Best thermal underwear in 2024 — 6 best base layers for skiing, outdoor work & extreme cold
I tried six pairs of thermal underwear. These are the best base layers and long johns for winter sports, extreme cold and outdoor work.
Let me share my worst-kept secret: Between December and March, I never leave the house without a layer of thermal tights under my pants. If you see me in the wild as the thermometer reads negative digits, you can guarantee that I am at least two-layering it. It’s a habit I picked up by hoarding many pairs of running tights and a habit that helps keep me comfortable through the Canadian winter.
Under Armour Men's Qualifier Elite Cold Tights
New Balance Impact Run Heat Tight
Rho Heavyweight Bottom
Stanfield's Essentials Double Layer Thermal
Nulu Yoga Tight 27"
Men's Warm Cotton and Wool Long Tights
Over the past few weeks, I had the pleasure of expanding my collection and testing a variety of thermal pants and tights while plodding through slush, skating around an outdoor rink, and even cycling across the city. Here, I share a roundup of my favourite pairs — the best-performing and most affordable — to help you choose a base layer that’s right for you.
Best for intensive winter landscaping: Under Armour Qualifier Elite Cold Tights
These sweat-wicking tights are great for winter sports.
- Dual-layer fabric
- Water-resistant
- Minimal-jiggle phone pocket
- Expensive
Performing yard work when it snows risks leaving you cold and damp as flakes slowly pervade your garments. The Qualifier Elite Cold Tights provide a solid resistance against that awful feeling. They feature a dual-layer fabric comprised of a super-warm interior and a quick-drying, sweat-wicking exterior that keeps the wetness out and your body temperature high. They also come with a few useful specs: the front has a water-resistant, woven layer for extra protection, while the back holds a waistband pocket that can keep your phone secure.
Best for winter exercise: New Balance Impact Run Heat Tight
These Impact Run Heat Tights are made for cold-weather running.
- Reflective bands
- Easy-access pockets
- Polyknit fabric
- Material shrinks over time
I love the New Balance Impact Run Heat Tights for running in the cold: they are lightweight, allow an unrestricted range of motion, and, retailing at under $100, they are relatively cheap. They are lined with NB HEAT technology, a sweat-wicking interior fabric that fits snugly on the legs and has convenient drop-in pockets. As a bonus, they come peppered with reflective details and work well as a useful and visible solo layer on warmer winter days. Shoppers take note: the material tends to shrink over time; you can get away with buying one size up.
Best for the ski hill: Arc’teryx Rho Heavyweight Bottom
Shop the Rho Heavyweight Bottom in four colours.
- Highly durable nylon outer
- Unrestricted range of motion
- Thigh pocket zip
- Expensive
I’ll admit: the Rho Heavyweight Bottom is a bit of a splurge and is for the buyer who wants high-level thermal tights that will last them years. The Rho is Arc’teryx’s warmest base layer pant. It boasts a nylon outer for added sturdiness and Polartec Power Stretch Pro technology throughout its construction: a dual-knit, abrasion-resistant surface that traps heat to keep the legs toasty even at rest. The garment is complete with a handy, zippered thigh pocket that securely stows essentials. If you can stomach the price, you will fall in love.
Best for working outdoors: Stanfield's Essentials Double Layer Thermal
Ringing in at just $20, these affordable thermals are great for every budget.
- Two-layer insulation system
- Soft inner-layer
- Not entirely water-resistant
- Not free of restrictions
Here's one for the bargain hunters. This base layer is warm but not as water-resistant or restriction-free as others on this list. Yet, it’s the best bulk buy that I found. If your day job requires you to stand outside, and you do not want to shell almost a grand on five pairs of the Rho, the Double Layer Thermal Stanfield’s Essentials is for you. You can buy one garment for every work day of the week for a total of $100. They are also comfortable and low-maintenance: you can toss them in the washing machine without worrying that they will lose their form.
Best for yoga or winter cycling: Lululemon Nulu Yoga Tight
These yoga tights are made of buttery-soft fabric.
- Four-way stretch
- Sweat-wicking
- Ergonomic back pouch
- Expensive
These tights, surely, are meant for yoga, but they were so warm and comfortable that I appropriated mine as my go-to winter base layer. When the ground is bare and the weather is above zero, I cycle across town and have found it challenging to find thermal tights that do not slip down as I crouch on the bike seat. The Nulu Yoga Tight latches on to my body and, no matter my motions, never slips or moves. It comes with Lycra fibre for stretch and shape retention and silicone grippers on the inner waistband that keep everything in place. Then, the four-way stretch waist and superlight construction made me forget about the garment entirely. Somewhat like the Rho, it’s a worthwhile addition to a wardrobe — if you can justify the price tag.
Best for taking the kids to the rink: Muji Men's Warm Cotton and Wool Long Tights
Shop Muji's Men's Warm Cotton and Wool Long Tights in two colours.
- Close-knit feel
- Non-irritating
- Not great for extreme cold
This garment from Muji fits looser than most other base layers on this list, and they don’t completely block out extreme temperatures. Still, they provide an added shield of warmth that will keep you comfortable in chilly environments. It’s a perfect tight for the hockey parent who finds themselves shaking in their jeans by the end of their kid’s practice hour. They are also comfy and feel like close-fitting pyjamas — their cotton and wool blend hugs the legs instead of pulling on their hair. They make a great complement to everyday work pants.
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