Base layers, running tops, fleece jackets, running jackets – they almost all have one thing in common these days, and that’s the presence of thumb holes. You know, those odd holes that suddenly appeared in the cuff of every sleeve in outdoor garments a few years ago. But what are thumb holes for, and do they really add any value to that athletic top you’ve been eyeing up?
I first started noticing the ubiquity of thumb holes around 2010 in long sleeved tops for running and hiking made by a certain alliterative yoga brand. Then they began appearing in base layers that I favored for hiking up in the Rocky Mountains. Before I knew it, thumb holes had started to even become commonplace in outer layers like my favorite down running jacket. I’ll be honest, when they first appeared in outdoor apparel, I thought they looked weird and a bit ugly. Why would I pay to have a hole pre-cut into my sleeves? And is it just a gimmick to make a regular base layer look high performing?
