Thermal Underwear

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Here's one from left field :roll:
The missus is a bit concerned that the night time temps around Alice and other areas that we visit during the GTG and in the Simpson on the way back may drop to zero and further and she wants to ensure that she and the daughter are warm enough.
Someone has suggested that we invest in a set of thermal undies to keep the chills away.
Now I have always been of the opinion that long johns have always been the chosen apparel for the Beverley Hillbillys and alpine climbers/skiers etc so I am a bit ignorant of the finer points in choosing a set of drawers :?
My dilema is this: On having a look on fleabay I was confronted with the choice of either wool blend or 100% polypropylene so my question is this.
What do people in the know consider to be the better one to keep warm?
Any replies offering to look into my wifes undies for me will be sent a picture of Granny Clampett in hers :P

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Thermal Underwear

As it will cold but not really cold I'd get a good set of poly thermals however if you want the best get these http://www.icebreaker.com

BTW they're not pretty but it's better than being cold :lol:

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Re: Thermal Underwear

Who cares about not being pretty :lol: Do they still have the flap at the back :?:

[ntp Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close ntp]

Re: Thermal Underwear

The missus is a bit concerned that the night time temps around Alice and other areas that we visit during the GTG and in the Simpson on the way back may drop to zero and further and she wants to ensure that she and the daughter are warm enough.

Dobbo... you can be certain the overnight temperatures will get down to freezing. It is already reaching 3-4 degrees overnight in the Centre!

Perhaps one of these:

MagicComfort MH25B
Universal Electric Blanket
12-volt Electric Blanket with two heating stages
Integrated temperature guard
Strain-relieved connection cable

Two heating stages:
Stage I = pleasant permanent heat
Stage II = heat-up
Material:
Easy-care micro velour fleece, 100% polyester
Operating voltage 12 volts from cigarette lighter socket
Capacity
Stage I: 20 watts
Stage II: 45 watts

[WizudOfOz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close WizudOfOz]

Re: Thermal Underwear

I can vouch for the polyprop jobbies. They work very well at wicking perspiration away from your body & keeping you warm.

I wear a set under my drysuit when cave diving & wouldn't be without them. Also used them under track/cargo pants/top whilst on a cave diving trip in the Nullarbor a few years ago. We had temps below zero some nights & they provided that needed extra layer.

Cheers

Craig

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Re: Thermal Underwear

Hey Dobbo, your wife is right to be concerned about being too cold. Being uprepared for the cold makes for a miserable time.

We used to live in a pretty cold climate... with months below freezing and the windchill way below that. Instead of hosing the lawn, I used to hose our pond to get a nice smooth surface for each night's ice-skating. It was chilly . Being born and bred QLD'ers, we had a lot to learn about dealing with cold weather.

In the thermal underwear stakes, whilst there is a degree of good, better and best, with pricing to match, I've personally found it's not necessary to buy the most expensive. It is more important to buy quality and plan on layering your garments. I should emphasise, avoid the really cheap stuff but there's no need to shoot for the stars.

Most important is to plan on 3 layers of clothing:

1. Thermal underwear that breathes well and sits close to the skin - very snug.[/*:m:1510pkw7]
2. Next layer can be pretty light and easy, T-Shirts or long-sleeved skivvys are great up-top. Jeans or track-suit for the legs. I should point out that jeans are not a thermal garment. If jeans are your outer layer, you might be disappointed.[/*:m:1510pkw7]
3. Finally the outer layer, which should be some form of wind-cheater, fleecy jackets etc. Snowboard jackets/pants are loose fitting and very comfortable even when you're not on the slopes. Often times, my legs just need two layers (I skip layer-2).[/*:m:1510pkw7]

Socks with a wool blend are wonderful. My daughter likes wearing a cotton pair then pulling on a woollen pair over them.

Scarves and neck gaitors make for an especially comfy cosy feeling in the coldest, windiest days.

There's a saying... if your feet are cold, put on a hat. You lose most body heat through your head, so beanies or similar are a must.

Another saying... it's much tougher getting warm then staying warm. The message is be warm before getting into your sleeping bag at night and when you wake up in cold weather, get straight back into your 3-layers. As the day warms up, peel them away.

Finally don't forget the gloves. Buy for comfort and versatility... you should at least be able to handle a coffee mug with gloved hand. You can always shove a thinly-gloved hand into a jacket pocket if it's especially cold.

Apologies for the long response... once started it just kept on coming . Most lessons have been learnt the hard way :shock:.

Cheers,
LFaR.

[mav Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close mav]

Re: Thermal Underwear

This is not a post to scare anyone but the nightime temps will drop very quickly at this time of year out here. Even more so when you consider that a lot of our campgrounds are in valleys so the cold air decends down into the valleys. I would not be surprised to have temps reaching well below zero at Ross River campground during the early morning timeframe around 4 am.

If you check this link it will provide you with the temps at my house in Alice, you can select dates individually or weekly or monthly or yearly to get max and mins etc:

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstat ... span=month

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Re: Thermal Underwear

I've got two sets of thermal underwear for the snow and Tasmania trips. Polypro and Icebreaker. Poly is definitely warmer, but it does go stinky sooner.

Layering is the go. If you wake up cold in your sleeping bag, do some sit-ups in it. Surprising how quick that warms you up.

Last tip: You risk getting cold soon after you stop doing something active, so put on the extra warm stuff as soon as you stop and supplement your body heat with warm drink and some extra energy food. It's easier to stay warm than to get warm.

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Thermal Underwear

May not be particularly relevant for the GTG but after growing up in Tas you soon find out that poly is warmer until it gets wet. Wool will keep warm (maybe not AS warm) even if it is soaking. So if you go poly, make sure you have a decent waterproof coat (Gore tex or similar) if it's raining or you're up to your eyeballs in mud...not too likely for you guys :roll:

[Mrs Two+Four Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mrs Two+Four]

Re: Thermal Underwear

My vote is for polyies. I got a set when our daughter and myself went on a 32km hike with the scouts. It got to -4.4 over night on the Bibblemun, the only part of me that was cold was my nose.

[BIG BRUCE Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BIG BRUCE]

Re: Thermal Underwear

I use poly when it's really cold ,like this twork trip to Mt Read Tas 4-5 weeks ago .

[longdog Member Find all posts View Profile Close longdog]

Re: Thermal Underwear

Set of thermals: $30.00

Convincing the missus to shed the thermals for some pushups - priceless!

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Re: Thermal Underwear

No push ups in our tent, the 11 year old rapidly growing contraceptive device will see to that :cry:
Might have to see if I can scam a sleepover or two for her in another families tent or camper :wink:

[esie Member Find all posts View Profile Close esie]

Re: Thermal Underwear

I was in a Kathmandu store yesterday to buy some thermals. I ended up buying polypro as they are primarily for under our motorcycle leathers, helps keep the body heat in when riding at stupid am time! Kathmandu are having a sale for Summit Club members, which you can join then and there at the shop and have the discount applied. They are selling two garments for one at the moment, so you can get a top and long john for $44. They have a good range of short and long sleeve tops in all sorts of sizes (incl. extra small to fit the kids) and colours, for both men and women. http://www.kathmandu.com.au/Mens/Thermals.htm

Aldi are also stocking thermals on sale at the moment. http://www.aldi.com.au/au/html/offers/2827_8494.htm

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Re: Thermal Underwear

Dobbo: it is not just the cold in the desert [bloody cold] but the wind that goes with it and cuts through you. All of the comments about thermals are true. Polypro-warm,cheap,smelly but quick drying. Wool-warmer,much dearer,NOT itchy,and take a lot longer to get smelly and longer to dry. Having used both I prefer wool but if it is not going to be used a lot it may not be worth it. What WILL be worth it is WINDPROOF clothing and here cheap is ok provided you aren't doing a lot of exercise eg. sitting around the fire[but beware of flames and nylon gear]. Be warm and enjoy: it will be freezing and windy in the centre in June /July. Neil