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What do smart travelers have in common? Frequent flyers use thermals under their clothes so they can travel carry-on only even in winter. Find out the brands our readers recommend the most!

 

For a full packing guide, read how to pack for cold weather like a boss!

 


Best Thermal Underwear for Women


 

 

Table Of Contents

 

 

Thermal underwear is a type of clothing worn beneath your top layers to keep your body warm, especially during harsh winter temperatures. Made from specialty fabric to protect against the cold, women’s thermal underwear traps body heat to provide warmth.

 

Start by reading these general tips on packing for winter travel:

 

The best thermal underwear for women often feature popular and recommended fabrics, such as merino wool and polyester blends, because they are lightweight, ultra-warm, and wick away moisture. Outdoor brands specifically choose certain fabrics that are ideal for traveling in the winter.

 

Another smart traveler secret is to re-wear clothing more than once without washing. Read more tips about this strategy here!

 

 

How to Choose the Best Thermals

 

The best thermals are made from merino wool or silk fabric because it’s lightweight, wicks away moisture and most importantly ultra-warm.

 

People love these fabrics for travel!

Merino wool is one of the most perfect fabrics for keeping you warm and comfortable all day by naturally wicking moisture away from your body. It is anti-bacterial and resists odors so it can be reworn several times without washing. Some travelers have even gone weeks wearing it repeatedly without washing it!

One of the biggest benefits of traveling with clothing made with merino wool is you can wear it to stay warm in winter or cool in summer. It’s a fabulous fabric!

Due to this reason, you only need to travel with one pair of woolen thermal underwear on a trip helping you pack light yet stay extremely warm. I usually pack them in one of my packing cubes along with my undergarments and pajamas as shown at the end of this video.

The biggest downside with merino wool and silk thermal underwear is the price. Because they’re high quality materials, they are high in price but well worth adding to your capsule wardrobe. All you need is one pair! Keep an eye out for sales.

Synthetic blends are a less expensive option. Although not quite as effective as natural fibers, they’ll definitely help keep you warmer than not having them at all.

 

Keep in mind that cotton is the least effective fabric for winter under clothes such as thermals. It absorbs moisture, preventing your clothing from helping you stay warm.

 

 

What Brands Offer the Best Women’s Thermal Underwear?

 

Below, we’ve lined up a few brands that offer the best thermal underwear for women:

 

 

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Silk Undershirts | Silk Thermal Pants

 

Terramar Thermasilk Silk Thermal Underwear

 

Stay warm without the bulk with the best silk thermals from Terramar. Made with 100% silk pointelle knit, the ultra lightweight fabric offers optimal warmth while their anti-microbial comfort technology allows you to re-wear them throughout your vacation.

One wearer shares ” I always take a Terramar silk undershirt. Takes up no room, and layers perfectly.”

As a plus, they’re one of the most affordable brands, too. I’ve got the silk scoop neck top and bottoms on my holiday wish list for sure!

 

Tip: when it’s really cold, layer a silk thermal under a merino wool thermal top for the perfect combo of warmth!

 

 

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Merino Wool Thermal Top | Merino Wool Bottoms

 

Minus33 Merino Wool Womens Thermal Underwear

 

The name speaks for itself: this brand’s expertise is all about wool. Minus33 makes use of sustainable, 100% merino wool in all their clothing.

Their thermal underwear is made with basic and bright colors that work as mid-weight base layers for your cold weather wardrobe.

 

As an added bonus, did you know merino wool makes a great base layer for dry suit scuba diving?

 

 

best-thermal-underwear-for-women

Merino Wool Thermal Top | Merino Wool Thermal Bottom

 

Icebreaker Thermal Underwear Merino Wool Top and Bottom

 

It’s a brand that explicitly states what it’s meant to do: break the ice. Made for the adventure traveler, Icebreaker’s base layers are 100% merino wool, perfect for winter hikes, camping, and travel.

One of our guest writers who lives in the Canadian arctic wears Icebreaker all day every day! She says, “I’ve found Icebreaker products perform very well in terms of fit, durability, and temperature regulation – I’ve had no problem throwing them in with the laundry. If you want to go for a full-wool ensemble, I would also recommend their socks and undies. They’re some of the best extreme cold weather thermals.

In terms of style and weight, I find myself reaching for the Icebreaker Everyday Long Underwear Leggings in 200gm and the Oasis Long Sleeve Crew in 200gm. If I could add anything to my Icebreaker collection, it would be the Tech Top Long Sleeve Half Zip.”

Icebreaker doesn’t just make some of the best thermal underwear for extreme cold, they also have great travel clothes like this Icebreaker Tee and Quantum III Sweater.

Reader says, “I love icebreaker. I have several tops and dresses, they can be layered up with boots and tights in winter or worn with sandals in summer. The fabric is amazing – it stays fresh for many wearings!”

 

 

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Aspect Midweight Merino Wool Long Sleeve Shirt | Aspect Midweight Merino Wool High Rise Base Layer Bottoms

 

Ridge Merino Merino Base Layer Top and Bottom

 

If you’re looking for well-made and reliable base layers, Ridge Merino thermal underwear is of superior quality and comes in Sizes XS-3X. 

The Aspect Midweight Long Sleeve Shirt and Aspect Midweight Bottoms wick away sweat helping regulate your temperature and repel odor so you’ll feel fresh and comfortable all day long.

One happy wearer endorses the Aspect soft, long sleeve shirt, “Beautifully made, love the merino fabric, and the long-enough sleeves! A favorite.” This thermal top not only works as an excellent base layer but it can just as easily be worn solo as a shirt.

While another reviewer can’t get enough of the Aspect breathable bottoms, “Love these! Warm and comfortable, but still have a little compression so they don’t sag. These are my new favorite layers for camping!

 

 

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Longsleeve Top | Merino Leggings

 

Unbound Merino Merino Wool Thermal Underwear

 

The Merino leggings and Longsleeve crew top from Unbound Merino are loved by readers for their cozy warmth and versatility. These merino wool thermal underwear are soft, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and temperature-regulating to keep you warm on freezing winter days. And while they’re fantastic base layers, both the top and bottoms are fully opaque and thick enough to be worn alone on a slightly warmer day. 

They’re perfect for travel as they’re wrinkle-resistant, hold their shape super well, and don’t retain odor, so you can wear them repeatedly without washing and they’ll stay feeling and smelling fresh!

 

 

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HEATTECH Longsleeve Top | HEATTECH Leggings

 

Uniqlo HEATTECH Thermal Underwear

 

These Uniqlo HEATTECH top and bottoms are my new favorite thermals. They were a lifesaver on my trip to Tokyo–so warm yet so lightweight. 

They have odor control and are moisture-wicking, so these thermals will feel (and smell) fresh after a few long days of wear. Despite the superior warming technology, these thermals are impressively lightweight, so you can comfortably layer them under fitted tops and pants. They have a great amount of stretch, too! 

 

 

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Base Layer Top | Base Layer Bottom

 

ColdPruf Womens Thermal Base Layer Top and Bottom

 

If you’re looking for the warmest base layer for cold weather consider Coldprufpart of the Indera Mills Company, a family-owned brand in North Carolina. ColdPruf creates knitted and thermal underwear products that give off a cozy feeling.

While it doesn’t offer the same level of warmth as merino thermals, their products are made with a polyester and cotton blend that acts as a budget-friendly base layer – a great option if you’re allergic to wool. Available in Sizes XS-3X.

 

 

best-thermal-underwear-for-women

Cuddl Duds Thermal Top (Plus) | Cuddl Duds Thermal Bottom (Plus)

 

Cuddl Duds Long Underwear for Women

 

A supremely cute name for a brand that specializes in cozy clothing, women’s Cuddl Duds long underwear is best for affordability. From fabric to fit, they offer winter wear that can be layered to provide warmth without breaking the bank.

You can choose from different waffle-knit designed patterns and colors to match your style and Sizes XS-3X.

Cuddl Duds thermals get top marks from our community. One reader shares, “For an inexpensive base layer I like the Softwear Stretch leggings. They are amazing. I walked all over New York City in below freezing weather and I was warm. Soft, comfy, and hand wash well. The shirts are terrific, and the leggings are excellent under other leggings or pants. TFG readers love their classic and best thermal underwear for women, especially for their budget-friendly prices.

 

For a trip to an extremely cold destination, read our post on what clothing to wear in the arctic!

 

 

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Thermal ShirtThermal Leggings

 

Duofold Mid Weight Wicking Thermals for Women

 

This sub-brand by Champion invites wearers to “hold on to the heat” – made possible with their league of thermal underwear! Their snug-fitting, moisture control products are made with cotton, polyester, and spandex blends.

Solid tops and bottoms can easily be paired and layered with other clothing against the cold. One of the biggest perks is the price: their mid-weight bottoms start around $10 and the higher grade tops start around $25.

 

 

best-thermal-underwear-for-women

Baselayer Top | Baselayer Bottom

 

Meriwool Midweight Baselayer Top And Bottom

 

Meriwool’s leggings and top are made from super soft fabric, with no itch! Their baselayer crewneck top in merino wool offers a flattering fit if you want to wear it alone. You also can wear it as a baselayer or a mid-layer if you need additional warmth. 

We don’t usually recommend washing merino wool while traveling; first, because you can wear them many times between washings, and second because it takes wool a long time to dry. This quick-drying shirt and thermal leggings have a loop that you can use to hang them up to dry

Meriwool recommends you hand wash their products and lay them flat to dry for best results, but the washing instructions on this merino wool crew top and leggings say you can machine wash them on cold and tumble dry on low with like colors. You might not want to do it all the time, but if you need to wash your merino wool while traveling, that’s one way to ensure they would dry.

 

Our readers suggest the best merino wool sweaters!

 

 

best-thermal-underwear-for-women

Fleece Thermal Top | Fleece Thermal Leggings

 

Angelina Fleece Women’s Thermals

 

The Amazon-based Angelina brand offers winter wear, including fleece-lined thermal underwear for women. Not only are their prices super affordable, but their products come in a wide array of colors so there’s something for every personality.

While the other bottoms listed in this article act as the perfect under clothes layers, these styles from Angelina are the best thermal leggings for winter that can actually to be worn on their own. This is a result of their microfiber spandex blend which means that they don’t loosen with wear – a common problem with thermal bottoms.

Their inexpensive, fleece lined thermal leggings are one of the most popular and best-selling items featured in TFG’s best leggings for women who travel.

 

 

best-thermal-underwear-for-women

Compass Rose Carryon Size Packing Cubes: Slim Size Cubes | Medium Size Cubes

 

How to Pack Your Thermals

 

Packing cubes will change the way you pack. We designed our own brand of slim packing cubes, with a unique color and numbering system, so it’s easy to remember where you’ve packed everything—ESPECIALLY your thermal underwear!

The Compass Rose Packing Cubes are offered in two sizes: slim and medium. The slim size cubes measure 13” x 5” x 2.8”, and the medium size cubes measure 2.8” x 13” x 8.5”. Both fit an international carry-on suitcase. Users say the medium size is great for bulkier items!

We put together a five-part YouTube series showing the different methods to use packing cubes for travel. Check out the first video below:

 

 

Learn our packing hacks with packing cubes in this video!

 

If you use this specific packing strategy, packing cubes can also compress your belongings. This is the secret to traveling carry-on only!

 

 


Read this post on how to stay warm in cold weather and not look like a snowman! Who gets your vote for the best thermal underwear for women? Comment and share!


 

For more winter travel tips, please read:

 


 

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I hope you liked our top picks for the best thermal underwear for women. Share this post with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!