Warm clothes advice.

[Koolau]

It's an expensive solution, but I'm sitting here in my underwear today (full disclosure: windows are closed today to keep out the VOG.) I no longer own anything "warm" to wear and we have no heat. I DO layer when it gets chilly (like low 70s.) YMMV

 

[Mr._Graybeard]

This is the coat I wore outside today, 10 degrees F. I could have stayed outside all day. Selection currently looks limited, but it's one of Eddie's mainstays, so selection will improve (but probably not the price). https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/10112578/men's-superior-down-waterproof-stadium-coat?sp=1&color=Black

This shirt will roast you if your indoor temp is above 65. https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/13302940/men's-chutes-microfleece-shirt?sp=1&color=Ocean

One thing I learned while XC skiing is that your head is a radiator. Cover it, and you'll feel warmer. Same thing with the neck. Other people have suggested ways to keep the feet warm, although my choice of socks is Wigwam (made in Wisconsin).

 

[slaternuthink]

We take a different approach - cool house, warm body.
When sitting in our chairs, a heating pad against the back and an electric blanket on the lap.
Very comfortable.
When sitting at our desks, a small space heater keeps us warm.

 

[Dtail]

In winter, we keep the home at 73 to 74 and run the fireplace in the living room where we hang out. My only advise is to run the temp a bit higher and while it costs a bit more in utilities, it's worth every cent of it. Don't suffer if you can afford it. No additional layers is going to be as comfortable as a warm environment.

On the other hand, our friends run their home at 65 and the wife ended up with bad asthma attack and couldn't breathe because it was too cold and ended up with steroids and meds. Their home value is about $1.8M and spend money on unneccesary luxurious stuff, but the husband cannot get past paying more for utilities.

We also see this frugality with folks too who spend on way bigger items. We keep the house at 74 in the winter daytime. Granted it is not on continuously as in northern climates.

 

[Koolau]

One thing I learned while XC skiing is that your head is a radiator. Cover it, and you'll feel warmer. Same thing with the neck. Other people have suggested ways to keep the feet warm, although my choice of socks is Wigwam (made in Wisconsin).

True about the head losing a lot of heat to the environment. I was shocked when I read the literature supplied to DW's chrocet group. DW had joined a crochet group several years ago. They agreed to create sock-caps for babies in Africa. The simple cap, worn during the cold months reduces the calories needed for survival by something like 25%.

Her group had a goal of 1000 hats for the year. They actually made 7000 in one year. DW continued for several years on her own and her total before her arthritis stopped her was near 8000 hats. Supposedly, these hats are life savers to babies who live in certain climates and poor countries. I never knew!

 

[Jerry1]

Thanks for the ideas. I'll take a look at them. I'm not sure why I'm shy about turning up the temperature but over 70 seems like something that's just not done. I bumped it up to 71 and feel like I'm going overboard. Maybe I should just rethink that. Looking at the cost of some of those Marino wool base layers, I might pay less just to pay the extra gas bill.

 

[Sunset]

I like a blanket/comforter to drape over myself while watching tv.

If OP is in a room for long periods of time, get an electric heater for that room.

 

[Slotracer]

The wool clothes also work when you go outside, your furnace not so much.

 

[obsessed]

Merinos are nice when needed but for everyday use I like the 32 Degrees base layer tops/bottoms you can get at Costco. They are very light (and inexpensive) and do a good job of knocking off the wintertime chill without overheating.

 

[Jerry1]

If OP is in a room for long periods of time, get an electric heater for that room.

When we settle in for the evening and watch TV, I turn on the fireplace (gas). When I do that, the rest of the house gets cold because the thermostat is close enough to the fireplace that the fireplace heat keeps the furnace from coming on. In the evening, I turn on one of those oil electric radiator type space heaters on in our bedroom and shut the door so that when we go to bed at night, our room isn't freezing. I justify this in my head because I like the fire and my thought is that the fireplace keeping the furnace off is basically an offset. I guess we all justify our quirks someway or another.

 

[imjustawarrior]

A lot of heat is lost out the head. Try a beanie or stocking cap.

If your hands and feet are cold, layer up your core and cover your head.

There is nothing wrong with wearing base layers even if you are just sitting around. If possible, maybe move around to generate some body heat. Give those base layers a work out.

A lot of the best answers have already been given, so I'll throw a couple more at you. Eat a lot of protein. Protein takes more energy to digest. Also, enjoy your favorite hot drink.

 

[Walt34]

I'm not going to post what we keep the thermostat set at, but when the house was built we paid extra for the high insulation package for a good reason. When I was working the guys at work teased that NASA used the IR signature from my house as a navigational beacon.

I'm a big fan of heated clothing. I get most from Home Depot because I like the Milwaukee brand as I have a lot of their tools and the batteries fit, but lots of other companies make heated clothing as well, intended for just about any use and style. Just search on "heated clothing" and you'll get lots of hits. DW and I have several heated jackets and I like my heated hoodie when we visit cheapskate relatives who don't understand the benefits of central heating.

 

[Goldendoodlebug]

Y husband is always cold. He frequently goes into a hot tub to warm up. We keep out temperature @68 during the day. He wears long-John’s and fleece-lined jeans. A t-shirt paired with fleece lined plaid shirts, sometimes he even wears 2
I wear wool socks and felt clogs, they are comfortable and keep my feet warm.
Maybe look into fingerless gloves if your hand get cold.
I think if you are cold you should wear clothes that are warm and comfortable, it’s more important than an image of what not to wear. If a cardigan works, wear it

 

[ksr]

I have always been ridiculously cold and it has only gotten worse as I have gotten older. So I can relate, and will offer what I find works best.

First turn up the thermostat so you are at least reasonably comfortable. I an frugal about many things, but I refuse to be freezing cold just to save money. I usually have the setting at 71 in winter. (To some extent I make up for this in summer with a setting of 79 or 80. I like it warm!).

Then, I dress in layers. Most often I wear Under Armour Coldgear as a baselayer and then either a heavy cotton long sleeve tee or a fleece on top. Leggings (I think men would want long johns) under a pair of fleece or other heavy pants.
I learned about Darn Tough socks on this board and have gradually phased out any other brands. I wear their wool socks and then a pair of warm slipper socks on top.

And I sit under a down comforter at night in front of the tv. Sometimes I drink hot tea (herbal, so decaf) at night, too.

Needless to say I am the picture of fashion But it doesn’t matter to me as long as I am warm!

 

[Pluperfect]

A friend who lived in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, said it's called Blowing Rock for a reason, and said keeping a scarf draped around the back of her neck made all the difference in the world. So I bought a cheap fleece one (just a big rectangle like 1 foot by 3 feet) at a drug store, and it does indeed make all the difference in the world for comfort even just sitting around the house. It's been life changing.

 

[GenXguy]

I got me some merino wool stuff for extra warmth.

1) Watch the percentage of merino wool. Sometimes it's pretty low. I prefer a higher percentage.

2) Don't trust the percentage from every source you see selling. They could be scamming.

 

[skipro33]

I wear a vest like this, along with a beanie cap like this as well. Head and ears lose LOTS of heat. The hat alone is likely to aid, but I like pockets to keep my fingers warm too.
This vest is on sale at Old Navy for $20. There are other lighter styles like fleece that aren't so bulky looking, but this one is the lightest of them all.

Loading…

oldnavy.gap.com

 

[Mark1]

I wear lined pants all winter. My favorite lined pants are Gerry lined pants from Costco (see below). I have a reminder to review/order some new ones (on-line) next September from Costco.

https://www.costco.com/gerry-mens-fleece-lined-pant.product.4000239519.html

 

[Aerides]

When we settle in for the evening and watch TV, I turn on the fireplace (gas). When I do that, the rest of the house gets cold because the thermostat is close enough to the fireplace that the fireplace heat keeps the furnace from coming on. In the evening, I turn on one of those oil electric radiator type space heaters on in our bedroom and shut the door so that when we go to bed at night, our room isn't freezing. I justify this in my head because I like the fire and my thought is that the fireplace keeping the furnace off is basically an offset. I guess we all justify our quirks someway or another.

Maybe try a new thermostat? We have the eco bee one, and it comes with remote widgets to read the temp vs. the location of the thermostat itself (it can read both and you can tell it which one is primary to drive the on/off stuff). You can program a lot of things with it too.

But overall, yes, raise the house temp - being comfortable in your home, when you can afford it, is not BTD!

 

[MarieIG]

I need a lot of layers, plus I have a few robes of different thickness, an indoor shawl, cardigans of different thicknesses, a throw downstairs and a throw upstairs. While 71 is the usual temperature, sometimes when I get a chill I put the temperature up to 73 or so just to warm up.

 

[brett]

It is winter in the cold north. When Ifind it cold in our home and my spouse finds it warm I just put on a sweater on top of my corduroy shirt. Easier than cranking up the thermostat and making her too warm.

Not cold enough that I need a hat, gloves, or thermal socks. Just on the cool side.

Ditto for bedtime. I have an extra blanket on my side of the bed.

 

[Gumby]

Never underestimate the warming power of a cat when it sleeps on you.

 

[Family]

I usually wear fleece lined jeans or warmer still, silk long johns with regular jeans.

When I go outside I always wear a neck gaiter...always over my ears & usually over my mouth & nose.

 

[GenXguy]

I usually wear fleece lined jeans or warmer still, silk long johns with regular jeans.

I wore sherpa lined sweatpants under fleece-lined jeans for my 3 mile walk in the blowing snow below 20 degrees out. Never felt the least bit cold. I have some 400 weight merino wool baselayer pants that I haven't even worn, yet.

 

[reneeh63]

In addition to clothing recommendations, I would recommend checking the indoor humidity level.

Definitely look into a whole house humidifier for your furnace that can keep the humidity at 25% or so (even when it's 0 degrees out). It makes a huge difference in the feel of the air such that it feels warmer, all else being equal and also keeps your skin/nose from getting quite so dried out through the winter.