Author Topic: Really amazing long underwear? (Read 2809 times)

AdventureGirl! · « **on:** November 02, 2019, 11:04:09 AM »

We live in Minnesota and it is starting to get cold.
We just went down to a 1-car family.
I will now be spending more time walking outside.

Does anyone know really good quality long underwear that is reallllly warm and lasts a long time? I would like them to fit under my jeans without being too obvious that I have something on underneath. I don't want to feel like I am walking around looking like the marshmellow man from Ghostbusters...

habanero · « **Reply #1 on:** November 02, 2019, 01:19:29 PM »

Icebreaker is my go-to suff for warm underwear. Bit pricy, but they have lasted me a long time at least. Comes in various thickness, they have numbers like 120,200 or whatever which refers to the wight in grams of one square meter of the fabric used if I remember correctly. Bought mine over 10 years ago and they still work.

On a side note - as long as you are moving you don't really need much, but it varies from person to person.

pecunia · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2019, 01:28:04 PM »

I used to wear polypropylene underwear in Minnesota years back when I did cross country skiing. It is supposed to wick the sweat out.

Kris · « **Reply #3 on:** November 02, 2019, 01:30:34 PM »

These are the ones I swear by.

https://www.landsend.com/products/womens-silk-interlock-crewneck/id_338905?attributes=44967,13774&source=GS&currency=USD&geo=US&skumv=5262736&promotion-code=SNOW40&promotion-pin=0&cm_mmc=139971612&SC=pla_nb&CMPGN=6465170789&ADGRP=79092005922&KYW=&MT=&DV=t&PID=5262736&TRGT=pla-797911347264&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpLS70qHM5QIVyrzACh1DOAa-EAQYASABEgLKcPD_BwE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpLS70qHM5QIVyrzACh1DOAa-EAQYASABEgLKcPD_BwE&CH=Google%20AdWords&_cclid=Google_EAIaIQobChMIpLS70qHM5QIVyrzACh1DOAa-EAQYASABEgLKcPD_BwE

habanero · « **Reply #4 on:** November 02, 2019, 01:36:57 PM »

Quote from: pecunia on November 02, 2019, 01:28:04 PM

I used to wear polypropylene underwear in Minnesota years back when I did cross country skiing. It is supposed to wick the sweat out.

Best practice is generally considered to be wool as it retains its function even as it gets moist from sweat. When I do cross-country skiing in temperatures down to -15c (5F) I wear long underwear on the whole body and just a wind-breaking layer on top. That's generally fine as long as I'm moving. For running in the winter I wear some slightly thicker tights than usual but no underwear. Discovered after the first time running in really cold weather that a shorts or something was useful for protecting the family jewels as well.

All in all - if doing any sort of exercise its surprising how little clothing is needed even in pretty cold weather. It's important to have something to protect from wind, however. Standing still is a whole other story of course.

pecunia · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2019, 01:42:54 PM »

I remember some folks in Duluth had this tube that went down into the clothing down their chest. Breathing that cold air can hurt the lungs and they breathed the air from the tube which had been warmed by the body.

scottish · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2019, 02:32:26 PM »

I purchased two pairs of Patagonia capilene midweight back in 1990. It's still doing well, although it's starting to wear a bit. Patagonia makes good stuff, and they have a reasonable amount of environmental cred if that's important.

SunnyDays · « **Reply #7 on:** November 02, 2019, 04:44:39 PM »

I live in Canada and have been wearing Elita Thermal Underwear for years. Both tops and bottoms are available. Amazon carries them here.
They're quite thin and unobtrusive, but warm for their weight. I also have Jockey long johns and they're a bit warmer, but also a little bulkier. When it's really cold, I layer them. You can also buy lined pants/jeans, but they do look a little "fat."

FINate · « **Reply #8 on:** November 02, 2019, 05:03:27 PM »

Merino wool long underwear from Minus33. It's a little spendy compared to synthetics and requires a little more care, but very warm relative to bulk and they resist the funk.

Adam Zapple · « **Reply #9 on:** November 02, 2019, 05:31:39 PM »

I need 100% cotton for work and Indera was the closest I could find. Elastic is another material but the rest is cotton. Very thick and they have not shrunk down as quickly as your run-of-the-mill stuff. Perhaps not the best thing on the market but good quality. Available on Amazon.

mountain mustache · « **Reply #10 on:** November 02, 2019, 05:40:47 PM »

I love my Ibex merino base layers, so tight and stretchy, but they went out of business a bit ago. Still might be able to find some used.
Second best is Icebreaker merino layers, I have a few of each weight, they are pretty snug and don't give you that "bulky" look.

AdventureGirl! · « **Reply #11 on:** November 03, 2019, 09:29:38 AM »

You guys are the best! I am going to be so warm this year!

cheapbarb · « **Reply #12 on:** November 03, 2019, 12:11:37 PM »

Hi Adventuregirl!-
I've found some great long underwear in thrift shops like Savers and Goodwill. I've found EMS, REI, Lands End and Patagonia for 3-4 dollars a pair. The stores nearest expensive private colleges have provided my best finds.
My favorites for day to day wear are Terramar body sensors. In really cold weather I double layer my long underwear for extra warmth. If you are walking to someplace where you will be indoors for a while wearing snowpants over street clothes and taking them off at your destination might be a better idea than super warm longies.
Don't waste your money on the ones that they sell in the ladies lingerie section, they aren't warm at all. Go straight to the outdoor apparel brands.
Best of luck and keep warm.

lizzzi · « **Reply #13 on:** November 03, 2019, 12:16:00 PM »

I live in upstate New York, and for years when needed have used a top and bottom from LL Bean. It is lightweight 100% merino wool. Does not make me look fat, does not make me itch, and keeps me as warm as toast on those very low-temperature days when I seem to be freezing no matter what else I wear. I don't know if it is still available, but you can probably find something similar. They are very basic.

HBFIRE · « **Reply #14 on:** November 03, 2019, 01:05:30 PM »

Merino wool is the best, just find the best price you can. The other consideration is a material that can breathe, as sweat can cause you to get cold very fast. Usually a material is either warm or breathable, difficult get both so finding one is sort of the holy grail. The problem with 100% merino is that it's not going to be super breathable. I prefer patagonia's capilene air for a great combination of warmth and breathability -- it's a merino/polyester blend with a 3D knit structure for breathability - super warm and very breathable but it's pricey. I can be in 10 degree weather with this as my only base layer, amazing stuff really.

jeroly · « **Reply #15 on:** November 03, 2019, 03:45:15 PM »

I've just returned from trekking to Everest Base Camp and environs, and found the Smartwool "250" base-layer long johns, made from Merino wool, able to keep me warm even when there was no heat in my lodge rooms at night at 17,000 ft. above sea level. It also stayed odor free even after wearing it two straight weeks.

Blindsquirrel · « **Reply #16 on:** November 03, 2019, 05:18:20 PM »

Hop on ebay and check out ECWS underwear. US military extreme clod weather system. It is the bomb.

GreenSheep · « **Reply #17 on:** November 04, 2019, 02:32:06 PM »

Patagonia for when I'm actually doing stuff outside. The only Patagonia item I've ever come close to wearing out is a pair of underwear I wore at least weekly for about 10 years.

Costco (32 Degrees Heat, $7 each) for just keeping warm(er) while sitting around inside.

dollarchaser · « **Reply #18 on:** November 04, 2019, 08:31:06 PM »

Merino wool has been king for a while . But warmer choices are popping up lately. Buffalo, yak and alpaca fur based clothing supposedly beat merino. Might be limited to socks or sweaters but wanted to share what I have heard. Hard to fess up good money on these things even when it lasts and performs very well.

habanero · « **Reply #19 on:** November 05, 2019, 12:43:11 AM »

Or you can do like the real pros - the Inuits did. Two layers of skin from seal or caribou. The inner layer with the fur facing inwards, the outer layer with the fur outwards. Did the trick on Greenland and other places where it's freakin' cold for a large chunk of the year. Might look slightly odd in an urban or office environment, but hey - what does one not do to stay warm in the winter?

Linea_Norway · « **Reply #20 on:** November 05, 2019, 01:48:15 AM »

When it is really cold, I just use more than one long johns. I have a 3/4 one that come just under my knees to keep my hips extra warm. And a long one on top of that for the whole legs. And sometimes a third long one, if it is really cold.

I need to warm an extra pair of trousers when the temp is below -8C. When I used to walk to the train station, I use to put rain trousers over my normal trousers. Those were easy to take off when going on the warm train. But as long as you stay outside, something under your trousers might be more convenient.

Protect yourself against the wind chill. Wind tight trousers and jacket, something around your neck, a woolen hat, gloves. A jacket with zippers under the arm pits give you the option to open up when it gets warmer. Bring along a warm down jacket in case you want to sit down somewhere, and a foam plate to sit on. Warm tea in a thermo bottle will also be nice.

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Author Topic: Really amazing long underwear? (Read 2809 times)