The first layer: base layers
A base layer is the first layer in a layer set, and on this site it is the merino wool base layer, listed for men, women and children, with a home page that leads the whole site. Its position in a set is next to the skin, and everything else in the set is chosen around it. A buyer who orders base layers should state the wearer group, the colours and the size wording, and whether the order is for single layers or for sets (a top and a bottom ordered as a pair), because the set shape is a separate choice from the layer itself.
The base-layer weight guide describes the base-layer range in bands, and the layering guide describes the base layer's position in a full outdoor set. Both guides treat the base layer as a first layer, and neither treats it as a warmth layer in the thermal underwear sense. That consistent first-layer language is deliberate: it keeps the base layer's job clear across the whole site.
The warmth layer: thermal underwear
Thermal underwear is the warmth layer in the range, listed for men, women and children, and it sits alongside the base layers rather than replacing them. Its position in a set is as the warmth piece, and a buyer who orders thermal underwear should state the wearer group, the set shape (a set, a top only, or a bottom only), the colours and the sizes, and ask the supplier to confirm the thermal styles for that combination. The thermal underwear page describes this category in more detail, and the thermal underwear manufacturer page describes the manufacturing inquiry that follows it.
The warmth-layer language is also deliberate: it describes a category position, not a warmth measurement. No warmth rating, no weight figure and no temperature claim is stated for thermal underwear on this site, because the range supports the category and the wearer groups, not a single measured standard for every thermal style. A buyer who needs a warmth-related detail for a specific style should ask for it for that style, and should treat any answer that is not tied to exact styles as an answer that still needs a second round.
How the two categories differ in an order
In an order, the difference between the two categories shows up in three places. First, the page named: a base-layer order names the base-layer page, while a thermal order names the thermal underwear page, and the two pages have different confirmation lists. Second, the set shape: a base-layer set is a top-and-bottom pair in the base-layer family, while a thermal set is a top-and-bottom pair in the thermal family, and the two set shapes should not be folded into one line. Third, the companion lines: a base-layer order often carries sock and accessory lines, while a thermal order often carries base-layer lines as companions, and each companion line should be stated separately in either case.
A buyer who is unsure which category is wanted should describe the wearing position instead of guessing a category name: 'first layer, next to the skin' points at base layers, while 'warmth layer' points at thermal underwear. Describing the position, and asking the supplier to confirm the category that matches it, is a better inquiry than guessing a category name and hoping it is right.
Choosing between them for a range
For a range, the choice is rarely either-or: many ranges need both categories, with base layers as the first layer and thermal underwear as the warmth layer, plus socks and accessories around them. A range inquiry should therefore write two lines — one base-layer line and one thermal line — each with its own wearer groups, colours, sizes and set-shape notes, rather than one combined 'underwear and base layers' line. Two lines, each confirmable on its own, are the simplest way to order both categories without confusing them.
If only one category is wanted, say so plainly, and name the page for that category. A message that says 'base layers only, no thermal styles' or 'thermal styles only, no base layers' is a message that cannot be misread, and it will receive a faster, more accurate reply than a message that leaves the category choice open.
Questions to confirm before ordering
Share your quantity, sizes, colours and target date, and ask for the minimum order quantity and lead time that apply to your order.
- Name the category for each line (base layer or thermal underwear) by its full name, and ask the supplier to confirm the styles for that category.
- State the wearer group and the set shape for each line, and ask the supplier to confirm the styles for that combination.
- State the colours and sizes for each line separately, and ask the supplier to confirm the size range per line.
- State whether the order covers one category or both, so the scope is clear.
Certificates available upon request.
Send your first-layer and warmth-layer notes, on separate lines, to check a merino wool layer order.
Write to [email protected] or call +86 18310458626.
Related merino wool pages
Base layers and thermal underwear are different categories here: first layer versus warmth layer. Confirm category, wearer group and set shape per line before ordering.