've found that simply cracking them down a funnel into an empty plastic water bottle before you leave home is the best option. If you are careful you can still have sunny side up too. The mouth of the bottle works well with the texture of raw eggs, allowing you to squeeze out one egg at a time if you take your time to do it right. Simply crack your eggs into the bottle before you leave home and set the bottle in your cooler for worry free egg transportation.

Anybody who has gone camping for the weekend eventually faces the inevitable squat in the woods. Having toilet paper is great, but it always gets smashed or falls in the dirt and twigs. If that happens at an inconvenient time then it can make a situation more awkward than it has to be. Simply use an empty plastic coffee container for a portable toilet paper carrier. Use your knife and cut a small vertical slit in the side of the tub and it becomes a handy toilet paper dispenser. You can even get fancy with paracord rope to allow you to hang it from limbs if you'd like.

Learning how to roll your clothing into an easily accessible skivvy roll will change the way you pack your clothes forever. You can fit an entire change of clothing into one neatly tucked roll for easy storage and packing if you follow these simple steps. First, place your shirt flat on the floor. Second, place your underwear in the center of the shirt where the neck is. Third, fold the arms of the shirt over the underwear. Fourth, lay your merino wool socks in an overlapping manner so the opening of the socks extends out where the sleeves of the shirt used to be. Fifth, roll the shirt down over the socks from top to bottom into a tight skivvy roll. Now you take one sock at a time and fold it back over the shirt. There you have it! You now have a perfectly rolled change of clothes that will fit in your backpack for quick access.

This awesome camping hack is one that has been used by survivalists and hikers for decades. Even if you have a watch on it can be difficult to guess how much daylight you have before you are left in the dark. Standing and looking at the sun to see how fast it might be moving is a horrible idea. What you should do is simply hold out your hand, palm facing toward you, at arms length. Keep your fingers together and horizontal to the horizon. The width of each finger is roughly 15 minutes. Place your hand so the sun is just above your index finger and count how many finger widths are left before the horizon. If the sun is three fingers above the horizon then you have 45 minutes of daylight left. It's really that simple and it works.

Rather than throw away your empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls you can use them as a fire starting log. When you clean out your dryer lint after doing a load of laundry just stuff the lint into the cardboard tube and keep them for your next camping trip. Set it in the bottom of your kindling and light the lint with a spark or lighter and watch it easily catch fire. It is a great way to reuse something you normally send to the landfill and it works perfectly. Keeping the tubes in a plastic bag will keep the lint off the other items in your pack.

In the snow or raining weather it can be difficult to find dry kindling or grass to start a campfire. Find some dead twigs and small branches and use a simple pencil sharpener to create the perfect fire starting shavings. You might think you can do this with your pocket knife, but it will take you a lot longer than you think to create the perfectly dry shaving that a pencil sharpener can. Simply trim off the tiny limbs and keep them for larger kindling, then shave the twig with the pencil sharpener for perfectly dry and paper thin fire starter shavings. Try it once next time you're camping in the snow and you'll keep one handy from them on.

Save empty prescription bottles, and peel off the label, to reuse them for camping storage containers. Depending on the size of the bottle you can place a variety of helpful items inside to keep them safe and dry in the outdoors. They make great portable first aid kits, fire starting kits, or even spice containers for cooking. The child safety locking lid can come in handy if you have children you want to keep out of the items inside as well.

Around the year 3300 BC, a primitive man now known as Otzi, or the "Iceman", lived among the mountains near Italy. In 1991 the preserved body of Otzi was discovered mostly frozen in a high ice form. What was most exciting was that most of his clothing and survival gear were still intact.

Otzi wore a fur hat made of bear hide, a cloak of woven grass reeds, a belt of calf leather, bear skin shoes, and most importantly - long underwear made of goat skin wool. Long before recorded history, early humans lived and thrived based upon their ability to endure the environment. The tools they created and and materials they formed into their clothing were a serious matter.

One of the most enlightening parts of Otzi's attire was his long underwear. Made from goat skin, the woolen hide provided him insulation from the snow and wind. In modern times we have the advantage of high performance synthetic thermals and time tested merino wool long underwear. We can learn from the ancient wisdom of primitive man and combine it with modern technical advancements.

Premium Performance long underwear has been crafted from a blend of 85% polyester and 15% spandex. Designed to cut through the cold and wind, Premium Performance long underwear provides maximum comfort and mobility. It also benefits from antimicrobial odor control; a benefit that probably would have been greatly appreciated by Otzi's friends.

If you are more keen on natural and renewable materials, then premium merino wool long underwear is for you. If Otzi had premium grade merino wool thermals he would have been able to stay dry, keep warm, move faster, and smell better. Ancient wisdom still applies when you are venturing into the outdoors. Learn from the lessons of the past and clothe yourselves to thrive.

Don't let the cold months leave you feeling chilly! While the bison may have a nice layer of fur on the outside, that doesn't mean you can't stay just as warm. By adding a layer under your regular outerwear you will provide yourself with an extra layer that will keep you warm.

Like fur, the 100% Merino Wool Expedition Thermal Underwear is designed to keep you warm even if you get wet, and it will guard you from the frigid cold. The Minus33 Expedition weight Merino Wool Thermal Underwear is the perfect option for anyone wanting to stay warm during winter activities. The thermals are designed for both men and women in style and fit.

Our warmest 100% Merino Wool was designed with the avid outdoor enthusiast in mind! It's impressive qualities of comfort, breathability, and warmth  makes it the first choice. The Minus33 brand thermals feature a flat lock seam so you won't have the irritation while walking or moving. Merino wool thermal underwear is much finer and thinner than traditional wool, making Merino wool super soft and non-itchy. This heavy-weight merino wool thermal underwear is sure to keep you warm in even the coldest temperatures.

With a great variety in styles and sizes you can easily find the right merino wool thermal underwear to meet your needs. Also, don't forget that Christmas is right around the corner. Expedition weight thermal merino wool will make any hunter, fisherman, skier, or outdoor enthusiast grin ear to ear.

Trying to decide which type of thermal underwear is best often leads to thoughts about deep winter blizzards and hypothermia. Spring comes along and you stuff your base layers in the same storage bin as your heavy coat and snow gloves. When it comes to your spring and summer recreation, It's time to change your thinking about what thermal underwear is and when to use it.

Consider almost every other fuzzy animal that lives and dies based on its fur coat. When warm weather comes they don't shed every strand of hair and bask in the warm sun with no fur at all. Instead they shed their heavy winter coat and establish a lighter layer of fur to protect them from moisture, wind chill, and even the burning sun. So why do we humans suddenly ditch our common sense and put on a thin layer of non-insulating material as if that is the best option?

There are multiple lightweight or silk weight options that will expand your options beyond the cold temperatures of winter. The Duofold Varitherm Silk Weight thermal is an excellent example. It has a single layer, dri-release, poly/cotton blend that is designed to be worn during cool or warm weather. This makes it a realistic option 365 days per year. Silk weight thermals come in a variety of options including long sleeve, short sleeve, v-neck, tops and bottoms to suit your preference.

Many people want the insulating properties of thermal underwear without sacrificing the comfort they know and love from the feel of cotton. You don't have to shy away from cotton based thermal underwear under the assumption that it doesn't have the moisture wicking properties of wool. There are many cotton/polyester blends that will dry much faster than 100% cotton fabric. The cotton/poly blend also provides a wider variety of colors and styles including white, blue, black, red, camo patterns and more. Most of all you'll notice the considerable price difference in sizes for adults and even children. Many of the thermal underwear options on Outersports have been reduced in price due to the change in season. Don't miss out on a great opportunity to get the thermal base layers you need for any season or occasion.

Preparing for any outdoor excursion requires careful planning and equipment checks. For the average day hike it might be as simple as deciding which jacket to wear and how much water to take. But when you are prepping for the Appalachian Trail you are staring at 2,180 miles and terrain variables that would make your head spin. When you total up the elevation gains over that distance it is equal to climbing Mt. Everest 16 times! Now imagine taking on that challenge without any legs. For Nathan Hunt that is a reality!

Nathan lost both legs in 2008 when a roadside bomb tore through his vehicle during a route clearance mission. Like other honorable wounded soldiers before him, Army SGT Nathan Hunt has not let his disabilities interfere with his life. In just a few weeks Nathan and his good friend Danny Kennedy will set out to complete the entire Appalachian Trail. Nathan is taking on this challenge hand over fist in a very literal manner. He will cover each mile of difficult terrain using just his arms to propel himself.

Preparing equipment for the months long excursion has been no simple feat. Nathan has spent a lot of time adapting his gear to give him every advantage possible. He will have to protect his hands and arms just like another hiker would with their feet and ankles. Just to take care of his hands he uses knuckle reinforced combat gloves, neoprene wrist braces, and a set of hand sanding tools which will act like the rubber soles on a pair of boots.

But the innovation doesn't stop there. Using rope and a modified off road skate board Nate will help his hiking partner Danny literally pull a pack of gear across sections of the trail when possible. All of Nate's pants and thermals are modified to eliminate drag and to fit properly. None of these modifications slow down or inhibit his ability to cover ground and survive in the wild. Nate is capable of setting up and climbing into his hammock in less than two minutes!

With way points designated on average every five days, the two man team will cover between 40-60 miles between each resupply spot. Waiting for them at these way points will be food, batteries, water and other essentials to keep them going. Several sponsors have stepped forward to donate critical supplies. Outersports has contributed a solar charger, rope, carabiners, 2 body harnesses, clothing, Merino Wool thermal underwear as well as cameras and important camera equipment to record their journey.

Throughout their travels we hope to bring you regular updates regarding their progress as they set out on the Appalachian Trail. To show your support, Nate & Danny would like all contributions to benefit other wounded soldiers through Ride 2 Recovery.

Did you know that the original founder of Mother’s Day was actually arrested for disturbing the peace? She was! Anna Jarvis and her sister were so upset that the holiday had become more about printed greeting cards and thoughtless gifts that they were arrested while campaigning against it. She said, “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother – and then eat most of it yourself. A petty sentiment.”

Mother’s day originated so that families would reunite after being divided during the Civil War. But since its establishment on May 9, 1905 I think most of us would agree with Anna. The mothers of the world deserve more than a generic card. Before we go any farther I should remind you . . .

Mother’s day is May 12

Let everyone else get their mother something from the gift card store. Getting something special for your mother or wife (from your kids of course) means you should find something she actually would enjoy. If yours is the outdoorsy type that likes to hike, camp, do gardening or anything else outside then we can help you with the following gift ideas.

The Port & Company Honeycomb Sling Pack – This is absolutely affordable at less than $6. This sling pack is cute and comfortable with a built in audio pocket and an exit port for headphones. It’s sling design gives it a more feminine appeal compared to a standard backpack, but if a different women’s pack sounds like a better fit there are plenty of options such as a Cinch Pack, Hydration Pack, or even an Xcape Computer Backpack for those who can’t part with technology in the wild. There is also a general rule of thumb that women love bags, purses, and anything that helps them stay organized and look good at the same time.

Sport Tek NRG Fitness Capri - Active women love workout capris but most men are too nervous to pick them out as a gift. So let me make it easy for you. She will love these workout capris! These capris have a waistband pocket to keep her locker key secure. They are made for comfort and freedom of movement so she will not only feel good but she will look good. Comfortable fitting workout capris are a hot item for women who want to stay fit and healthy. These Sport Tek NRG Fitness Capris are a great Mother's Day gift idea for those of you with mom's who like to be active.

Merino Wool Socks – In fact, anything made out of Merino Wool will quickly become one of her favorites. Women are often colder than men. Biologically speaking, women generally have more constricted blood vessels. This puts their blood flow closer to the surface of the skin making them feel colder. The body handles this by redirecting the warm blood flow to the vital organs, leaving their hands and feet freezing! Merino wool is the highest quality and thinnest fiber of wool available. It feels just like cotton against your skin but has all the moisture wicking, and thermal insulating properties you expect from wool. Every time she puts on her Merino Wool Socks or Thermals she will feel warm and toasty and think of you.

If you are a family camper or an outdoor survivalist in your approach to the outdoors there are certain universal recommendations that apply to both. Making sure that your supplies, gear, and clothing are versatile and efficient is always a good idea. This can create challenges when it comes to the unpredictability of weather and temperatures. Packing a wide variety of clothing can cause problems with weight and space. Packing too little clothing can compromise your ability to keep warm when the temperatures plummet unexpectedly.

When selecting the right clothing for the outdoors the same rule of versatility applies. Temperatures can shift dramatically based on your elevation and the composition of the earth beneath you. Those temperatures fluctuate according to air pressure, wind, and moisture. Temperatures will rise when there is more air pressure and go down when there is less. At lower altitudes the air molecules are packed closer together and are warmed up by the radiant heat from the earth. At higher altitudes the air is much thinner so the heat dissipates more rapidly. In either situation the wind and humidity can change unexpectedly. You may hike up a trail in nice warm weather and wake up the next morning with snow on the ground.

Rather than pack your gear according to just the weather report – we also recommend that you plan on unpredictable change. The best way to do this is by selecting the most versatile clothing possible. Without a doubt, Medium weight 100% pure Merino Wool is the best base layer option available. The military has trusted the insulating, water wicking, versatility of wool for decades. Merino Wool is the highest grade and quality of wool clothing available today. Medium weight Merino Wool will keep you comfortable and breathable in hot weather as well as warm and dry should the temperature drop unexpectedly. It’s available as long underwear, jackets, socks, and even hats.

When selecting a jacket or other outerwear you should be specific with the type of location you are going to. There are versatile options such as an All Weather Soft Shell Jacket. If you know that it may get a lot colder your best option may be a layered coat such as a Ranger 3-in-1. The Port Authority Ranger can be worn simply as a micro fleece jacket or combined with seam-sealed waterproof outer shell when facing moisture and colder temperatures. The outer shell can also be worn by itself to provide protection from moisture as well as keeping you cool. You want to stay warm, but not get too warm so you start to sweat.

If you are unsure what weather and temperatures you might be facing – we recommend you visit the National Weather Service and take advantage of their Climate Prediction Center. There you can look up the total precipitation, average temperatures, maximum temperatures, wind chill and much more.

There are men who have a garage full of tools and trunk full of wilderness preparedness gear, but not many men hand made all those things themselves. Aside from his fame on the hit television series Dual Survival, Dave Canterbury has an impressive following on YouTube. How did Dave earn his over 124,000 subscribers? By being awesome!

Dave has an extensive video series where he lives in isolation in a yurt, traps his own meals with handmade traps, flint knaps his own arrow heads, and even blacksmiths his own axe heads in a forge he made out of a rusted break drum. His approach to wilderness survival is appealing because he adapts everything for the “common man”. Focusing on the best value and multipurpose functionality of everything he uses and promotes sets him apart from other celebrity survival expert.

The “5 C’s of Survivability" are the foundation for Dave's practical methods to wilderness survival:

1. Cutting tool – something that can cut down trees as well as do fine cutting if needed.
2. Combustion device – a reliable way of getting fire.
3. Covering – Clothing/covering designed to wick moisture and regulate body temperature.
4. Container – a metal container that can be used to carry and boil water or food.
5. Cordage – multipurpose rope useable in lashing or building anything you need.

You can watch Dave hand craft all of the five items in his video series except for #3 – the Covering. When it comes to regulating his core body temperature, maintaining comfort, and ensuring moisture wicking, Dave prefers Merino Wool base layer to get the job done.

In list latest series about blacksmith skills, Dave can be seen sporting high quality Merino Wool, compliments of Outersports.com, in which he hand-forges a knife out of an old railroad spike. We look forward to seeing Dave Canterbury as he continues to exemplify the standard of wilderness preparedness in future videos.