In Winter, I Never Leave the House Without These (Inexpensive) Heaters.
It always irritates me when I tell my friends here in New York that I’m cold, and they respond, “But you’re from North Dakota! This is nothing compared to what you’re used to.” I get it . Why do you think I moved away from the coldest state in the continental US as soon as I turned 18? I hate the cold in North Dakota, but that doesn’t mean I hate the cold in New York any less.
Indeed, wherever I am in winter, I struggle with the cold—Midwestern cold, Northeastern cold, it’s cold everywhere. That’s why I’ve developed a number of plans to combat it, and the most useful of these is a set of heated accessories that I carry with me every day. These gadgets are inexpensive, effective, and small enough to stash in my bag when I return to the warm embrace of home after a grueling commute.
How to Choose the Right Cold Weather Gear
My friends are right: we North Dakotans have come up with all sorts of ways to stay warm. For example, in densely populated areas, buildings are connected by overpasses or underground tunnels, and people spend a fortune each winter heating their garages so that no one has to freeze for even a second, even to get into their car. Growing up in a place where the cold can literally kill you if you’re not prepared for it, you’ve been raised in a culture built on all sorts of tricks to avoid it.
When I moved to New York, I discovered it wasn’t as cold here, but I also realized I wasn’t prepared for the reality of being outdoors and walking in winter. So I turned to the spirit of my resourceful ancestors, recreating their methods of staying warm on a smaller, more personal, more urban scale.
I’ve learned a lot along the way. For example, those wrinkle-prone hand and foot warmers are useless because they’re ineffective and will eventually fall apart in pockets or boots. Layering isn’t my style either, because I’m still vain enough to want to look cute and stylish wherever I go, and that’s impossible when multiple thermal layers are bloating my outfit.
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After much trial and error, I have come to the conclusion that “thermal technologies” meet the following criteria:
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It’s small (so I can put it away after my commute).
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It’s cheap (because I’m cheap too).
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It effectively keeps me warm (or at least warm).
My Favorite Self-Heating Gadgets
All that preamble aside, here are three gadgets I consider essential parts of my winter warming kit.
Wearable heating pad
I always have a heating pad (around $20) in my winter bag. They’re advertised as a menstrual cramp reliever, but as soon as I saw one listed as a “recommended item” on Amazon, I knew it would be perfect for my cold commute, and I wasn’t wrong. I’ve tried a ton of different heating pads over the years, and they all work pretty much the same—which isn’t always a good thing, since no matter the brand, they tend to be pretty flimsy, so you’ll likely have to buy a new one next year. I used to try a heated vest, which I liked, but it was bulky and difficult to store once I got to my destination. Belt-style devices work similarly but are much less noticeable. They radiate heat around the body, are easily concealed under a jacket, and can be easily stashed in a pocket or bag. (Two words of warning: never apply it directly to your skin as it may cause a minor burn, and be sure to charge it when not in use as it drains quickly and charges slowly.)
Heated scarf
My heated scarf is new this year, but I’ve already found it indispensable: it keeps my upper body warm, perfectly complementing my heated belt. It costs about $20. I chose the smaller model so it’s easier to carry in my bag, but there are larger, more stylish options for the same price. (Not all of them come with a removable battery, so check the product description carefully before purchasing.)
Heated gloves
Finally, my favorite , these heated gloves . I ordered these in a fit of anger a few weeks ago after a morning walk to teach a 6 a.m. cycling class . My hands were so cold that I had to order a hot Dunkin’ instead of a cold one—gross!—and I ordered the heated gloves as soon as they thawed. There are options here too: you can get gloves where the front of the mittens folds back, leaving the fingers exposed, or you can get full-fingered gloves. Either way, I think you’ll find them indispensable and comfortable to use once you get used to the battery pack hanging on the back of your hand (they have a non-removable battery, but can be charged with a standard USB-C cable).