I moved to Utah just over five years ago. When I was a skier, it was always my goal to become a snowboarder. #gear The mountains were covere...
I moved to Utah just over five years ago. When I was a skier, it was always my goal to become a snowboarder. #gear
The mountains were covered in fresh snow in mid-December that year, and my friends and I decided to go to Vail to enjoy the fresh powder. In the months leading up to the start of the season, I spent hundreds of dollars on the equipment I needed: boards, boots, boots and jackets, pants and a few layers of fleece sweatshirts to keep me warm on cold day snow. With all that spending, I ran out of money, so I decided to buy cheap thermal underwear from the local Wal-Mart.
Carving through one of the resort's legendary bowls, I caught an edge and eventually slid down a steep embankment. When I was able to stop, a few feet of snow jammed my backpack, jacket and pants. I was soaked to the bone, freezing cold and standing in a white blizzard. Of course, I traded my snowboard for a warm bed and a few gallons of NY quil for the rest of the weekend. By the time I reached my lodge, my thermal underwear was soaked beyond recognition and I had caught a nasty cold.
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The following season, I decided it was time to invest in high-quality thermal underwear. At my local sporting goods store, a young salesman recommended a store that offered products like Under Armour refrigerated clothing. He swore on it, claiming it was the driest and warmest cold protection on the market today. I have to admit that I was a bit sceptical at first. I felt Under Armour was created to keep you dry, not to keep you warm.
So I took his advice and bought a crew neck, trousers, socks and an outdoor hood. It cost about $200 but I felt that it was worth it to keep my body warm and dry for the next ski season. The first few weeks of the season have been great. It kept me warm, dry and in the mountains, which seemed to serve its purpose. At the end of December we went on a trip to Vail.
The rest of the season was miserable. The weather was getting colder and my new Under Armour cold clothing did a great job of keeping me dry and adapting to the cold mountain winds. But the thermal underwear has let me down. When I reached 12,000 feet, I could no longer feel my appendages in the bitter cold. For the rest of the year, I was forced to wear an old Wal-Mart thermo over my new gear to stay warm.
This year I was determined to solve this problem as I enjoy the predicted cold and snowy season. After an internet search I found a product known as Military Thermal Polypropylene Underwear. The military uses unique cold technology to develop a special type of clothing known as polypropylene to keep its troops dry and warm in combat situations. According to research, Poly Propylene Thermal Underwear was approved by the military, so I decided to see what it was about.
To my amazement, my total price was $70, less than a third of what I'd paid for Under Armour's cold gear. At that price, I didn't expect it to work, but I decided to give it a try anyway. So I bought polypropylene crew neck trousers, socks and gauntlets.
Over the Christmas weekend, my friend and I decided to make the trip to Vail to enjoy the best snow Colorado gets all year round. We fell into their legendary back shell and I took a dive to the right on a steep incline. Packed with snow, I stood there waiting for the cold wetness to penetrate my skin.
A day later, I fell and fell on a pile of fluffy powder. A day later, I stayed dry and warm. If I had not spent a fraction of my armour on cold gear, I would have stayed warm and dry throughout the snowy weekend.
So next time someone asks what kind of equipment they need to stay warm in the cold, windy Rockies, tell them to take a look at military-issued polypropylene thermal underwear. I guarantee it lasts longer than any pair of thermal water you can buy. This is my search for the perfect thermal underwear for everyone.
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