Mark Megahan
With winter coming in fast and heating oil in scarce supply it’s time to think about the ways modern technology can help keep you warm, snug and comfortable. There are options for indoor and outdoor comfort to fit your lifestyle. These suggestions were provided by the product testers over at Review Geek and caught our attention as great ideas.
Stay warm in style this winter
Hunters, football fans and many others are familiar with the old standby pocket hand warmer. The old fashioned ones worked great but they were smelly and dangerous. New and improved chemical ones are a lot safer and more convenient but they run out of energy and leave a lot of waste material behind.
The 21st century version is provided by OCOOPA, scoring the award for “best rechargeable hand warmer.” It boasts an adjustable heat range from 95 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit and is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum and ABS material. That’s a “common type of thermoplastic polymer.” The smooth, warm exterior “won’t slide out of your hands.” The lithium rechargeable battery produces heat in seconds.
Gloves are absolutely essential for outdoors in frigid temps. Thick wool mittens will keep you nice and toasty but aren’t real great for texting. Depending on how cold it is where you will be wearing them, the reviewers recommend two great options.
For general use in cold but not frigid weather, New Balance offers a Polyester and spandex version which “come together to create an ultra-smooth fleece to keep you warm while still giving you full use of your hands.”
A great feature are grippers “on the palm make it so you don’t have to worry about dropping your smartphone or anything.” The “touch-tip fingers allow you to still use all your touchscreen devices without having to take off your gloves and subject your digits to the cold.”
The heavier duty option from MOREOK adds a layer of Thinsulate to their winter gloves to keep your hands warm in frigid conditions. These are also compatible with touchscreen devices thanks to “a coating of conductive fabric on the thumb and index finger of each glove.” These are both “snow-proof and wind-proof.”
Toasty inside and out
Many of us love the feel of a basic ceramic coffee mug for our hot beverages. While they retain the heat longer, on cold winter mornings, they can still cool off quickly. That’s where the VOBAGA mug warmer comes in handy.
Equipped with three temperature settings, “this little gadget can slow down the cooling speed of any hot beverage. And you don’t have to worry about it continuing to run if you forget to turn it off, thanks to an automatic shut-off function.”
Before you step out in the predawn cold to shovel a couple feet of snow from your driveway, DEWBU has the coat for it. “A heated jacket that’s powered by a 12V battery pack.”
Available for men and women in several colors “this coat contains five heating zones that you can adjust to make it warmer or cooler just by using a button.” You can crank it all the way up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit for at least three and a half hours. The lowest setting will keep you warm for up to 10 hours.
Electric blankets have been an old standby forever. The recommended modern version comes with an “attached remote” which allows “you to select one of the 10 temperature settings to create the perfect level of warmth for your couch nest.” This is a throw size version. It also has an auto shutoff safety feature. The best basic space heater turns out to be the “Vornado” vortex heater.
“Complete with an adjustable thermostat and three heat settings, this little vortex heater brings plenty of warmth to heat a room of small to medium size.” If cold feet are a nuisance, consider Gintao Electric Foot Warmer Pad. “The soft flannel cover is removable so that you can pop it in the washing machine for easy cleaning.” Not only will it keep your toes warm, it also relieves tension.
