Try Thermal Underwear

How to choose the best thermals – natural vs. synthetic thermals

Thinking of getting some thermals?  Good move.  Whether it’s for cold-weather sports, keeping warm during exam time, pajamas for lounging in the winter holidays, or just to keep you warm in those in-between months where it’s a bit on the cool side…

The big question is, of course, which is better – natural or synthetic thermals?  Some people automatically choose one or the other – “crunchy” people (known for their habits of a big bowl of crunchy granola for breakfast!) will probably grab the natural thermals without any hesitation, whereas people who have lots of faith in the abilities of modern science to improve our culture will no doubt be choosing the synthetic thermal underwear every time.

However, it might pay for both parties to take a look a the benefits of each type of thermal underwear.  The boundaries between natural vs synthetic thermal materials are now so often blurred that to say one is better over the other is to argue over which is better, apples or oranges.  Before the natural crowd holler that thermals made with natural fibres are better because anything natural is better than anything synthetic, let’s remember that a lot of new textiles considered to be “natural” are actually processed so far as to render them no longer purely “natural”.

Bamboo, for example, is a textile which began its life as unfertilized and unsprayed bamboo canes, but once processed into today’s bamboo fabric, is now considered to be a rayon.  Rayon is a name for a type of man-made fibre which may or may not originally have been sourced from a natural plant.  You may find thermals and other clothes which are labelled “rayon from natural fibre”, which means that the fibres used once came from a plant.  It’s fairly safe to assume that fabric labelled simply “rayon” came from synthetic fibres in the first place – one example is recycled plastic bottles, an increasingly popular choice for textile producers, making a very soft fibre and recycled too thus saving on the environmental impact of the garments made.

However, for all this talk of bamboo and rayon and other fancy man-made things which it can’t be denied, are pretty clever – there is still a whole lot to be said for natural fibres and natural cotton or wool thermals. Caring for thermal underwear made of natural materials is not hard – just remember to put them through on a gentle (wool) wash cycle.

I say cotton or wool because these are the most common fibres that natural thermals are made from, but within these categories there are many variations.  Let’s start with cotton, since that’s pretty simple.  The cotton plant has been used for at least 7000 years, maybe more, for the production of textiles.  It’s easy for textile producers to get hold of, so it’s inexpensive, and it breathes well and doesn’t require extra special processing so it’s widely available. Cotton makes for comfortable and soft, and is generally used to line thermal gloves as well.

Thermals made from cotton are soft and comfortable, cheap and widely available.  However, they do have one major drawback.  They hold moisture against the skin, which makes them completely useless for outdoors sports and endeavours such as hiking, camping or hunting.  Anything which will cause you to sweat requires you to wear underclothes that wick the moisture off your skin, otherwise you are going to be a candidate for chafing, clamminess, and maybe even frostbite if are wet and in cold conditions.  You don’t want to get sick in the wilderness, so please, for outdoors endeavours, avoid cotton thermal underwear, not matter how inexpensive and tempting they may seem.

Thermals made from wool are considered among the best you can buy.  Wool thermals are very good at keeping the warmth in and wicking the moisture out.   That’s because wool has natural wicking properties and is also designed to keep a sheep toasty warm – so wearing wool will also keep you toasty warm!

Some new advancements have been made in the breeding of fleece animals in recent years, and some of the most highly prized wools are Merino wool (a breed of sheep), possum (they’re not bred, but New Zealand is getting into possum wool processing since possums are a pest there – beautiful warm wool!), cashmere (from goats) and alpaca.  Alpaca thermals are a luxury indeed, lending warmth and wicking and a touch of class as well.

Then there’s man-made or synthetic thermals.  Don’t forget that many synthetic thermals are actually a blend of synthetic man-made and natural fibres. bringing the two together to truly get the best of both worlds.  Although these may be the most expensive option, due to clever processing and smaller runs of the garments, you will undoubtedly be impressed by the qualities of these garments.

Pilling, Staining and Shrinking: Caring For Your Thermal Underwear

On the whole, thermal underwear is fairly tough stuff. It stands up to years of abuse, and you can generally expect many years of service life from good quality garments. However, there are some basic tips that can easily help you increase the life expectancy, and the comfort of the wear that you get from your thermals.

Basically, there are three main factors that will destroy your thermal underwear.

1. Shrinkage. It’s a big problem especially with polyester and other synthetic underwear, especially because so many people use clothes dryers these days. Yes, you might lose a few pounds and fit back into it, but generally once the fabric has shrunk it won’t be a stretchy and comfortable any more.

2. Staining: Mainly this is an aesthetic issue, since nobody likes to wear tops with yellow armpits, can also be accompanied by persistent bad smells … potentially cutting short the life of a garment.

3. Pilling. This is when the fabric develops little rolls, or little pills of fluff, fibres and other bits and pieces usually picked up in the wash cycle. Not only is pilling unsightly, it also makes the underwear very uncomfortable to wear when these little rolls are on the inside.

So let’s go through some basic care instructions for different types of thermal underwear.

WOOLEN THERMALS: Merino wool is by far the best material available for robust and effective insulating underclothes. It is naturally antibacterial, and maintains good insulating properties even when it gets wet, and therefore makes the best long underwear for cold weather. It is very important to only ever wash woolen thermal underwear in a cold, or at most lukewarm wash cycle. Warm water causes wool to pull together and tends to permanently damage the garments. Additionally, you should not use normal washing powder or disinfectant to wash wool garments as this will cause the fibers to mat together like felt. Always wash wool garments on a gentle cycle, as excessive agitation will cause the fibres in the thermals to mat together, causing shrinkage and distortion. It will feel rough and uncomfortable, and won’t keep you as warm anymore.

If wool stains, hang it in the sun for a few hours, don’t use bleach or similar substances on it.

COTTON THERMAL UNDERWEAR: Cotton is generally a very forgiving fibre, and you can wash using normal detergent on a normal wash cycle, even in hot water if need be. Be aware that if you wash cotton in hot water it will shrink somewhat, but this is nowhere near as severe as for wool. Generally the biggest issue with cotton thermals staining, and Pilling. To avoid staining, the first thing you can do is wash your clothes on a regular basis. This might sound like common sense, but it really is the best way to avoid stainless. This includes not allowing a clothes to sit around for a week after you wear them before they go in the wash. Stains result from components in your natural perspiration which react with the air and other materials which are found already in the fibres. If you come home really sweaty, take your thermal underwear straight off and if nothing else drop them in a bucket of cold water to soak. This will immediately help draw the ammonia and other components of perspiration from the fibres, making them easier to clean later. The same goes for other stains from soil and dirt, on thermal clothing or otherwise. There are plenty of proprietary anti-staining products out there, or you can even use a mild bleach solution to get the garments white again. Alternatively, if you like a natural approach, you can simply wait for a sunny day and give the thermals a full day in the sun. The UV rays in natural sunlight are incredibly good at bleaching clothes to a bright white, and they are also able to kill any bacteria which may be lurking in the fibres.

In order to prevent Cotton thermal underwear from pilling, the best thing you can do is avoid washing them with any other clothes that are likely to shed a lot of fibres. Are the worst offenders tend to be bath towels and fluffy socks, both of which lose a lot of very fine fibres. Also, make sure you regularly clean the leaf filters on your washing machine. It’s amazing how to stuff accumulates in there, and once it overflows, it simply washes back and gets stuck on your clothes. While it is possible to shave the fine pills or fluff back off, it takes forever. Sometimes you can use strips of packaging tape to clean it off, and some people use electric shavers too. The to the inside out. Although washing things inside out is often recommended, this is to preserve the outer appearance. In the case of thermals, we are usually more worried about the inside since this will sit closer to the skin. So leave them the right way out when they go in the machine.

POLYESTER THERMALS: Caring for thermals made of polyester and other similar synthetic fibres is easy, because they are generally very hard wearing. They do not suffer from pilling or staining as badly as natural fibres do, but they certainly make up for it in their tendency to shrink very badly the greatest cause of shrinkage is excessive feet. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, since everybody has at some stage thrown a plastic bag or a plastic bottle in the fire. The first thing that happens? The item shrivels down into practically nothing, into a tiny ball of molten plastic. The same thing basically happens with fine synthetic fibres when they are heated, even to a low temperature of about 60°C. Never, never never put polyester thermal underwear in the dryer on a hot cycle!!! It will come out looking like dolls clothing, and you will never be able to wear it again. The best way to care for polyester thermal underwear is to wash them normally (they can handle warm water for normal detergent) and either air dry them, since they drive very quickly, or put them on a very low dry cycle. Acrylic and polyester thermal underwear and does not kill too badly, but you should observe the same rules as for cotton. Clean your lint filters regularly, and wash them the right way out.

What if your thermals smell bad? Don’t be embarrassed, it doesn’t mean you are a dirty person. Fabric worn close to the skin can easily develop BO smell even when well washed. As already mentioned, air drying especially in direct sunlight can be one of the best ways to overcome smells and stains in all clothes. You can also add a small amount of disinfectant (preferably a natural one like sphagnum moss) to the wash, and if you really want to nuke bacteria AND mold use some anti fungal product such as grapefruit seed extract. Personally I go for sunlight – Its still free, and leaves everything with a fresh fragrance and soft feel that you just cant duplicate.

Treat your hands to a pair of thermal gloves

Alongside thermal underwear, a good pair of thermal gloves is absolutely essential if you enjoy skiing, bush walking, or engaging in any outdoor activity that puts you out in the cold during winter. As anybody who spends time outdoors knows, there is nothing worse than being unable to get warm – and besides comfort, you need to seriously consider your personal safety. In winter time, hypothermia is a reality that is quite dangerous.

Thermal gloves consist of several layers: at the very least there will be an outer layer and an inner layer. The outer layer (or layers as it may be) are there to prevent cold air from moving through the fabric of the gloves, to carry away precious warmth. Some thermal gloves may also have a waterproof layer, while others still may have a hybrid layer such as Gore-Tex which will repel water but still allow your skin to breathe. The inner layer(s) of the glove serve to keep your fingers comfortable and trap as much heat as possible in the fabric. In some cases, this fabric maybe acrylic, although top-quality thermal gloves still consist of superfine wool or even silk. Caring for thermal gloves is no different to any other thermals – wash them in mild detergent, and air dry.

There are many different types of thermal gloves, ranging from very thin light ones (you would never know that they are anything more than thin cotton gloves) to massive, the clubs like the sort you see worn by polar explorers. There is a thermal club for every situation-a lightweight glove that you can wear when you’re walking to work in the winter time, thermal gloves with removable fingertips which you can wear when you are hunting, and thermal gloves especially designed for motorbike or pushbike riding.

How much should you pay for a good set of thermal gloves? This is a fairly open question, because you can usually pay as much or as little as you want to. Generally speaking, you can get a good basic pair for about $20 from most camping or army surplus stores, and gloves like this will be fine for bush walking or similar activities. However, if for example you are going skiing or will be spending time in extremely low-temperature environments, you’re best off buying purpose specific thermal gloves which may then cost a bit more.

Who uses thermal gloves? Thermal gloves are very common these days, and are often issued to military personnel and law enforcement officers as standard equipment. They are also essential gear for explorers or adventurers, and you will even find highly specialized thermal gloves being worn by astronauts! usually they are worn alongside long thermal underwear as well, for all round comfort in cold conditions.

Buying a good pair of thermal gloves is an excellent investment, and you will not regret your choice the first time you are outside and the temperature drops. As we move towards Christmas time in winter, don’t forget that a pair of thermal gloves and thermal underwear also make an excellent present for somebody in your family!

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