That’s Hot!

Problem: it's cold-really really cold.
Solution: Layering.
Under your down coat, you've got five undershirts, four pairs of leggings, three pairs of socks, two sweaters, and a partridge in a pear tree.

With heated clothing you can feel toasty whenever, wherever.

Alas, this solution only begets another problem: you're now so bundled up that you sort of can't fit through the door. So here's a better solution: heated clothing. Long used by fishermen, hunters, golfers, and motorcyclists, several kinds of warm-up-able garments can keep even the coldest toes from going numb.

Teabag-sized heating pads are stuffed into many a coat pocket when the weather turns cold, but the little hot satchels can also be put into hidden pouches in many different specially designed garments from hats to mittens to socks. There are even heated insoles available, which means that even high heels can be turned into warm winter shoes.

Meanwhile, Nordic Gear makes a line of clothing that's heated with the help of batteries, and Gerbing's makes an entire wardrobe of heated outerwear-pants, jackets, vests, socks, etc.-that heat up when plugged into a motorcycle, car, boat, ATV, snowmobile, or golf cart. (They can also be plugged into a portable 12-volt battery).

But if all these options fail, there's always another option for keeping your fingers warm without layering gloves on top of gloves: get someone to hold your hand in theirs.

Posted on January 16, 2006