Do sub 3.0 oz baselayer bottoms actually exist?

[Rick Sutton]

I'm looking for a sub 3.0 oz. baselayer bottom. I used the Forum Search here, yet, many suggestions appear to be no longer available (i.e., GoLite, BPL version, etc.).

Here is a list of the best I can find today and their weights (Size L):

Pat Cap 1 – 5.2 oz
Montbell Zeoline – 5.0 oz
REI Silk – 3.2 oz
Terramar 1.0 Silkweight – 5.0 oz

I also noticed there were 2 options at this years OR Trade Show (MyWatsons and 32Heat) yet I cannot find any specs for them online and the 32Heat doesn't appear very easy to find as the trade show article implied.

I read about the Terramar 1.0 Silkweights weighing 2.9 oz in a recent SUL thread, however, after buying model (W8427) which appeared to be the only 1.0 bottom version on their website, they actually weigh 5.0 oz.

Does anyone know of a true sub 3.0 oz baselayer bottom that is easily available or does anyone have any other suggestions for something in the 2-3 oz range that I can wear at night and at cooler temp under my Montbell hiking pants. If needed, I will get the REI ones, yet at almost $50, I wanted to see if there were any other options first.

Thanks in advance.

[Jeremy Rardin]

I was trying to find the same thing a few weeks ago. I found someone selling a pair of Tarramar Thermasilk tops and bottoms. He weighed them for me and they both weighed near 3 and under.

[Rick M]

del

[Anonymous]

Is this for active wear, or more for sleep and to boost insulation and protect ones bag/quilt?

I ask, because if it's the latter, if you used UL fabric (the .6 oz per 2/yd type stuff) in combo with UL insulation, depending on your size, you could probably get a lightly insulated piece down to around 3 to 4 oz range. As far as insulation, higher quality down would be your best bet, but you may be able to use something like 2.2 oz Apex which helps to take away a little weight from not needing to quilt/baffle it. Another way to keep weight down in such a piece, is instead of putting elastic band in same for the waist, run UL cord through and use tie up method.

And would be a lot warmer than silk, capilene or the like. In any case, silk is not that good for active wear anyways.

[Anonymous]

Actually, now that i'm thinking more about it, probably couldn't get it down to 3 anything oz, probably minimum is 4 to 5 oz range.

So i guess ignore my previous post.

[Justin Baker]

I wonder if you could get some super thin women's tights for that weight.

[Rick Sutton]

Thanks Jeremy, Rick, & Justin, & Justin B for your responses.

Justin – I will be using this baselayer to aid in my current sleep system and for added leg warmth if needed under light hiking pants.

Jeremy – The Themasilk version you suggested appears to be different than the Terramar Silkweight 1.0 version I just purchased. The tag on the ones I just bought says “Body Sensors” and also says the Warmth Level 1.0. I was surprised to see the Amazon site said the Thermasilk product weighs 5.6 oz. Any thoughts on that?

Rick – The option you suggested from Sierra Trading Post doesn’t appear to say Thermasilk anywhere in the product description, although it does give a item # 13040. I guess the labeling doesn’t matter to me as long as I can just buy the 3.0 oz version. Did you actually order your 3.0 oz version from STP as it might just make sense to get them from there to insure I am now getting the right ones?

I did originally miss the Thermasilks on the Terramar website. There is a version there call Thermasilk Jersey 1.0 with a Terramar Model # S483. Here is the link:

http://terramarsports.com/product/S483

Do these appear to be the 3.0 oz version as well?

Justin B – I am open to all possibilities. I am 6'4", yet wonder if anyone has tried your lady tight suggestion and did they have any success?

Thanks everyone

[Justin Baker]

Rick – I vaguely recall someone mentioning using tights that they found at a halloween store and they were very light, maybe even 2 oz. I could be wrong on this.

[Dale Wambaugh]

Keep in mind that light may not equal performance. The fabric type may not wick or insulate as well as a slightly heavier model. There is a leap between simply covering your skin and getting good results.

Another way to go is to get longer stretch boxer briefs. I got a pair of the Champion C9 boxers that are nearly knee length and was surprised at the warmth. With tall socks, just my knees and the fat of my calves are exposed.

[Rick Sutton]

Justin – I thought I read that somewhere on this sight awhile back myself. Maybe I will start another thread and see what I might find out. Regardless, thanks for the idea and the follow-up.

Dale – Great point. While I want something light, I need to get some warmth and performance as well. I don't need much of either, yet I do need some. Thanks for reminding me – smile!

Thanks for the longer brief idea as well as I had not thought of that route.

[Bob Gross]

I had to get a weight perspective of what you were after. I weighed my thin Patagonia Capilene bottoms, and I got 4.73 ounces.

I'm not sure where sub-3 ounces will take you.

–B.G.–

[Link .]

Halloween store

[Dale Wambaugh]

Long briefs is a little oxymoronic!

We've had a couple runs of sub freezing weather here and I found the longer briefs to be a good balance. Full length long johns can be too warm while standard stuff leaves cold nylon on you skin, and it's felt more on the thighs. The nice plus is that they are fairly cheap at under $11.

I dug mine out and I was surprised at the 3.8oz weight in a size large with a 9" unstretched inseam. They are about the thickness of cap3. They offer compression style long boxers too. I guess the weight rationale for this model would be when wearing them for both hiking and sleep.

[Rick M]

del

[M B]

If it doesnt say pattagucci or come from REI, some folks dont want anything to do with it.

Under Armor Base 1.0 in Medium weighs 3.16 oz. Is that light enough?
It also breathes extremely well, its like a micro-power fleece. Its all I have been using for 2 yrs now.

The base 2.0 weighs 5.04 oz in medium. Its really thick and beavy for cold weather.

Drawbacks, well, they are very tight form fitting, not a lot of stretch, lack of elastic fibers is probably why they are light. They are also a little short. An extra inch of length would have been nice. Medium is snug on me with 31-32 waist. thats OK, a lot of mediums are like 34 and unwearable, while smalls are <30 and also unwearable. I can wear these.

[Rick Sutton]

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to post suggestions. I still feel a bit confused with the Terramar line so I plan to call them and see if that will help. I also plan to check my local Halloween clothing shops and the Under Armor line to see how those fit. If I find out anything worth reporting, I will make a followup post. As a simple back-up plan, I will just drop the $50 and get the 3.2 oz silk version bottom from REI.

I did see a youthful and slender woman at my church last Sunday who was over 6' tall". Even though I didn't know her, I mentioned to my wife that after mass I was going to ask her if she wears nylons or tights, and if so, where does she buy them as I was looking for some to wear while backpacking. For some reason, my wife gave me one of those if looks could kill stares and a very stern "oh no your not" replies.

Some people just don't understand the challenges of trying to go SUL – smile.

[Jerry Adams]

I have some Terramar bottoms. 6.5 ounces. I thought they were pretty good, but I now wear MYOG Supplex pants that seem a little better for outer layer and Ionly want one layer, so they're it.

[Dale Wambaugh]

You know it occurred to me that another question to ask is whether sub 3oz long johns are worth the bother.

If you want to try tights, you won't have any problem finding some that fit. If you haven't noticed, the female of the species comes in many shapes and sizes :)

[Steven Paris]

My quick take on sub-3 oz baselayers mirrors Dale's question above:

During last weekend's "Portland Snowpocalypse," when walking around my neighborhood area when it was cold and windy, I mostly wore some older MH Syncro softshell bibs. Even with the brushed material on the inside, the first day my legs felt slightly cold-ish just because my bare legs were against the material that wind was blowing on. Later that day, I used my old REI Silk tights which helped mostly because it gave a buffer layer.

I think most sub-3 oz layers would give this "buffer layer" affect (so bare skin doesn't contact a cold shell) rather than providing any decent warmth. For 3-season in the SE U.S., that would probably be enough, but bumping up a couple ounces in weight will yield a lot more warmth (like a power stretch or Cap3 tight).

That said, those UA Base tights look very nice!

[James Marco]

If you are talking super light weight, 2-3oz range, then you always expect to sacrifice some performance. I don't believe it is possible to weave a 1/16" thick cloth from materials that will not compress under the weight of itself or other clothing over it. I may be wrong, of course.

Anyway, I have used womens panty-hoes when I was out ice fishing & steelhead fishing in -10 to -20F temps. This was the first layer of a 4 layer system, though, and I wanted it skin tight with just enough breathing space to allow any perspiration to wick away. Of course, appropriate mods are needed for the equipment you have. Tight, but not so tight to cut off circulation. I was always warm enough. In fact, I often needed to drop my vest, jacket and parka, stuffing them in my fishing jacket in sunny weather, even at 10f.

The first layer doesn't supply much warmth, but it does supply some. Very fine weaves can be warmer than open weaves like "fish-nets", but may trap more moisture. Under my waders, I didn't much care. Some days I would get wet simply because I was too warm. No, my waders did not leak. So, warmth is a product of thickness and fiber conductance. Very thin cloths, like panty-hoes, simply do not supply enough to be very warm. But for the weight and because they are skin tight, they are worth it.

[Ken Thompson]

nm already suggested

[Brian Mix]

I just weighed my Terramar sport silks bottoms (ca08049) and they are 3.35oz for a large.

[Rick Sutton]

Brian – Thanks for weighing the bottoms and posting the results. Do you remember where you purchased the Terramar "Sport" bottoms from and is the (ca08049) a model number. Several members have posted a Terramar bottom that weighs slightly over 3.0 oz, yet, I have been unsuccessful in finding any of them by the exact name they are describing them by.

Thanks in advance.

[Brian Mix]

Hi Rick, They are from Sierra Trading Post Outlet- same as the link above. The number is the only number anywhere on the pants.

[Rick Sutton]

Brian – Thanks as that will make ordering them a lot easier.

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