Feel like you always want to crank up the thermostat when others seem perfectly fine? Different people run at different temperatures, of course—but your always-cold status could be particularly due to the fact that in the United States, most indoor climates are not designed with women in mind.
In fact, indoor temperature standards (aka what we set our thermostats to) are based on a model dating back to the 1960s which primarily considered the comfortability of a 40-year-old man dressed in a full suit. This means office buildings, public spaces, and apartment buildings are often kept cooler than what’s comfortable for many women.
The good news is that whether you're chilly inside or facing freezing temperatures on a winter hike, there’s a lot you can do to get more comfortable. One easy fix is making sure the clothing closest to your skin is made of a naturally temperature-regulating fiber, like Merino wool.
There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s dive into the science around why you might be feeling the chill, and how Merino Performance Innerwear can help.
Why Are Women Often Cold?
If you feel like you’re constantly reaching for an extra layer, it’s not just in your head. Research finds women generally run a little chilly. Studies have shown that while men feel comfortable when the thermostat is set at 72 degrees Fahrenheit, women feel best closer to 77.
While scientists don’t know precisely why this is, there are a few different theories. For one, women on average have a lower metabolic rate than men. Metabolic rate is the amount of energy your body uses to convert food into energy, which in turn generates heat through thermogenesis. Our rate is typically lower thanks to a mix of factors including genetics, body size, and muscle-to-fat ratio.
Hormones also play a role. Estrogen can make it tougher for blood to flow to our farthest extremities (hello, freezing hands and feet). On average, our bodies also have a lower sweat rate, meaning we rely more on radiation and convection (losing heat through the air) rather than evaporation. This is helpful when it's hot out—less so when it’s cold.
Interestingly, the sex-based temperature preference phenomenon occurs in birds and other mammal species as well. Scientists believe that a general preference for warmer air, may have the evolutionary benefit of creating bonds between female animals. When the female sparrows travel to the warm valley while the males prefer the chillier mountaintops, it creates a space for them to nurture one another and thrive. The same goes for us humans, too.
How Wool Works to Keep You Warm
There are lots of ways to stay warm—more on that later—but wearing Merino wool can really help. It’s what’s known as an active fiber, meaning it reacts to changes in the body’s temperature, working with our body to heat us up or cool us down, keeping us as close to “comfortable” as possible. Wool helps us stay warm in there major ways:
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Temperature regulation: Wool’s waxy coating repels liquid but absorbs vapor, which helps keep your body temperature steady. When you’re cold, it pulls in moisture from the air, retaining additional heat—when you’re hot, it releases that moisture, cooling you down.
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Insulation: The crimpy, kinky structure of wool means every strand contains countless tiny air pockets. These little pockets serve as insulation helping you keep body heat in when you need it most.
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Moisture management: When temperatures dip, dry skin means warm skin. The 3D crimp structure of wool also helps it maintain a drier microclimate next to skin. Wool can carry up to 35 percent of its weight in water, allowing it to absorb moisture and trap it inside of the fabric. In fact, it can move 25 percent more moisture away from your skin than polyester fabrics.
The simplest way of thinking of wool is that it was designed by nature to keep sheep—an animal that roams from hot valleys to frigid mountaintops in search of open pastures—comfortable. It works with the sheep’s body to help the animal stay dry and warm, and when we wear wool, we get exactly those same benefits. Like so much in nature, it developed over millennia, and no man-made fiber dreamt up in a lab can come close to comparison.
Layering for Warmth
Wool’s magical warming properties work best when the fiber works as nature designed: touching the skin. If you’re dressing for warmth and comfort, starting with a Merino wool base layer can make all the difference. Consider our Merino Innerwear bras and underwear—remember Innerwear is the original baselayer!—as your first line of defense. From there, you can choose to add fuller-coverage pieces like long-sleeved tees and leggings. You can keep layering to your heart’s content, but you might be surprised that a little wool goes a long way when it comes to keeping you comfortable in the cold.
More Warm-Up Tips to Consider
Beyond Merino, here are tips on staying cozy when you need a little warm-me-up:
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Before heading outdoors in the cold, apply a skin protectant (think beeswax or coconut oil) on uncovered areas like the nose and ears. This creates a barrier against moisture loss and whipping wind.
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Try the two pairs of gloves trick. Keep one pair on your hands and one under your armpits. Switch them out when your fingers get cold.
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Bring along a thermos of warm liquid (water, broth, tea, hot cocoa) to warm up from the inside out.
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Before you head outside for a winter adventure, warm up indoors with some gentle movement to avoid the cold shock.
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Keep your neck and wrists covered. Major blood vessels in these areas can quickly transfer heat, so keeping them warm helps retain body warmth. Wearing a hat (even indoors) can help, too.
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Pack snacks of healthy fats. Digesting fats (like nuts or avocado) produces long-lasting heat, keeping you warm longer than carbs.
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Warm up a rice pillow in the microwave and snuggle around your feet. (From Maria)
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Eat enough calories and make sure your iron levels are in a healthy range. (From Therese)
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Snuggle up with your 3 large dogs with attachment issues. (From Rebecca)
Do you have any favorite ways to stay warm? We’d love to hear from you! Please email us anytime at info@branywn.com or DM us on Instagram @branwynofficial.
