Thermal wear for hiking

What is thermal wear?

While hiking it's important that your body stays at the right temperature and that you stay dry. This helps prevent your body from cooling down and getting cold. When you're moving, you get warm. When you stand still, you cool down quickly. By wearing the right base layer, you make sure the heat you've produced by moving doesn't get lost right away, helping to keep the body warm. Thermal wear is, after underwear, the layer sitting closest to your skin. We're happy to give you more information about the different types of thermal wear.

Why wear thermal wear while hiking?

For years now, hikers and outdoor athletes have used the 3-layer system to decide what clothing to wear. The 3-layer system is mainly used for the upper body. The first layer is the base layer. Its purpose is to wick away sweat and keep the skin dry. This layer plays a big role in regulating body temperature. The second layer is the mid layer. This layer provides insulation and carries perspiration further towards the outside. The third layer is the outer layer. This layer offers protection against wind and rain. It's important that perspiration from the first two layers can keep being transported to the outside.

Thermal wear is often worn as the first layer, which, depending on the weather, can be a thermal shirt with long sleeves or short sleeves. Thermal wear keeps your body warm, or cool, and wicks away perspiration. When you're moving, you generate heat. Thermal wear retains this heat. This is because an insulating layer of air forms between your skin and the thermal wear. The thickness of the thermal wear and its fit determine the thickness of this insulating layer. The thicker the garment and the looser it fits, the better the thermal wear insulates.

For the legs, the 3-layer system isn't applied. Two layers are often enough here. Thermal trousers worn under hiking trousers offer you the comfort you need during your hike.

Which thermal wear to wear at which temperature?

You might not think of it right away, but thermal wear can be worn in both winter and summer. Where winter thermal wear mainly aims to retain warmth, summer thermal wear is mainly designed to wick away perspiration and keep your body cool. Winter thermal wear fits a bit looser around the body, so an insulating layer of air can form between the garment and the skin. Summer thermal wear, on the other hand, fits snugly against the body so perspiration is absorbed directly and then wicked away.

The choice of thermal wear depends on you as a person and the activity you'll be doing. Do you get warm quickly? Then don't put on thermal wear that's too thick. If it's cold and you're moving intensively, you can also sweat quite a bit. In that case too we advise against wearing overly thick thermal wear. Moisture management matters in these cases, and the thicker the thermal wear, the more the emphasis shifts to retaining warmth rather than wicking away moisture.

What material should outdoor thermal wear be made of?

At Plutosport.nl you'll find thermal wear for everyone, from young to old and for women and men alike. Thermal wear is often made from synthetic materials such as polyester, or from merino wool. The advantages of these materials are that they're lightweight and dry quickly. Merino wool has the added advantage that this material doesn't start to smell. Merino wool is naturally able to adapt to your body's climate. The wool cools you when you're warm and keeps your body warm when it's cold. Finally, thermal wear is elastic, so it fits smoothly around your body without hindering you, giving you plenty of freedom of movement.

Still have questions about thermal wear? Feel free to ask our customer service!