clothing

Question
hi glenn,

i do alot of long distance walking up here in canada in the winter. i need the warmest long johns. should i go with a polypropylene (which is really thin) or fleece (which is really thick) long john? they are both the same price.

thanks

sk

Answer
One of the most important layers you can have on in the winter is the base layer next to your skin. This should be fitted quite snugly (like a second skin). Polypropylene is the material used in Lifa brand underwear as a moisture wicking layer that helps transport perspiration off of the skin and also acts as a barrier in that it doesn't let the moisture come back in contact with the skin. To add an insulation factor to this material you would get the Lifa model labelled ProWool. This has an outside layer of wool specially woven so there are no fibre ends exposed that would cause discomfort. In extreme conditions I do use a microfibre polyester fleece. This has some of the same characteristics as polypropylene but has a saturation point lower than that product so it isn't good for very aerobic activities.