For people who have never before worn thermal underwear, one of the biggest questions before ordering is how to know you are getting the right fit. Or for those who are wearing it for the first time, you may become concerned that you have potentially ordered it a bit too small. Thermal underwear functions a bit differently than most clothing it terms of how it fits your body.
Should Thermal Underwear be Tight or Loose?
This is the classic question and something many people do not understand before trying on thermals for the first time. When you first wear thermals, you may be concerned about how tight they feel against your body. However, this is how thermal underwear is supposed to fit.
Most of the things we wear to keep us warm in cold weather achieve this by adding thickness. These thick layers help keep the cold out. However, thermal underwear is quite thin. It succeeds by optimizing the amount of heat that our body retains. For this to work, it must be tight.
Just How Tight Should Thermal Underwear Be?
In many ways, thermal underwear should serve as a second skin. It should tightly hug your body. This allows for even distribution of your body heat, keeping all of your body warm. It is particularly important to ensure that your thermals are tight at the waist, neck, wrists, and ankles in order to prevent body heat from escaping.
However, thermal underwear should never feel uncomfortable. If your thermal underwear feels uncomfortable, you’ve likely gotten a size too small. In fact, thermal underwear should feel extremely comfortable. If it is tight and comfortable, you know you’re wearing it right.
Should Thermal Underwear Ever Be Loose?
If you look online, you see lots of information about how important it is for thermal underwear to be tight-fitting. However, should thermal underwear ever be loose? The reality is that thermal underwear should be loose in very specific situations.
For example, if you are wearing thermal underwear on a day that is slightly cold but also has a moderate high temperature, loose fitting thermals can be the way to go. For example, if the low temperature is in the 20s or 30s and the highs are in the 50s and 60s, loose fitting thermals can provide just enough insulation to keep you warm while also preventing you from getting too hot during the day.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to thermal underwear, tight is generally ideal. You want your thermal underwear to comfortably hug your body. This allows it to work optimally. Pay particular attention to openings to make sure they are tight as this will allow it to best retain your body heat. With the proper tightness, you can enjoy the cold weather while staying toasty!
