I wore silk underwear today!

[wider rider]

Now, Mr Moderator, just wait a minute before dumping this in LTS!!

And you guys who always jump in with the little bandwagon, (); DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!

Yeah, it was going to be cold (around freezing) where I was riding today, so I dug out my never-used Alaska sleeping suit and tried 'em out under my jeans and riding gear. They're from MEC here in Canada, (kind of like REI.) They're long john size, separate top & bottoms. As soon as I went outside, I started to feel an extra warmth in the affected areas. Through the coldest parts of the 600 km. ride, the extra warmth was evident. To be fair, I was wearing my First Gear Kathmandu jacket with liner, and First Gear HT Overpants without liner, but on this occasion, I do think I was warmer.

They fit kind of snug, and as a side benefit, the legs served to hold my wool socks up. No, they don't have garters!! However, my feet are STILL cold. I wonder if there are silk under-socks available?

So, I think I have a new addition to my riding gear closet. And they feel kind of nice too! w.r.

[thumper gman]

dont tell the wife

[keng]

Don't ask! Don't show!, just keep em under your riding gear at all times..

[boofer]

I'm with you w.r.

The Terramar silk EC2 longjohns and tops are what I've used for many years. They cut down on the bulk when layering, come in black so's ya don't look like Nancy. But really, I just wear them because they feel good

[Pigasus]

Get some battery powered heated socks?

I wore my Fieldsheer cooler vest under my mesh jacket yesterday. We're having record heat. (It's a dry heat!!)

[UTAH BUZZARD]

as long as there not Pink I guess....or lace....flowers......

[wider rider]

Originally Posted by UTAH BUZZARD

as long as there not Pink I guess....or lace....flowers......

No, none of the above! w.r.

[bluefin2na]

tried the girlfriends on once, but my nads kept popping out the sides

[kawioops]

Good for you, although nothing new. WWI pilots often wore silk stockings under their flight 'helmets' for extra warmth. Frankly, I'm not sold on some of these 'wonder' materials, like Gore-Tex waterproof fabrics and polypropylene thermal undies. I've had better results with cotton/wool blend undies as well as silk, and a good tight knit wool jacket for hunting has kept me warmer and drier than a Gore-Tex job I spent hundreds on. When I tried to get satisfaction from the Gore-Tex people(they put a guarentee on many items using their material) they wouldn't even E-mail me back. For certain applications, some natural materials can't be beat.
And yes, silk undersocks are available and have been used for years by backpackers to prevent blisters.

[KLR AK]

Yep, I been using it year-round for years. Works great!

Besides as an undergarment liner in the winter I also use it in the summer for sleepwear when camping and under my riding gear.

I get mine here: http://www.rei.com/search?query=silk+underwear

Mark H.

[roadapple]

Julie Andrews stop singing "I feel pretty and witty and........" seriously what ya need to understand is the concept of a vapor barrier. Survival training taught us to use plastic bags in a crisis to get by but those of you having problems with high tech stuff or problems in general need to remember that sweat is the enemy whatever you use. It takes adjusting to get it right and changes in temp i.e. the speed you're traveling have a great deal to do with it. That's why adjustable electric stuff is so popular. I can't justfy it yet however I've been known to wear my Frog Toggs as underwear to get by. Not all KLR'ers are named Nancy though...I've seen the Barbie Bikes I know who you are.

[wider rider]

Originally Posted by roadapple

Julie Andrews stop singing "I feel pretty and witty and........" seriously what ya need to understand is the concept of a vapor barrier. Survival training taught us to use plastic bags in a crisis to get by but those of you having problems with high tech stuff or problems in general need to remember that sweat is the enemy whatever you use. It takes adjusting to get it right and changes in temp i.e. the speed you're traveling have a great deal to do with it. That's why adjustable electric stuff is so popular. I can't justfy it yet however I've been known to wear my Frog Toggs as underwear to get by. Not all KLR'ers are named Nancy though...I've seen the Barbie Bikes I know who you are.

Roadapples; Very "witty" post, but I'm glad you didn't fill in the missing Julie A. lyric. I'll stay just slightly short of feeling offended, but only because I don't have a Barbie. And my KLR isn't either!
The idea of plastic as a thermal barrier is seriouly scary to me, because of the perspiration thing. Which body parts did you cover? And, what are Frog Togs? Wait...maybe I don't want to know. w.r.

[KilLeR Kawasaki]

Originally Posted by roadapple

Julie Andrews stop singing "I feel pretty and witty and........"

Sorry, no Julie Andrews in "West Side Story".

[roadapple]

OK knows more about Julie Andrews, musicals and rides a KLR...I just threw up a little more than a little and it's not because I forgot to take my acid reflux meds. Seriously the plastic bag idea was for your feet but if ya had a large garbage bag you could make a poncho for underneath to trap heat. You wanted it next to your skin so your clothes stayed dry. It didn't work too well if you were stressed and sweating because ya stayed wet and cold. Otherwise it worked pretty good. Try it out. More 'seasoned' riders(older) have less than perfect circulation and extremities are our first problem. Once that starts the core body temp becomes an issue soon after. Electric socks and gloves are usually popular and then we splurge for the heated jacket. My best warmth is from wool and polypropolyene, but I'm thinking of a DIY project for a heated vest. It has to get a little colder here first.

[JD Diesel]

Frog togs= Rain gear...JD