Tag Archives: base layer

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.

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.

Imagine sitting inside your warm house in the early morning. You take a peek out the window and see freezing sleet coming down. Your iPhone tells you that in your home town of Toronto, Ontario Canada it's -17° C outside, cold enough that the weatherman advises you to stay indoors. But you are a runner. You are driven to feel blood pumping through you veins, in spite of the bite of the cold against your face.

You suit up like a warrior preparing for battle against the invisible frost giants lurking in the wind. Some might call you crazy, but most people call you Holly!

Holly is a registered nurse and a certified diabetes educator. She is a mother of two and works full time. As a type 1 diabetic herself, she knows that running daily will help her body to be stronger and healthier.  That's why when Holly isn’t working on her graduate degree, taking care of her children, or working at her career she loves to go for a run, even if it means facing the freezing cold of Canada.  On twitter, Holly goes by the handle @chollyrun

Early in January, when Holly shared on twitter the low temperatures in which she was running, the Outersports.com team noticed, and we came up with a plan to surprise her by sending her over $150 in free base layer for runners to help her stay warm while she runs.  In exchange, we would ask her to tell us which ones she liked best, from a runner's point of view.

"I was shocked!  I couldn't believe that me, of all people...I thought, 'They know I am not famous right?' ...seemed a lil too good to be true!"  Holly said of the surprise gift.

Here's a look at the base layer we sent Holly, and what she had to say after giving it a test run:

ColdPruf Expedition
Weight Performance
Base Layer for Women

ColdPruf Merino Wool
Performance Base Layer
for Women

“I primarily own compression run gear from various companies. This is one of the first few thermal base layers that were not compression and were meant for cold weather that I got to test! I first tested the Merino wool blend set (top and bottom) on one of our usual chilly afternoons. The sun was setting and it was -17c and with wind chill was -24c. So it was COLD! My first thought as I put the garments on was “these feel like my pajamas!” They were soft, kind of lose and very comfortable. During my run there were times where the pants would lift up and expose my ankle….I am not used to this as most compression wear is snug with elastic around the ankles…this was a pain.  Around 5k the moisture wicking abilities really showed off as I checked one of my underarm vents and it was dry! After I got back home I recall thinking this is one of the most comfortable base layers yet! But I cooled off faster than I wanted.  An after run hoodie would be highly recommended if you aren’t changing out of these within minutes of stopping your activity."

"The day after was equally as cold and I was able to take the performance polyester blend thermal base layer out for a test run. This set was noticeably thicker in texture and more form fitting. They still felt good, like really good, like when I’m not running – I might sleep in these:) I laced up and headed out for a quickie 5k after work, I really didn’t notice too much difference while running with this set, the leggings stayed put which was good, but when I got home and took my outer layers off I didn’t cool down as fast as with the merino wool set. I appreciated this! I do a lot of interval running, start and stop activities and I don’t want to get chilled when on a walk break before I get back to running again."

"Before receiving these base layers, running in the winter was cumbersome. Don’t get me wrong, compression gear is great, but it has its place among other run clothes. Removing tight fitting sweaty run tights is not my idea of FUN! I really enjoyed the fit of these base layers and their warmth and protection. When Outersports.com sent me these products to try I feel like I won the runner's lottery! Outersports.com is your online source for base layer for running in the cold, with a risk-free return policy!”

Who wouldn’t want to go running in gear that is so comfortable you could sleep in it! Cold weather running is all about having the right apparel. You don’t have to hibernate through winter. Learn from Holly’s experience and protect yourself with the right base layers. It makes all the difference.

Not all sheep are equal! Did you know that there is a complex quality grading system in place to measure and determine wool quality? Why does this matter? It actually matters a lot when you are talking about clothing and apparel. The correct grade of wool can be the difference between finishing your hike in comfort and itching and smelling the whole trip.

Wool is classified according to its fineness because the finer the wool, the better the appearance, comfort, and style. The wool industry utilizes three different systems to determine the grade and quality of wool. Currently, there exists The American Blood Grade System (ABGS), Spinning Count System, and the Micron System. The Micron System is more or less the international standard.

An interesting note is that the ABGS system bases its standard on the amount of Merino genetics present in the wool fiber. A pure bred Merino sheep would be considered to have the highest grade because it has the longest and finest fiber of wool available. Every other sheep that is a cross breed would fall farther and farther down the scale according to how diluted it was from the Merino. The Micron System is capable of differentiating the difference simply based on the diameter of a wool fiber.

If you look at this table closely, you can see that pure Merino sheep produce the finest diameter of wool fiber and also the highest yield of clean wool. What does this mean? Merino wool products are warmer, more comfortable, and more attractive! Merino wool is the highest quality, most renewable, and most desirable wool available. When you feel Merino wool in your fingers the difference between it and lower grade products is tremendous. There is no doubt, in your own hands, that you will notice a major difference between low quality wool and Merino wool.

If you enjoy the outdoors then understanding wool quality standards can be a tremendous advantage. Most average wool products are made from lower grade wool. You are probably familiar with the bulkiness and lack of comfort in low quality, course wool. Low quality wool products can make you itch, feel stiff and inflexible, and are often unfashionable. On the other hand, Merino wool products feel soft against your skin (like cotton), do not itch or smell, are warmer, naturally wick moisture way from your skin, and will fit in your day to day wardrobe.

Hands down, Merino wool wins the contest. Merino wool products such as thermal underwear, socks, jackets and even hats are all available and affordable. Don’t waste your money on something of poor quality and comfort.  Upgrade your wool apparel to Merino wool and you will never look back!

This post was posted in Merino Wool and was tagged with base layer, merino wool, thermal underwear, wool

Facing the Wind During an Idaho Blizzard

Snow is falling heavy on Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado tonight, and the wind is howling, driving the temperature to a bone chilling 7 degrees. Last week the temperature dropped down to 7 below 0 but the wind chill today just makes it feel so much colder.

A blizzard is no time to be outside but if you must, you can be ready to stay warm.  Here are a few helpful tips for choosing the right thermal base layer clothing for the job:

Base Layer Technologies

Choose base layer clothing based on your activity level and the temperature outside.  Designers from our top brands like Minus33 and ColdPruf have developed ways to use base layer to keep you comfortable and warm using powerful thermal technologies.

The Cross-Country Skier
Let's say you made a new years resolution to cross country ski every Saturday, despite the weather.  You'll need a high performance base layer, suited for high activity.  That's where the innovative ColdPruf Platinum performance line comes in, an advanced blend of 30% merino wool for maximum warmth and 70% CPT performance polyester to wick moisture and keep you dry.

ColdPruf Platinum Shirt
for Men

ColdPruf Platinum Shirt
for Women

The Winter Worker

On the other hand, if you're working a low activity day in the military, mining, agriculture, or construction industry, you'll probably want a base layer suited for medium to low activity - something that keeps you warm at idle but breathes well, and fast drying, to keep you dry when you really need to work up a sweat.  Many of our mining and military customers choose to wear polypropylene thermal underwear as their preferred base layer for these very reasons.

Desert Sand
Heavy Weight
Polypropylene
for Men or Women

Black
Heavy Weight
Polypropylene
for Men or Women

High Adventure

Finally, if you're an avid high adventure buff, taking on the most extreme winter conditions, you should really consider the Minus33 100% Merino Wool base layer.  It's so so comfortable, you wear it day and night.  More importantly, its wick technology helps you perform in changing activity levels coupled with it's brute warmth no matter the temperature.

Minus33 Expedition
100% Merino Wool
for Men

Minus33 Expedition
100% Merino Wool
for Women

The Cold Office

If you work in a warehouse or poorly heated office, or even one that gets chilly on a cold blizzard day, consider light-weight thermal underwear. These super-comfortable yet light-weight 100% merino wool thermals are just right for keeping you toasty when it's a little cool in the office. Soft and warm, yet light enough that you won't overheat. They're perfect for a hike in the mountains on a cool fall day too.

Minus33 Light-Weight
100% Merino Wool
for Women

Layering - How Does It Work

Layering to keep warm in cold weather is really a matter of insulating your body so that you retain your body heat. Layering typically consists of two to four thermal layers depending on the temperatures you'll be exposed to. Each layer is designed to trap air. The more air that is trapped inside a material or fabric, the better it will insulate. The two most common layers are a base layer or thermal underwear layer and an outer layer. Then, depending on your level of comfort and how cold the temperature is, you can add middle layers for extra warmth.

The great thing about layering is that it allows you to adjust your comfort level as temperatures change or as your activity level increases or decreases. As you get hotter, you can remove a layer. As you get colder, you can add a layer. Once you understand how layering works, you can adjust your own layering system based on your own comfort requirements and the weather conditions you'll be experiencing.

Layering - Types of Material To Wear For Each Layer

Now that you have an idea of how layering works, let's go over the different types of layers that will insulate you most effectively. Your first layer is your base layer or long underwear layer. Depending on the temperatures you're expecting to face, this layer can either be a thin single layer garment, a midweight two layer garment or a heavyweight two layer garment. As mentioned earlier, as you come to understand how layering works, you will know what weight or thickness you will need as a next-to-skin base layer. The type of fabric you wear is important. You need a material that will wick sweat, retain heat, and dry quickly. Some examples of the most commonly used materials are merino wool, polyester , and polypropylene. Each of these fabrics retain heat even when wet. Cotton thermals do not. The only time you'd consider using cotton is if you were not going to be very active.

Now, let's skip to the outer layer. The outer layer's job is to block wind, snow, or rain from penetrating your inner layers and robbing you of heat needed to keep you warm. Your outer layer would be a coat, jacket, or parka that is waterproof, windproof, and breathable. Many coats will have built in insulation while jackets and parkas may just be a shell with the option to zip in an insulating liner.

The reason I skipped to the outer layeris because what you wear in between the base

Pick The Correct Layer According To Temperature

layer and the outer layer all depends on your level of activity as well as how cold the temperature will be. A good base layer and outer layer is often sufficient for most winter weather conditions. During an average winter season, a good base layer and outer layer would be sufficient for skiing and snowboarding. However, if your combined base layer and outer layer are not warm enough, then you'll need to add an additional middle layer. This layer is typically a thicker layer of fleece. A merino wool, polyester or polypropylene fleece jacket and pants are recommended. A fourth layer is only needed in extreme cold weather conditions such as winter snow camping or summitting a high mountain peak. A fourth layer would be a heavyweight baselayer over a lightweight or medium weight base layer.

Layering - Thermal Base Layer Is Critical

Your next-to-skin thermal base layer is key to your comfort in cold weather. You want something warm, soft and dry against your skin.  Not just any fabric can give you this. Cotton is still a very popular as a base layer because it is so soft. The problem with cotton is that if you begin to sweat, it absorbs all of that moisture holding it next to your skin. Cotton does not dry very quickly. When it gets wet, cotton loses it's ability to retain heat. This condition can lead to hypothermia if exposed long enough.

You need a performance fabric like merino wool, polyester, or polypropylene. Merino wool thermal underwear is super soft and 100% natural. It does a great job of managing moisture and keeping you dry. It also retains heat even when wet. It costs more than other thermals, but is well worth the price. Polyester and polypropylene are very similar. Both can be spun into a very fine thread making it extra soft and comfortable. Both of them are hydrophobic which means they repel water and dry quickly. Polypropylene retains more heat than any other fabric and it dries much quicker too. Polypropylene is probably the least expensive of these performance layering fabrics.

Layering - It's Never Too Cold With The Right Layers
Now that you know how to layer properly in cold weather, you can go out and enjoy the winter season. Don't be like so many others that sit inside depressed all winter long because they hate the cold. There is plenty of fun to be had throughout winter. All you need is the right layers!