SNOWBOARDING BASE LAYERS & THERMAL UNDERWEAR
Snowboarding can be physically demanding and the exertion creates sweat. Base layers are designed to move this moisture away from your skin and keep you dry and comfortable. This process is called wicking, and it is an essential part of any base layer system. Synthetic base layers use capillary action to draw sweat away from the skin allowing evaporative cooling. Merino base layers use natural fine-grade wool to achieve the same thing.
Merino base layers are particularly effective as thermal underwear in the cool or cold conditions found when snowboarding. It is especially important for winter thermals to have high performance and wicking properties, because sweat can be very uncomfortable when it cools during inactive phases. Therefore avoid cotton base layers at all costs – they will hold sweat next to your skin, feeling clammy while you’re hot and then cooling rapidly when you stop.
A fully-functioning thermal base layer provides the foundation for an effective clothing system so take your pick from our extensive range of performance snowboard base layers from top brands Icebreaker, Smartwool, The North Face, Arc’teryx and Skins.