Long Underwear for Men – Bamboo Long Johns
Short answer: Long underwear for men, known as long johns, is the thin warm layer under the trousers when the temperature drops. In bamboo viscose they keep you warm without turning clammy, because the material carries sweat away from the skin. It is the thinness rather than the thickness that makes them usable all day.
What long johns are
A long john is a thin pair of underwear reaching all the way to the ankle and lying close to the leg. It is meant to sit under an ordinary trouser without showing, which is why it has to be thin. A thick model makes the trouser tight and gets hot indoors, and then it ends up in the drawer after a week.
Dryness is what keeps the warmth
Moisture carries heat away from the skin far faster than air does. If you sweat in a layer that holds on to the moisture, it cools you as soon as you stand still. Bamboo viscose moves the moisture out into the fabric where it evaporates, which is why a thin bamboo layer works better than a thick cotton one.
Bamboo against wool
Wool holds heat even when wet and is therefore still right for frost and for the mountains. Many people simply cannot tolerate wool directly against the skin, because the fibres have small scales that scratch. Bamboo viscose is smooth, does not scratch and dries faster. See bamboo long johns.
The fit has to be close
A long john should lie against the leg the whole way. Too loose and it folds behind the knee and under the trouser, and a fold is both uncomfortable and a cold spot. Too tight and it pinches at the crotch and the ankle. Measure your waist and use the brand's chart rather than your trouser size.
When you need them
For outdoor work, for long days in the cold, for winter cycling and for travel where you do not know how warm it is indoors. For an ordinary office day they are unnecessary, because you sit inside most of the time, and then the layer becomes too warm rather than too cold.
The top that goes with it
A layer on the legs without one on the body gives an uneven distribution of warmth. See bamboo undershirts for men, which apply the same idea to the upper body in the same material. The two are almost always worn together and washed the same way.
Washing and lifespan
Wash at 30 to 40 degrees and hang them to dry. Bamboo viscose is weaker when wet, and a long, close fitting garment stretches easily if tumble dried hot. Skip the fabric softener, which closes off the moisture transport, and turn the item inside out in the wash so the seams take as little wear as possible. See also bamboo and temperature regulation and bamboo as a base layer in winter.
Frequently asked questions
What are long johns
Thin, long underwear reaching to the ankle and lying close to the leg, meant to sit under an ordinary trouser.
Is bamboo warm enough in winter
For town, the working day and the commute, yes, because dry skin is warm skin. For frost in the mountains, wool is still right.
Should they fit tightly
They should lie against the leg without pinching. A loose model folds under the trouser, and a fold is both uncomfortable and a cold spot.
See our range of bamboo underwear for men.
