Brrr: Getting Sweaty With Terramar Sports Thermal Wear

The Smart Silk top

Ever since my snowboarding trip last year, I’ve been obsessed with the proper undergarments needed to hit the mountain. Because my fiance loves snowboarding with a passion, I’ve pretty much made peace with the fact that I’ll be on a mountain at least once a year—if not more. I’m brand new to the sport, which means I’m body-down in the snow a lot. I haven’t really learned how to stop on a board yet without hurling myself into the snow.

Because I’m still in my figuring-out-how-to-snowboard phase, I had no problems telling the Terramar Sports peeps that I would most definitely like to test out their base-layer gear. The day I received the SmartSilk top ($60) and tights (also $60) happened to be one of the hottest days in Los Angeles. (Sometimes a gal just needs a real winter, dang it!) I can’t tell you how I wished for a snowboarding trip, but the weather wasn’t cooperating. Thankfully, a couple days later it was cool enough to at least test the gear out on a hike around the Hollywood sign. (Come on—50 degrees in Los Angeles is COLD. Don’t believe me? Come and visit!)

The sweat cometh and the sweat stayeth. (Do you like my Hollywood sign photo bomb?!)

Initial thoughts: I love the fit of the shirt and tights. They’re comfortable and stretchy, which one needs when you expect limbs to go flying in every direction. The downside: The material doesn’t really keep you dry. The scary part about that? When you can’t wick sweat away and it’s cold, you’re up a cold creek without a paddle…or a coat. My teeth started chattering, and we had to cut the hike short.

However, while the dry factor might deter you, the fact that the gear contains an agent called FreshGuard (which helps eliminate body odor) might entice you to change your mind. I love workout gear that helps de-stink. My pal and I went to brunch right after the hike, and I didn’t feel self conscious at all being around a group of freshly showered folk. And that’s saying something!

In my opinion you should choose your workout gear like you choose your battles: You have to decide what’s important. If the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, then I say go for it. I wouldn’t use this particular brand for my snowboard body flops per se, but who knows. You may care about the stink over the shiver. To each her own!

Tell us, do you snowboard? Have a favorite base layer? We want to know about it! —Tish