Men's thermal underwear

NORDBLANC men’s thermal underwear and socks for skiing, cross-country skiing, the mountains and sport. Winter, all-season and lightweight thermal tops and bottoms with DRYFOR technical fibre, merino wool underwear, boxers and compression socks.

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What you'll find in this category

Winter thermal underwear - NORDBLANC men’s winter thermal underwear is warmer than the all-season range: thermal tops and bottoms in a two-layer knit (96% polyester, 4% elastane) with DRYFOR fibre wick away sweat when skiing, cross-country skiing and on winter hikes.
All-season thermal underwear - NORDBLANC men’s all-season thermal underwear: thermal tops and bottoms in 100% polyester with DRYFOR technical fibre, lighter than the winter range, with a soft inner side and flat seams - a base layer for sport all year round.
Lightweight thermal underwear - NORDBLANC men’s lightweight thermal underwear in a stretchy fabric (88% polyester, 12% elastane) with DRYFOR fibre. It is designed for mild and warm weather above roughly 15 °C or for high exertion in the cold.
Merino thermal underwear - NORDBLANC men’s merino wool thermal underwear and socks. The short-sleeved thermal T-shirt and long johns are 100% merino wool, the boxers 94% merino wool; most of the range is compression socks with 15-30% merino wool.
Underwear - NORDBLANC men’s underwear: stretchy boxers in cotton with 10% elastane, quick-drying polyester boxers with DRYFOR fibre and thermal boxers in 94% merino wool as a base layer under sportswear.

How to choose men’s thermal underwear for the weather and your activity

Thermal underwear is the base layer you wear directly on your skin. Its main job is to wick sweat away from your skin so that you don’t get chilled in the cold, and, depending on the type, to keep you warm. So two things decide it: what the temperature will be outside and how intensely you’ll be moving.

For freezing weather, skiing and cross-country skiing

Winter thermal underwear is thicker than the all-season type. The two-layer knitted fabric with DRYFOR technical fibre has a square-grid structure on the inside that draws moisture into the outer layer, from where it evaporates, so your skin stays dry. Wear it for the slopes, cross-country skiing, winter hikes and running in freezing temperatures.

For sport all year round

All-season thermal underwear is made of a fine, lightweight fabric, so you wear it as a base layer in spring and autumn and for sport on cooler days. For freezing weather, winter thermal underwear is more suitable, or you can wear two all-season thermal tops one on top of the other.

For intense sport and warm days

Lightweight thermal underwear is for warm days and for sport that makes you sweat a lot - in cool weather, for example, for a fast run or a bike ride.

In merino wool

Merino wool is a fine natural wool that feels pleasant on the skin and keeps you warm even when damp. The thermal T-shirt and long johns are pure merino wool; the boxers add 6% elastane. Merino compression socks contain only 15-30% merino wool; the rest is mainly nylon and elastane.

Socks and underwear

A large part of the range consists of compression socks - sports, hiking, merino and ski knee socks. They have a stretchy compression knit and a reinforced toe, and most models also have a reinforced heel and ankle support; the ski knee socks also protect the shin. Compression socks come in four sizes within the 34-49 range. Choose boxers in cotton with elastane, in quick-drying polyester with DRYFOR fibre or in merino wool.

What to look for in thermal underwear

Close fit - only fabric that is in contact with the skin can wick sweat away. So thermal underwear should fit snugly, but must not feel tight or restrict your movement.
Material - polyester with DRYFOR fibre dries quickly and suits intense activity; merino wool is pleasant on the skin and keeps you warm even when damp. Cotton doesn’t belong in a base layer for sport: it soaks up sweat and chills you in the cold.
DRYFOR - micro-channels on the surface of this technical fibre spread sweat from your skin to the outside of the fabric, where it evaporates. NORDBLANC winter, all-season and lightweight thermal underwear all have it.
Flat seams - the winter, all-season and lightweight thermal tops and bottoms have flat seams that chafe the skin less.
Layering - over your thermal underwear, wear a warm mid-layer (a sweatshirt, fleece or gilet), and on top a jacket and trousers to protect you from wind, rain and snow.
Size - thermal tops, bottoms and boxers come in sizes S-XXXL, most models also in XS. Each product page has a size chart with a diagram showing where each measurement is taken.

Technologies and materials

DRYFOR®

A functional fiber that excellently absorbs body moisture and wicks away sweat. Thanks to the micro-grooves on its surface, moisture is efficiently carried to the outer side of the fabric where it evaporates quickly, keeping your skin dry and comfortable. This property allows the material to provide perfect body temperature regulation.

Frequently asked questions

What men’s thermal underwear should I wear for skiing?

For a full day on the slopes, choose a winter thermal top and bottoms: the two-layer fabric keeps you warm even in freezing weather, and DRYFOR technical fibre wicks away sweat. If you ski in spring warmth or ski hard and sweat a lot, reach for all-season thermal underwear. With ski boots, wear NORDBLANC compression ski knee socks with pressure-relief zones and protection for the shin, heel and toe.

Men’s thermal underwear: merino wool or synthetic?

For intense sport where you sweat a lot, synthetics are more practical: polyester with DRYFOR technical fibre wicks sweat and dries quickly. Merino wool keeps you warm even when damp and feels pleasant on the skin - you’ll appreciate it on hikes, at a slower pace and during longer spells in the cold. If you prefer merino wool, reach for a NORDBLANC merino T-shirt, long johns or boxers.

Should you wear boxers under thermal underwear?

Under thermal bottoms, yes, but choose technical boxers rather than cotton ones - cotton soaks up sweat and feels cold when it’s chilly. Quick-drying polyester boxers with DRYFOR fibre are a good choice, as are thermal boxers with 94% merino wool. A thermal top, on the other hand, should be worn directly on the skin, without a T-shirt underneath, so that it can wick sweat away from your skin.

How do I wash men’s thermal underwear so it keeps wicking sweat?

Above all, without fabric softener - it clogs the fibres, so the thermal underwear then wicks sweat less well and dries more slowly. Wash synthetic thermal tops and bottoms according to the care label, usually at 30-40 °C with a liquid detergent for technical garments. Wash a merino wool T-shirt, long johns and boxers on a wool cycle with a wool detergent, don’t wring them out and dry them flat, not on a radiator.

How much merino wool do NORDBLANC merino compression socks contain?

NORDBLANC merino compression socks contain 15-30% merino wool. The rest is mainly nylon and elastane, which make the socks durable and give the compression knit its stretch; some models also contain acrylic. If you want the highest possible share of merino wool, choose a thermal T-shirt or long johns in 100% merino wool.