Wintersport Thermal wear
Should Thermal Clothing Fit Tightly?
When heading out for winter sports, it's important to wear the right clothing to stay warm and dry. The main function of thermal clothing is to maintain your body temperature, and it is worn closest to the skin after underwear. Therefore, it needs to effectively wick moisture away to prevent the body from cooling down and ensure you stay dry. Thermal clothing comes in the form of thermal shirts, thermal pants, or even a thermal set that includes both. Thermal shirts are available in both short and long sleeves, and thermal pants come in both short and long versions.
What Ski Clothing Do I Need?
The 3-layer system is designed as a foundation for dressing appropriately during winter sports. When you exert yourself, you warm up, but if you stop moving, you can cool down quickly. By dressing according to the 3-layer system, you are prepared for anything. Each layer has its own function:
- Layer 1: The base layer or underlayer: thermal clothing. This layer keeps you dry and ensures you feel warm or cool.
- Layer 2: The insulating layer or mid-layer: ski pullover. This layer retains warmth and wicks moisture away.
- Layer 3: The waterproof layer or outer layer: ski jacket. This layer protects you from rain, snow, and wind.
As the first layer, you can wear thermal clothing, which serves to keep your body warm or cool and to wick moisture away. Thermal clothing effectively retains existing body heat because there is air between your skin and the thermal underwear. The thicker the thermal underwear and the looser it fits around the body, the more air is retained, providing more warmth. Conversely, the thinner the thermal underwear and the tighter it fits, the more quickly sweat can be wicked away. Depending on the weather conditions and the activity you plan to do, choose the appropriate thermal underwear.
When Should I Wear Thermal Clothing?
You can wear thermal clothing year-round. In winter, thermal clothing keeps you warm and protects you from the cold. In summer, thermal clothing helps cool your body and keeps you feeling dry and comfortable. On a warm summer day, you lose a lot of moisture while moving, and thermal clothing provides a cooling effect. The thinner the thermal clothing and the tighter it fits, the more emphasis is placed on wicking away sweat. The thicker the thermal underwear and the looser it fits, the more emphasis is placed on retaining body heat.
Check the product descriptions of the thermal clothing to see if they are suitable for winter or summer wear. For your winter sports, opt for thermal clothing that excels at wicking away moisture and keeping your body warm.
What is Good Thermal Clothing?
Thermal clothing should be multifunctional. It needs to keep your body warm while also wicking moisture away to the next clothing layer. If winter sports underwear is too thick, it may not effectively wick away sweat, and as the clothing becomes damp, your body can cool down quickly after exertion. It's crucial that thermal clothing fits well to your body. Generally, thermal clothing is elastic, so it does not restrict your freedom of movement. Most thermal clothing is made from synthetic textiles. Synthetic fabrics absorb very little moisture and wick sweat away effectively. Additionally, these fabrics are lightweight, dry quickly, and retain their shape. Thermal clothing can also be made from merino wool, which is warm, non-itchy, insulating, and stays fresh-smelling.
Tip
Read the washing instructions on the care label inside the thermal clothing. It's important to wash thermal clothing according to these instructions to preserve its functions.