With temperatures plummeting below zero this week, we're all looking for ways to keep warm in the winter weather - and most shops are offering thermal wear for the occasion.
Whether it's to put under your clothes when you're heading into the icy outdoors or simply to wear around the house to keep your heating bills down, thermals can be invaluable at this time of year. But with so many options on the high street all with different price tags, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth investing in and which ones are just a waste of money when it comes to keeping you toasty.
The Manchester Evening News has put thermal clothing from three of the biggest retailers - Primark, Asda, and Marks & Spencer - to the test to find which garments offered the best protection against the cold. One of the shops left the reviewer surprised, while another proved to be a disappointment - but there was one clear winner overall.
Primark
First up was Primark, where the reviewer snapped up some 'light weight base layer' thermal cuffed leggings for just £6 - the cheapest out of the three shops. And despite their price, these thermals were a surprising success in the warmth test.
"At first I thought the leggings would not be warm enough to wear without a layer on top, but they actually really surprised me as they did seem to retain a lot of heat as I pottered about in the house in them," was the verdict from the Manchester Evening News reporter. "They were also super comfy thanks to the cuffed ankle design.
"And I actually grew to quite like the effect of the ribbed design down my legs and even happily went down the shops in them," she added. The high street giant also offers a slightly pricier Thermo Layer range of heavy weight tops and leggings for £11 per garment, which are listed on the Primark website.
George at Asda
Asda offers a range of thermal long-sleeved tops and leggings priced between £7 and £10 each online, making them the middle option out of the three shops in terms of price. Unfortunately, though, these thermals fared the worst when it came to keeping the reviewer warm.
Although the thermal-branded leggings claimed to be made with 'heat-retaining technology' and a 'thermal knit', the reporter was left "very disappointed" by them after finding the material so thin that they were almost see-through. "All would have been forgiven if these very thin leggings kept me warm, but they didn't," she said.
"And they didn't even provide that much heat underneath a long woolly dress which I put over the top for a dash outside as I could still feel the cold biting air on my legs." The thermal top fared little better when put to the test in the chilly winter weather.
"The material in the thermal top was also very thin - it was actually thinner than many of my normal tops - and you could see my bra through it, so again this would have to be worn very much as an underwear layer," was the verdict. "Even with a woolly top on top I still did not feel all that warm in this item I'm afraid."
Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer claim that the clothes in their Heatgen thermal collection are made with high-tech fabric that helps to keep you warm by holding on to body heat. With thermal tights in the range priced at £15 and long-sleeved tops starting at £16 on the M&S website, these are the priciest of the bunch - but do they deliver?
The answer is yes, according to the reporter, saying "nothing else compared in terms of style, comfort and wearability" once she tried the M&S Heatgen garments on. "I don't want to ever take them off this winter now I've found them, although luckily they're really easy to wash and dry between wears," she said.
"Both the top and leggings come with a 'brushed' inner that makes them super snuggly and warm. The leggings in particular have impressed me very much - they are thick enough to wear as an outdoor pair of leggings, yet are also sleek enough to throw a pair of trousers or joggers over the top should you need even more warmth.
"They also have a nice stretch to them meaning they stay comfy around your waist and ankles all day long," she added. This meant that overall, Marks & Spencer was the "standout choice" for keeping toasty.
It seems that when it comes to thermal wear, it may be worth spending an extra few pounds rather than wasting your money. "Even though Asda's items were cheaper at £10 each, I would personally rather spend more for a better warmth and style factor with the Marks and Spencer items at £16 each as I know I will get more wear out of these in the long term," was the reviewer's verdict.
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