Cold?
No problem...
The
end of January is usually when the worst of the winter weather sets
in, with icy winds and downpours of snow. As we've already admitted
to here The Test Pit, we're not overly adept at going outside all
that often, so when its cold it can really be a bother. For us That
is why we've scoured the net to find three handy (pun intended)
gadgets that will keep us toasty until the spring. Here we go then...
Extremities
Inferno Gloves
Whether
you need to keep you mitts warm for skiing, snowboarding, or just
because its bloody freezing waiting for the bus, the Inferno Gloves
from Extremities are perfect. The gloves are waterproof while staying
breathable, thanks in no small part to the Hipora insert and
Primaloft insulation. This means that despite being thick enough to
stop your fingers dropping off, they're thin enough so you can still
use your hands – something not all heavy duty gloves allow you to
do.
Obviously
we weren't going skiing any time soon, but still found the perfect
way to test the Inferno gloves. Mitted up, several of us stuck our
hands into the freezer, rubbing them up against the the frozen (and
in need of defrosting) interior walls. We felt not a trace of the
chill, while still being able to 'feel' about.
We
were pleased by how much sensation our hands retained while wearing
the gloves, and thanks to the draw-string wrist closings, we knew we
wouldn't be losing them any time soon.
£
30
Available
from www.terra-nova.co.uk
Zippo
Hand Warmer
If
you're not really one for gloves but still can't stand the chill of
this time of year, how about keeping your hands warm in a different,
more brand conscious, way? Zippo have a range of hand warmers that
are far more effective (and longer lasting) than those chemical
gel-pack warmers and look a hell of a lot cooler.
Appearing
like an over-sized lighter, the Zippo Hand Warmer comes in a variety
of metal finishes, but we definitely prefer the classic silver. It
worked in rather an unusual way, and one that at first concerned us
slightly. What you do is crack open the warmer, fill it with Zippo
lighter fuel (we know!) then light it. The burner inside will slowly
and steadily burn away for either six or twelve hours, radiating heat
through the polished metal cover.
Fortunately
the Hand Warmer comes with a carry pouch, and although we're sure
that Zippo included it to make sure your Hand Warmer doesn't get
scratched up in your pocket, it is also very handy for acting as a
protective layer between your hands and the metal surface – it can
get jolly hot!
Infinitely
useful for people who spend a great deal of their time outdoors in
winter, be it for camping, fishing or even collecting the bins.
This
model around £20
Available
from www.zippo.co.uk
The
Radiator Booster
This
is something that we hermits at The Test Pit would find extremely
useful – no need to even attempt to brave the cold. The Radiator
Booster does exactly as the name suggests: it boosts the power and
warmth of your radiators.
Not
that we want to insult the clever inventors, but the Radiator Booster
is basically just a length of plastic tubing with an electric fan on
one side. It really is as simple as that, but simple ideas usually
work the best. By placing the Booster on top of a conventional
radiator, the fan acts to draw heat from behind the appliance (that
which usually warms nothing but your walls and is therefore wasted)
up and into the room.
The
Radiator Booster does however run off an electrical socket, so you
might be now wondering if the energy it will be saving you is
actually being sucked up by it. According to the manufacturers, not
so. Based
on Energy Saving Trust data from 2009 you could be saving £140
per year by using the Radiator Booster, as well as it costing less
than 30p each year to operate. Which means, based in the current
price, you'll make back you money in the first 8-10 weeks.
From
our experience (of just a couple weeks of use) it really does help to
improve the heat of a room. We found that smaller rooms benefited far
quicker, and that if you left the radiator to heat up first, warm air
will be blasted out by the Booster immediately.
£24.99
Visit
www.radiatorbooster.com