What is a First Layer?
The new Member Clothing First Layers are a technical moisture management garment that snowboarders and skiers should wear next to their skin. Now don't be put off by the scary description, they are anything but…
They are called a "First Layer" cos you wear this first (next to your skin), then you wear something like a polar fleece (or some other sort of warm breathable thing) which can be referred to as a second layer (commonly referred to as a jumper or a hoodie) and then your water proof outwear (not really called a third layer, but you get the gist).
What does it do?
Because the type of fabric is called a "wicking" material, it keeps your body dry by "wicking" away moisture (sweat, snow and urine - if you are into that) from the skin.
Are they warm?
They are sorta warm, but where the perceived warmth comes from is this wicking effect and the fact that it is taking the sweat (and snow if you ride like nobbie) away from your body.
This really helps when snowboarding (or skiing) cos really simply put:
a wet body = a cold body
or
a dry body = a warm body.