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The Winter Tech Essentials I’ve Found Myself Needing Now That We Live In Actual Cold Weather
Making the move from year round warmth (LA) to “seasons” (Lake Arrowhead) has meant a few cold-weather and snow inspired tech things that I never thought I’d need nor did I know existed but which we’ve found VERY helpful. While I had a parka before, I finally got that less cool (but strangely flattering) sleeping bag coat (that fits in a tiny bag for packing) and while I’ve had gloves in the past of course, I finally got some that also answer a phone call or take a video. Don’t even try to borrow Brian’s new bluetooth beanie that we made fun of when his mom got it for him for Christmas – because he LOVES it (and ordered another one, too). So if you are living in the cold climate and have the real NEED for these more low-tech cold-weather gear, this post is for you.
1. Heat Tech Knit Gloves | 2. Leather Tech Gloves | 3. Smartwool Liner Tech-Compatible Gloves | 4. Touch Knit Gloves | 5. Etip Salty Dog Knit Tech Gloves | 6. Bon Jacquard Touchscreen Gloves
I don’t trust myself with expensive gloves, but I wanted to try some tech gloves so I bought these from Uniqlo. They work to unlock the phone and take a photo/video but they aren’t accurate enough for long emails or texting. But that’s enough for me now (and the gloves themselves are fitted and warm). These leather ones from J. Crew seem really nice (and would be a great gift) and I can see these ones being ideal for working outside as they are also wind and water-resistant.
1. Wireless Smart Beanie | 2. Collection Genuine Shearling Bluetooth®Earmuffs | 3. Upgraded Bluetooth Beanie Hat Wireless Headphones | 4. 180s Degree Mens Bluetooth Ear Warmer | 5. Wireless Beanie Winter Pom Pom Music Hat | 6. Bluetooth Earwarmers
Like I said, Brian loves his bluetooth beanie and because we are both big podcast listeners, I think I might want one for myself for my morning walks and bike rides. I like the idea of bluetooth ear warmers too and wonder if the speakers work better because they are cuffed around your ears. Thoughts?
1. Men’s Black AA Battery Heated Gloves | 2. Rechargeable Electric Heated Socks | 3. Hotronic XLP PFI 50 Surround Heat Socks | 4. American Mammoth Heated Glove | 5. Unisex Large Flecking Gray Coolmax Blend Heated Socks | 6. ActionHeat Adult AA Battery Heated Fleece Gloves
In our editorial meeting yesterday, Mallory told us her dad recently got a pair of heated socks and we were all intrigued. Is this something all people in cold climates have?? Do you wear them just inside the home or when you go outside and how comfortable are they to wear with shoes? I can get on board with heated gloves, but the socks seem tricky but you tell me.
So, are there any other winter tech essentials I am missing? Please help us former Los Angelenos get our winter weather bearings. xx
Opener Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford |From: New Fashion On My Body The One Where I Dressed Like A Fisherwoman, Wore 6 Great Coats, AND An All Star Pair Of Boots
No, all people in cold weather do not have heated mittens and socks :) I live where it is below freezing 3-5 months of the year, and I do not know anyone who has them.
Yeah, life-long cold climate dweller and I have never known anyone to have these. For occasions that you are not moving and outdoors in the cold (like hunting or football games), you can get disposable or rechargeable little warmers to tuck in your pockets, boots, or gloves that work really well.
Our friends have a cabin in Mammoth, and there they have boot warmers! It dries off your ski boots and warms them up for the next day. Also, they have these little heat packs they throw into their boots.
We bought a Peet Dryer to dry the inside of snow boots and gloves because it snowed daily Dec through March when our kids were little. It is amazing and 100 percent better than trying to use a floor heating vent! Great product, has kid boot size attachments (don’t bother with the glove attachment, just use the boot ones for gloves too). Also can be used on work boots, sweaty tennis shoes, wet shoes, etc. Highly recommend, plus waterproof gear and you’ll all enjoy winter!
Yes! We have cold and wet year round so we love our boot dryer. I pop my sons boots on after playing in the snow and they are dry enough to go out again later.
Speaking of winter, has anyone seen Orlando’s Instagram today? He’s trapped in this immense bank of snow with no power or water. It looks downright scary/dangerous. The “atmospheric river” really hammered that area.
yes! I’ve been so worried about him, Emily, give us updates if you’re in contact!
It doesn’t look like he’s written anything since his original post. I hope he was able to reach somebody who could actually help. There are tons of comments w/ a few good suggestions, but who knows if he can even see them.
Wow, I just looked that up and it looks terrifying. And he’s got no power or source of heat? And no way to get out?
So scary! As a weather geek, I’d been reading the snowmageddon predictions and was surprised that he decided to go back. Hope he gets power back soon.
I layer a fleece earband over my earbuds when I take long walks. It’s functional, but a bit uncomfortable. An earband with built in speakers would be an improvement.
The handful of people I know who have heated apparel in PNW have them for tailgating/attending football games… and because they have extra money. BTW, if you do go the heated clothing route, don’t go cheap. Pay for a reputable brand. The cost goes to the battery, which you don’t want to catch fire, as cheap batteries can do. (Learned from someone else’s experience).
My extended in-law family in Montana, where it’s *actually* cold for many months, don’t have any that I know of.
I live in the Upper Midwest, where 20 degrees counts as “pretty warm!” this time of year, and we do not have heated socks or gloves. You have all the body heat you need, the trick is to lock it in! Multiple layers that aren’t too tight, good materials (say no to cotton!), etc. If anything, I think the heated socks/gloves are likely to cause you to overheat and sweat, which will just cause you to freeze in the long run. Good wool socks, waterproof insulated boots, and gloves in a windproof fleecey material are my go-to warm weather items. And you want multiple pairs of things so you can let them dry out in between wears.
That said, I’m 100% on board with heated car seats :)
My favorite is gloves that have a flap to go over your fingers. You can open it to cool off a bit when you’re working up a sweat on a hike and for a quick text/photo.
Also, snow pants! Any time it’s 50 degrees or less I wear snow pants. Much more pleasant to go to pace of a 3 year old when you’re toasty!
I dressed appropriate when walking a dog, but don’t know what to do when going out with a three year old. The pace is just too slow. My feet are cold, and I’m cold all over.
Lane: Try a really good pair of insulated pants— I’m not talking fleece-lined jeans but rather puffy snow pant style…only designed purely for WARMTH. Montbell makes an excellent pair (I prefer the thicker synthetic ones over the lighter down option.) Bogs boots & thick smartwool socks (expedition weight). Wool mittens (the super thick oatmeal colored ones you can get at rural stores like labonville or tractor supply— google Fox River double ragg mitt) are affordable and super warm. Layer a down vest inside your winter coat (I always size up in winter coats). Montbell also makes an incredibly warm puffy jacket. It’s not gonna win any prizes for looks but all of this is my go-to wardrobe for sub-zero NH weather! Pricey but worth it. If you are truly crawling along at toddler snail pace and cold even in this gear— do jumping jacks or windmill your arms. The less you move your limbs the colder you get. Have an insulated thermos of hot tea handy in a tote (you don’t want to carry it the whole time, especially chasing a kiddo). My husband is a mountain guide so I speak from experience—his clients are usually much slower than him!… Read more »
Waterproof insulated snow pants are a must. So nice to be able to sit in the snow/cold comfortably for a snack/exploring/activity, esp if you’re w little kids who stop and play vs hiking along during winter outdoor time. As an outdoor educator I also wear insulated waterproof hiking boots. With the right gear, we become the winter resister mammals we are adapted to be. Appropriate Outerwear=cozy winter pelt!
So true. Here we deal with wet cold winters typically. Temp now is 25 (colder than average) for rainforest Alaska. Unless it gets colder I focus on ultra warm hand, head, and feet options, but don’t worry as much about my core, because I will get too hot if I’m out walking with my 4 year old. So a fleece or sweater and my rain jacket or a regular long sleeve and my puffy coat are enough. My Dad grew up in Minnesota where it can be -40, he would just shovel the driveway in a coat and baseball cap- so dealing with the cold is all relative. I see tourist here in the summer (50- 60 degrees often) layered up like winter when I’m in a tshirt! Layers are the key. And good wool socks- I wear thick wool ones made by the Minnesota grandma when on long cold adventures. Happy winter!
I live in Minneapolis and ski with my family quite a bit so last year I bought heated socks. Hottronics brand but they were closer to $200. My husband was annoyed but I have terrible circulation in my feet and they instantly go numb and can’t warm themselves back up up when they get cold, especially in ski boots. I have been loving them for skiing, sledding with the kids and outdoor socializing that we have been doing during covid. They are rechargeable batteries so I would say more earth friendly than those disposable things and maybe over time cost effective?
Meredith, please, please take this the right way … have you had a Diabetes test? Circulation problems in the extremeties is one of the first symptoms. x
You-re soooo helpful and caring, Rusty! :) I love this in people… makes my heart warm ;)
Two things that are getting us through all the extra chilly outdoor time this year:
Poler Napsacks – think sleeping bag you can walk in (I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!)
Ocoopa rechargeable handwarmers – I gave them to everyone in our family this year for the holidays, they’re fantastic! I couldn’t bear buying the disposable packs and throwing them away time and time again – these are a game changer.
Link for the napsack:
And the hand warmers:
I bought those hand warmers for my husband. We live in a mild climate, but our house is old and drafty. Sitting at his computer all day for leaves him with cold hands, in particular. The hand warmers were his favorite gift. Of course, I also encourage him to get up from his computer more often to help his circulation, but there are days where he has back to back meetings for hours. I highly recommend the hand warmers!
Yes to the OCOOPA handwarmer! I suffer from Raynaud’s Syndrome and heated gloves and socks are a must-have for me.
A medical condition is an exception.
I’d be very cautious about wearing electronics on my head, or on my body, especially long enough to listen to a podcast.
Seriously. The electromagnetic radiation!?!?
There’s a reason we talk into our pjones in hand instead of holding it to our ear.
There’s a reason people don’t want to live near power lines and phone towers and … and …
Good fun and convenience for 5 hot seconds, and then?
I do not think the convenience is worth it.
I’m a nay-sayer with the heated clothing too.
Like, toughen up. Humans are gonna end up like the patsies in the Wall-e (sp?) movie!
Wear warm clothes. Move your body. Aaah…nice and comfortable.
Lol what about the saying where there’s no bad weather only bad clothing?
To me, rechargeable heated socks sound like like a great way to save on electricity in the uninsulated, unheated stair landing I have to use as an office! Probably safer than the space heater I have to crank up to 85 because every part of me is warm except my feet (yes I own and wear wool socks and they don’t help enough, no my last blood test checked and I don’t have diabetes)
;)
I agree! Heating the body rather than the space is an energy saver. There are times when we are still in the cold and a lot of movement for circulation isn’t possible where such devices are useful.
Yes yes yes to all what Rusty says. Smart points and true!
I got lined fleece pants from LLBean and a Sherpa lined flannel. The warmest clothes I have ever had in my life. Highly recommend. Will never go back.
I think the heated gear is not the best. Sounds good in theory, but you are either hot, sweating, feeling slightly burned, etc. just get foot products from outdoor companies that trap body heat.
The trick i was told that WORKS is to put your coat and gear on inside, make sure to button up inside, and then wait inside until you start feeling a little toasty and then go outside. So your body heat is already trapped and warm instead of trying to heat up in the cold. Keeping your coat hanging (safely) by a radiator or other heat source does the trick quickly too.
Christie, you sound sensible, real and balanced. ?
It’s not always possible. Sorry. Try going for a walk with a 3-year old and an infant. I don’t have much excess fat so it gets cold after a while. Adults walk in straight line, especially when they have to stay close to an infant. 3-year olds zig-zag and run so they are warm. They want to go to a park, they want snow angels, they collect stick, while parents wait and watch them until they are done. Dressing up is not easy,it gets so hot so quickly before heading out. My infant gets hot, I’m hot, while 3-year old is deciding if she wants a sweater or a long sleeved shirt under. I don’t complain about a 3-year old, but amout my cold feet and body. I would love to try other boots, but I don’t want to spend money again so soon. The boots I bought were supposed to be warm.
It’s tough with two. I have one and I wear a backpack with extra layers, oranges and nuts, water, etc. And I have a jacket with good pockets to stow mittens and his hat etc. My son runs hot anyway so he enjoys the freedom of less layers for a bit. Kids bodies don’t operate quite like ours do- so they need to take layers on and off to regulate their temperature. I get my sons base layer of thick socks and snow bibs on and add his lightweight puffy coat when we are actually walking. After getting cold hands a few times he’s more willing to put on his mittens right away and leave them on. I like to bring hot tea for myself and dress warmer than my son because he explores and I’m waiting often.
My husband has heated socks for football games where you’re sitting in the cold for 4 hours, but I’ve never needed them for outside activities or daily life.
I was writing them off because of the sweat factor, but the heated socks might work for outdoor pandemic dining!
I have the feeling the latest articles Are more about getting comments and Long Reading Time?
Come on, Emilie grew up in Oregon and lived as an adult for some years in New York City. The winters there are freezing cold.
She walked dogs for a living! She survived and knows what to wear.
Cynical much? This is an article about tech-y winter gear, not simple winter clothing.
I don’t know when Emily last lived in NYC but I do know this gear is new enough that I didn’t know about it til recently and none of my friends are talking about it yet (and we’re all tech savvy software engineers with disposable income). Granted we don’t actually have to go outside this winter because we’re not commuting and we can have everything delivered, but sitting outside to eat brunch is a thing we’re still trying to do
– NYC resident since 2014
You might be missing a heated coaster, which is more for office than home, but I’d love one to keep my tea warm when working. A good non tech item would be socks with grip to walk on wood floor.
I hate cold weather and that’s why I am so glad to live in Seattle now instead of the midwest. It’s not really cold here. Highs in the high 40’s all this week. But if I did, and if I had to be outside for a while, I’d definitely be interested in warmed gloves and socks!
I hope Orlando is ok.
I have never heard of heated gloves and some days my fingers feel like solid ice. I want some.
As a Canadian reader based in Ottawa that is currently dealing with -28C weather (that’s -18F), I couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of Lake Arrowhead being ‘actual cold’ weather ;). And so indeed, techie winter accessories are definitely not a thing out here, we’re all about real wool and fleece! Unless plugging in our car so it’ll actually start in the morning is considered a tech accessory lol?
It’s not really a “tech” thing, but having a good thermos is awesome! There’s nothing better then a nice hot beverage or soupe to warm you up when you spend a long time outside. And it summer, it’ll keep your beverage of choice nice and cool!
I bought a bluetooth beanie on super sale, as a joke really…and surprise surprise I love it! I live in the Netherlands and get everywhere by bicycle and it’s so great to cycle and listen to music, and for Google Maps navigation. It feels much safer than earphones because it doesn’t block out all other outside noises. Such a winner!
The only think I would add is that I always feel warmer with a scarf. If my neck is cold, I’m cold. I don’t wear a mask when I walk outside (my neighborhood is not crowded) so the scarf doubles as a temporary mask if I need to pass someone on the sidewalk.
Sounds like you have a great excuse for a new cashmere turtleneck. Also, when I want a warm head and my hair up I pull on my qiviut headband. There is a reason musk ox stay cozy in the Arctic. My Mom bought my headband as a Christmas gift for me from the Oomingmak cooperative. They are online. I’ve had that headband for a decade and it still looks great and SO warm but not itchy.
It’s odd how climate can change your style, but functional clothing is important because no one feels fashionable in clothes that aren’t doing the job to protect and warm your body.