6 tech-infused items under $30 to keep you warm this winter
February is here. The “New Year, New Me” energy has officially worn off, replaced by a much more realistic “New Year, Same Me, But Freezing” thanks to a very disrespectful wind chill a heating bill that’s starting to look like a phone number.
But we live in the future! We have technology!
Here are six actually useful gadgets that’ll keep you toasty without burning up a ton of cash.
Rechargeable Hand Warmers (~$20)
Disposable hand warmers are fine, but they’re wasteful and, frankly, kind of gross after a while. These rechargeable ones, on the other hand (pun intended), are basically big batteries that get hot.
They charge via USB-C, include one cord that charges both at the same time, and offer three heat settings. They can be snapped together magnetically to form one mega-warmer or split apart to keep both pockets toasty.
Coffee Mug Warmer (~$18)
You made coffee. You got distracted by a Slack notification. Now you have sad, cold coffee.
This coffee mug warmer isn’t new tech: in fact, it’s barely tech at all. It’s a tiny hot plate for your desk that keeps your drink at a steady, drinkable temperature for hours.
Is it fancy? No. Does it have an app? Thankfully, no. It just does one thing—fight the laws of cooling—and it does it well. No need to microwave your coffee like a savage.
Bluetooth Beanie (~$16)
You want to listen to a podcast while walking the dog, but your earbuds hurt your cold ears and your headphones won’t fit over your hat. The fix? A hat that sings to you.
It solves the “earbuds vs. frostbite” dilemma nicely since the speakers are sewn right into the fabric, connecting to your phone via Bluetooth so you can listen to your favorite playlist while shoveling the driveway.
The audio quality won’t win any Grammys, but for 20 bucks, it keeps your noggin warm and your audio playing. It’s washable, too, provided you take the electronic bits out first.
Smart Plug (~$9)
The floor is freezing, and you have to get out of bed to turn on the space heater. That’s a problem. The solution is a smart plug that lets you control your “dumb” heater from your phone or smart speaker.
“Alexa, turn on the Heater.” That’s it.
You can also set a schedule so your drafty home office warms up 15 minutes before you sit down. Just make sure your heater has a mechanical switch (the clicky kind) so it really does turn on when the power cuts in.
Heated Insoles (~$30)
When you’re standing outside, the ground is actively sucking the life force out of your feet. These insoles are literally tiny electric blankets for your shoes.
There’s an app you can use to finesse the temperature, and full disclosure: each insole has its own battery pack that you wear around your ankle like a house-arrest monitor. But, hey: It’s winter. Long pants season.
And they’re “cut-to-fit,” meaning you just trim them with scissors to match your shoe size. Simple. Effective. Warm.
Electric Plasma Lighter (~$10)
Lighting a roaring fire for warmth and ambiance is annoying when the matches break or the lighter runs out of fluid. Enter the rechargeable lighter, which uses electricity to create a plasma arc.
It’s windproof, splash-proof, and makes a cool, crackle-y sci-fi noise. You plug it in to charge it, then press a button to create a tiny lightning bolt that sets things on fire. It’s quite a conversation starter, and hopefully the last lighter you’ll ever need to buy.