Duofold’s new Varitherm High Performance Wool base layer, which features superior insulating qualities and moisture management and odour resistance technology, has been named 2008 Top Ten Gear of the Year by Stephen Regenold – aka “The Gear Junkie.” Duofold, an outdoor industry leader with more than 100 years of history of outfitting some of the world’s leading adventurers, introduced the Varitherm High Performance Wool style in September 2008.

“Being named 2008 Top Ten Gear of the Year by one of the most widely-followed gear experts speaks volumes for Duofold’s commitment to product innovation and quality,” said Don Burton, Director of Marketing for Duofold, the base layer apparel brand of Hanesbrands Inc. “Base layer is the foundation of any good outdoor apparel system, and we are very pleased to be recognized for developing the best product in the marketplace.”

The new High Performance Wool base layer tops and bottoms are part of Duofold’s Varitherm premium performance collection, which also includes Expedition Weight and Mid Weight options. All three lines are designed for high activity with key benefits such as moisture management, odour control and 360-degree stretch for ease of movement.

Duofold Varitherm High Performance Wool base layer successfully combines all the benefits of 100% Merino Wool with the advanced performance of synthetic fibres. The combination of Dri-release and FreshGuard fabric technology enables the Varitherm High Performance Wool to dry four times faster than 100% wool and inhibit odour-causing bacteria growth. It is specifically designed for warmth in very cold weather and delivers a higher level of thermal insulation than other 100% wool base layer products of similar weight. In addition, all performance benefits last the lifetime of the garment so they will never wear or wash away. Duofold Varitherm High Performance Wool is recommended for high activity outdoor sports such as running, snow sports, hiking and cycling.

In addition to the Varitherm line of base layer tops and bottoms, Duofold also offers the Sportsman line of base layer for thermal protection while hunting, fishing and working outdoors, the Originals collection that features two-layers combining cotton next to the skin and a wool outer layer, the Thermals collection featuring two layers combining cotton next to the skin and a polyester outerlayer, and the Protherm collection of lightweight base layer for high activity cold-weather sports that can be worn as base layer or alone as outerwear.

Since 2002, Stephen Regenold’s “The Gear Junkie” column has been the nation’s No.1 syndicated newspaper column on the outdoors. It is distributed weekly to 12 major daily newspapers, including the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Albuquerque Journal, Casper Star-Tribune, Spokane Spokesman-Review, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Greensboro News-Record, Cape Cod Times, Jackson Hole Star Tribune, Redding Record Searchlight, Billings Gazette, and the Twin Falls Times-News. Active.com and Outsidemag.com carry the column online, as well as Regenold’s Web site, http://thegearjunkie.com. Total weekly circulation: 2 million+.