BARE Ultrawarmth - underwear worthy of attention

We often hear the term thermal underwear or thermal underwear. For most people there is no difference and it would seem that they are one and the same. And here you are wrong! Thermoactive and thermal underwear are two completely different products. Let’s take a closer look and see what the differences are.

The basic and actually most important difference – at least for divers – is the issue of perspiration wicking. In the case of thermal clothing, it doesn’t wick away sweat, which means that the clothing, as we exert ourselves, will become increasingly damp and begin to cool our body. It also does not provide adequate ventilation. They are usually made from thick materials such as natural wool or cotton.

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Thermoactive underwear provides the wearer with protection against wind, scorching sun or cold piercing breeze. It is a specific type of clothing that helps to maintain a constant body temperature, protects against cold and chill and at the same time provides the right level of thermal insulation. At the same time, it maintains a high level of ventilation and moisture transfer. In itself, it does not heat the body, but only maintains a constant temperature and heat generated by the body.

So, is the BARE Ultrawarmth thermal underwear only for cold waters and should it only be used in autumn and winter? Nothing could be further from the truth!

Personally, I dive all year round and always in a dry suit. For my first dives with a new set of Bare underwear, in order to test it, I went to Malta in the middle of summer. The weather was good and the July temperatures were very pleasant. The water temperature was 25ºC, while the air temperature was always above 30ºC. In this case, I used the tested underwear set as an insulator.

To begin with, I must point out that the comfort offered by the Ultrawarmth exceeded my wildest expectations. But let’s start from the beginning. A very important aspect when choosing thermoactive underwear is the right size. The underwear should cling to the body. In this particular case, the fit will not be a problem, as BARE Ultrawarmth has up to 16 different sizes, so everyone can find something perfect for themselves. Interestingly, for an even better fit on such a key thermal comfort item, the underwear comes in women’s and men’s sizes, taking into account anatomical differences. When placing an order, sizes can be crossed to obtain a perfectly matching set, e.g. trousers in size L, and a sweatshirt in size XL.

In Malta, I made a dozen or so dives in the depth range from 10 to 40 meters. During that time, the underwear performed perfectly, and what is important in the case of tight-fitting clothing – nothing pinches or chafes. All because of the use of the so-called flat seams, which minimise discomfort.

However, these are not the only details worth mentioning. BARE designers used in this model, among others, a low pullover neckline, which makes it very easy to put on, a foot loop to keep the legs in place and my favourite patent – a thumb loop, which comes in very handy when putting on. The ladies version, on the other hand, features a contoured waistband, adjustable with a drawcord.

The longer you use this underwear, the more it becomes apparent that this is a well thought-out and refined product, created based on the users’ essential needs.

Diving in cold waters such as the Baltic Sea, at depths of less than 40 metres and water temperatures of 4ºC, was also not beyond the capabilities of this underwear. I made a series of such dives, with the Bare Ultrawarmt underwear as an additional support under the warmer, in the form of a first layer and additionally a heating waistcoat. The whole thing played a concert, providing a very pleasant dive.

From a diving point of view, the undoubted advantage of the underwear is the speed of drying in case of flooding. In fact, you only need to turn it inside out and hang it up to use it after a few dozen minutes, enjoying 100% of the properties it offers.

To sum up – the Bare Ultrawarmth underwear is so universal that every diver, regardless of the level of experience, season and place where he dives, will be satisfied with it. Properly fitted, it can play a major role in warm waters, or be a great complement during long dives in cold water.

*Infrared Thermal Celliant® is FDA approved as a heat recovery medical device.

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