 Poster: A snowHead
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Apologies for the topic, which is very similar to this one, but I'd like to bring up some specific products that are around.
I've finally decided to let go of my insulated salopettes. I don't have any firm specs on them, but they were lightly insulated with synthetic insulation and at £120ish would have been around the 10k/10k mark in terms of performance. I'd generally wear these by themselves from November to mid-December, with a single layer of either co a light thermal long john or a 3/4 length compression layer in the colder months, and then with vents open for the spring. I wore them baggy, I'm a pretty active rider and I reckon I've got a pretty good tolerance for the cold.
This year I've gone for a 3L goretex none-insulated softshell, and I'm wondering what to wear underneath. I've still got the above light thermals from HH and the 3/4 compression tights, but I wouldn't describe any of those as particularly warm. I'm a bit worried about January and February at the moment!
There's quite a few options around. Sports Pursuit has a few options that seem quite lightweight:
http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/439198
http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/535276
and a few that seem warmer:
http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/535884
http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/535877
http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/391453
http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/446440
http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/535276
The other thread suggested a fleecy long john:
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/us/rab-mens-power-stretch-pants-19410344?channel_code=110&id_colour=124&product_code=92569674&utm_source=google&_$ja=tsid:45886&gclid=ckzbm9uvs8acfqskwwodjyuayg&gclsrc=aw.ds
Some other options on that site too, I've got a North Face Warm top and quite like it:
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/us/the-north-face-mens-warm-tights-19410128?id_colour=124
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/us/arc-teryx-phase-ar-bottoms-19410146?id_colour=124
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/us/helly-hansen-hh-active-flow-pants-19410350?id_colour=105
Finally, I've heard good things about Skins, which come in 3/4 length or full length:
http://www.skins.net/uk/mens-compression/snow/a200-mens-thermal-compression-34-tights
http://www.skins.net/uk/mens-compression/snow/a200-men-s-thermal-compression-long-tights
I'm leaning towards the sports pursuit merino at the moment; I've had some Devold stuff in the past and I've really liked it. It also seems to be warmer than what I've got already, so I can experiment a little with the temperature, and should react fairly well to being worn often. The Skins also look good, as I like the compression layer I've already got, and this is a thermal compression layer. Pricy though.
Any thoughts from the collective? [/url]
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Eh, the idea of 'compression thermals' seems like an odd one to me.
You may find you do okay with pretty much any of the heavier offerings there... I've generally found I don't need much insulation on my legs, and getting chilly legs is much less unpleasant than cold arms, but YMMV.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Well much depends on the temperature. I use just shells in March/April, with nothing but boxers underneath.
In the middle of January in a serious cold part of the world then I'd be wearing some type of thermal - but if you feel the cold more than I do you might want something thicker.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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jiagedaping, analysis paralysis?
This is really not a complicated question.
Decathlon do a nice line in polartec 200 leggings for about a tenner. See little wrong in those.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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If it's nice; nowt.
If it's cold; Ron Hills cut off at the knee
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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jiagedaping, try ebay ......... bought some Scott long-johns and under-vest base layers for less than £20. BNWT's.............. what more could you want?
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jiagedaping, skins are great to use for sports training and use every now and then, although I wouldn't suggest using them for more than a few hours a day; your muscles will ache and feel painful. So I would definitely not reccomend them for skiing.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I've just bought some HH warm 3/4 thermals. I've used the same material in a top for a couple of years and it's great. A mix of Merino/synthetic i think.
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Cold (fine from -8ish°C down to the coldest days I had in Japan last year, somewhere south of -20°C I think) Sweet Protection Saviour Pants - get 'em cheap next time they're up on Sportspursuit. Take longer to get smelly than the the Helly Lifa stuff, but need washing sooner than the merino mix stuff.
Normal (0ish°C to -10ish°C) Helly Hansen Warm (I think, might be Warm Freeze?) Pants - a lightweight mix of merino and Helly's normal Lifa stuff; warm enough, rarely too hot, wick sweat super well, don't stink or get clammy like synthetic or pure merino respectively).
Warm (anything above 0°C) standard Helly Hansen Lifa - cheap, wick sweat super well, dry quickly, stink after one day.
All the above are usually available cheaply on SportPursuit.
Edit: I also have a Devold merino top and bottom set from SportPursuit. It's VERY nice stuff, but I find pure merino gets a bit clammy if you sweat a lot into it (ie touring). Still plenty warm, just not the nicest next to skin. I wear it with a warm midlayer (fleece or Arcteryx Atom LT jacket) on super cold days, or if the Saviour smells too bad (normally the Saviour is fine as a single layer under shell top and bottoms).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Personal choice. I use the "skins" things and I like them a lot, they do not make my legs ache (I suspect that's, er, the exercise which is doing that). Obviously not everyone's cup of tea. I like the compression tops also, they feel warm and work well.
I don't get on with natural stuff myself, I've been given various merino things but I don't like the feel.
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You know it makes sense.
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I have Skins 3/4 length thermal trousers and a thermal undershirt too and they both work extremely well......my legs are never cold under my shell pants and they do seem to help with tired legs too.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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pyjama bottoms work fine (and are cheaper !)
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Poster: A snowHead
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| albob wrote: |
| pyjama bottoms work fine (and are cheaper !) |
Grandad!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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albob, not they don't work fine. Cotton doesn't wick, doesn't dry quickly and isn't giving any insulation when wet.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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philwig, it's not the exercise which causes the acheing and pain. I have trained without them for harder and longer and not experience this. I wouldn't have said that they cause muscle ache if I thought it was because it was of 'the exercise'. Skins should be tightly fitting so the compression can work properly, this may be why they aren't to be worn for any long periods of time. Just my opinion, great for light use though 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Australian merino wool thick long johns (in ski section) from TKMAXX £20
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Thanks everyone. In the end I went for a set of Lowepro fleece trousers from Sports Pursuit with some credit I had, and a pair of Icebreaker 200g merino leggings using a discount code from a club membership. Should be set up for all eventualities now, and as I generally aim for a fair few ski days a week, it's good to be able to rotate Keen to try some skins one day, but they're very expensive!
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FAQ
