There鈥檚 a dish my grandmother used to cook, and my mom after her. We called it Grandma Helen鈥檚 Hash Brown Casserole, and you probably devoured some version of it if you grew up in the Midwest before 鈥渙rganic鈥� was a thing.

Made with two pounds of frozen hash browns, two sticks of butter, a pint of sour cream, 12 ounces of cheddar cheese, half a box of cornflakes, and the obligatory can of cream of chicken soup, Grandma鈥檚 casserole was a staple at holidays, family reunions, and church potlucks. It was also so popular at memorial services that my Indiana in-laws still refer to it as Funeral Potatoes. Sure, it was an artery-clogging cholesterol bomb, but it soothed the soul like no kale salad ever could.

What does this have to do with outdoor gear, you ask? After 25 years of testing all sorts of tricked-out technical apparel, I have come to appreciate the simpler things in life. Like durability. Reliability. Ease of use. And comfort. On backpacking trips, I wear Lowa boots. My go-to pack is an Arc鈥檛eryx. My new bike is a titanium throwback. And the most frequently worn fleece in my closet is ($78).

Purchased around 2008 from Melanzana鈥檚 iconic storefront in Leadville, Colorado, this hoodie is a masterpiece of utilitarian restraint. It doesn鈥檛 have taped seams or laser-cut edges or water-proof zippers. There are no elastic cuffs to absorb moisture or hidden pockets that add weight. And the designers didn鈥檛 bother with body mapping or elaborate fabric blends that drive up the MSRP on other jackets.

This simplicity has been core to Melanzana鈥檚 ethos since the company was founded in 1994. So has a commitment to sewing every garment in Leadville. All this has earned the brand a cultlike following, and means that your hoodie will last a long time, because there鈥檚 little about it ever likely to fail.

What you get is a supersoft, loose-fitting pullover with a kangaroo pouch and a roomy drawstring hood. The lightweight Polartec fleece (current versions are made with 100 percent post-consumer waste) is not the warmest, but it does the job on cool mountain evenings鈥攁nd makes a dreamy pillow in a pinch.

For mountaineering trips and ultralight sorties, I typically pack a more advanced puffy. But for close-to-home adventures, fly-fishing trips, and pub crawls, this hoodie is my favorite, the sartorial equivalent of comfort food minus the carbs. It鈥檚 not just the cozy feel I treasure. It鈥檚 also the years of memories: camping with my kids, casting flies on the Snake, and curling up with my Bernese mountain dog after a day on the trail (in fact, I think that鈥檚 some of his drool on one sleeve). All of which, like Grandma Helen鈥檚 cooking, makes this sweatshirt worth more than anything money can buy.

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The most critical items in any adventure kit are rarely the flashiest. These are the essentials, and they serve as the foundation of comfort and performance in every season. Think: underwear, socks, beanies, base layers. To that esteemed pantheon, I nominate the humble but affordable ($29) from Buff, the versatility of which is nearly unmatched.

That鈥檚 right: a neck tube. But not just any neck tube. I鈥檝e tried many of them, from many different purveyors, and reader, I can assure you that this thin merino-wool number is the one to rule them all.

For starters, the top and bottom seams are flat, which eliminates chafing. Then there鈥檚 the 3.7-ounce, stink-resistant fabric, providing sufficient warmth in winter but still thin enough for sweaty temperatures and high-output pursuits. I use it as a running headband when it鈥檚 cold, a gaiter while skinning laps, a mouth covering on dusty gravel rides, a sweat cloth wrapped around my wrist during summer trail runs, and a nose rag for my children when we鈥檙e out biking (mucous is an ever present feature of the parenting world). I recently pulled it up over my nose and mouth on a shoulder-season backpacking trip when temperatures unexpectedly dipped into the single digits, with sideways gusts and snow flurries, and received jealous looks from those among my co-hikers who were less prepared. If neck tubes had existed when TV action-adventure hero MacGyver was on the air, this is assuredly the one he would have worn.

And this Buff just seems to get softer the more persistently you use it (provided you don鈥檛 get too much snot on it). I have worn it four or five days in a row on backcountry trips and completely forgotten I had it on.

Bonus: the simple sleeve of fabric is only available in muted earth tones鈥擨鈥檓 partial to the mustard yellow鈥攚hich means it blends in outdoors no matter where you are. Personally, I wouldn鈥檛 want to wear a neck tube adorned with flamingoes in a restaurant; this one, on the other hand, looks like a minimalist scarf and thus enhances, rather than detracts from, my in-town style.

When you find something that delivers this reliably, you may want several. I keep an assortment of them stashed everywhere, in the event I forget to pack one before an outing: at home by the front door, in my car, at the office, and stuffed into various bike bags. This is one piece of gear I make sure I have with me wherever I go. In fact, it鈥檚 probably the only one I put on as often as underwear.

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After years of dabbling in skiing, I want to get serious about it this year. But I have terrible circulation and a hard time staying out in the cold. What are your tips for keeping warm on chairlift rides? 鈥擣rozen Fingers

Dear Frozen: It鈥檚 an age-old question, one that every skier and snowboarder must face, especially those whose extremities run cold. , in 2015 the average chairlift ride in the U.S. and Canada lasted just under five minutes. While that might sound brief enough, it can feel like an eternity when you鈥檙e sitting motionless on a metal seat in temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, plus windchill. There鈥檚 nothing like a loss of sensation in the hands and feet during a frigid ride up the mountain to leave one pondering the decision to spend $1,000 on a bunch of shiny new gear and a season pass. And I sympathize with your particular issue, Frozen, because I was one of those miserable kids on a ski-racing team with Raynaud鈥檚 syndrome, a condition that limits blood supply to certain extremities. This being the case, I feel especially qualified to speak to your question.

The golden rule is to stay dry. The moment any hint of wetness either penetrates or wells up in your jacket or gloves, it鈥檚 game over. Yes, people love to say that wool and synthetic base layers keep you cozy when wet, but warmth is relative. To avoid moisture, you must ensure that your outer layer is as waterproof-breathable as possible, and that鈥檚 a delicate balance to strike. As a youngster, I made the mistake of begging my parents for the most waterproof gloves on the market. Once on, they made my palms sweaty鈥攁nd subsequently frozen for the rest of the day. I skied the slopes of Sugar Bowl, California, with balled-up hands, my poles dragging behind me.

To ensure harmony between comfort and protection, look for outerwear with a waterproof rating between 10,000 and 20,000 millimeters (usually marked 10K and 20K, respectively) and a breathability rating around 8,000 grams (usually found on the label and in the garment鈥檚 description on the company鈥檚 website). Also, educate yourself about the technologies out there. It used to be that Gore-Tex was the be-all and end-all of waterproof-breathable outerwear, but Dermizax, eVent, MemBrain, and NeoShell are now pushing the envelope. Whatever you choose, try it out before hitting the lift line. Personally, I need to be able to dance to a full Led Zeppelin song in the parking lot without breaking a sweat for a jacket to pass the test.

A few other tips that will help you through: The same moisture-management rules apply to your pants; if you鈥檙e confident enough, purchase a butt pad, which fastens around your hips and keeps your tush dry if the chairlift is wet. Unbuckle your boots while waiting for the lift; the more room you have to wiggle your toes (and thereby promote circulation), the better. For the same reason, thinner socks are preferable; thick material tends to cause toes to be crammed together, which is a recipe for numbness. Only use hand warmers in dire situations鈥攖hey can overheat your fingers, and as mentioned above, if they start to sweat, you鈥檒l be done for the day. And as tempting as that pocket flask is, leave it home: alcohol impairs your body鈥檚 ability to shiver. Besides, if windchill causes the temperature to dip below ten degrees, and there鈥檚 no powder to be had, you鈥檙e better off back at the lodge. (Pocket bacon, however, is acceptable鈥攊n fact, nourishment of any kind will elevate your body temperature.)

One last bit of advice: Pee frequently, dear reader. A full bladder contributes to heat loss, and your extremities could use that warmth instead.

Send your questions to deargear@outsideinc.com.

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Less Is More

By Kelly Klein, associate gear editor

After a year as a gear editor, I鈥檝e tested countless layers. Base layers, midlayers, outer layers, you name it. Whenever I headed out on a ski trip last winter, I brought along at least half a dozen pieces to test out over the course of the day. As part of the review process, I wanted to do each one justice, and I needed to be sure I was using them for their intended purpose. But as time wore on鈥攖ime spent, it seemed, primarily thinking about what to put on or take off next鈥擨 found that I only wanted to wear one or two layers at most beneath my jacket. Whether I was spending the day resort skiing or skinning up in the backcountry, I really wasn鈥檛 concerned about regulating my body temperature to a tee. It was too exhausting, and it got in the way of my fun. If I was a little chilly or a tad warm, it didn鈥檛 bother me; I was more focused on the terrain and the experience. Plus, clothing technology has gotten so advanced that newer apparel is able to dump and retain heat to a degree that a decade ago could be accomplished only by switching out layers. These days a couple of versatile pieces are all you need. If I鈥檓 going on a full- or multiple-day backcountry mission鈥攐r if the weather forecast is dicey鈥擨鈥檒l hew to a better-safe-than-sorry approach and pack a few extra tops. But for ordinary adventures, life is too short to miss a beautiful sunrise or a friend getting the turns of their life because I鈥檓 busy fine-tuning my body temperature.

More Is More

By Abigail Barronian, senior editor

Almost every time I venture into the mountains, I grab the same lineup of apparel. For my upper body: next-to-skin wool, a lightweight midlayer, a puffy jacket, and a shell. Things are similarly simple on the lower half: lightweight pants, with wool long johns beneath if the situation calls for them. This arrangement retains its utility across activities and seasons鈥攁lthough, depending on my output and the conditions, some of these layers may shift in bulk and weatherproofness. When it鈥檚 really cold, I might double up on wool, add down knickers and a vest, and opt for a burlier shell or a heavier puffy. My outdoor wardrobe is almost entirely free of hybrid layers鈥擨 don鈥檛 own any insulated shells or fleece-lined pants, for example鈥攁nd I鈥檓 picky about things being trim enough to combine comfortably. Done right, I can mix and match to create the breathability and protection I need over the course of a long excursion in variable conditions. I can stay comfortable in a freak spring snowstorm at 12,000 feet and in 75-degree sunshine as I descend to the trailhead. It鈥檚 difficult to achieve that kind of versatility with a single do-it-all garment. It might do one thing really well, but I do lots of things in the mountains, and I want what I wear to facilitate each of those activities. And most important, I want to be prepared when I find myself in unpredictable environments. One or two layers can鈥檛 possibly provide the comfort and safety that a quiver of them will.

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What does it mean to make technical apparel in the United States? For Forloh, a small hunting brand based in Whitefish, Montana, making stuff onshore means doing things differently. For example, of down jackets, vests, and pants takes the traditional formula for a lofted insulation layer, and reinvents it as a breathable hybrid of mid and outer layers in one.听

That kind of creativity is required when it comes to producing down in America. Eighty percent of the global down supply comes from China, . The small amount of down that鈥檚 manufactured ethically or elsewhere is largely purchased by the bedding industry. And regardless of the source, global brands dominate the purchasing market.听

Not much is left for independent players. Add the constraint of buying it in America, and you鈥檝e created a huge challenge. And that鈥檚 why Forloh uses 650-fill down: it was the highest quality they were able to source in this country.听

Fill power measures the number of cubic inches one ounce of a given down variety is able to loft to fill. It鈥檚 a measure of compressibility. Where a typical high-end down-filled garment from a large brand might use 900-fill down, and be capable of compressing into a tiny package when stuffed into a backpack as a result, 650-fill is more typically used in big, heavy parkas, where compressibility isn鈥檛 needed.听

Sourcing American-made down was the job of , a veteran product designer with experience at The North Face, Black Diamond, KUIU, Spyder, and Obermeyer. He was approached by Forloh鈥檚 founder, Andy Techmanski, with the idea for an American-made, American-sourced apparel brand in 2019. A former electrical lineman with a nose for business, Techmanski鈥檚 dream may have sounded quixotic at the time, but it attracted the curiosity of Yturri, who had spent three decades watching technical apparel being off-shored to the far east.听

Yturri went in search of an American source for down willing to work within the limited ordering capacity of an independent startup, and eventually found a pillow maker. The supplier had never applied a durable water repellant (DWR) treatment to its product before, so that became Yturri鈥檚 next challenge鈥攁nd that was just the start. With a raw material incapable of competing with the fill power of larger brands, the designer needed to come up with novel solutions to create a competitive product.听

鈥淭he needs of an adventure hunter aren鈥檛 the same as high-altitude alpinists or general ounce-counting backpack adventurers,鈥� says Yturri. 鈥淲hen I hear someone say 鈥榰ltralight down,鈥� to me that means, 鈥榯reat me gently, I tear easily.鈥欌��

So Yturri set about creating a solution he describes as 鈥渓ightweight enough,鈥� while maximizing the garment鈥檚 durability and weather resistance.听

One of the reasons ultralight down jackets tear easily is that designers often pair ultra high fill power down with extremely thin face fabrics. This helps with weight and compressibility, but as anyone who鈥檚 ever snagged their expensive new ultralight jacket in a zipper will tell you, it also leads to fragility.听

Another problem with traditional down jackets? Their stitched baffles create hundreds of perforations in those thin face fabrics, each large enough for liquid water to invade the down insulation. Today, down insulations are almost always DWR-treated, but those water-repellant coatings are only a partial solution. Get down wet, and it will lose its loft鈥攅ven with a good DWR.听

To solve for this, Yturri went with a 70 Denier nylon ripstop face fabric鈥攖en times as heavy as some ultralight jackets鈥攊nside and out. And rather than control down migration with stitched baffles, he sought out a novel sonic welding process that adheres the inner and outer face fabrics to each other without puncturing them. 鈥淭here is only one factory in the USA with the high-end machines needed to accomplish this precision in large scale production,鈥� says Yturri.听

The end result is, he says, 鈥渟trong enough to be used as an outermost layer, light enough to be used as a layering piece. That was the magic combo.鈥�

The sonic welding process offers another benefit: breathability. Forloh鈥檚 proprietary welding process , each small enough to block liquid water, but large enough to allow water vapor鈥攁nd body heat鈥攖o escape. The principle is similar to the way waterproof-breathable membranes work, just here with no membrane.听

The end result is completely unique. The thick, durable, nearly-waterproof nylon face fabric acts like a burly soft shell, keeping wind and precipitation away from the down and the wearer鈥檚 body, while the micro-perforations allow excess heat and sweat to ventilate outwards. With that sweat free to escape, and precipitation prevented from invading, the down fill is able to stay drier than in most other down garments. It鈥檚 an active mid-layer combining the warmth of down and the breathability of fleece, all in a single jacket, vest, or pair of pants that’s more reliably warm, and also serves as a shell. It may not be as light as other mid-layers (Forloh has yet to publish an official weight, or lab-verified breathability numbers), but it also fills more roles in a layering system than any single item.听

鈥淭hermoneutral is the ideal go-to, 80-percent-of-the-time down piece; strong enough, and treated through-and-through water-repellent, to be used as an outer layer; yet light enough to be used as a mid-layer in a tri-layer system,鈥� says Yturri.听

Back in 2019, making stuff in America was mostly about creating jobs. But that changed on March 11, 2020, when the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic. Rapidly, making stuff in America become about supply chains.听With orders already placed at American factories for that Thermoneutral face fabric, Techmanski was uniquely positioned to respond to the crisis. Nearly waterproof, very breathable, and incredibly durable, it turns out that face fabric also made perfect medical gowns. At a time when single-use gowns were going for $4 to $5, Techmanski was able to offer healthcare providers good for up to 600 washes for $40. State and federal governments .听

And that, in a nutshell, sums up the promise American-sourced, American manufacturing holds. It鈥檚 not only about jobs; it鈥檚 about solving big problems with innovation, because innovation is necessary.听

鈥淎merican manufacturing still possesses a can-do attitude,鈥� says Techmanski. 鈥淲e are able to innovate with new technologies much faster, and at a higher standard of workmanship, than the international competition. America builds just plain better products.鈥�

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You don鈥檛 need to be a meteorologist to know that the weather in the Arctic鈥攖he northernmost region on the planet鈥攎ostly alternates between cold and bitterly cold. With an average winter temperature of negative 30 degrees, the Arctic has a well-deserved reputation as a proving ground for explorers who want to test themselves against the planet鈥檚 harshest conditions. If you can make it above the 66 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, you can make it anywhere.听

An untrained eye might see these areas of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Scandinavia as barren and empty, but to adventure lovers the Arctic is one of the last great frontiers. 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍, a Swedish company established in 1960, has been outfitting Arctic explorers for decades, and it takes everyday adventurers on an annual expedition called 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 Polar, an event where ordinary folks can join 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 explorers on a one-of-a-kind polar expedition in northern Scandinavia.

鈥淓xpertise grows from experience,鈥� says Carl H氓rd af Segerstad, 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍鈥檚 global event manager. 鈥淥ur founder, 脜ke Nordin, realized rather quickly that more experiences leads to better products. We鈥檝e carried on this legacy to invite people to nature, both for the sake of being in nature and to continue to develop products that enable experiences in nature, even if the conditions are cold and hostile.鈥�

The 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 team knows a thing or two about dressing for cold climates. Follow their advice, and you can stay warm whether you鈥檙e heading to the Arctic or a wintry trail in your backyard.

Start With a Warm Foundation

When it鈥檚 20 below, you need maximum performance from your base and midlayers. And once you have those key pieces dialed, they鈥檒l provide the foundation for a versatile system.

No matter the activity, a base layer goes on first to wick sweat away. Grab the and pair them with the . Both are made with a technical and soft merino-wool blend that is durable and easy to clean. Wool, the original performance fabric, is still the best: it鈥檚 inherently temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and insulative even when wet. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fantastic fiber for outdoor pursuits, and it鈥檚 natural and renewable,鈥� says H氓rd af Segerstad. 鈥淚t can be developed for different layering solutions and was the natural choice before we started producing from plastic materials.鈥� With strategically placed varied knitting patterns, both garments provide warmth, flexibility, and ventilation in all the right places.

When it comes to midlayers, you want a high level of insulation combined with breathability. The is crafted from a functional synthetic-and-wool-blend fleece that balances both needs. The hoodie features two zippered hand pockets and a zippered chest pocket鈥攑erfect for storing your phone (and a power bank to keep it charged even in extreme cold). Its slim-fitting hood traps heat to keep your head warm but isn鈥檛 too bulky to accommodate additional accessories.

Choose Activity-Specific Outerwear

You鈥檝e got your base layer and midlayer dialed. Now, when deciding what to wear for each activity, consider the forecast and level of physical effort required.

Dog Sledding

Traveling by dogsled is an incredible way to move through a snowy landscape. It鈥檚 fast and fun, but it requires careful layering. Consider this: sled dogs can run between ten and 20 miles per hour, and that extra windchill will make you feel significantly colder. For example, if it鈥檚 minus 20 degrees and there鈥檚 a ten-mph wind, it will actually.

That kind of cold requires an outer layer like the . The 90 percent goose-down, midlength jacket is a classic 1974 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 design that extends below the hips for added warmth without restricting your movement. Because the coat is also wind-resistant, thanks to the polyamide exterior fabric, it鈥檚 the ideal outer layer for days when you鈥檙e fighting the windchill. 鈥淲e were inspired by the legendary Iditarod, the dogsled expedition through Alaska, to test 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 under these conditions,鈥� says H氓rd af Segerstad. 鈥淎t 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 Polar, amateur mushers from around the world were invited to experience the Nordic Arctic tundra over a demanding route in a very remote and exposed environment.鈥�

Whether you鈥檙e flying behind a pack of dogs or just out on a windy day, it鈥檚 critical to protect your skin. Put on the to cover up as much as possible around your face and neck. The balaclava鈥檚 wool-polyester blend keeps you warm even in wet conditions and wicks away moisture from your mouth and nose. Top it with the , an insulated, wind- and water-resistant hat with a brim for added protection from sun and precipitation.

Self-Propelled Travel

Whether you鈥檙e pulling a sled in the Arctic or simply out traveling on skis, snowshoeing, climbing, or trekking, you鈥檒l generate body heat, so you need to layer appropriately. In cold weather, you want to avoid sweating so the moisture doesn鈥檛 soak your clothes and freeze when you stop moving. To accomplish this, swap the Woolmesh Sweater base layer for the , which is made of terry knit that helps you stay dry even when you鈥檙e working hard. The smooth finish on the exterior helps reduce friction against other layers when you鈥檙e active. Add the , made with a light wool blend that adds just-right warmth when you鈥檙e on the move. On a windy or snowy day, you鈥檒l need the and . These breathable and durable layers are waterproof and made partially from recycled polyester. The stretchy material and articulated design let you move without restriction.

Unwinding at Camp

Enjoying camp comforts in the latter half of the day when temperatures drop and you鈥檙e not moving much can often feel like its own kind of expedition. After a long day in the elements, swap your daytime footwear for the . Stay warm head to toe with your favorite down jacket topped with the , a heavy-duty wind-resistant cap with a thick synthetic fur lining and ear flaps that can be secured with a chin buckle.

Explore the Arctic with 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍

Stoked on the idea of an Arctic adventure? Who isn鈥檛? Put your layering know-how to the test on the 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 Polar鈥攁n event where ordinary folks can join 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 explorers on a one-of-a-kind polar expedition in northern Scandinavia. Participants will travel over 185 miles via dogsled from Signaldalen to V盲kk盲r盲j盲rvi, among beautiful mountains along an old Sami trade route and across Europe鈥檚 largest area of permafrost. 鈥淭hey get to learn how to dress, how to sleep, how to cook, and how to make shelter,鈥� says H氓rd af Segerstad. 鈥淓ach participant also learns the intricate interdependency between themselves and the sled dogs as each musher, teamed up with six dogs on their own sled, is completely dependent on the dogs to make their way through the wilderness.鈥�

These trips are just one place where 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 puts its clothes and equipment to the ultimate test in extreme winter environments, so you can be ready for anything. .

In 1960, 脜ke Nordin founded in his basement in the town of 脰rnsk枚ldsvik in northern Sweden. Today the company鈥檚 timeless, functional and durable outdoor equipment that can be found in over 70 countries. 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍鈥檚 product range comprises outdoor clothing and accessories for men and women as well as backpacks, tents and sleeping bags. As a company, 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍 makes every effort to act responsibly towards people, wildlife and the environment.

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One of the things we love about winter: getting outside means something different for everyone. But one thing uniting us is the quest for comfort. Whether your winter days entail hard-charging ski turns, hammering on a fat bike, running snow-dusted trails, or strolling straight from sledding to apr猫s, maximum comfort comes from smart layering. Here鈥檚 how to choose and manage everything from what you wear next-to-skin to what protects you from the elements.

The basics haven鈥檛 changed. Start with a base layer, which provides next-to-skin warmth and moisture management. Now add and remove midlayers as conditions change, and always think preventively: remove a layer before you start sweating and add one before you get chilled. What has changed? , which up your layering game with cutting-edge innovations like 3D knitting that allow targeted ventilation, insulation, and articulation, all with minimal seams for pure comfort and nearly zero manufacturing waste. When worn over Smartwool鈥檚 Intraknit Base Layers, which debuted the 3D wool knitting process, the new Midlayer collection makes wool-upon-wool layering better than ever鈥攇reat fit, great temperature control.

Yes, it鈥檚 as cozy as it sounds, and Smartwool鈥檚 new Intraknit collection has an option for everyone and every activity. The Merino Midlayers come in all sizes, including plus sizes, and are available in three specific systems: Sport, Tech, and Fleece. Combine them with the Thermal Base Layer collection, and you have the perfect system.

How It Works

The problem with conventional base layers? Purely synthetic ones can feel waxy and cold against the skin, and some wool ones can feel baggy and heavy when wet. Smartwool鈥檚 Intraknit Thermal Base Layer collection solves these issues with key innovations, like combining merino with stretchy polyester and elastane fibers. This means you get the best of both worlds鈥攚here the softness of merino meets the durability and quick-drying performance of additional materials. The yarn is 3D knitted for ultimate fit, even when damp, and strategic body mapping enhances ventilation, insulation, and mobility.

Next, enhance your experience by layering on any of the new Intraknit Midlayers鈥擲port for lightweight and packable protection, Tech for unrestricted movement and warmth without bulk, and Fleece for start-and-stop activities鈥攁re all 3D knit for optimum comfort and breathability. And they鈥檙e precisely designed to layer over Intraknit Thermal Base Layers, aligning ventilation panels and articulation points for a system that works perfectly. Bonus: select Intraknit Midlayers feature wind protection and abrasion resistance, and some even have a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment that sheds snow and rain, so they can serve as outer layers as well.

Why Merino

What makes merino wool the best choice for winter layering? First, it has a natural ability to regulate your body temperature. At the microscopic level, individual porous fibers allow air permeability, so wool garments are highly breathable. That same permeability means wool pulls hot vapor off your skin and into the fibers themselves, while airflow keeps you from feeling clammy from sweat. Merino is also extremely soft鈥攁 fiber of the Smartwool uses is a third the diameter of a human hair. Plus Merino has natural odor-fighting capabilities. It鈥檚 also renewable and biodegradable, making it a wonder fabric that鈥檚 both good for the planet and good for performance.

Ultimate Versatility

Intraknit Merino Midlayers defy conventional layering categories. They provide warmth, like a thin down puffy jacket, but are a lot more breathable and won鈥檛 cause you to overheat. They provide comfort, like a cozy sweatshirt, but with better insulation and fit. Whether you prioritize soft natural fiber or best-in-class mobility, Intraknit will become your grab-and-go layer while you ski, snowshoe, ride, sled, travel, hike, and relax鈥攁ll winter long.

It鈥檚 the new way to layer. And you鈥檒l never go back.

Based in Denver, Colorado, is a sock and apparel brand whose products are designed to get the most out of the inherent benefits of Merino wool and to bring comfort, confidence, and community to a life lived outside. For information on the full range of Smartwool products, visit .

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