Milline termiline aluspesu hoiab teid soojana ja juhib niiskuse ära: 3 põhilist nõuannet ja nippe eksperdilt

Sportmaster PRO ekspert

“What should thermal underwear for cold weather be, so that a person can engage in physical activity and feel comfort? What allows this layer to retain heat and cope with moisture drainage? How does it differ from ordinary underwear? To answer these questions, it is necessary to first understand the specifics of winter equipment in general.”

What should winter sports clothing be like?

In the cold season, clothing for outdoor training should consist of three layers:

• upper, protective layer of clothing (jacket and pants or overalls) – from wind, rain and snow;
• the middle, thermal layer of clothing (fleece jacket or sweater) – for insulation;
• the bottom, base layer of clothing (thermal underwear) – to retain heat and wick away moisture.

When we move actively, our body sweats. In the warm season, this is not a problem: moisture evaporates and cools the body at the same time.

In winter, clothing prevents the sweat from evaporating. It turns out that while we are moving, the heat generated by the body allows us to feel comfortable, but in case of stopping its production becomes less intense and the body covered with sweat starts to cool down.

The task of thermal underwear is to collect excess moisture and remove it in the form of vapor. In this way, the athlete’s skin stays dry even after intense exertion and he does not freeze. Synthetic fabrics cope with this best of all: they dry faster.

What to pay attention to when choosing thermal underwear?

1. Material

The key factor by which different models of thermal underwear differ from each other is the material from which they are made. In total, three main types can be distinguished: synthetic, natural and their combinations.

Synthetic – it is most often polypropylene and polyester with the addition of elastane or viscose. They best cope with the task of moisture removal and dry faster. If we talk about natural, we most often mean thermal underwear made of merino wool. Less often – from ordinary wool and cotton. Natural materials warm better, but dry slower.

In addition, synthetics are more wear-resistant, but absorb unpleasant odors. Variants of synthetics with the addition of natural fibers will combine the pros and cons of both options depending on the percentage composition.

In addition to moisture-wicking properties, the composition of the fabric affects its elasticity. For example, for snowboarding (it has high activity and a lot of movement), models with added elastane are better suited. Such thermal underwear will not stiffen movements.

2. Density

The density of natural fabrics is usually measured in grams per square meter, synthetic fabrics – by a conventional gradation (for example, light/warm/extra warm, i.e. “light/warm/extra warm”).

There is a simple logic here: the denser and thicker the thermal underwear, the better it warms. For winter sports, it is usually recommended to buy underwear with a density of 150 to 300 g/m²:

• up to 200 g/m² – lightweight – ideal for gentle winter and highly active riding;
• 200 to 250 g/m² – probably the most universal variant for the Russian climate, suitable for normal winter and medium level of sporting activity;
• 250 g/m² and above – for prolonged exposure to cold conditions, hard winters and/or low speed riding (e.g. if a person is taking their first steps in learning to snowboard).

3. Fit

To maximize the performance of your thermal underwear, you need to make sure that it fits as snugly as possible. The better the skin contact, the faster the fabric will dry. In addition, a snug fit prevents the material from twisting, creasing and squeezing the skin, which has a positive effect on the athlete’s comfort when skating.

It is important not to confuse fit and compression. In the first case, the fabric just sits tightly on the body, in the second case it improves blood circulation and supports muscles. Compression thermal underwear is great for snowboarding, especially if the track runs high in the mountains. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the appropriate marking on the label.

All these tips are basic. They relate to the choice of thermal underwear for different types of winter activities. of course, there are specifics. Let’s analyze it on the example of equipment for snowboarding and alpine skiing.

Tips for snowboarders and skiers

To decide what kind of thermal underwear (and other clothes) you should buy, it is important to determine in what conditions it will be used.

1. Climate of the ski resort. In Sochi, even in winter, the temperature on the piste can be around zero, while in Siberia or the Urals the temperature can be minus 35 degrees. In the first case, low-density thermal underwear will suffice, in the second case – high-density. Here it is also worth taking into account the height at which the track is located, so that, if necessary, you can decide to buy a compression model.
2. Thermoregulation. A factor that can be assessed solely subjectively. Pay attention to how comfortable you feel in winter in regular clothes. If even in severe frosts you have enough for comfort in an ordinary down jacket, you should not choose too dense thermal underwear: in it the body will sweat more, and the fabric will not be able to cope with its basic functions.
3. The rest of the clothing. So, for example, for freeride more often choose light jackets and pants, as well as not too warm middle layer. In this case, it is better that the thermal underwear is more dense. On the contrary, if we are talking about buying a warm ski suit, you can take a low-density version. If you realize that within one season you will be able to visit resorts or slopes with different climatic conditions, it may be worth taking a thermal underwear of medium density, and you can achieve the desired thermoregulation with the help of a middle layer, choosing a thicker fleece jacket for frost and a light “underdress” for comfortable temperatures.
4. Slope length and riding style. Snowboarders who prefer the aggressive nature of skiing will almost always have enough light thermal underwear: the abundance of movement and activity itself will keep the body warm. But it is important to always remember that the descent is followed by the ascent to the top – and during the minutes of calm on a leisurely elevator you can get cold, even if you are dressed in a polar explorer’s suit. It’s important to find a compromise and consider the time of ascent when buying equipment.

What else should a snowboarder consider?

Tightness and fit may be the most important, but they are not the only factors that affect an athlete’s comfort. Here are a few more chips and features of different models that you should pay attention to.

1. Length of the underpants. Ski boots and snowboard shoes are selected so that the pair fits as snugly as possible on the foot – to ensure maximum control of movements and protection from injury. Long pants, which in normal life we would tuck into the boot, can play a cruel joke with the athlete and cause discomfort. So it is better to give preference to 3/4 length models.
2. Cuffs. Unlike the pants, the sleeves of the jacket should better be long – so there is less chance that the snow will fall into the gap between the clothes and the glove. Ideally – look at models with cuffs with a slit for the thumb, but only if such a detail is not on the other layers of clothing.
3. Overalls. Thermal underwear, made in the form factor of a jumpsuit, will not let the fabric roll up on the back and expose the waist, as well as better copes with its main task – to keep warm and remove moisture. However, it is more difficult to put it on and take it off. It is better to think about it in advance.

Now you will definitely not miss with the choice of thermal underwear and can take into account the nuances dictated by the type of activity.