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It never fails to annoy me when I tell my friends here in New York City that I am cold and they reply, “But you’re from North Dakota! This is nothing compared to what you grew up with.” I know. Why do you think I left the coldest state in the continental U.S. 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’m at war with the cold—midwestern cold, northeastern cold, it’s all cold. This is why I’ve devised a number of plans to mitigate it, and the most useful of my anti-cold measures is the collection of heated accessories I cart around with me every day. These gadgets are inexpensive, effective, and small enough to stash in my bag once I’m back in the warm embrace of the indoors after a shivering commute.
How to choose good cold-weather devices
My friends do have a point: Us North Dakotans have come up with all kinds of ways to stay warm. Buildings in more populated areas are connected by skyways or underground tunnels, for instance, and people spend a small fortune each winter heating their garages so no one ever has to step into the cold for a second, even to get into the car. Growing up somewhere the cold can literally kill you if you’re not prepared means growing up in a culture built around hacks to keep you out of it.
When I moved to New York, I found it less cold, but I also discovered I was not ready for the reality of being outside and walking around in the winter. So I called on the spirit of my resourceful ancestors, replicating their anti-freezing measures on a smaller, personalized, more urban scale.
I learned a lot along the way. For example, those crushable hand and foot warmers are useless because they’re ineffective and will ultimately disintegrate into a grainy mess in your pockets or boots. Wearing a bunch of layers doesn’t work for me either, because I’m still vain enough that I want to look cute and stylish when I get wherever I’m going, and that’s not happening with multiple thermal base layers puffing up my outfit.
After much trial and error, I’ve come to rely on “heat tech” that meets the following criteria::
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It’s small (so I can store it away post-commute)
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It’s cheap (because so am I)
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It’s effective at keeping me warm (or at least making me less cold)
My favorite self-warming gadgets
All of that preamble aside, here are three gadgets I consider an essential part of my winter warming kit.
What do you think so far?
A wearable heating pad
My winter time bag always includes a wearable heating pad (about $20). They are advertised for treating menstrual cramps, but the moment I saw one in my “suggested products” on Amazon, I knew it would be just right for my cold commutes, and I wasn’t wrong. I’ve tried a variety of them over the years, and they all function about the same—which isn’t necessarily a good thing, as no matter the brand, they tend to be a bit flimsy, so you’ll probably end up buying a new one next year. I’d previously tried a heated vest, which I did like, but it was bulky and hard to store when I got where I was going. Belt-shaped devices work similarly but are far less obtrusive. They radiate heat around your core, are easily hidden under your coat, and can be easily stashed in a pocket or bag. (Two words of warning: Never let it rest directly on your skin, as you can suffer a minor burn and make sure to charge it whenever it’s not in use, as they tend to run down quickly and recharge slowly.)
A heated scarf
My heated scarf is a new addition to my arsenal this year, but I already consider it indispensable—it heats my upper body, complementing the work of my heated belt nicely. It’s also around $20. I opted for a smaller one to make it easier to stash in my bag, but there are bigger, more fashion-forward options at the same price point. (Not all of them come complete with the removable battery, so make sure to check the listing carefully before you buy.)
Heated gloves
Finally, there are my beloved heated gloves. I ordered them in a fit of rage a few weeks ago after a pre-dawn walk to teach my 6 a.m. spin class. My hands were so cold I had to order a hot Dunkin’ instead of an iced one—disgusting!—and I ordered heated gloves the instant they thawed. You have options here too: You can get the kind where the mitten top fronts fold back to leave your fingers exposed, as well as full-fingered gloves. Either way, I think you’ll find them essential and easy to use, once you get used to having a battery pack hanging on the back of your hand (they don’t have a removable battery, but can be recharged with a standard USB-C cable).
