View Full Version : Which Underpants?
steven andrews
26-09-2005, 13:30
What do you wear?
I must admit that over the years I have overlooked one area of base layering..the underpants.
I have always worn cotton briefs and have therefore suffered from sweaty, soggy pants.
For some reason I have always resented paying a lot of money for pants (and socks), but it is now time to change that.
My job as a firefighter means that I have to wear thermally protective overtrousers whilst at incidents and during training, and this leads to a very hot and sweaty nether region.
It is time to buy some wicking knickers!
I am a big fan of Merino wool and think that this is the material I'd like my pants to be made of.
I'd like briefs ..no boxers.
I have found a company called Ortovox (http://www.ortovox.com/typo7/index.php?id=1&L=1) who do Merino briefs, but I can't find a UK stockist of them :(
You could try silk :) Comfortable, wicking, light....
http://www.patra.com/ProductList.asp?CatID1=37&RP=0&CatID2=0&C1=2&C2=0&C3=37
Cheers,
Toddy
You're a firefighter? Well, that rules out you taking my advice, unless you fight fires in the bush. But here it is anyway:
Don't wear underwear in the bush, at least not in the summer. It's a real fast trip to getting crotch rot. (Well, if you sweat)
Oh, and now I have a question for you: What kind of materials are your overtrousers made of? NOMEX? Borax-treated cotton?
Adam
steven andrews
26-09-2005, 16:14
Oh, and now I have a question for you: What kind of materials are your overtrousers made of? NOMEX? Borax-treated cotton?
Adam
Adam, they are PBI Gold with a Gore-Tex membrane,lightweight thermal wadding and a "wicking" liner.
And these on top of poly-cotton trousers.
No wonder we get sweaty cacks!
Have you tried lycra gym shorts? I know they aren't briefs but they hold your kit in place
wilekayote
26-09-2005, 23:20
What about the ones Felix wears in Viz comics. I've seen him use them as a rucksack, tent, poncho and food larder.
Roy's Badger
27-09-2005, 16:04
Guess it depends what you need them for. If it's to keep your sweets warm in the arctic, then go for wool (the non-itchy kind). If it's for fire-proofing, cotton every time, but make sure they are only cotton. A friend of mine had his best m&s 'cotton' undercrackers on when he was involved in a fire- although the cotton survived, the comfort lycra m&s had thoughtfully provided did some serious and lasting damage to his nether regions! :(
BorderReiver
27-09-2005, 16:27
If there's any risk of you getting more than sweaty hot,I would think that natural fibre is the safest option.
Have a lot of pairs available,change frequently and powder your bits. :)
arctic hobo
27-09-2005, 16:49
If you want good underwear, try Craft of Sweden (www.craft.se) or Devold of Norway (www.devold.no). Both make wonderful kit ;)
I'll second the "powdering your bits" idea. I used to live in the tropics and often got a rash between my legs from heat and sweat even though I showered everyday (as one does when they live in the 34C heat with 90% humidty).
IMO cotton or silk is the best material for underwear but putting talc all over my genitals stopped me getting rashes. I'm not a fan of any kind of synthetic next to my skin whatever wonderful claims the manufacturer's make. Possibly for firefighters synthetics could even be dangerous.
I was on a trip with cadets doing the 100 km van eype (in belgium) and was wearing boxer shorts . After a few miles they ride up the crack of your botty and then start to rub back and forth causing a nasty blister (not that easy to rearrange ones boxers in public) . The advice that i was given was to apply vasaline , although in hind sight this may have been a bit of a joke (although it did work) . So i would have to recomend breifs or going commando . You dont want to go round a foreign army camp asking for vasaline for your butt , believe me ! :eek:
Pumbaa
BorderReiver
27-09-2005, 22:02
I was on a trip with cadets doing the 100 km van eype (in belgium) and was wearing boxer shorts . After a few miles they ride up the crack of your botty and then start to rub back and forth causing a nasty blister (not that easy to rearrange ones boxers in public) . The advice that i was given was to apply vasaline , although in hind sight this may have been a bit of a joke (although it did work) . So i would have to recomend breifs or going commando . You dont want to go round a foreign army camp asking for vasaline for your butt , believe me ! :eek:
Pumbaa
No joke Pumbaa,vaseline is great to prevent rubbing and chafing when on a long walk/run.Well recognised preventative.
Again no,you don't want to go round a foreign army camp asking for vaseline. :p
You dont want to go round a foreign army camp asking for vasaline for your butt , believe me ! :eek:
Pumbaa
:D :D :D :D Or any other "camp"!
the stuff you get for babies to prevent nappy rash tends to stay in place a bit better. It's a pain to get off but I guess you can't have it both ways.
Celt_Ginger
28-09-2005, 20:09
vaseline is definately good for reducing chaffing. If you buy it in the small tins usually marketed for applying to lips is also in a small durable easily carried container. Just forget about then using it on your lips though :eek: Cotton briefs work for me if I'm on a long walk, as boxers do indeed ride up your backside and chaff.
steven andrews
28-09-2005, 20:50
the stuff you get for babies to prevent nappy rash tends to stay in place a bit better. It's a pain to get off but I guess you can't have it both ways.
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/5830/sudo9id.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I borrowed some of our baby's Sudocrem after my "try-to-cure-sweaty-bum-by-shaving-hair-off (without shaving foam)" experiment went terribly wrong :o
That little tub of Sudocrem was worth its weight in gold!!
steven andrews
28-09-2005, 20:55
You could try silk :) Comfortable, wicking, light....
http://www.patra.com/ProductList.asp?CatID1=37&RP=0&CatID2=0&C1=2&C2=0&C3=37
Cheers,
Toddy
Thanks for the link Toddy. I've ordered some briefs to try. I'll give them some tough field testing.....If they don't work I'll send them back :D
BorderReiver
28-09-2005, 21:20
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/5830/sudo9id.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I borrowed some of our babies Sudocrem after my "try-to-cure-sweaty-bum-by-shaving-hair-off (without shaving foam)" experiment went terribly wrong :o
That little tub of Sudocrem was worth its weight in gold!!
That stuff is the puppies privates for all sorts of cuts,grazes,rashes,bites etc.
I can't recommend it too highly. :D (I have no connection with whoever makes it :p )
I borrowed some of our baby's Sudocrem after my "try-to-cure-sweaty-bum-by-shaving-hair-off (without shaving foam)" experiment went terribly wrong :o
That little tub of Sudocrem was worth its weight in gold!!
Too much info
clcuckow
30-09-2005, 16:58
Cheapo running short I got from Aldi or lidl or one of them there shops.
Carcajou Garou
30-09-2005, 17:08
would wearing a kilt offer moer ventilation? and be appropreate?
just a thought
steven andrews
30-09-2005, 20:31
would wearing a kilt offer moer ventilation? and be appropreate?
just a thought
Unfortunately I have to wear issue uniform black trousers under my firekit, otherwise a nice frilly skirt would be nice... :D