What do Everest, K2, Annapurna, Mont Blanc, the Écrins, the Dolomites and all the 8,000 m+ peaks in the Himalayas, Nepal, India, and Pakistan have in common? Our gloves, socks and neck warmers have climbed all those mountains, protecting the hands and feet of genius mountaineers, our Therm-ic ambassadors, from the cold. Why? Because today, we are the benchmark in designing reliable, high-performance heating products capable of accompanying these exceptional athletes on their extreme expeditions to the ends of the earth and the limits of what is possible. Thermoregulation is an expertise we have been developing for almost 30 years, and equipping these adventurers where there is no margin for error is a passion that drives us every day.
Adriana Brownlee, Nims Dai, Alasdair McKenzie and Mathieu Maynadier are four-star climbers supported by Therm-ic who are now in the spotlight with their high-mountain skills. They are physically exceptional, mentally ironclad and equipped to a very high standard. Our four ambassadors describe their equipment and give their selection of favourite gloves, socks and neck warmers.
Which heated gloves will keep you warm on your next expedition? Which socks keep you warm in extreme conditions? What thermal gear is ideal for mountaineering? Which neck warmer is best for the high mountains? Adriana Brownlee, Nims Dai, Alasdair McKenzie and Mathieu Maynadier answer your questions in this article!
At Therm-ic, we are the benchmark in designing reliable, high-performance heating products capable of accompanying these exceptional athletes on their extreme expeditions to the ends of the earth and the limits of what is possible.
WHICH GLOVES WILL KEEP YOU FROM GETTING COLD ON YOUR NEXT EXPEDITION?
HEATED GLOVES FOR VERY COLD WEATHER, HIGH MOUNTAINS & EXTREME EXPEDITIONS
One day, star mountaineer Nims Dai, holder of the record for climbing 14 ""8000s"" in 7 months and 6 days, wrote to us: he wanted Therm-ic to develop gloves to help him solve ""the last unsolved problem in modern mountaineering"": the first winter ascent of K2 (8611 m). We worked together to design the ULTRA HEAT BOOST heated gloves, little jewels of comfort and performance that enabled the adventurer to achieve his planned feat on 16 January 2021.
Alasdair McKenzie is also a prodigy. He will very soon have a special place in the history books. Indeed, the young Franco-Englishman based in Tignes is aiming to become the youngest mountaineer to have climbed all 14 of the ""8000s"", even before his 20th birthday. He has just two left to go: the Cho Oyu and the Shishapangma! Like Nims Dai, he takes ULTRA HEAT BOOST heated gloves with him on each of his expeditions: ""For me, these heated gloves are great because they're super-warm and comfortable, yet offer enough precision to perform all the technical manoeuvres required in the high mountains. These gloves make it easy to handle ropes and carabiners. I only use the heater when I'm cold to preserve battery life as much as possible because even though it's meant to be super long-lasting, you never know what might happen up there...""
""These heated gloves are great because they are super warm and comfortable, yet precise enough to perform all the technical 'manips' needed in the high mountains.""
Featuring 'Boost' technology, these heated gloves are certainly the best performing on the market, making them perfectly suited to all mountaineers who want to push their limits, or skiers who fear the extreme cold or suffer from Raynaud's Syndrome.
The features of this range of ULTRA HEAT BOOST gloves, available in 4 models - women's heated gloves, men's heated gloves, women's heated mittens and men's heated mittens - are as follows:
- An ultra-efficient heating system - never seen before - that delivers heat faster, more powerfully and for longer. Lasts for 10 hours if you push the gloves to their maximum potential.
- Longer-lasting batteries that are quicker to charge.
- The 3 heating levels for adjusting the heat intensity to best suit the cold conditions or exercise, and especially to avoid sweating.
- An optimised air flow circulation network inside the glove ensures that the whole hand, as well as each finger, has 360° warmth.
- Their 'Recycled Primaloft' insulation offers optimum heat retention.
- They are composed of mostly recycled materials.
- Their membrane is both waterproof and breathable because we know the damage moisture can do to hands exposed to the cold.
- Soft reinforcement is strategically located under the thumb so you can wipe your ski mask if you need to.
""An ultra-efficient heating system - unprecedented until now - delivers heat faster, at higher intensity and for longer. Lasts for 10 hours if you push the gloves to their maximum potential.""
GLOVES FOR MOUNTAINEERING AND ALL MOUNTAIN ACTIVITIES
Mathieu Maynadier, a high mountain guide based in Briançon, is one of the most talented and versatile mountaineers of his generation. The Piolet d'Or, awarded every autumn for the best ascent of the year in terms of technical ability and spirit, is a testament to this. Anyone who combines mountaineering, climbing, ice climbing, ski touring and paragliding prefers NORDIC EXPLORATION gloves or SKI LIGHT gloves.
Why choose NORDIC EXPLORATION gloves? ""They're ideal for ice climbing and mixed climbing, especially on technical pitches! These are super-precise gloves, thin but warm, warm but breathable... What's more, they have a great grip, so they don't slip on ice axes! »
""And why are SKI LIGHT gloves, ""the gloves I've used the most this winter""? ""They bring together all the qualities I look for in a good ski or mountaineering glove: they are fine, precise, with a perfect fit; they offer effective wind protection; and benefit from highly breathable insulation to wick away perspiration.""
When he's not kitting himself out with ULTRA HEAT BOOST heated gloves, Nims Dai favours ACTIVE LIGHT TECH gloves. Lightweight, tactile, thin and breathable gloves designed for demanding mountain sportsmen and women, with optimum grip, breathability and a sleek design. Simple and (highly) effective!
""They pack in all the qualities I look for in a good ski or mountaineering glove: they're thin, precise, with a perfect fit; they offer effective wind protection; and benefit from highly breathable insulation to wick away perspiration.""
WHICH SOCKS WILL KEEP YOU WARM IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS AND IN EXTREME CONDITIONS?
We've talked about mountaineers' hands; now let's talk about their feet. This is because the extremities are often the parts that are neglected by the body's natural thermoregulation. Our mission at Therm-ic is, therefore, to design products - heated or not - that protect the wearer from the cold in an environment where there is no room for mistakes.
Adriana Brownlee is like a UFO. At 23, this young British woman - originally from London - is one of the world's greatest mountaineering hopefuls It has to be said that, at 21, the woman who intends to become the youngest woman to complete the 14 ""8000s"" had already climbed the two highest peaks in the world: Everest and K2. A feat made possible by her 'Extreme Cold' equipment. Amongst all her gear, this force of nature acknowledges a soft spot for TREKKING WARM CREW WOMEN socks, which she loves for the approaches and her daily adventures in the mountains and high peaks.
In fact, this long, warm hiking sock, reaching mid-calf length, is perfectly suited to expeditions in temperatures between -10°C and +5°C. The key features of these mountaineering socks are: 'Moisture Vent' technology, an innovative ventilation system that uses a system of micro-channels to wick moisture to the outside and the composition of Pure-ic®, high-performance bio-based fibres, complemented by the thermal insulation and softness of merino wool. These winter hiking socks are available in several colours as well as a women's or unisex model.
Alasdair McKenzie also praises TREKKING WARM CREW socks: ""The comfort of your feet is extremely important when mountaineering. I love these socks for their softness and slight compression. They are also highly breathable, which proves to be essential as we often spend very long hours in our shoes, where moisture very quickly becomes the worst enemy of comfortable feet due to cold or blisters.""
""Adriana Brownlee is like a UFO. At 23, this young British woman - originally from London - is one of the world's greatest mountaineering hopefuls.""
For his very high mountain climbs in extreme cold conditions, Alasdair McKenzie's preferences are close to those of Mathieu Maynadier, towards ULTRA WARM COMFORT S.E.T. heated socks! These heated socks are a real game changer and push back the boundaries in terms of foot comfort.
In fact, S.E.T technology is a revolutionary innovation, developed and patented by our R&D department with the aim of heating your feet all around and evenly, from calf to toe. Why are they a game changer? Because the heat is spread throughout the entire foot, unlike other models, where it is confined to certain very localised heating points. How? By replacing these very specific heating points with a thin line measuring just 2 mm, which is discreetly integrated into the sock.
Imperceptible, this subtle band of warmth wraps around your feet, without leaving out a single mm2 of your skin. These heated socks stand out in particular for their great power and endurance, because the batteries for S-Pack 1400B heated socks, are among the highest-performing on the market and capable of giving you up to 9 hours of continuous heat.
Mathieu Maynadier sometimes switches to HEAT FUSION OUTDOOR socks. Technical, soft, breathable and made from merino wool, the mountaineer from the southern Alps ""loves wearing this model on days when I'm guiding, because I know I'm going to be quite static in my ski or mountaineering boots"". Finally, he acknowledges a small slight infidelity when it comes to OUTDOOR ULTRACOOL CREW socks, ultra-light, high hiking socks designed to offer optimum breathability whatever the season: ""This sock is a perfect compromise between thick winter socks and the thin summer socks that go with me on all my Hike & Fly and paragliding trips!"". »
""S.E.T technology is a revolutionary innovation, developed and patented by our R&D department to warm your feet evenly and all around, from your calves to the tips of your toes.""
WHY IS THE NECK WARMER SO IMPORTANT IN MOUNTAINEERING?
The response from Alasdair McKenzie is very clear: ""Because the neck warmer protects the face from the cold but also from the sun!"" The mountaineer from Savoie continues: ""The neck warmer is an essential, and I always carry two with me wherever I go in the mountains because it's so important.""
""The neck warmer is an essential, and I always carry two with me wherever I go in the mountains because it's so important.""
Like him, Adriana Brownlee, Mathieu Maynadier and Nims Dai have a preference for the COOL LIGHT neck warmer. An ultra-lightweight, thin and breathable neck warmer perfectly suited for your days outdoors, in any weather.
The features that make it a bestseller in the world of mountaineering:
- Its breathability, thanks to its recycled polyester fibres.
- Its elasticity, thanks to the elastane fibres that give it great versatility and unparalleled durability.
- Its lightness: it weighs just 150 g.
- Its protection index of SPF 50 to protect your neck and head from the sun's harmful rays.
Our range of neck warmers is very extensive, from the COOL ULTRA LIGHT neck warmer, lighter and more breathable, to the EXTRA WARM neck warmer, which is warmer and more protective.
""This neck warmer is a bestseller in the world of mountaineering! »
WHAT HEATED EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES DO YOU NEED FOR MOUNTAINEERING OR EXPEDITIONS IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS?
In addition to gloves, socks and neck warmers, we have developed other essential equipment to take with you and keep you warm up there, or wherever else your dreams take you.
This is thanks in particular to a whole range of heated jackets and down jackets to slip under your waterproof layer. There are also heated insoles which will complement your socks and ensure your feet are comfortable and perform well, from the start to the summit!
