During the winter months it’s best to dress in layers to keep in the heat, but did you know that a base layer can also help keep you cool? Firefighters often wear a base layer of fire retardant clothing below all of their other gear to keep from burning up and athletes sometimes wear a base layer to help wick away sweat. Wickers, based in New York, manufactures undergarments for all walks of life. From rock climbers to the military; kids to women experiencing menopause; and motorcyclists to hikers – Wickers makes an undergarment for literally anyone, and for any time of year. Best of all the garments are made in America.
Anthony Mazzenga founded Wickers in 1981 originally under the name Anrotex Inc. Fabric was the main focus of business back then. After Mazzenga saw an opportunity in the performance underwear market in 1990, the Wickers brand was born. Since that time, the Wickers product line has grown to include an enormous offering of undergarments and base layers for any season. The line not only includes shirts and pants, but also gloves, socks, boxers, briefs, balaclava and neck gators.
When people hear the term ‘thermal underwear’, they usually think of long johns or some other sort of base layer intended to keep the wearer warm. This is were the Wickers line differs from the competition – its garments feature ‘thermoregulation’. What is that? Wickers best sums it up:
Wickers all-weather clothing and underwear features advanced moisture wicking and thermoregulation capabilities. Your body will conserve more energy no matter what’s happening outside. When it’s warm, you’ll stay cooler and drier. When it’s cold, you’ll retain more heat without excess perspiration.
Along with keeping the wearer comfortable, the Wickers line also includes a few products to give the wearer a better night sleep or keep him safe on the job. If you are experiencing menopause or night sweats, there are a number of products to offer you a more comfortable night sleep. During the day if your occupation takes you close to fire, the Flame Retardant (FR) line might interest you. This line of clothing is specifically designed for those individuals that work around open flames or sparks. Firefighters, military personnel, police officers, welders or anyone working in extreme temperatures will appreciate that the Wickers FR has an Arc Rating or Arc Thermal Protective Value (ATPV) of 4.8 cal/cm 2.
Wickers proudly manufactures all of its products in the U.S.A. and the company is enthusiastic about this point. In fact there are a number of pages on the website dedicated to this topic. Even if you do not purchase a single product from Wickers, have a read of their page titled “Why is made in the USA so important”. It may make you think as you flip through the racks at the stores this Christmas season.