Thermal underwear as the first clothing layer
Thermal underwear, or base-layer thermal wear, is part of the first clothing layer. It is worn directly on the skin and ensures a pleasant body climate. Especially for outdoor sports activities, it plays an important role in physical comfort.
What makes good thermal and functional underwear?
Thermal underwear is characterized by particularly high wearing comfort. To ensure this at all times, it should have as much stretch as possible so that it fits closely to the skin and can follow the body’s movements. To avoid pressure points on the skin, the seams should be executed as flat seams wherever possible.
Another important property of thermal underwear is its ability to transport moisture. The sweat produced during sporting activities should be carried away from the skin to the next layer of clothing.
The next important feature is insulation. Depending on the outside temperature during your outdoor activity, thermal underwear should cool or warm the body. Ideally, the insulating effect should still be present even when damp. In addition, performance underwear should be as resistant as possible to bacterial odour formation.
As a general rule: the more intense the expected physical exertion, the more worthwhile it is to use functional underwear to support your own performance.
What should you look out for when buying thermal underwear?
Thermal underwear should be selected according to the season or weather conditions. The thinner functional underwear for summer usually only offers the function of transporting moisture. The next layer should therefore be a moisture storage layer (e.g. wool). With the somewhat thicker functional underwear for autumn and winter, both functions – transport and storage – are combined in a single clothing layer.
Overview of different materials
Cotton:
Although this is the most commonly processed natural fiber, it offers no functional properties and is rather unsuitable for performance underwear. For simple activities such as light hikes, however, cotton underwear may still be sufficient.
Merino wool:
The advantages of merino wool include low odor formation, the ability to store moisture inside the fiber and its insulating properties even when damp. Some manufacturers also add a proportion of synthetic fibers to merino wool to improve stretch.
Polyester:
This is the most widely produced synthetic fiber. Polyester dries quickly, wicks moisture rapidly to the outside, is easy to care for and is also fully recyclable. The downside: polyester promotes odor buildup. Some manufacturers therefore add silver ions to the fiber to reduce bacterial processes.
Cellulose:
A plant-based construction material that is sold under the names viscose, modal or Tencel. The functionality is added to the material through chemical additives.
Silk:
Silk has an excellent environmental footprint. It dries quickly but initially feels cold on the skin. For this reason, it is preferred for use in warmer regions.
Questions: thermal underwear
What exactly is the advantage of thermal underwear?
Thermal underwear offers better protection of the body against external influences such as wind and cold, ensures a pleasant wearing comfort and thus contributes to performance during outdoor activities. Moisture in the form of sweat is wicked away from the body to keep the skin as dry as possible.
Does thermal underwear always have to fit tightly?
Yes, because this ensures effective moisture transport away from the skin.
