Synthetic Silk

Synthetic Silk

best material for thermal underwear?

Trying to buy thermal underwear for really cold winter weather, what kind of material really keep you warm? Wool, cotton, silk, cashmere or synthetic material? Which is the kind that will not cause itchness?

Second vote for under-armour, my brother who is insane...I mean --a hobby marathon runner wears this when running in cold weather. He swears by it. He also dresses in at least four layers, with a water and windproof nylon layer as the last layer.

The secret to staying warm isn't bulk, it's trapping body heat while allowing the body to breath. Wetness will make you cold, so you need to dress in layers and the bottom layer can't be allowed to hold in perspiration.

On to the fibers, extra fine virgin wool is soft and not scratchy and can be used for thermal undies. Good non scratchy wool is expensive and sold by outfitters for winter hiking and mountain climbing. There are special knits of silk used to make wick-away thermal under-layers for winter camping mountaineering, extreme skiers and others who need the lightest weight garments available. Waffle knit cotton is an old favourite, however, once cotton is wet with perspiration it stays wet, becomes clammy and can make you feel colder rather than warmer. Cotton blended with high tech synthetics eliminates sogginess.

In extreme weather conditions, modern synthetics perform far better than natural fiber. The fibers are designed to be light, warm, soft, itch free, they don't get soggy when you sweat, and they allow you to stay warm and dry. If you will be outdoors in winter for many hours a day, then be prepared to invest in good quality undergarments and you can stay toasty warm all winter no matter what. And remember: under-armour and layers that trap body heat!