Falke has proven that functional clothing can look good too
31.1.2024
Translation: Elicia Payne
Long underwear for winter isn’t exactly the epitome of fashion. However, German family company Falke has managed to squeeze the most out of aesthetics – without neglecting function and comfort.
Every winter I tell myself I’m going to buy thermal underwear. And every winter I forget. The idea of feeling nice and toasty in the colder months is tempting. But the mere thought of searching for the ideal warm underwear bores me so much that the project falls flat year after year. However, that quickly changed when I recently came across the functional underwear from the German family company Falke in the Galaxus range. A light green long-sleeved top with a turtleneck and matching leggings immediately caught my attention. They seemed both practical and pretty. The pretty element is what I’ve been missing in this type of clothing. So I ordered a set of thermals for the first time in years.
The set is part of a Falke product line that specialises in functional underwear for cross-sport use. There are five different categories for different outdoor temperatures:
- Ultralight Cool: cooling effect, ideal for warm to hot temperatures
- Wool-Tech Light and Warm: thermo-regulating, ideal for warm to cold temperatures
- Wool-Tech and Maximum Warm: warming, ideal for cold to very cold temperatures
What the Warm category does
The set that convinced me to buy thermals was from the Warm range. It consists of 69 per cent polyamide, 26 per cent polyester and five per cent elastane. According to Falke, the material wicks away moisture and keeps the skin feeling dry even during strenuous activities. It’s designed to keep you warm down to around minus ten degrees.
This set is recommended for medium to high intensity activities. Be it cross-country skiing, hiking or jogging. I have to admit, I don’t do any intensive outdoor sports and have only tested the underwear for everyday wear and walking – so I’ve probably not been using it as intended. I can’t really tell you how it performs when you’re working out.
Even suitable for lounging around and yoga
The top and leggings from the Warm range fit like a glove, adapt perfectly to the body and even shape it a little. I’m Went for the size I usually wear too and it fits. But, if you don’t like to wear skin-tight clothing or are between two sizes, you may feel more comfortable in a larger size.
In my opinion, the top is suitable for everyday wear as the base of a layered look. Under a sweater or blazer, for example. Since it looks smart, so you can take off any extra layer you’re wearing without ruining your style. Although I often find sweating uncomfortable when I’m wearing synthetic fibres, this wasn’t the case in this set because of their moisture-regulating properties.
Source: Chris Walker
Source: Chris Walker
Although the underwear is very tight-fitting, you can move freely thanks to the flex zones on the shoulders, elbows and knees. Something which is just as important for sports as it is for chilling out. The set is so beautiful and comfortable I even wore it at home for low-key yoga sessions or just as loungewear.
»hat the Wool-Tech category does
Upon request Falke sent me another set from the Wool-Tech category. The 56 per cent mulesing-free merino wool content is a key feature of the material.
The rest of the blend consists of 42 per cent polyamide and two per cent elastane. The fabric regulates moisture, but also prevents odours thanks to the addition of animal fibres. According to Falke, the Wool-Tech products keep you warm even in the freezing cold, up to minus 30 degrees. They’re recommended for low to medium intensity activities.
Source: Chris Walker
I thought the material was very comfortable and light on the skin. The fabric is more flexible and less firm compared to the Warm set. This means there’s no body shaping . The top and leggings are a little more airy and therefore more comfortable. Compared to the Warm set, they also feel more like everyday wear than functional clothing.
Verdict
The sets I tested impressed me in all three areas: function, comfort and appearance. I tested them in Zurich’s January weather around the zero degree mark. When I wore either top, as a first layer under sweaters and blouses, I found I was much warmer. The fact that the clothing is made in Europe, Portugal to be precise, is another plus. All in all, I find the underwear comfortable and warm and suitable for everyday use.
Unfortunately, the light green set is a seasonal colour that’s currently sold out in most sizes. However, we have numerous other sets and colours from Falke’s women’s, men’s and children’s range.
Header image: Chris Walker
Has endless love for shoulder pads, Stratocasters and sashimi, but a limited tolerance for bad impressions of her Eastern Swiss dialect.
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