Thermals?

The ECWCS SIlk Weight thermals are phenomenal.

The warmth to weight/bulk ratio is much better than the older thick polypro underwear.
 
I was gifted the underarmour level 2 thermals a couple years ago. At nearly $60.00 per piece they are more than I would spend normally. However I have been out and about two winters in them and they work as advertised.

I've had to take them off so I didn't get too sweaty and make things worse.

If ya got the $$ they are a good investment.
 
Try polartec thermals. You can find them at Cabelas. They have 3 diffrent weights IIRC. I have no choice at work and have to often remain out in any weather. Polartec IMO is fanfreakingtastic!

A few weeks back I went cave camping the temps were in the low 30's. I was wearing Polartec tops and bottoms and was too hot in my sleeping bag. I had to open up a few times to cool down. Cooling off was easy with those temps.
 
I'm partial to SmartWool base layers. If you look around closely, you can find them a lot cheaper than retail.
 
I have the under armour level 3 pants and I love them. They keep me plenty warm and wind won't pass easily through them. I also have smart wool and have been happy with them also. Ive heard that Patigonia is the cats meow though bit out of my price range.
 
Those are all great thermals, but I have had good luck with the el cheapo polypropylene types at Wally World and got them a lot cheaper than the name brand kinds.
 
I got stuff from Duofold, REI, Patagonia, and 5.11. They all work. The Duofold brand I wore throughout my Army career including 3 years in southern Germany and they never let me down. Duofold is usually cheaper than the rest. Duofold also makes union suits.
http://www.duofold.com/
 
As others have indicated, the ECWCS fleece is Polartec fabric and comparable to Patagonia fleece. The Gen III level 2 drawers, for example, are the same Polartec grid fleece used by Patagonia's R1 fleece pants ($60 more).
 
vermillion8604 said:
What's a really good pair of thermals?
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You're questions a bit ambiguous, and I’m sorry that I don’t know more about you to give accurate advice, so I’ll have to stick with my own experience.

I only wear wool. This comes after years (I’m 46 and one half) of going back and forth between wool and synthetics. I cannot wear the synthetics because I perspire a lot whenever I exert myself. Hence, I quickly overwhelm the manmade fibers. I don’t mind synthetics and fleece while I’m just sitting still, but when I sweat, they get quite itchy on me. They feel warm as soon as I put them on, but if I do anything at all, I’m quickly overheated, I get soppy wet, and the cold sets in. Odd how synthetics itch me, but I’m ok with most wool.

Since going back to wool about six or seven years ago, I was quickly reminded why I used to wear it. It deals with my perspiration well. Please note, I’m quite new to this bushcraft stuff. I still call it by something other than bushcraft. At any rate, I am primarily a cyclist in the bush. I cycle in the Appalachians of Pennsylvania on old railroad beds through all four seasons. I sometimes stop and sit for hours halfway through the ride, so this is what I’m basing my experience on. In other words, I do what every survivalist says is a no no. I go out, get super sweaty by exercising, and then I rest in below freezing weather. So far, with treatment like this, wool’s been the only fabric that’s able to perform well, so I’d recommend some merino wool long johns.

Unfortunately, it’s more expensive. I just bought some of the cheap stuff, and it was 40 – 45 dollars. It’s also a bit delicate. It’s got to be gingerly put on similar to a pair of women’s panty hose. I buy the stuff skintight because I want it to wick. For now, I’m using the Terramar woolskins base layer. My Terramar’s have developed a few rips here and there, but nothing unusual considering I get stuck by nasty thorn bushes quite a lot when I’m dressed lightly. Terramar’s always hold their repairs for me when I stitch them up. They’re made in China.

After the base layer of lightweight merino wool, I wear “Wool Power” thermals in the 200-gram weight. That right there keeps me comfy well into the low 30s while cycling or sitting. They also make 400-gram as well as higher weight fabrics. Wool Power’s thermals have a terrycloth weave, they’re made in Sweden, and it’s quite expensive.

I’ve cycled and trekked about in the woods with temperatures down to –20 on occasion and 0 Fahrenheit quite often. I always stop along the way and poke around in the woods or sometimes I just sit and watch stuff happen in the bush after getting very sweaty.

I also wear merino wool boxer briefs year round, and in the summertime, I wear kaki 100% merino wool tee shirts. They keep me cool when it’s hot. For me, wool’s the only material that I’ve found that maintains homeostasis just like it was my own natural hair, which I have little of... Thin wool shirts keep me comfy in 60-degree weather up into the 90s. For me, wool seems to have a 30 – 50 degree comfort range. With the thin base layer and an outer wind breaking shell, I’m comfy in the heat of home and also outside in lower 40-degree weather.

I’m sorry that I’m so verbose, but I like to explain what gear I use, how I use it, and what my level of experience is.
 
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i'll second the llbean cresta wool baselayers. after having tried many others, wool is all i'll wear anymore. i use to own a couple pair of the terramar wool baselayers, but as cheap'n'squeaky mentioned, the are a bit fragile. the pants mostly, have holes and have become threadbare. i use them as backups and they still work, just not as well and not pretty. the llbean cresta wool base layers seem to be better quality.
 
cheap'n'squeaky said:
I only wear wool. This comes after years (I’m 46 and one half) of going back and forth between wool and synthetics. I cannot wear the synthetics because I perspire a lot whenever I exert myself. Hence, I quickly overwhelm the manmade fibers.
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+1!

I have replaced all of my synthetic stuff (and I have amassed a ton of it) in favor of merino this year and am much more comfortable. I am using Minus 33 brand tops, bottoms and neck gaiter this winter and have been very happy with it's performance. The midweight stuff is good down to 30 degrees and I switch to the expedition weight top for sub-freezing temps.

Wool, IMO, offers better breathability, better heat retention when wet, and different thicknesses for different weather. I find that I do not need to layer up or down as often with wool also.

ETA: Synthetics are fine for me if I'm stationary but are a no-go as soon as I start moving much. I'll still use them (synthetics) around camp or whatever because I have them but I'm pretty convinced that wool is king now.
 
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All I wear is wool. for durability and comfort I wear the Stanfields 80/20 heavyweights. I get em from davidmorgan.com only place in the US I've found that carries them.

I've tried the synthetics they all make me feel like I'm wrapped in a plastic bag.
 
Gurthy said:
+1!

I have replaced all of my synthetic stuff (and I have amassed a ton of it) in favor of merino this year and am much more comfortable. I am using Minus 33 brand tops, bottoms and neck gaiter this winter and have been very happy with it's performance. The midweight stuff is good down to 30 degrees and I switch to the expedition weight top for sub-freezing temps.

Wool, IMO, offers better breathability, better heat retention when wet, and different thicknesses for different weather. I find that I do not need to layer up or down as often with wool also.

ETA: Synthetics are fine for me if I'm stationary but are a no-go as soon as I start moving much. I'll still use them (synthetics) around camp or whatever because I have them but I'm pretty convinced that wool is king now.
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I'm in the same boat. Used a lot of synthetic when I was in the military and never realized how much it made me itch until this year I tried a pair of Flson Medium weight long johns. I wore this as a base layer all winter and was fine in jeans and a flannel shirt (working outside/construction) in temps from 50 degrees down to about 15 degrees. I was warm working hard or just standing around and never got the clammy feeling I had with synthetics. 100% wool for me from now on.
 
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