Winter is Coming. If you're like me, the thought of an East Coast winter fills you with a sense of impending doom. You don't want to trade sneakers for snow boots or break out your winter coat. Mentions of the "wind tunnel" and "polar vortex" make you want to Usain Bolt your way to California. But regardless of your opinion on the matter, soon you'll be rocking a red–nosed Rudolph look and wondering if you have frostbite on your butt or are just imagining it. Street wishes we could buy everyone one–way tickets to Malibu but we can't. Instead we did the next best thing—we researched wearable technology for staying warm.
Heated Clothing
Exo2 is the leading developer of heated clothing in Europe. They sell insulated, rechargeable body warmers ($140–$180) that create cocoons of heat. Products are supplied with power packs and chargers. It's a little weird to imagine charging your clothes but this way you'll be able to build all the snowmen you want.
While Exo2 was created with equestrians and motorcyclists in mind, VoltHeat was created by people who are passionate about powder skiing in untracked backcountry—I mean, same. Their vests ($115–$200) and gloves ($130–$220) use a Zero Layer heating system that's both lightweight and effective. During my ski trips this winter, I'll be wearing their products along with their toasty hand and toe warmers ($27, $40).
Heated Accessories
You need a S'well water bottle ($35)—yes, yes you do. These incredible bottles keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12, meaning you can sip piping hot beverages all day long. If you're high maintenance and consider Philly an arctic tundra, you can also spring for Hammacher Schlemmer's pajama warming pouch ($40) and Remedy's heat–sensitive memory foam sleep mask ($20).
Heat Therapy
Venture Heat makes heat therapy wraps ($100–$150) designed to help your body recover, rehabilitate or stay warm. Perfect for injured athletes, shivering students or ladies on their periods, heat therapy wraps are a safe and effective form of pain/cold weather relief.
There's an app for that
Gydes Supply Company makes heated, microwire jackets ($350) and vests ($240) that pair with a wireless heat control app. You can change your jacket's temperature at any time by adjusting the app's thermogauge. It's like crawling inside your high rise's heating system while having its thermostat at your fingertips.
Heated Insoles
Digitsole makes hand and toe warmers look lame and so last century. Digitsole's heated insoles ($110) warm your feet, support your arches and track your daily activity. The insoles connect to an app that lets you adjust the temperature of each foot, track your daily steps and see how many calories you've burned. Technology is wild.
