long underwear recommendations?

March 11, 2024 12:39 AM

As it says above. I live in an often cool climate. I've always been prone to feeling chilly. And my workplace seems committed to using all the money they save going cheap on heat in winter by cranking the AC in summer. So, yeah, I need some new long underwears....

Ideal criteria:

- Soft on the skin

- Will wash up decently without shrinking that much

- Reasonably priced

- Nothing too extreme - I'm not exploring the Arctic or anything, just trying to keep warm at my desk and such

Thanks in advance.

posted by 5Q7 to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (21 answers total)

I bought this merino wool base layer a few months ago and love it:

Merino Protect 100% Merino Wool Base Layer Women Thermals Long Sleeve Shirt Soft Lightweight Undershirt Top for Travel Hiking https://a.co/d/a45fgYV

Merino Protect 100% Merino Wool Leggings Womens Thermal Underwear Soft Base Layer Long Johns for Hiking Winter Sports https://a.co/d/0sGtyUK
posted by Jacqueline at 12:45 AM on March 11 [2 favorites]

Uniqlo’s Heat Tech range
posted by poxandplague at 3:18 AM on March 11 [16 favorites]

Seconding Uniqlo heat-tech. It's very cheap, and it's wearable enough that you can put it under basically anything comfortably and wear it all day. It's not an understatement to say that Japan more or less "runs on heat-tech" for a good 3-4 months of the year.
posted by etealuear_crushue at 3:23 AM on March 11 [3 favorites]

Merino is pretty reasonably priced. Patagonia is probably on the higher end of the price range, but they also have different weights of layerwear depending on your climate situation and needs.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 3:43 AM on March 11

Silk is the way to go...When I worked half a week, every week in Eastern Connecticut thru the winter, my boss purchased me some silk long johns and tops. They were fantastic. Very lightweight, wicks beautifully and didn't break the bank. Plus it's silk. Lands End has some reasonably priced, and L L Bean has some slightly more expensive. I would hand wash them, wrong them out and they would be dry very quick.
posted by Czjewel at 3:59 AM on March 11 [2 favorites]

+1 for Uniqlo Heat Tech. There's HT Extra Warm and HT Ultra Warm too.

The marketing suggests it has unique and magical properties, which isn't really true. But it is genuinely warm, lightweight, soft, wearable, cheap and pretty durable. Mine has definitely paid for itself in lower heating bills.
posted by Klipspringer at 4:27 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]

I agree with silk. I wash my LL Bean silks in a mesh bag with my cold-water laundry on a regular cycle and air dry them.
posted by jgirl at 4:59 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]

merino wool is the only way to go.
posted by terrapin at 5:39 AM on March 11 [2 favorites]

I have a couple pieces of Under Armour in different weights. My pants actually fit better with them on and you don't feel horribly hot if things warm up. They dry almost instantly too.
posted by BibiRose at 5:41 AM on March 11

I think your three best options are Uniqlo Heat Tech, merino, or silk. I’d say the main differences are:

Heat Tech: thin, soft, inexpensive, synthetic. Probably the least temperature regulating of the three (ie, you’re most likely to get overheated in it)

Merino: thicker tho not bulky, mid priced, can be worn several times before needing to be washed, not as soft/ can be slightly itchy if you have sensitive skin - personally I can wear merino as a base layer on my legs, but not on my torso. Probably the best at temperature regulating of the three materials.

Silk: Very thin, very soft/smooth, usually more expensive, temperature regulating

All three options can usually be machine washed (cold, use a mesh laundry bag to protect from snags) and should be hung to dry.
posted by maleficent at 6:23 AM on March 11 [4 favorites]

I loooove Icebreaker's merino underwear, they are comfy and do an excellent job of managing moisture. Their socks are the only ones that keep my feet comfy and dry in any weather. On the synthetic side I find Helly Hansen's to be a great deal. Easier to maintain but sometimes a little too warm.
posted by ddaavviidd at 6:46 AM on March 11

I know this isn't long underwear and I don't know the dress code at your workplace, but one thing you might consider is flannel lined jeans. Duluth Trading has them for men and women. Duluth's clothing tends to be pricey, but they last quite a long time.
Beyond the merino recommendations, always dress in layers, plus consider a hat and fingerless gloves. The latter two help a LOT in keeping you warmer.
posted by plinth at 6:51 AM on March 11

One thing I like a lot about HeatTech is that it comes in a lot of different necklines - I mostly go for the scoop neck because I can wear it under pretty much anything without it showing. With the more "sport" oriented brands you're often limited to crew neck or turtleneck.
posted by mskyle at 6:55 AM on March 11 [2 favorites]

If you want soft and affordable, it's hard to beat Cuddl Duds comfortwear or softwear. I personally wear merino from SmartWool or 32 Degrees, but it's a little scratchy. I like wool for its less stinky qualities, but you asked for soft and affordable.
posted by advicepig at 7:03 AM on March 11 [2 favorites]

I should add that I like the Uniqlo stuff, but they don't have a store near us, also not as soft as Cuddl Duds.
posted by advicepig at 7:04 AM on March 11 [1 favorite]

nthing Uniqlo — they have a wide range of base layers in different materials, different styles and different price points (all pretty affordable).
posted by mekily at 7:13 AM on March 11

32 Degrees "Heat" long underwear/base layers at the company site, Costco.com, and elsewhere, is soft and very affordable. Not as warm as merino wool and other options, but I think it's appropriate for layering under business wear in chilly offices.
posted by Iris Gambol at 8:41 AM on March 11 [4 favorites]

Terramar Cloud Nine is my favorite. Super comfortable yet also sturdy; mine have lasted over 15 years with daily wear in winter.
posted by metasarah at 10:29 AM on March 11

I used to buy the heaviest weight wintersilks (rip) but switched to merino after they folded.

Those of you who had also bought these and switched to l l bean/lands end silks: how do they compare? It doesn't look like they have the same weights
posted by brujita at 3:47 PM on March 11

Gender / gender identity weren't specified in the question so if this doesn't apply just ignore it. My wife swears by Cuddl Duds (available at Kohl's, Penney's and some other retailers in addition to online) - they are not bulky but definitely keep her warm
posted by TimHare at 8:44 PM on March 11 [2 favorites]

We used to live in a house in Canada that was just too expensive to heat to "normal" temperatures.

I usually preferred the silks but they're really not that durable; the seams fail if you are at all careless putting them on/taking them off or even just pulling them down in the bathroom, and once the seams start to go, the weave itself begins to disintegrate. (Because the silk is extremely stretchy and the seams are not so much, the seam threads will break when overstretched.)

The double-layer cotton/wool blends and the waffle weave cottons are about the same amount of warming (very) but they're so, so bulky. I can't advise them when good synthetics exist now.

If you're in Canada, Mark's Work Wearhouse has a T-MAX brand that is reasonably affordable, warming and durable.

I would probably go with UNIQLO instead now that I have one nearby.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:04 AM on March 12