Best long underwear?

[Gardenarian]

Any suggestions on quality, comfortable, affordable, and warm long underwear?

Wool make me very itchy, but I don't care for the feel of polyester on my skin either (though there are certainly types I haven't tried.)

When I've lived in a cold climate before, I found myself only using the pants part - it's easy enough to layer up on top.

While I'm at it, does anyone have a less expensive source for Smartwool socks?

[JaneV2.0]

I think the thread on PJs has long underwear recommendations.

[JaneV2.0]

On average (according to Wikipedia), Ashland temperatures range from 38 degrees to 66--slightly colder than SF on the cold side, so you may only need the cold weather gear a couple of days each year. As the planet warms, I find I rarely need a coat.

[Miss Cellane]

On average (according to Wikipedia), Ashland temperatures range from 38 degrees to 66--slightly colder than SF on the cold side, so you may only need the cold weather gear a couple of days each year. As the planet warms, I find I rarely need a coat.


The planet as a whole may be warming, but last winter was the coldest in a long time in New England.

Where are you going to wear the long underwear? At home, to help keep the heating bill down, or outdoors, to keep from freezing during hikes, yard work, etc.?

At home, I'd suggest either the Cuddleduds from the pajama thread, or silk longjohns. The way you stay warm is to trap air around your body. Air doesn't conduct heat well, so lots of air pockets will help to keep you warmer. So silk or Cuddleduds as a base layer, then a shirt, then a sweater and long pants and you should be fine. A throw for when you are sitting down for a longer period of time is also helpful. Wool sweaters are great, much better than cotton or acrylic. Fleece pullovers or jackets also work. But think several thin layers rather than one great big thick layer.

Outdoors, you'd want something better at wicking away sweat. That's where the wool and polyester come in. I'm with you on the polyester. But have you tried some of the new washable wools coming out of New Zealand and Australia? Shetland wool is scratchy, but the finer merino wools don't bother me at all. But they are expensive.

[Gardenarian]

I have it on good authority (new neighbors) that the temperature frequently approaches zero, and there are usually a couple of weeks in the winter where it scarcely rises above freezing.

In addition, I'm going to be taking up skiing again, and will also want to be exploring the nearby mountains - the temperature drops rapidly with altitude.

Be prepared! :)

[JaneV2.0]

There are also silk-lined wool long johns that are nice and toasty.

[Tradd]

The Cuddl Duds Warm Essentials at Target are great. I've had the Active wear synthetic ones for the past two winters. The bottoms are great to wear under my jeans on cold days. I do have one top, but I'd only wear that at home when it was really cold (I keep the heat at 58-60F all winter long) under other layers. I'd be so toasty in bed that I'd end up pulling it off partway through the night (I tend to run hot).

[lessisbest]

You might want to take a look at these from the Vermont Country Store:
http://www.vermontcountrystore.com/store/jump/productDetail/53753?creative=5856134411&device=c&matchtype={MatchType}

[Rogar]

I'm a fan of Smartwool, especially in humid climates or when doing sweat inducing excersize. In my opinion it insulates better than some of the synthetics when it's damp. It's a little pricey. If you find wool itchy you might be surprised how soft it is, although there is a hint of scratchiness to it. Smartwool is basically merino wool. REI has some merino wool socks that are slightly cheaper. I have a couple of pairs of Darned Tough socks which are basically made of merino wool. They are actually a little more expensive than Smartwool, but many are are guaranteed not to wear out for life. I've had mine for a couple of years and they show no signs of wear.

[kib]

I love Smartwool too. I've also got some off-brand bottoms ... 33 Degrees or something like that, which are wool blend, and seem to do as good a job for a lot less money. One fiber I definitely wouldn't recommend for long johns is cotton. I like the feel of silk but have never found them to be very warm, but they would make a good base layer with something else on top if you can't deal with wool. (Also agree with Rogar on that though, Merino is a lot less itchy than you'd think.)

ETA: I've gotten some good deals from Sierra Trading Post for Smartwool on clearance.

[profnot]

Wintersilks. Pricey now but good prices off season, like in late spring and early summer.

Yes, you can find warmer than silk. But silk is very thin so I can wear them under my office pants.

When they are no longer fit to wear in the daytime, used Wintersilks become PJs for travel. They take up almost no room in a suitcase. And they double as under-garment warmers during the day when you encounter unseasonably cold weather.

(I traveled Venice and Florence Italy one November on the advice of a frugal friend. Temps were record low that fall. I was COLD. Having silk pjs under clothes helped lots. So did a bump of Frangelico in my hot chocolate in the afternoon.)

Wintersilks.com

[maryellen]

I live in a pretty cold climate & wear long underwear a lot. I love thin silk for zero added bulk, but for durability - I spend more time in the synthetics by Patagonia, REI, Columbia Sportswear. Even merino wool is a little itchy for me, but my husband lives in it. I recently found a best price on smart wool socks at socksaddict.com.

[awakenedsoul]

I knit my own socks out of alpaca and merino wool. I love them! I wear Pashmina leggings in the cold season for warmth. I found them on line. I also bought a thin XSmall cashmere sweater at T.J. Maxx on clearance several years ago. I wear it as a liner. It was only $15.00.
I'm a big fan of merino wool, too. I also love alpaca. It's super soft, and warmer than cashmere...

[Rosemary]

I like silk long underwear for everyday use in winter (I live in a very cold climate). I can wear it indoors without sweating, and it eases the transition from inside to outside. If I will be outside more I prefer a wool blend or merino wool. While the synthetics are warm, they aren't really thinner than nice merino wool and they definitely make me sweat more.

[Gardenarian]

I'm going to check out the Target stuff first - I've been looking at silk and it gets pretty pricey.
I've had a problem with knit silk smelling in the past - not from me! It just smelled funny, like fish. But I'll also take a look at REI as I go drive by there once a week.

Thanks for the link for the socks, maryellen! (and welcome to the forum :)

[Billy Maxwell]

Today's winter socks and gloves, just say NO. Saying that not everyone is the same temp. wise.
Merino wool for socks, just a bad idea all over. Merino wool is fine for about three hours.
Then it is time to change my wet feet. I make my own socks and mittens on the treadle sewing machine from wool cloth.

We joked at Patagonia Outlet in Dillon, Montana that we were outdoor people, working indoors, to sell outdoor clothing to people who live indoors.

Wool cloth does not have to be blanket weight unless you are a homeless person during an ice age. The wool duffle (or duffel) known as Eco wool cloth from Victor's Mill in Canada or bunting from Hainsworth is a long term old solution throughout Canada that has not gone away. However, the cheapest and crappiest wool cloth (Woolrich, Pendleton, thrift store fabrics) is still the bomb over EVERY sock on the market.
From 8 up to 23 oz cloth will work.

What is good for the feet goes for the hands too. Mittens that is. Don't use gloves in winter.

I sew my socks into a side seam moccasins with a 3" cuff on the top. The whole deal is sewn on the machine and turn inside out. To get the sock like slip on. I cut old sock elastic cuffs into four pieces. Each vertical piece I sew between the outside tongue edge and the cuff. I can do nearly all of it on the machine.

http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/common/research_access.cfm?database=north
Billy Maxwell
Great Falls, Montana

[Billy Maxwell]

Best quality & priced silk wares I have found are items from:
http://www.dharmatrading.com/clothing/silk/silk-clothing-and-accessories.html?lnav=clothing_silk.html
Billy Maxwell
Great Falls, Montana

[Gardenarian]

So what you're saying is that woven wool is much warmer than knit wool?
Makes sense.
When I was a a kid in Minnesota we wore snowmobile boots that had very thick felted wool liners - the only things that could keep my feet warm in that weather!
I'm not a knitter, so I quite like the idea of sewing socks; I've made leather moccasins and it's pretty simple. I think the seams might be annoying without a pretty thick inner layer.

I've looked at the dharma trading company, but never bought from them. I'll take another look. Thanks - and welcome to the forum!

[Miss Cellane]

So what you're saying is that woven wool is much warmer than knit wool?


Not necessarily. It really depends on the type of wool and how it is woven/knitted. I'd say that most boiled wool is warmer than any other form of wool, being thicker and almost felted. But I wouldn't want boiled wool for long underwear. It's wool that has been knitted and then deliberately shrunken.

If you want to try sewing socks, look for material that has a little stretch. The thing about knitted socks is that the knit allows the material to bend and stretch with your foot as it flexes. With a woven material, you are going to need to add in ease to the sock, and then you may have an issue with the excess fabric wrinkling around your foot inside your shoe and maybe causing problems.

They make silk sock liners that would both help with the seams of woven socks and add some warmth.

Boiled wool might make good socks, although they'd be quite thick. But it has some stretch and movement and yet can be cut and sewn like woven cloth without unraveling.

The silk underwear is expensive, but if you buy a good brand, it should last a long time. I bought 4 tops and two bottoms about 15 years ago, and I am still wearing them. The only thing that has happened is that the tag fell off one of the shirts a week ago, and now I have to figure out which is the front and which is the back every time I put it one. Otherwise, they are pretty much as good as new.

[Molly]

I know you mentioned wool is itchy, but I would give the wool underwear from vermont country store some consideration. Its a little pricy, but I still have some garments from 30 years ago. They use merino wool, which many people tolerate well.

Cotton is not a good insulator. Silk did not work for me either. Only wool.