For a long time, we have been testing different foundation layers for King of the Mountain. We have been working with Woolpower Ullfrotte Woolen Thermals since about 2002, and we believe they are the best available. Here are some of the reasons:

• Without bulk, Woolpower Ullfrotte Woolens keep you warm in the cold weather. And yet, somehow, the King of the Mountain / Ullfrotte outfit that keeps you warm at 0 degrees Fahrenheit is not uncomfortable at 50 or even 70 degrees. That’s what good wool can do
  
  
• If need be, such as on an extended back country outing, you can wear the same socks and thermals every day for a week or two, and still feel like a human being. Woolpower Ullfrotte has tremendous ability to resist odor. If you don’t believe that, just get a pair of socks and wear them 7 days straight. No joke..... Anybody who’s worn polypro will be "sold" by this feature alone
  
  
• Ullfrotte breathes, and manages body moisture. If you work hard and perspire, it’s not a problem. In cold weather, you DO NOT want to evaporate perspiration immediately. That costs you a lot of heat (that's why you sweat in the first place....for cooling). You want to separate the heat from the moisture before it evaporates, and you want to do it slowly so that you are not wasting your own body heat on the evaporation of moisture. If you are still out in the cold when vigorous activity and perspiration cease, the last thing you want is to use your body's heat to evaporate heat-laden moisture. You need to trap all the heat you can, and this is what nature has designed wool to do. There are a lot of products on the market lately that advertise how quickly they dry. That's fine when it's warm, or when you are headed inside soon. But if you've just busted up a mountain and now you're planning to sit and glass in 0 degrees Fahrenheit (or even in 30F), you don't have any heat to waste on drying out your clothes. You want to wear something that will move the moisture away from your skin, drying slowly and not squandering precious heat. Next time somebody tells you his new wonder-garment dries fast, even in the cold, ask him where the energy required to evaporate that moisture is going to come from. It's going to come from you!
  
  
• Woolpower Ullfrotte, with 70% fine merino wool, is extremely comfortable against your skin. The inside of Ullfrotte is wool terry cloth. Some say that "Ullfrotte" means "wool terry cloth" in Swedish. Whatever it means, the second you put it on, it feels warm and right, even if it's been sitting around in a cold tent
  
  
• Woolpower Ullfrotte makes Socks in 200, 400, 600 and 800 gram weights. Long Johns are made in 200 and 400 gram weights. The Thermal Tops come in 200, 400 and 600 gram weights. The material is stretchy, and you can easily and comfortably wear two layers at the same time. I’ve done it many times, without feeling bulked-up and without restriction of movement. There is no problem at all wearing both 600 and 400 gram tops together, for example, and I recommend it when you are facing serious cold. The manufacturer recommendation is to always wear the 200 gram layer Long Johns and Tops against the skin, but I often wear 400 top as a first layer. Among many nice features, I particularly like the "monkey paw" --- the sleeves of the turtlenecks extend down over half of your hand, and there is a hole to put your thumb through. The monkey paw adds tremendously to the comfort of your wrists and hand
  
  
• Woolpower Ullfrotte has been making their thermals for about 35 years, and they know what they are doing. The parent company is from Sweden, where they definitely know cold! These thermals are standard issue for Swedish Armed Forces, and have received the highest rating from the United States Marine Corps. They are also a favorite of the United States Army. We at King of the Mountain have given them quite a work out as well, and we no longer recommend anything else. In Sweden there is a saying that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes
  
  
• By the way, Woolpower Ullfrotte is great for anybody who wants a nice warm underlayer. People who work outside, spectators at sports events, someone who wants to walk the dog on a cold morning, etc. .... certainly not just for hunters. Debby wears it all winter, under her regular clothes

WASHING INSTRUCTIONS: Woolpower® garments can be machine washed at 60°C (140°F) and tumble-dried at medium heat. This is a requirement from the Swedish and Norwegian armies and several major industrial clients. Humid conditions promote bacteria growth at temperatures between 20°C and 40°C (68°F and 104°F) and certain soil bacteria will not die until the clothes are washed at 60°C (140°F). In the case of mid-layer garments in Ullfrotté Original, washing at 40°C (104°F) is often unnecessary because they are not worn directly on the body and do not absorb as much soil from the skin.

OTHER WASH TIPS -
All the garments should be washed with similar colors with a mild soap-based detergent, a regular detergent or no detergent at all. Fabric softeners can be used. Garments may shed in the first few washes. Washing the garments inside out will help increase the lifespan of the product.

Woolpower Ullfrotte Sizing