Bamboo Clothing for Cold Days – How to Stay Warm

Short answer: Bamboo viscose keeps you warm because a thin layer underneath keeps the skin dry, and dry skin does not cool down. That is why a bamboo base layer works better than a thick cotton jumper next to the skin. Dress in layers: thin against the skin, warm on top, windproof outside.

Why bamboo works as a base layer

You do not get cold from the cold alone, but from moisture against the skin. Walk from a cold street into a warm shop and you sweat easily, and when you step out again the moisture stands in the fabric and cools the body down. Cotton is worst here, because it absorbs a lot and releases slowly. Bamboo viscose takes the moisture into the fibre and passes it on to the next layer, so the skin stays dry. The fabric is also thin and smooth, which leaves room for another layer on top without it turning bulky.

The top half

The base layer should sit close, not tight, because it has to touch the skin all the way round. A long sleeved bamboo vest is thinner than the wool equivalent and does not itch, which makes it usable all day and not only on the walk. The styles sit under bamboo vest for women and bamboo vest for men. Choose your normal size, because the fabric gives and settles against the body.

The bottom half

The legs often get forgotten, even though they are the part standing still in the cold. A thin layer under your trousers does more for warmth than a thicker pair of trousers, because it holds the warm air close to the skin without adding bulk. For men the styles sit under bamboo long johns, and for women bamboo leggings for women work both as a base layer under trousers and on their own indoors. Both can be washed often at thirty degrees.

The feet

Cold feet usually come from a damp sock rather than a thin shoe. A bamboo sock keeps the foot drier than a cotton one, and a dry foot gets warmer. Choose a sock that does not squeeze over the instep, because a tight sock restricts the circulation and makes the foot colder whatever the material. The range sits under bamboo socks for women and bamboo socks for men. Change socks in the middle of the day if you have been out in snow.

The night in winter

In winter many people turn the bedroom heating up and still wake clammy under the duvet. That is because the body gives off moisture all night and the moisture stays in cotton nightwear. Thin bamboo nightwear passes it on, which is why it works both when the room is warm and when it is cool. See bamboo nightwear for women and bamboo nightwear for men. Choose loose rather than close fitting, so the fabric can work.

Frequently asked questions

Is bamboo warm enough in winter

As a base layer, yes. It is not meant to replace the warm jumper, but to sit underneath and keep the skin dry, and dry skin holds the warmth.

Bamboo or wool as a base layer

Bamboo does not itch and can be washed more often. Wool keeps you slightly warmer when wet. Many people use bamboo day to day and wool for long walks in frost.