Sexist thermal underwear

[LarryVeest]

AIBU to think that it's fricking ridiculous that it's difficult (impossible?) to buy really properly thick, warm, thermal underwear for women? There's plenty of choice for industrial strength thermal vests for men, but women's stuff is almost always that "pointelle" stuff, usually with lacy edges.

Examples from M&S:

Hardcore cosy men's stuff:
www.marksandspencer.com/thermal-maximum-warmth-wool-blend-vest/p/clp60465907?color=CREAM&prevPage=srp#intid=prodColourId-60465907

Stupid flimsy womens' version:
www.marksandspencer.com/2pk-thermal-short-sleeve-tops/p/clp60474371?color=WHITE

Is it because we are keeping warm over a hot stove?

I've previously bought men's vests, but they aren't small enough (unless I buy the 14 year old boys' size, and then they're a bit too small on the bust).

It's the same with socks: lovely thick warm long-lasting men's socks, and risibly weak women's versions. However, the men's socks for me fine, so I just buy them.

I agree with the poster above that recommends Uniqlo heat tech, male and female options are pretty much identical, no frilly stuff. Problem solved.

Moral of the story, look at other retailers.

Another vote for Decathlon

The heatgen ones are rubbish! Or at least they're quite nice as a light base layer, but there nowhere near what I'm looking for warmth-wise.

@NapoleonOzmolysis

You need somewhere that doesn't just "pink it and shrink it"

newsletter.carolinecriadoperez.com/
has a bunch of companies that make things properly for women - there's one or two per newsletter.

This looks GREAT.

Just to add, I'm really appreciating all the leads here!

Oh don’t be so ridiculous 🤦‍♀️ It’s not sexist at all. It’s perfectly fine.

@seaandsandcastles

Oh don’t be so ridiculous 🤦‍♀️ It’s not sexist at all. It’s perfectly fine.

Lol

The heatgen ones are rubbish! Or at least they're quite nice as a light base layer, but there nowhere near what I'm looking for warmth-wise.

What do you need it for? I've used the heat gen ones for being out for hours in the snow sledging. I layer them though so; vest, then long sleeved heat gen top, then woollen jumper, then fleece & coat on top. I use the heat gen leggings under a pair of trousers.

Also consider companies that do workwear. I rarely use thermals but have some tucked at the bottom of my underwear drawer from when I got them supplied through work when I was doing a lot of outdoors work.

I always found M&S thermals almost too warm except in the freezing cold depths of winter on a football touchline (glad those days are now gone). Current selection looks much the same and good reviews so presumably doing a decent job still.

Totally agree. And why are most women's thermal trousers three quarter length? They don't quite reach even long socks so you have a cold band round your calf!

Disclaimer: not talking about M&S ones but the cheap ones you get in Boyes, pound stretcher etc. I just buy men's now.

Ignore m&s and for low price items go Uniqlo whose products are so well priced and warm.

For incredibly warm trews I bought a pair of Rab keks in 2009 and still good after millions of wears. Bought another pair last year for £70 to £90 price range and they are amazing - far too warm to wear indoors but brilliant last winter. Totally worth it.

I really like the m&s women's vests, they keep me lovely and warm in winter

@MrsR2be

I really like the m&s women's vests, they keep me lovely and warm in winter

That's lovely. But now imagine that they DONT keep you warm enough, and yet the mens ones are much much warmer.

Every so often, aldi or lidl do merino baselayers. I bought some maybe 4 years ago and they're still going strong.

This has been a helpful thread. Just want to add that I was only using M&S as an example... I've actually tried loads of other places, and the women's stuff is often inferior to the men's.

Yanbu. I buy mens socks and then shrink them in the tumble drier until they fit because they’re so much thicker and higher quality than women’s socks. In m&s anyway.

It goes the other way in the childrens section. M&S girls clothes are often soft and wonderfully snuggly, while the equivalent item in the boys section may be made out of rough stiff fabric.