Thermal underwear: characteristics, recommendations for choosing and wearing

It is difficult to find people who would not have heard about thermal underwear. But it is very important to study its main characteristics before buying. It is also worth considering the basic guidelines for choosing and wearing such underwear.

It is appropriate to begin the description of thermal underwear with a statement of the principle of its operation. Another name for this product is functional underwear. It doesn't just hold but also improves the removal of excess moisture. Theoretically, ordinary woolen underwear can be used for the same purpose, its properties are quite consistent with the description of thermal underwear. But the problem is that this material is not strong enough and needs very sophisticated care.

If you improve the properties of wool by adding cotton, then it will protect much worse from the cold. Actually, thermal underwear is often made using fleece fiber. It is a great non-woven fabric that is made up of polyester.

Special machines make special loops, so the surface is brushed. Additional processing allows you to reduce the likelihood of tissue ignition, at the same time eliminates the risk of pellets. Anything made from fleece will not shrink when washed. The absence of decating does not prevent the fabric from stretching excellently. In addition, it will not shed even to a small extent, and it is not difficult to stain such matter.

Thermal underwear usually has thin fleece. Its density is 0.1-0.2 kg per square meter. m. Specific varieties:

• makhra;
• velours;
• velsoft;
• footer.

Thermal underwear is sometimes sewn from polypropylene. Such products are suitable for both light and very intense physical activity. They can be worn by climbers and mountain hikers, loggers and many other people. Polypropylene products perform excellently regardless of the actual weather. Polypropylene is also convenient for those who are just going to relax in the fresh air.

Characterizing the possible composition of thermal underwear, it is worth pointing out that it is sometimes made of cotton. This fabric is very soft and leaves a feeling of extraordinary comfort. Even a simple touch to it is very pleasant. Pure cotton items, however, are rare. Blended fabric is used much more often. (with a small addition of synthetic fibers to improve the quality of the garment).

100% cotton is different:

• lack of adhesion to the body;
• zero build-up of static electricity;
• minimal slip;
• excellent air permeability;
• instability to light;
• increased crease.

Occasionally there are things made of viscose. This fabric appeared in 1891 and originally had a delicate texture. Good viscose is always formed in a thin layer. The main substance is wood pulp; pure viscose, due to its softness and instability to water, is not very suitable for everyday wear. Additionally, such additives are introduced:

• elastane (increases elasticity, as evidenced by the name);
• polyester (makes the fabric more pleasant to the touch and significantly stronger);
• cotton (increases overall density).

Many companies supply thermal underwear large sizes. They simply adapt to the current situation, when more and more "big" people go on hikes and sports grounds in winter. Connoisseurs of good taste and aesthetics often purchase lacy insulated underwear. Most often, such goods are bought by women, because the "fair sex" is different, and the situations are different: you have to go hunting, and on hikes, and simply from the dacha to the railway station through the forest.

Deserves a separate discussion tactical thermal underwear. The name itself suggests that it was originally created for the army and other power structures. It is not surprising: the military and special forces have to walk through snow and frosty forests, mountains, even when ordinary travelers and geologists are sitting at home.

In winter, for low activity it is suitable thermal underwear with heating. Today, for this purpose, heating is used with safe elements of a special design. Merino wool is often used as a shell. The result is an excellent product even for wearing in extreme frost conditions. When you plan to take active action, it is recommended to use thermal underwear made of natural cotton, polyester or polyamide.

In some cases, apply and polypropylene. A fabric with a significant amount of cotton has the required thermal qualities for no more than 3-5 hours. Then it becomes excessively saturated with sweat and begins to pass heat excessively.

Passive activity (for example, fishing) implies priority of heat retention over moisture removal. The thermal underwear used in such cases justifies its name only conditionally - until you have to actively move.

Separately, it should be said about summer lightweight thermal underwear... It is designed primarily not to retain heat, but to wick away sweat and provide microventilation. In addition, even in the summer months in the forest, in the mountains, on the banks of the river, it is quite cool, especially at night.

Speaking of functional underwear for training in various sports, figure skating products cannot be ignored. Feature of products for skaters is that it should both conserve heat and confidently remove excess moisture. High-level athletes definitely prefer products made from synthetic fibers. The products of the Italian company Xtech are popular.

For a snowmobile moving at high speed, the only acceptable option is to wear clothes made of purely synthetic material. There are quite a lot of suitable products, they are in the assortment of various Russian and foreign companies.

It should be borne in mind that the actual size coincides with the declared one quite rarely. Thermal underwear must be measured when purchasing. The same requirements apply to the selection of functional clothing for cyclists, motorcyclists, skiers and snowboarding enthusiasts.

As for basketball products, they must necessarily have a pronounced compression effect. Compressing individual parts of the body improves the efficiency of sports performance. To fully practice on the basketball court, you will have to buy shorts and jerseys. But for volleyball, they buy not only T-shirts and shorts, but also T-shirts and special tights.

When choosing thermal underwear for winter, you should pay attention to thermal suits for walking. Heat-saving (heating) products have a special "waffle" weave of threads. The fiber spaces contain special miniature pockets where air can be trapped. And as you know, only vacuum surpasses it in terms of the efficiency of thermal insulation. The resulting product is useful for home, leisure or minor physical activity.

A pretty good effect is observed even at a temperature of -20 degrees. The warmth-keeping clothing is good with a pleasant touch feeling. But for more difficult situations and active physical work, it is required to use moisture-wicking types of clothing. Air pockets will expand as the temperature rises. The air will rapidly go out, carrying away even small droplets of sweat.

For the whole family, clothes are used that keep heat equally well and drain water. Optimal positioning of the water-conducting fabric on the outside. At the same time, matter that retains heat is closer to the body. It will be possible to actively work and train in severe frost. Low-cost hybrid underwear will be easy to blow through.

Thermal underwear can also be used as workwear. Workwear for the winter is often equipped with breathable Teflon membranes. The addition of polyester fibers helps to avoid shrinkage. Of course, workwear for each profession is selected individually. Protection from wind and snow is required.

It also corrects certain imperfections in the body. Besides increased pressure on certain muscle groups improves blood flow. Ventilation with oxygen increases, the outflow of harmful substances is accelerated. And nutrition at the cellular level is becoming much more intense.

The most obvious division is according to who needs thermal underwear. There are the following varieties:

• female;
• for girls;
• men's underwear;
• kids clothes.

All these categories of people need both underwear and underwear. Thermal pants, or thermal trousers, are useful for household use and for various work in the yard. You can also leave the snowballs. But a thermal T-shirt and a thermal shirt are used more often in autumn and spring, when it is not too cold yet. However, they can also be used as a lining for a thermal jacket.

In order not to choose separately work pants and the "upper half" for women and men, it is worth buying overalls... Distinctive feature - the presence of many pockets. The upper part is available in open and closed types, and this design can be flexibly varied. Overalls have long been worn not only by aircraft technicians, miners and car service workers, but also by:

• amateur athletes;
• children;
• pregnant women and so on.

Women are, of course, interested in thermal effect tights. For their manufacture, not just insulated, but necessarily elastic fabrics are necessarily used. Another important feature is the seams that are as flat as possible. If you need to "shine in winter", then any fashionista will be happy to use thermal leggings.

Thermal underwear is intended for everyone who plans to engage in an active life and not lose proper comfort in any season of the year. It works excellently in the forest and in the mountains, in the city and in the steppe, in the tundra and in the open sea. Such textiles are readily worn by men and women, children and the elderly. Functional underwear differs from ordinary underwear, even from warmed ones, in that it is much thinner and successfully replaces a multi-layered wardrobe.

It will not be possible to sweat and freeze again when wearing two-layer or three-layer heat-saving equipment with high-class wind protection. But such equipment can be used in any season of the year, not only in winter. It will provide protection from precipitation (solid and liquid), even from ultraviolet radiation. Sweat will still appear - this is the physiology. However, the moisture-wicking action completely compensates for this effect.

Typically, thermal underwear looks the same as regular clothing of a similar type, only dyed black. But you can also find white, gray, blue, beige specimens. Almost all products are made from non-allergenic fabrics. Characterizing the pros and cons of even the warmest thermal underwear, you need to indicate:

• lack of discomfort;
• full usability;
• the minimum frequency of washing;
• suppressing the smell of sweat;
• difficulty in choosing (special size table);
• insufficient compliance with fashion;
• exacting care;
• impossibility to use one set everywhere.

The ratings of thermal underwear manufacturers are varied. But they necessarily feature brands and firms such as Guahoo, X-Bionic, Red Fox, Marmot. Russian-made products also have a very good reputation, specifically, Ultramax brand. But here it is worth pointing out the owner - Italian corporation Dimanche. In production, they use insulated fleece, polyester and a rather rare prolene.

The top also includes the excellent Norwegian Janus lingerie. Selected merino wool is used for the manufacture of these clothes. Excellent moisture removal and long-term operation are guaranteed. The natural composition is very attractive. But such products are expensive.

A good alternative would also be Finnish Guahoo. There are a lot of model variations. There is a well-thought-out thermal mode gradation. You should also pay attention to:

• Craft (Swedish brand);
• Arcteryx (Canada);
• Faberlic;
• Lasting (Czech Republic);
• Norveg (Germany);
• Brubeck (Poland);
• Oldos (Russia);
• Huntsman (Russia);
• Gunze (Japanese enterprise).

Not necessarily, however, good thermal underwear must be made by one of the companies just listed. In any case, it should be borne in mind that it is impossible to choose a high-quality and inexpensive kit. They just don’t make them, because making functional clothes cannot be cheap. At the same time, well-made things will help out even in the most severe winter. You can choose the right thermal underwear only taking into account the assigned tasks.

Experts believe that products made from natural materials are worth buying for sedentary activities like ice fishing. Products made of bamboo fiber are very durable and retain heat well, almost do not absorb water.The problem is that they are extremely expensive.

Contrary to the popular myth, it is impractical to buy thermal underwear for wrapping against excessive body weight. In the best case scenario, this will slightly increase the effect of training and dietary changes. Of course, you need to wear such underwear systematically, otherwise you cannot count on a positive result. For cold weather adults, it is best to choose products with two main layers. They are perfect for:

• tourists;
• skiers;
• fishermen;
• hunters;
• geologists;
• gamekeepers.

Three-layer products differ little from those with 2 layers. They are identical in thermal qualities. But such a solution is optimal for those suffering from allergies and increased skin sensitivity. Children should not wear clothes made of pure synthetics.

Wearing lingerie correctly is just as important as choosing it according to all the rules. Do not think that thermo-jacket, thermal pants and other options are a magical barrier that conserves heat. The main function of protection from the cold is still performed by outerwear. That's why putting on a functional set under a light jacket in 30-degree frost is frankly stupid. It is also worth considering the difference between products for sportswear and for everyday life.

Experts advise to put on thermal underwear directly on the body or over the bottom, only under this condition it will fulfill its functions... If you can take two sets, then you should choose the one that is tighter. The elasticity of the fabric avoids discomfort. It is also important to observe the criterion of 3 layers, when thin fleece clothing is still worn on thermal underwear.

It is recommended to use only specialized detergents. Powders are also suitable for winter outerwear in general. Sometimes it is advised to use liquid gels for delicate treatment. And from home remedies, if it is impossible to wash thermal underwear in a washing machine, they recommend laundry soap. As for "ordinary" powders and gels, it is impractical to use them, since all valuable impregnations will be washed out of thermal underwear.

Washing machine include for a delicate cycle or an imitation of hand wash. It is necessary to send thermal underwear to wash after every three to four days of wearing. The appearance of a typical bad smell indicates that the problem is already very serious. It is advisable to choose heating no more than 30-40 degrees. Mechanical drying and drying in the open sun is not allowed.

Thermal clothing is rated differently by different people. But it's worth emphasizing that negative reviews are mostly related to the purchase of low quality copies or very cheap items. It is absolutely unrealistic to count on buying decent thermal underwear for less than 15,000 rubles. Only products sold in specialized stores give good results.

Things designed for temperatures of 30 degrees and below are very good for exploiting in the polar regions and in mountain, taiga trips. The warmest types of thermal clothing are suitable for sedentary outdoor activities. But indoors it is frankly hot in them. It should be borne in mind that all modern modifications of thermal underwear are thin and last a long time... The only exceptions are outright forgeries.

In the next video, the reviewer talks about the main types of thermal underwear and the materials from which it is made, and gives recommendations on the choice based on the activity for which the underwear is selected.