Functional underwear, also known as sports underwear, is the bottom layer of your layering system. It beds directly on the skin and is the first layer to absorb body moisture. This is where it can show what it's made of:
Functional underwear for men therefore differs from normal underwear in terms of its functionality. More specifically, it has three functions:
Thermal underwear is breathable if it absorbs body moisture and wicks it away to the outside. Otherwise, you would quickly feel soaking wet during sweaty activities. The damp underwear would stick to your body and cool you down. Did you know that an untrained person produces around 0.8 litres of sweat in one hour of sport, while a trained person produces 3 litres? Sweating is healthy. That' s why your clothing should be adjusted down to the baselayer.
Your body always wants to keep its temperature at 37 degrees, no matter what you're doing straight away. When you exert yourself during your outdoor activities, you sweat so that the evaporative cooling cools your skin. Good men's thermal underwear helps your body to always stay in the comfort zone of 37 degrees.
Winter sports pose completely different challenges for thermal underwear. Insulation against the cold is particularly important here. Ski underwear or thermal underwear is not only warming, but also breathable - so you stay dry. After all, nothing leads to a cold faster than wet underwear that sticks to your skin while you stand motionless on the lift or freeze in a cold chairlift.
Is natural merino wool or the versatile synthetic fiber the ideal choice? This question is not so light to answer. As is so often the case, the only answer is: it depends!
Merino wool has the great advantage that it keeps you warm even when damp. It can absorb up to 30 per cent of its own weight in moisture without feeling wet. Merino underwear is therefore ideal for stop-and-go sports. When you're skiing up the mountain, you're always stopping to catch your breath and enjoy the view. Merino underwear is recommended here as a base layer. It is also odour-neutral and smells fresh again the next day if you hang it up overnight.
Synthetic fibres can be produced specifically for a wide variety of requirements using appropriate spinning processes. Hollow fibres, bulky yarns, smooth or rough structures - all are possible. In addition, by combining polyester, polyamide and elastic yarns, a huge range of functions can be ensured in the yarn itself. Specialised machines use these yarns to produce seam-free, highly elasticated and quick-drying thermal underwear. So why look for an alternative? Synthetic fiber quickly smells unpleasant and should be washed after every strenuous effort. If this is not possible, then merino wool is your first choice.
How good that the advantages of both fibres can also be combined. At Transa, you'll find a quantity of styles made from a clever mix of different natural and synthetic fibres. This allows you to enjoy the natural warmth of nature while being supported by the functionality of synthetic fibres. Thermal underwear for men doesn't get any better than this.
(With the TransaCard always free of charge)