Choosing the best women’s thermal underwear requires a basic understanding of the types of thermal underwear on the market. Women’s thermal underwear comes in various fabrics, such as cotton, wool, and an assortment of fabric blends. Other considerations to keep in mind include the weight and usage specifications of the thermals.
Thermal underwear is most commonly worn during cold weather months. Those who enjoy camping in late fall or early spring may benefit from wearing thermal underwear to keep them warm at night and help take the chill off of early morning hikes. Athletes participating in cold weather sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, also use thermal underwear to protect their skin from the weather conditions.
Cotton women’s thermal underwear can provide an extra layer of warmth. Thermals made from cotton do not wick away moisture and are not ideal for women who will be involved in outdoor or indoor activities. Cotton is perfect for those looking to add an extra comfortable layer of warmth under other clothing.
Wool is perhaps the most common fabric fiber used for thermal underwear. Women’s thermal underwear made out of wool is more expensive than other fabrics. Wool thermal underwear provides warmth and also allows for moisture to be wicked away from the skin. The potential downside to purchasing women’s thermal underwear that is made of wool or a wool-blend is that the item will take longer to dry than many of the other thermals on the market.
Fabric blends also offer attractive benefits. Some women’s thermal underwear is a blend of spandex, wool, and polyester. This allows for comfort, warmth, and optimum moisture control. In addition, thermals made of fabric blends often contain odor and wetness control systems for maximum comfort.
Women’s thermal underwear comes in a variety of weights. Each weight corresponds with specific activity levels and uses. Lightweight fabric is best for those participating in high level activities and should not be used in extreme cold. Heavy weight fabric, also referred to as expedition weight by some manufacturers, is best for extreme cold. Most consumers will be best served by a mid-weight fabric.
Those looking to purchase women’s thermal underwear also need to keep in mind other performance and decorative aspects available in thermal underwear design. Some thermal shirts will have thumb holes to help keep the arm sleeve in place and prevent it from rolling up under other clothing. Other design aspects to keep in mind include the type of neckline and any fasteners or zippers that may interfere with other clothing.