Hunting this year, my buddy sunk the boat we were in and we both went swimming. 3°c water. Quite the shock to the system and it was about 3 hours until we were able to get dry again. I will say 100% that my wool base layers did their job. Socks, long underwear top and bottom and a wool top kept me warm. Worth the investment. It could save your life.

Another feature that I really like in base layers for skiing and snowshoeing is thumb loops. It helps to keep the sleeves from bunching under other layers as you're taking things off/on. It also helps to make sure that at least your base layer extends into your gloves, which is really nice if you're digging out snow caves, skiing in deep powder, etc...

Thank you for doing this, this is extremely helpful!!

Outdoor Research also has a lot of good options for base layers. Merino/Poly/etc and if you’re .mil you can get a pro account and get everything for around 50% off.

Marino wool retains 80% of its thermal value when wet. Much better than synthetics

We use a synthetic "fishnet" style shirt and bottoms (brynje), and throw a t-shirt over it (not cotton). Then if you need more, wool top/bottom. We dress for the expected activity. So if you are going for medium/high activity, you are going too freeze if there is no activity. And you throw on more layers if you know you are going nowhere in a while (like a 600gr wool sweater or a puffy jacket). 😉 🇧🇻

As I’m standing out in the pouring rain waiting for the train look what the algorithm has blessed me with !!!😁

Badlands has a Merino wool blend boxer short that is very comfortable and warm. And because they are a blend with cordura nylon they hold up good. They are usually 30-40 bucks, but if you catch a sale you can get them for 20.

I wasn't aware of the Kuiu bottoms, there are a few insulating layer pants(Helly-Hansen and Cold Skills) that work that way and I absolutely love them. Will have to try the Kuius, glad to see they have a higher Nylon content on the lightweights.

A grunts biggest philosophical dilemma is always “do I base layer or not ?”. Thumb holes are actually for continued insulation between the sleeve of the base layer and a glove. Love the video

We need more Kevin!

Nice quarter zip, Kevin. Nice content, SS.

First Lite “Game Bag” boxers are a game changer. I got a couple pairs on sale this season, hunted with them from freezing temps up into the 80s, and found them incredibly comfortable across the entire temp range. And they’re “liberating” if you know what I mean for comfort around the family jewels. Bonus points: My wife loves the look when I wear them around the house. 😂 Highly recommended!

Pretty dope that Ian McCollum’s brother works at Spiritus

Nice hire spiritus! Hill People is a tight company and US forest service dudes are an encyclopedia of knowledge

As an LV119 owner and HPG Tarahumara, its great to see this video. I love both companies and base layers are something I really struggle with. I have horrible circulation despite my pretty decent fitness level and I'm almost always cold. For years I'd just wear thermals, get sweaty and then end up freezing. This was really informative.

Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody has been my next-to-skin layer for a few years now. It’s a very light synthetic that does an excellent job at wicking sweat. It does have a thumb loop option which is convenient when adding layers, a small pocket on the chest (great for ID, permits), and zipper about the length of my sternum. Two of my favorite features are that the hood is form fitting without feeling too snug, and the hood has a built in face cover that isn’t noticeable when not wearing but also serves as a lightweight neck gaiter when you put the face cover around the front of your neck, and drop the hood - this has been the perfect touch of heat retention for heavy activity in cold temps. If you’re looking for an excellent next-to-skin layer, take a chance on the Sitka Core Lightweight Hoody.

Fan of Hill people gear, fan of spiritus, happy you guys are helping people with this type of info.

All Citizens make the greatest briefs of all time.

Thanks Kevin!

Aclima woolnets....best of both worlds.

Dick Dastardly sure knows his shit. Looking forward to his next video

Merino wool for life. Just wash them in 30°C with natural grey soap and baking soda. If they still stink or you use some antiperspirant cosmetics that made them stiff soak armpits with warm water and put there baking soda for a while. Baking soda is great for all natural fibers bc they wont shrink. Also make your own container for your field clothes, base layers, caps etc. and never give them to your gf, wife or mom to wash bc they will put them in high temp some washing gel or strong washing powder bc they stink and it will save you a lot of hardearned $. Great vid, greetings from Poland.

Excellent! Really nicely done - Kevin knows his stuff and how to communicate it.

I've really been enjoying your content. Thanks for another great video and can't wait for the next ones!

Stone Glacier Chinook boxers...wore 1 pair for 7 day hunt, no stink and no stretch or slack built up after lots of hiking, like most wool does.

Micromodal underwear is the shit. Haven’t really done any real testing on colder climates but it’s unbelievably comfortable (especially the ball hammock ones) and does a really great job keeping you dry.

I used the “XGO” brand underwear during ranger school. They were pretty expensive (around $35) for one pair. They advertise anti microbial and flame resistance. I can truly say the anti microbial works, I could wear one pair for 5 days straight and they didn’t get crusty, nasty, or smelly. As for the flame resistance, I’d rather not have that tested haha, so I can’t speak for that. But during the movements, they didn’t get soaked with sweat, which we all know ends up chafing your thighs, and in the cold, would make you colder. Overall, I recommend them as a good pair of field underwear.

Great video, very specific and informative man.

Definitely needed this with winter coming around here and for hunting season coming up/Hiking! Thanks 👌🏼Always love your content!

Great video! Been trying to put together a layering system myself lately. Very helpful

Very informative stuff and i look forward to the rest off the series

I can't wait to try my Marino wool base layer. My mom also gave me a wool emergency blanket from when she was a paramedic on the oil rigs in B.C, I take it everywhere with me.

I swear by Beyonds power wool base layers, its got the perfect blend of synthetic and wool

Excellent you know your stuff,very clear and knowledgeable thanks 🇬🇧

As a central Floridian, thank you for this!

Love this type of content. Str8 fax knowledge drops.

Yes! Keep this sort of content coming.

Ahhh looking forward to Kevin content, loved the stuff he worked on with HPG

The "suggested" rule of thumb for me starting my day hiking is, keeping cool. If im standing outside for a while and I feel that I need to put on a jacket, thats the proper clothing to climb up a hill with a pack on. If its dry out, i keep a light puffy attached to the side of my pack. And if I stop i put the jacket on immediately. When done take off ,replace and move.

My synthetic TMNT briefs have always been my staple field under garment🥷🐢

These are the videos we need.

Hell yeah, prior service marine and current USFS wildland firefighter as well. Actually saw a couple of the Hill People fire packs on the line this year.

Wow this was one of my favorite videos. Great info! Woulda liked to hear more about the synthetic blends and what specifically those are, but loved the video.

Excellent information! I’m a big fan of my Exofficio Briefs. Been excellent for the last several years.

Great vid, well done.

Kevin, stache on point.

Good series, Thank you

I look forward to the follow-up videos. RockOn.StayFree.

Great video !!

Really good info. I need to check out the Kuiu bottoms. They will be handy as I am a Firefighter and winter sucks.

Finally an actual helpful video on the subject

Thank you, it was very informative and gave me some new ideas. For shirts and boxers I use Bergans, Smartwool and Woolpower.

Great video! Love the content you guys are putting out. Really looking forward to the rest of this series. 🤘

Awesome content! Much needed series.

I needed this video yesterday

Great video man!

PCU Level 1 shorts are like $20 and I think the best cold weather underwear. Theyre midweight so they fight cold but syndrome. Also they’re silver impregnated so they’re anti microbial like wool.

Very informative, thanks for sharing.

Been thinking of getting a baselayer since I sweat alot in general and especially in the cold with a warm jacket on is annoying, now I know what to look for thanks guys

I use a merino wool shirt as a base layer at work in the colorado plains and I love it

Love the cross pollination with HPG!

Thank You for this video! Underwear was under the radar for me and now I will focus on this more!

Excellent presentation, looking forward to the rest of the series.

Gonna bookmark some kuiu stuff and wait for xmas, i guess. This helped me think of solutions for temperature issues i had when backpacking the other week

very helpful video, a lot of videos talking about base layers seem to neglect the underwear part of the discussion so thanks for including that, been looking for some high quality boxer briefs.

Great Informations, can‘t wait to see the Rest of the Series

Really helpful video, thanks !

"Cotton kills", and it's true. A girl who was hiking in Ushuiaia died of hypothermia for not being advised by the company that carried out the guide in one of the most difficult mountains. It was a huge negligence on many parts when taking inexperienced people on one of the most difficult tours. Both the owners of the company and the guide face jail. Spiritus Systems people knows what they're talking about.

Thanks for that!!!! Great run down. I love wool. Long johns, base layers, insulators, etc. Great stuff. A good water repellant outer layer, and done. I still wear 2 sets of Devold Expedition weight (not that thick, but 2 layers) tops and bottoms I've had now for 8+ years. I crotch blew out, cut restitched it, and good as new. Check them out. Highly recommend. Semper Fi!!!!!!

Old school stanfield's trifilar long undies are the base layer you never knew you wanted but needed.

I have some of the kuiu boxer briefs and i really like them for being able to wear multiple days without getting gross when backpacking or in the field which cuts down on weight and spade. They feel fine in the summer inside and outside in Texas and they still felt warm when i was in the field in Wisconsin a few weeks ago. They come in a three pack and then I’ll take looser boxer that dedicated for just sleeping in

Great idea for a series. This type of stuff is really only available through SERE courses or payed for classes

This is a great video thank you

More Kevin please

loved this video watched it several times would love if u put a list of some of the products u talked about in here in description

Good stuff. I’m a huge fan of the discontinued Patagonia lightweight capeline base layers. They have outperformed everything else I’ve tried for moisture management. I also like stuff made with NuYarn. It outperforms 100% wool that I have tried. Me favorite shirt is the Black Diamond Rhythm shirt. Super light weight and manages moisture and heat like a champ. I have a couple FirstLite wool pieces. They perform ok but they smell horrible when wet or damp.

Great Video, thank you. This topic is not covered enough in depth.

Calvin Klein MicroFiber Briefs are my favorite to hike in. Just long enough to prevent chafing. And wicks moisture decently.

Looking forward to your other cold weather videos.

Thank you.

The answer is always Merino Wool. Can't beat it!

In the south/central-Texas region, wool is fantastic. Remember your wool socks. Junior, you need FOUR MINIMUM! Feet. Neck Hands. Balls. Extra socks warms them all.

With my work, usually at lunch you can just take off the bottom layer and put them back on at a break before the end of the day if needed

3/4 lenght long johns are great, you can change into dry socks and the ends of your long johns aren't wet and wicking that moisture up! ;)

First Lite’s Game Bag boxer briefs are 65% wool 33% nylon 2% spandex, they also have a “pouch” to keep the lads in their own compartment and not sticking to a leg causing the ol’ one-legged wiggle.

thanks. new subscriber. second video. second comment. i'm not going to go on one for one, but i really appreciated the rain layer video and this one is the next one i could do with some advice. was never a problem before but i'm mid-forties now and more moist and squidgy. 🙁

Brown boxer briefs from the PX… underrated. I never chafe with those

Holy shit I thought I was seeing things or you had a twin. Happy for you👍🏽 Great info ❗️

Varestuleka viscose boxer briefs in my experience have very good odor resistant properties for being made of a synthetic-ish fabric. They’re very affordable for the performance, I only wish they were cut a little longer because they do something ride up my legs.

Great info! Any thoughts about silk or silk and wool blend base layers? Loved your work at HPG.

Minus33 also makes really nice Merino wool base layers

Let’s get a look at them fancy gear lockers!

awesome!

I’m real picky with my boxers haha. From 100% merino/synthetic/big name hunting brands, I’ve landed on the exofficio briefs. They give you enough support and can be rocked for a few days 🤙🏼

first lite makes some excellent merino base layers

Love it

Best field underwear for multi day that I have found over the years: Arcteryx wool briefs Lululemon silver wool brief (I’m serious they are great) Smartwool 200 marino wool briefs

06:25 I didn't know you could make a zipper out of wool. impressive.

great information, i would have liked to see socks presented in this video too. thanks