What exactly is functional underwear? And what should I look out for when making a purchase? Can I wear the functional underwear in summer and winter? The protection professionals have researched and report in detail on this functional clothing. First of all, a fact: there is no standard for functional underwear. Functional underwear for wearing under protective clothing of any kind works in the same way as functional underwear for the leisure sector, in other words, they are very similar or the same products.
Never freeze again thanks to thermal underwear
So why do manufacturers, importers and dealers in the field of occupational safety still offer functional underwear as protective workwear? The main reason is that clothing for the leisure sector is in a different, i.e. higher price category and is often offered extremely fashionably. Just like in the leisure sector, functional underwear is worn for the sake of improving comfort for the wearer.
Features of functional underwear
What are the essential properties of functional underwear? It should be breathable and ensure optimal moisture transport (from body sweat) away from the body. By removing body sweat, the body is kept dry. This is all the more important if the underwear is to warm. Moisture in the underwear would otherwise nullify the heat-insulating effect. Thermal underwear must of course have good thermal insulation. Manufacturers often point out the special features of the material and its composition in their products, as well as the special features of the production of the fabric. This gives the product its special properties.
Cotton, which predominates in "normal" underwear, is hardly used in functional underwear. Synthetic materials (polyamide, polyester, polyacrylic, etc.) usually dominate in combination. Each manufacturer has its own formula here. There is no general trend, the user decides.
Functional underwear without restrictions
The decisive factor of comfort requires special attention from the manufacturer to the primary product features. The seams must not disturb the wearer in any way, so they must be soft, flat and barely noticeable. The fit of the finished garment must adapt perfectly to the body, and must not give the feeling of being "baggy". The functional underwear must be comfortable to wear under workwear without restricting freedom of movement. As a special feature, it should be noted that one company even offers electrically heated functional underwear!
Needless to say, the products must be easy to clean and quick-drying.
Functional underwear in the onion principle
Functional underwear is part of the two- or three-layer "onion principle" of protective clothing and works as described above by wicking away moisture. In cold conditions, it may be necessary to wear a second, insulating layer on top of it, if the functional underwear does not already have heat-insulating properties itself. This second layer transports moisture further to the outside and ensures good thermal insulation through a fabric or fleece with enclosed air chambers in the layer. This keeps the heat loss of the body low. The outer layer (weather protection layer) protects against rain, wind and snow, but at the same time is breathable and transports body moisture to the outside. Overall, an optimal feeling of comfort is created, which emanates from the first layer, namely the functional underwear.
Schematically represented:
outer layer, weather protection (wind, rain, snow), breathable
Insulating layer or thermal layer
Functional undergarment layer
Functional underwear as the perfect complement
Functional underwear is therefore an integral part of a concept of optimal protective workwear.
Wearing functional underwear under disposable clothing, e.g. type 4, 5 or 6 disposable overalls, can also be helpful for reasons of improving comfort.
Functional underwear as protective workwear
In summary, the protection professionals can state that functional underwear is in the process of gaining a firm place in the occupational safety sector because of its comfort. Good quality and the right material should always be taken care of, for optimal comfort and perfect function.