Shawn L. Bird

I’ve needed some long underwear for awhile, and I finally picked some up last week for a trip to Banff.

Oh my. Times have changed! Today’s thin, ultra-light, wicking microfibre ‘base layers’ bear little resemblance to the old cotton waffle weave!

True story: the last long johns I had were hand me downs. I needed a pair for Girl Guide winter camp.  I was 11 or something.  Somehow, my mom managed to get some from her friend Shirley whose son had outgrown his. Yes. Son. I was rather unimpressed, but she cut out the flap and sewed it down to give it a facsimile of a feminine cut. I wore those cotton waffle weave, boy adapted long johns until they had giant holes in the knees. I was leading my own Guide unit by that time, and probably 50 lbs heavier. I wore those bulky waffle weave long johns for almost thirty years! It wasn’t long ago that I finally shredded those and they became bike rags.

I deserved new warm long underwear. I am thrilled with the coziness of the new generation of winter undergarments.  If you haven’t upgraded from cotton waffle weave, it’s time to join me in the modern era.  You won’t regret the purchase!