If you live in a place with chilly climate conditions, you probably rely on your home’s heating system to keep you warm 24/7. But sadly, it’s not free — and with gas prices at an all-time high, those monthly bills will only get higher. Luckily, your AC isn’t the only thing that can save you from freezing weather. There’s a much cheaper (and arguably more effective) solution — thermal underwear!
Thanks to its tight-fitting qualities, thermal underwear does a great job at retaining your body heat within a few millimeters of your skin rather than letting it dissipate into the air. This naturally keeps you warm throughout the day! Conserving your body heat allows you to stay warm even when you’re out and about. You even get to turn the AC down for some valuable energy savings! But all those benefits only come with the right choice of thermal underwear — which is why we’ve researched and handpicked some of the highest-rated thermal underwear in 2024 you can buy.
First up, we have the Thermajohn Thermal Underwear for men. Branded as Ultra Soft, it’s designed to be extra comfortable. The 92% polyester and 8% spandex material composition gives it superb flexibility and stretchability. You can conveniently move around without worrying about ripping it or feeling restricted. It comes in black, hunter green, charcoal, grey, white, and navy, so you have lots of colors to choose from.
The elastic waistband adds comfort and ensures a secure fit for men of all sizes. You don’t have to deal with buttons or zippers — just slip them on under your clothes, and you’re ready to go! With great moisture-wicking and odor control capabilities, these certainly deserve the top spot on this list.
Here’s another set of thermal underwear, courtesy of Thermajane. Designed for female wearers, this thermal underwear stands out from the crowd for its extraordinary softness. It’s one of the softest, smoothest and most comfortable sets of thermal underwear you could ever hope to wear, made from a great blend of polyester and spandex for comfort and elasticity. Available in over 10 different colors, this thermal underwear set is also fully machine washable and has clever moisture-wicking features to soak up sweat and prevent you from feeling sticky or sweaty after wearing the underwear for a while when you’re out and about.
Next up, we have the Rockey Thermal Underwear. If fighting the cold weather is your primary reason for getting some thermal wear, this one’s a promising choice. That’s because it has lots of positive feedback about how the fleece-lined fabric keeps them warm and comfy all day, whether indoors or outdoors. Thanks to its breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities, you don’t have to deal with that sweaty, clammy feeling.
The elastic seams also eliminate those awkward adjustments as the fabric never falls down or bunches up. Since they’re machine washable, you can freely throw them into your laundry after a long day of sweating. It’s available in many different colors and designs, so you can easily find something that matches your vibe!
At number three, we have the HEROBIKER Thermal Underwear, which stands out with a super affordable price tag! You get really good value for your money with a composition of 10% spandex and 90% ultra-soft polyester. As you’d expect from those materials, the lining feels silky soft on your skin and keeps you toasty even in very rough weather. It does a great job at checking the most important boxes like excellent moisture-wicking, tons of flexibility, all-day comfort, and lasting durability.
We love that despite being so breathable and lightweight, the thermal capabilities aren’t compromised, making this product a perfect fit for high-mobility activities like skiing. Its four-way stretch is specifically designed for maximum freedom of movement to ensure it doesn’t restrict you from any physical activity throughout the day.
If you’re after long-lasting quality, premium comfort, and cozy warmth — the WEERTI Thermal Underwear won’t disappoint you. It’s one of the best-performing products on some of the biggest online marketplaces, and people seem to love it. Everything about the design is optimized for convenience. For instance, it’s tagless to prevent those uncomfortable itches, has an elastic band for an easy fit-for-all approach, and even has a fly/pee-hole. It also features the brand’s Smart Scent Technology to keep odors away even when you’re out skiing all day!
It’s a squat-proof design with a four-way stretchability paired with a wool lining for top-notch breathability. The material composition is 92% soft polyester and 8% spandex with a fleece lining. The brand recommends ordering a size larger than the one you normally wear for an optimal fit and comfort. It’s available in black, charcoal, navy, and white — which isn’t the most diverse pallet but covers all the major shades.
Lastly, we have the TSLA Thermal Underwear. It offers countless color options to choose from, so if you’re someone who likes to match your thermal underwear with your outfit perfectly — this collection is worth a look! It features a unique mix of elastane fabric and polyester. You get lots of mobility and great moisture-wicking. In fact, it’s so comfy that it even doubles up as sleepwear!
With a four-way stretch design, you can conveniently move around and even squat in them without worrying about embarrassing rips in the fabric. But, just like the Weerti thermal underwear, it’s advisable to go for a slightly larger size with this one for the perfect fit.
With our top thermal underwear picks out of the way, let’s discuss the criteria we had in mind when we ranked these products from first to last. You should follow the same approach when you’re narrowing down the best option to spend your hard-earned money on!
Before we get into the technicalities of the material and quality, let’s talk about sizes — and how you can find the perfect “fit” for you (literally).
As a general rule of thumb, the right thermal underwear size provides firm support but won’t feel constrictive. Think of it as an insulating second layer of skin that goes right between your clothes and body. For warm conditions, it should be slightly loose to promote comfort, breathability, and moisture-wicking. In extremely cold weather (which is what most thermal underwear is purchased for), look for a snug fit that sticks to your skin and traps your body heat. Sizes marketed as “athletic fit” will be snug, while “relaxed” or “comfort” fits are designed to be relatively loose.
The fabric of your thermal underwear is the biggest determinant of its quality, thermal capabilities, comfort, flexibility, and even durability.
Thermal underwear comes in many different material variations. Here are some common ones and a description of what they’re good for.
Cotton thermal underwear isn’t ideal for cold conditions, as it can leave you feeling clammy and chilled. Since it absorbs and retains perspiration, it sorely lacks in the moisture-wicking department — making it the least preferred option overall.
Wool provides excellent moisture control and keeps you warm no matter how much you sweat, so it’s great for cold conditions.
Synthetic fabrics feature a mix of materials like spandex, polyester, nylon, and lycra, and it’s specially made for cold weather conditions. It’s the most popular type found in today’s markets and generally does a great job with heat retention and moisture-wicking.
Silk underwear is another promising option for indoor lounging and snowsports alike and even doubles as comfy sleepwear. Its only drawback is that it’s not the best at moisture transport.
Functionality is a blanket term for thermal underwear and involves looking at the following key qualities that directly impact your experience.
Warmth is often primarily what people buy thermal underwear for. If you’re in the market for the same reason, we’d recommend going with a heavyweight fabric made out of wool or a synthetic mixture like spandex and polyester to keep you dry and warm all day.
If you value your mobility — especially if you’re planning to do some fast-paced activities with your thermal underwear on — you’ll have prioritized stretchability as a key quality. Your best bet would be thermal suits with high elasticity, such as ones with a mix of spandex.
Moisture-wicking plays a key role in your overall comfort level and warmth by keeping you dry. Wool and synthetic fabric also win in this department, and cotton fails miserably.
No, thermal underwear is supposed to be directly in contact with your skin and acts as a second layer of insulation to retain your body heat. Everything else goes on top.
That varies from user to user, but synthetic fabric thermal underwear does a great job overall as it keeps you warm, wicks moisture, and offers free mobility. Merino wool is another promising material choice that provides similar benefits.
In cold conditions, snug-fitting thermal underwear is suitable for warmth. Similarly, loose thermals are better for hot weather.
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