11 ms·

An issue with keeping yourself warm with clothing is some hotspots get too warm, and others too cold. Like the armpits usually get too warm, but your exposed h

by novok 5y ago

An issue with keeping yourself warm with clothing is some hotspots get too warm, and others too cold. Like the armpits usually get too warm, but your exposed hands too cold. If your slippers have sheep's wool in them, like ugg slippers, then they often sweat a lot or feel a little wet while simultaneously feeling cold at times, or warm enough. Most sweaters are also not designed to keep your armpits a little bit cooler so you stay evenly warm along your body. If you want to wear gloves, then finger and hand mobility is effected, and usually with hands, it's the fingers that are cold anyway, making fingerless gloves not feel that useful. While if the room is all one consistent warm enough temperature, you don't get these cold & hot spot effects.

joe_the_user 5y ago
Last December, Nevada County Ca, where I live, had a massive snow storm that knocked out power and snowed people in for 1-3 weeks. I wound up huddled in my apartment with 45 degree heat for five days or so. With enough sweaters, I was a comfortable temperature. Aside from what you mention, since basically you providing your own heat for yourself, you have to put or take off layers depending on physical activity. And so naturally this process involves too-hot and too-cold periods that are less than pleasant. Still, I survived to tell the tale. I mean, we could all live like the hero of To Build A Fire, at least until we died.
- mc32 5y ago
  One place you still need heat is the shower. Maybe some people are okay with taking a shower in 45F ambient temps, but I would resist it.
  - olegious 5y ago
    You’d be surprised how quickly you can get used to cold showers. I’ve been only cold showering for about 5 years now
    - silisili 5y ago
      How cold is cold? When our gas went out in the summer, taking a 'cold' shower was bearable, some days even enjoyable. In the freezing winter? Tried it once, never again. I'm not even sure it would be safe to shower in water that cold for any long periods of time.
      - mypalmike 5y ago
        I'm not personally advocating for this, but some argue for water conservation by taking a https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_shower https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_shower which involves only about 2 minutes of time in the water.
        occz 5y ago
        >A Navy shower (also known as a "combat shower", "military shower", "sea shower", "staggered shower", or "G.I. bath") is a method of showering that allows for significant conservation of water and energy by turning off the flow of water in the middle portion of the shower while lathering. Hold up - do you mean to tell me that people do not turn off the water while lathering? I've showered this way all my life, is this not the norm?
        cameronh90 5y ago
        Often with combi boilers, if you turn off the water it takes a solid 30s to a minute for the water to come up to temperature again, sometimes longer if you account for the water in the pipes and the thermostat reaching equilibrium. Obviously newer/better boilers come up to temperature quicker but you don't always have the luxury of choosing your boiler.
        vages 5y ago
        I came up with this method a few years ago and have used it ever since. I’ve never looked back; I’m no less comfortable now than before, and I enjoy using less energy even though my hot water use is included in the rent. I’ve had little luck converting friends and family to it, though.
  - Yeroc 5y ago
    One thing that's kind of silly about most of our shower stall designs is their open-top design. While a few are sold with caps most are not. Having a cap on top of the shower allows for lower ambient temperatures in the bathroom while showering in (relative) comfort. This also has the benefit of reducing condensation on the ceiling and walls of the bathroom.
    - travisporter 5y ago
      Yeah I never got why this is the standard. Glad I’m not the only one
    - Tagbert 5y ago
      Probably because moisture is a much bigger problem in homes than heat or cold. If the shower stall were closed on top, when the door was closed, the moisture would sit in the shower and not evaporate. That can lead to mold problems.
      - Yeroc 5y ago
        It's much easier to deal with moisture when it's largely restricted to the interior of the shower! Easy to wipe down the sides and then leave the door open to allow the remaining moisture to evaporate. Seems superior to having the water vapours condensing on ceilings and walls in the bathroom that likely can't be wiped down.
        novok 5y ago
        You can also just have a small shower room, with a separate door, it's about equivalent. You see this in many houses where the sink vs shower & toliet are two separate 'rooms' connected to each other.
  - snowwrestler 5y ago
    Do you mean water or air temps? I would hate a shower in 45F water, but a shower in hot water in 45F temps would be fine.
  - screenbreakout 5y ago
    I'd recommend the sauna as an alternative... I'm really interested in the homestead movement and one thing thats promoted is the rocket stove, I've often wondered how such a design might work out if you used it for cooking while using the residual heat for a hot "sauna" wall in the next room...
- presentation 5y ago
  Most people in the warmer parts of Japan and China (not Hokkaido, not Heilongjiang) don’t use that much heating in the winter, I’ve gotten used to it and don’t really find it a problem.
  - thaumasiotes 5y ago
    I lived in Shanghai, which is too warm for snow in the winter. But it's still freezing cold; when I wasn't running heat (because I didn't know how), I'd wake up in the morning with my toes suffering from frostbite. I was miserable all the time until I obtained a space heater.
    - adrianN 5y ago
      That sounds like you have the wrong blanket.
      - thaumasiotes 5y ago
        A better set of blankets is potentially a solution to the narrow problem of my toes freezing while I'm asleep. It doesn't do anything for me while I'm awake. Note that I was living in a school dormitory with bedding provided by the dorm, so it met a local standard of reasonableness.
      - wolverine876 5y ago
        Some warm socks might help too.
    - Lio 5y ago
      Frostbite! I'm really sorry you had to go through that, it's a serious thing. People often don't pay much attention to their toes but they're pretty important for balance. It must be difficult living with that injury.
      - thaumasiotes 5y ago
        I have no lasting damage - my blanket was good for that much. My toes would be red and painful when I woke up. https://www.healthline.com/health/frostnip https://www.healthline.com/health/frostnip
- bryanrasmussen 5y ago
  The hero of To Build A Fire was obviously the sled dog, the human was too much whiny and needy - which is what caused the hero to abandon him in the end.
- wolverine876 5y ago
  > we could all live like the hero of To Build A Fire That (and 45 degrees) are strawperson arguments against turning down the thermostat a little and putting on a sweater (and let me recommend shoes). My sense is that many people generally (I don't know the parent commenter) shoot down any individual action, because it's individual action - it's reactionary, ridiculing any 'liberal' idea.
  - joe_the_user 5y ago
    I'm actually pretty progressive and do sometimes leave my sweater on after taking walk and turn the thermostat down. However I have a bunch of other "personal comfort issues", related to health. so often leave the heat at seventy while I deal with these. But even more, I do think the "liberal spirit" of trying to solve or pretending you can solve social or environmental issues with exhortations to individual action is reactionary in the end. The only solution to global warming or pollution or etc is action by the state involving the regulation of private enterprises. These "if we all consumed less" positions are kind of the flip side of telling people who make minimum wage they're poor 'cause they drink a soda at lunch or have netflix etc. Edit: TL;DR; Exploring what you're comfortable with is a good, even suggesting other explore this good. But the spirit of "the problem is you-all consumer too much" is problematic.
    - Ma8ee 5y ago
      But we all do consume too much for it to be sustainable. While I agree that we primarily need regulation, mostly on industries and the production of goods and services, our collective individual choices do matter. And I can’t credibly fight for regulations while driving a huge SUV or crisscrossing the world with jet planes.
    - wolverine876 5y ago
      It's another strawperson argument. It's not all one or the other. Reducing your energy consumption is not sufficient, and I don't know anyone who says it is. The idea that individuals are powerless is antithetical to democracy, which IMHO is why the reactionaries push it. They say the same thing about protests (despite a long history of success) and any other individual/collective action. Democratic government is a form of collective action, and so they decry that too. They want you dependent on strongpersons and corporations, and IMHO by buying into it, you are surrendering your power and (unwittingly for most) doing nothing less than fighting agaist freedom and democracy. Collective action is quite powerful - ironically, the reactionary movement uses it heavily, and is the foundation of a free society, as is individual responsibility. (It's also the foundation of a free market and SV-style entrepenurialism - individuals doing something in their garage and changing the world.) Communities, society, depend on everyone doing their part as individuals. You can't prevent trash on the streets in your community by obstaining from littering yourself, but we do keep the streets clean in large part by each person not littering (and we also obey the law, help people in need, etc. etc.). Reality is quite the opposite of reactionary propaganda: Individuals acting works incredibly well. The Minutemen in the American Revolution were volunteers, who defeated the subjects of the British King. After centuries of unprecendeted success in human history, it's incredible that people abandon it simply because of propaganda. > I'm actually pretty progressive I don't know you, of course, and it's just one comment in one moment in your life, but the parent comment is clearly anti-progressive.
2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
Are there any good fingerless gloves for typing? I'd like to give them a shot, cold hands are usually what causes me to turn the heat on and I try to use as little heat as I can.
- raisedbyninjas 5y ago
  I use a heated desk pad under my keyboard.
  - jez 5y ago
    Do you have a link to one you recommend?
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- mackrevinack 5y ago
  i haven't done extensive research so there could be thinner gloves out there, but i bought a pair of "edz merino fingerless gloves" a few months ago and they are less restrictive than the pair i had before still end up with cold-ish fingers though which feels similar enough to cold hands. im thinking what i need is something like mittens but instead of something that wraps around your fingers, it would just rest on top and keep the air off while your fingers are free to move underneath
- Eric_WVGG 5y ago
  You could try some fingerless “glove liners” (might find some at REI), but I’d suggest “arm socks”. They come in two basic styles; somewhat feminine knits, and synthetics made for sporting activities or hunting.
jerojero 5y ago
Yeah, but is that sort of discomfort worth the energy usage of heating the entire room? An alternative is also, as it is mentioned in the article, to warm certain spots in a room instead of the whole of it.
- gruez 5y ago
  > Yeah, but is that sort of discomfort worth the energy usage of heating the entire room? For the average HN reader in north america? Probably not. For the median person in europe right now? Maybe not (thanks to what's happening in ukraine affecting gas prices).
- warner25 5y ago
  I tend to be cheap, not even just frugal, but it's worth it to me. During my first winter in my own place, I set the thermostat to the low 60s F to save money. After about two weeks I concluded that feeling perpetually uncomfortable in my own place wasn't worth whatever money I was saving. It felt like trying not to drink water when thirsty to save money. Warmth is just such a basic human need. Better to save in a number of other ways. I definitely wouldn't do this to my wife and kids now.
  - wolverine876 5y ago
    OK, try 65. IME, most people can turn down the thermostat and still be perfectly comfortable; just find the approximate minimum you need for comfort.
- refurb 5y ago
  At peak I was using about $2 per day of gas to keep my place at 70F versus 60F. I could skip buying a coffee and more than make up for it.
reneherse 5y ago
I've found quality wool garments to be very helpful. Examples: A thick wool "cable knot" sweater is both warm and highly breathable, ideal for hiking. Wool socks (and/or wool felt slippers when it's very cold) keep feet warm without any of the clamminess (or smell) associated with cotton or synthetics. Merino wool underwear has similar benefits. The price is higher compared to cotton or synthetics, but it's possible to find good values by shopping sales. The daily rewards of wool (in every season) are worth the extra effort.
- Thlom 5y ago
  When I'm active outside in the winter I always wear a thin layer of wool as the inner layer, medium thick wool socks and a wool sweater. Over that I use shell clothing like gore-tex jacket and pants. As long as I'm active I will not freeze even if temperatures reaches -20C. If I'm out and about, f.ex. a long ski trip, I will bring a down jacket in my backpack that I will wear over the shell jacket when pausing to eat. Our kids wear wool inner layer, fleece mid layer and a insulated shell "one-piece" when they are out in the snow. Mostly because they often just sit down to play. If they were active all the time mid layer wouldn't be necessary. Also found that it's perfectly OK to wear thin wool inner layer all the time. It doesn't really get too warm as long as you don't wear warm clothes over.
m463 5y ago
I think you can help your body regulate the temperature and even sweat. There's the old saying: "cold feet? wear a hat." dress with the right layers. I always put a layer of synthetic beneath cotton. Nice socks help your body deal with cold quite dramatically. "Darn Tough" brand merino wool socks are pretty exceptional socks that keep your feet warm and (importantly) dry.
- Thlom 5y ago
  Try wool instead of synthetics as inner layer.
  - m463 5y ago
    I would but... itchy
scott0129 5y ago
For the issue of "fingers are cold but gloves affect mobility", purchasing a pair of thumbhole arm warmers have made a world of difference for me They're almost like fingerless gloves, but more comfortable and easier to manage. You might be worried "but it's the fingers that are cold anyway, so fingerless gloves are not what I need." I thought that too, but trying them immediately proved me wrong and I never had an issue with cold fingers again. I'm fairly sure it's because warming your wrists/palms keep your blood from losing heat in those areas, so your fingers get much warmer circulation. For something less than $10, it's probably the best purchase I've made for working in the winter
- bryanrasmussen 5y ago
  >For the issue of "fingers are cold but gloves affect mobility", purchasing a pair of thumbhole arm warmers have made a world of difference for me this is calling back to the recent post on Dickensian poverty for me. Everyone not well to do in A Christmas Carol was cold and had layers on and fingerless gloves and stood around shivering. But the rich people were heating the spaces (except Scrooge of course)
- zarzavat 5y ago
  It’s because muscles that control your hands are in your forearm and hand so warming your fingers doesn’t actually do much except make them feel nice.
- momenti 5y ago
  It's a shame that these are stereotyped as female fashion accessory.
  - kwhitefoot 5y ago
    Only where you are.
- novok 5y ago
  Oh that's really cool and good to know. I can totally afford to heat my place, but it's like a challenge for myself to find a set of home clothing that would keep me comfortably warm despite it being a bit chilly inside. Still need to solve the cold yet damp (from sweating?) feet and sweating armpit issue although. As others had noticed, the cold hand / feet thing is mostly a computer thing for me. Also probably due to me restricting my eating at times.
wolverine876 5y ago
> An issue with keeping yourself warm with clothing is some hotspots get too warm, and others too cold. Like the armpits usually get too warm, but your exposed hands too cold. We can sit and imagine problems with every course of action, and never step forward. In my life, I've never had the quoted problem and I've never heard anyone else say it's a problem. On my list of things to worry about, this ranks near the bottom. No clothing I know of has special cool spots, beyond outdoor recreation equipment (e.g., mountaineering gear with pit zips), yet somehow we all do fine. I expect our bodies adjust fine to such variations. > While if the room is all one consistent warm enough temperature, you don't get these cold & hot spot effects. That doesn't add up: No clothing (with the exception mentioned above) has such cooling spots. If our bodies couldn't adjust, a constant temperature would be the same, sweater or not. EDIT: > If your slippers have sheep's wool in them, like ugg slippers, then they often sweat a lot or feel a little wet while simultaneously feeling cold at times, or warm enough. It's incredible that Ugg sells any slippers!
- xigoi 5y ago
  Do you wear gloves indoors? If not, aren't your hands colder? If yes, how do you cook or work with a computer?
  - wolverine876 5y ago
    > Do you wear gloves indoors? If not, aren't your hands colder? No and no. The temperature in my home is set just warm enough that a sweater (and let me add, shoes - insulation from the coldest air and surface in the room) keeps me comfortable. My hands don't get chilled at that temperature. FWIW - from wilderness experience - it is widely believed that the best way to warm your hands is often to warm your core. Your body naturally prioritizes your core (probably better to keep your heart at 37 C and let your hands get a little chilly than vice versa!); keep that warm enough and energy/blood will be diverted to keeping your extremities warm.
    - Retric 5y ago
      In other words you keep the space hotter to increase your personal comfort. It’s perfectly viable to keep a living space just above freezing. You however need gloves to stay comfortable at 3-4C (38f).
asdff 5y ago
There's actually a lot of athletic wear and other clothing that has vents for the armpits if this is an issue for you
ge96 5y ago
> If your slippers have sheep's wool in them I worked in an ice cream factory for a bit, was hard to find socks/shoes that would keep you warm not sweat/freeze. That job was wild like nostrils frozen, break every 45 mins.
paulcole 5y ago
If the future of climate change tells us anything, then people better get a bit more comfortable with being a lot more uncomfortable.
sizzle 5y ago
I tried MIR infrared heated fabric and it penetrated my skin and centimeters below very nicely. I wonder if it causes cancer cause it works so well I’m surprised no one talks about it.

by novok 5y ago

joe_the_user 5y ago

Last December, Nevada County Ca, where I live, had a massive snow storm that knocked out power and snowed people in for 1-3 weeks. I wound up huddled in my apartment with 45 degree heat for five days or so. With enough sweaters, I was a comfortable temperature. Aside from what you mention, since basically you providing your own heat for yourself, you have to put or take off layers depending on physical activity. And so naturally this process involves too-hot and too-cold periods that are less than pleasant. Still, I survived to tell the tale. I mean, we could all live like the hero of To Build A Fire, at least until we died.

mc32 5y ago
One place you still need heat is the shower. Maybe some people are okay with taking a shower in 45F ambient temps, but I would resist it.
- olegious 5y ago
  You’d be surprised how quickly you can get used to cold showers. I’ve been only cold showering for about 5 years now
  - silisili 5y ago
    How cold is cold? When our gas went out in the summer, taking a 'cold' shower was bearable, some days even enjoyable. In the freezing winter? Tried it once, never again. I'm not even sure it would be safe to shower in water that cold for any long periods of time.
    - mypalmike 5y ago
      I'm not personally advocating for this, but some argue for water conservation by taking a https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_shower https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_shower which involves only about 2 minutes of time in the water.
      - occz 5y ago
        >A Navy shower (also known as a "combat shower", "military shower", "sea shower", "staggered shower", or "G.I. bath") is a method of showering that allows for significant conservation of water and energy by turning off the flow of water in the middle portion of the shower while lathering. Hold up - do you mean to tell me that people do not turn off the water while lathering? I've showered this way all my life, is this not the norm?
        cameronh90 5y ago
        Often with combi boilers, if you turn off the water it takes a solid 30s to a minute for the water to come up to temperature again, sometimes longer if you account for the water in the pipes and the thermostat reaching equilibrium. Obviously newer/better boilers come up to temperature quicker but you don't always have the luxury of choosing your boiler.
        vages 5y ago
        I came up with this method a few years ago and have used it ever since. I’ve never looked back; I’m no less comfortable now than before, and I enjoy using less energy even though my hot water use is included in the rent. I’ve had little luck converting friends and family to it, though.
- Yeroc 5y ago
  One thing that's kind of silly about most of our shower stall designs is their open-top design. While a few are sold with caps most are not. Having a cap on top of the shower allows for lower ambient temperatures in the bathroom while showering in (relative) comfort. This also has the benefit of reducing condensation on the ceiling and walls of the bathroom.
  - travisporter 5y ago
    Yeah I never got why this is the standard. Glad I’m not the only one
  - Tagbert 5y ago
    Probably because moisture is a much bigger problem in homes than heat or cold. If the shower stall were closed on top, when the door was closed, the moisture would sit in the shower and not evaporate. That can lead to mold problems.
    - Yeroc 5y ago
      It's much easier to deal with moisture when it's largely restricted to the interior of the shower! Easy to wipe down the sides and then leave the door open to allow the remaining moisture to evaporate. Seems superior to having the water vapours condensing on ceilings and walls in the bathroom that likely can't be wiped down.
      - novok 5y ago
        You can also just have a small shower room, with a separate door, it's about equivalent. You see this in many houses where the sink vs shower & toliet are two separate 'rooms' connected to each other.
- snowwrestler 5y ago
  Do you mean water or air temps? I would hate a shower in 45F water, but a shower in hot water in 45F temps would be fine.
- screenbreakout 5y ago
  I'd recommend the sauna as an alternative... I'm really interested in the homestead movement and one thing thats promoted is the rocket stove, I've often wondered how such a design might work out if you used it for cooking while using the residual heat for a hot "sauna" wall in the next room...
presentation 5y ago
Most people in the warmer parts of Japan and China (not Hokkaido, not Heilongjiang) don’t use that much heating in the winter, I’ve gotten used to it and don’t really find it a problem.
- thaumasiotes 5y ago
  I lived in Shanghai, which is too warm for snow in the winter. But it's still freezing cold; when I wasn't running heat (because I didn't know how), I'd wake up in the morning with my toes suffering from frostbite. I was miserable all the time until I obtained a space heater.
  - adrianN 5y ago
    That sounds like you have the wrong blanket.
    - thaumasiotes 5y ago
      A better set of blankets is potentially a solution to the narrow problem of my toes freezing while I'm asleep. It doesn't do anything for me while I'm awake. Note that I was living in a school dormitory with bedding provided by the dorm, so it met a local standard of reasonableness.
    - wolverine876 5y ago
      Some warm socks might help too.
  - Lio 5y ago
    Frostbite! I'm really sorry you had to go through that, it's a serious thing. People often don't pay much attention to their toes but they're pretty important for balance. It must be difficult living with that injury.
    - thaumasiotes 5y ago
      I have no lasting damage - my blanket was good for that much. My toes would be red and painful when I woke up. https://www.healthline.com/health/frostnip https://www.healthline.com/health/frostnip
bryanrasmussen 5y ago
The hero of To Build A Fire was obviously the sled dog, the human was too much whiny and needy - which is what caused the hero to abandon him in the end.
wolverine876 5y ago
> we could all live like the hero of To Build A Fire That (and 45 degrees) are strawperson arguments against turning down the thermostat a little and putting on a sweater (and let me recommend shoes). My sense is that many people generally (I don't know the parent commenter) shoot down any individual action, because it's individual action - it's reactionary, ridiculing any 'liberal' idea.
- joe_the_user 5y ago
  I'm actually pretty progressive and do sometimes leave my sweater on after taking walk and turn the thermostat down. However I have a bunch of other "personal comfort issues", related to health. so often leave the heat at seventy while I deal with these. But even more, I do think the "liberal spirit" of trying to solve or pretending you can solve social or environmental issues with exhortations to individual action is reactionary in the end. The only solution to global warming or pollution or etc is action by the state involving the regulation of private enterprises. These "if we all consumed less" positions are kind of the flip side of telling people who make minimum wage they're poor 'cause they drink a soda at lunch or have netflix etc. Edit: TL;DR; Exploring what you're comfortable with is a good, even suggesting other explore this good. But the spirit of "the problem is you-all consumer too much" is problematic.
  - Ma8ee 5y ago
    But we all do consume too much for it to be sustainable. While I agree that we primarily need regulation, mostly on industries and the production of goods and services, our collective individual choices do matter. And I can’t credibly fight for regulations while driving a huge SUV or crisscrossing the world with jet planes.
  - wolverine876 5y ago
    It's another strawperson argument. It's not all one or the other. Reducing your energy consumption is not sufficient, and I don't know anyone who says it is. The idea that individuals are powerless is antithetical to democracy, which IMHO is why the reactionaries push it. They say the same thing about protests (despite a long history of success) and any other individual/collective action. Democratic government is a form of collective action, and so they decry that too. They want you dependent on strongpersons and corporations, and IMHO by buying into it, you are surrendering your power and (unwittingly for most) doing nothing less than fighting agaist freedom and democracy. Collective action is quite powerful - ironically, the reactionary movement uses it heavily, and is the foundation of a free society, as is individual responsibility. (It's also the foundation of a free market and SV-style entrepenurialism - individuals doing something in their garage and changing the world.) Communities, society, depend on everyone doing their part as individuals. You can't prevent trash on the streets in your community by obstaining from littering yourself, but we do keep the streets clean in large part by each person not littering (and we also obey the law, help people in need, etc. etc.). Reality is quite the opposite of reactionary propaganda: Individuals acting works incredibly well. The Minutemen in the American Revolution were volunteers, who defeated the subjects of the British King. After centuries of unprecendeted success in human history, it's incredible that people abandon it simply because of propaganda. > I'm actually pretty progressive I don't know you, of course, and it's just one comment in one moment in your life, but the parent comment is clearly anti-progressive.

2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago

Are there any good fingerless gloves for typing? I'd like to give them a shot, cold hands are usually what causes me to turn the heat on and I try to use as little heat as I can.

raisedbyninjas 5y ago
I use a heated desk pad under my keyboard.
- jez 5y ago
  Do you have a link to one you recommend?
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
mackrevinack 5y ago
i haven't done extensive research so there could be thinner gloves out there, but i bought a pair of "edz merino fingerless gloves" a few months ago and they are less restrictive than the pair i had before still end up with cold-ish fingers though which feels similar enough to cold hands. im thinking what i need is something like mittens but instead of something that wraps around your fingers, it would just rest on top and keep the air off while your fingers are free to move underneath
Eric_WVGG 5y ago
You could try some fingerless “glove liners” (might find some at REI), but I’d suggest “arm socks”. They come in two basic styles; somewhat feminine knits, and synthetics made for sporting activities or hunting.

jerojero 5y ago

Yeah, but is that sort of discomfort worth the energy usage of heating the entire room? An alternative is also, as it is mentioned in the article, to warm certain spots in a room instead of the whole of it.

gruez 5y ago
> Yeah, but is that sort of discomfort worth the energy usage of heating the entire room? For the average HN reader in north america? Probably not. For the median person in europe right now? Maybe not (thanks to what's happening in ukraine affecting gas prices).
warner25 5y ago
I tend to be cheap, not even just frugal, but it's worth it to me. During my first winter in my own place, I set the thermostat to the low 60s F to save money. After about two weeks I concluded that feeling perpetually uncomfortable in my own place wasn't worth whatever money I was saving. It felt like trying not to drink water when thirsty to save money. Warmth is just such a basic human need. Better to save in a number of other ways. I definitely wouldn't do this to my wife and kids now.
- wolverine876 5y ago
  OK, try 65. IME, most people can turn down the thermostat and still be perfectly comfortable; just find the approximate minimum you need for comfort.
refurb 5y ago
At peak I was using about $2 per day of gas to keep my place at 70F versus 60F. I could skip buying a coffee and more than make up for it.

reneherse 5y ago

I've found quality wool garments to be very helpful. Examples: A thick wool "cable knot" sweater is both warm and highly breathable, ideal for hiking. Wool socks (and/or wool felt slippers when it's very cold) keep feet warm without any of the clamminess (or smell) associated with cotton or synthetics. Merino wool underwear has similar benefits. The price is higher compared to cotton or synthetics, but it's possible to find good values by shopping sales. The daily rewards of wool (in every season) are worth the extra effort.

Thlom 5y ago
When I'm active outside in the winter I always wear a thin layer of wool as the inner layer, medium thick wool socks and a wool sweater. Over that I use shell clothing like gore-tex jacket and pants. As long as I'm active I will not freeze even if temperatures reaches -20C. If I'm out and about, f.ex. a long ski trip, I will bring a down jacket in my backpack that I will wear over the shell jacket when pausing to eat. Our kids wear wool inner layer, fleece mid layer and a insulated shell "one-piece" when they are out in the snow. Mostly because they often just sit down to play. If they were active all the time mid layer wouldn't be necessary. Also found that it's perfectly OK to wear thin wool inner layer all the time. It doesn't really get too warm as long as you don't wear warm clothes over.

m463 5y ago

I think you can help your body regulate the temperature and even sweat. There's the old saying: "cold feet? wear a hat." dress with the right layers. I always put a layer of synthetic beneath cotton. Nice socks help your body deal with cold quite dramatically. "Darn Tough" brand merino wool socks are pretty exceptional socks that keep your feet warm and (importantly) dry.

Thlom 5y ago
Try wool instead of synthetics as inner layer.
- m463 5y ago
  I would but... itchy

scott0129 5y ago

For the issue of "fingers are cold but gloves affect mobility", purchasing a pair of thumbhole arm warmers have made a world of difference for me They're almost like fingerless gloves, but more comfortable and easier to manage. You might be worried "but it's the fingers that are cold anyway, so fingerless gloves are not what I need." I thought that too, but trying them immediately proved me wrong and I never had an issue with cold fingers again. I'm fairly sure it's because warming your wrists/palms keep your blood from losing heat in those areas, so your fingers get much warmer circulation. For something less than $10, it's probably the best purchase I've made for working in the winter

bryanrasmussen 5y ago
>For the issue of "fingers are cold but gloves affect mobility", purchasing a pair of thumbhole arm warmers have made a world of difference for me this is calling back to the recent post on Dickensian poverty for me. Everyone not well to do in A Christmas Carol was cold and had layers on and fingerless gloves and stood around shivering. But the rich people were heating the spaces (except Scrooge of course)
zarzavat 5y ago
It’s because muscles that control your hands are in your forearm and hand so warming your fingers doesn’t actually do much except make them feel nice.
momenti 5y ago
It's a shame that these are stereotyped as female fashion accessory.
- kwhitefoot 5y ago
  Only where you are.
novok 5y ago
Oh that's really cool and good to know. I can totally afford to heat my place, but it's like a challenge for myself to find a set of home clothing that would keep me comfortably warm despite it being a bit chilly inside. Still need to solve the cold yet damp (from sweating?) feet and sweating armpit issue although. As others had noticed, the cold hand / feet thing is mostly a computer thing for me. Also probably due to me restricting my eating at times.

wolverine876 5y ago

> An issue with keeping yourself warm with clothing is some hotspots get too warm, and others too cold. Like the armpits usually get too warm, but your exposed hands too cold. We can sit and imagine problems with every course of action, and never step forward. In my life, I've never had the quoted problem and I've never heard anyone else say it's a problem. On my list of things to worry about, this ranks near the bottom. No clothing I know of has special cool spots, beyond outdoor recreation equipment (e.g., mountaineering gear with pit zips), yet somehow we all do fine. I expect our bodies adjust fine to such variations. > While if the room is all one consistent warm enough temperature, you don't get these cold & hot spot effects. That doesn't add up: No clothing (with the exception mentioned above) has such cooling spots. If our bodies couldn't adjust, a constant temperature would be the same, sweater or not. EDIT: > If your slippers have sheep's wool in them, like ugg slippers, then they often sweat a lot or feel a little wet while simultaneously feeling cold at times, or warm enough. It's incredible that Ugg sells any slippers!

xigoi 5y ago
Do you wear gloves indoors? If not, aren't your hands colder? If yes, how do you cook or work with a computer?
- wolverine876 5y ago
  > Do you wear gloves indoors? If not, aren't your hands colder? No and no. The temperature in my home is set just warm enough that a sweater (and let me add, shoes - insulation from the coldest air and surface in the room) keeps me comfortable. My hands don't get chilled at that temperature. FWIW - from wilderness experience - it is widely believed that the best way to warm your hands is often to warm your core. Your body naturally prioritizes your core (probably better to keep your heart at 37 C and let your hands get a little chilly than vice versa!); keep that warm enough and energy/blood will be diverted to keeping your extremities warm.
  - Retric 5y ago
    In other words you keep the space hotter to increase your personal comfort. It’s perfectly viable to keep a living space just above freezing. You however need gloves to stay comfortable at 3-4C (38f).

asdff 5y ago

There's actually a lot of athletic wear and other clothing that has vents for the armpits if this is an issue for you

ge96 5y ago

> If your slippers have sheep's wool in them I worked in an ice cream factory for a bit, was hard to find socks/shoes that would keep you warm not sweat/freeze. That job was wild like nostrils frozen, break every 45 mins.

paulcole 5y ago

If the future of climate change tells us anything, then people better get a bit more comfortable with being a lot more uncomfortable.

sizzle 5y ago

I tried MIR infrared heated fabric and it penetrated my skin and centimeters below very nicely. I wonder if it causes cancer cause it works so well I’m surprised no one talks about it.