By Dan Balkin
Do you dread the idea of playing pickleball or shuffleboard all winter in Florida? Good – because there are alternative sources of heat. Western New York is known for its snowy winters, but also for high winter humidity. Higher humidity, wind, and cold temps make the air feel colder than the actual temperature. On New Years Day at HoliMont there was a beautiful layer of new powder snow, but a wind chill of 3 degrees Fahrenheit. You can now ski, snowboard, snowmobile, snowshoe, saunter outside and shop in downtown Ellicottville, or go to a snowy Bills game in comfort. How? The grid of course – the power grid. Modern electrical technology has created, even in a very cold wind chill, ways to keep us comfortably warm. Winter Wonderland? Sure. Now, however, given the host of electronic gadgets we will highlight in this article, we can also call it a Winter Warmerland. All the following products are battery powered, have a variety of settings to adjust the level of warmth, and the batteries are cleverly placed and unnoticeable.
Your feet: Electric ski socks can be worn both in ski boots and in any type of winter footwear. In addition, there is a ski boot specific product called “Hotronic” that can be purchased at and installed by local Ellicottville ski shops.
Your Hands: There are several companies that make electric gloves or mittens. If your hands feel persistently cold outdoors in frigid temps, these work like magic.
his electric socks a “Game
Changer!”
Your Torso: An assortment of companies also manufacture electric vests. They make one’s core feel pleasantly toasty. People use them both for outdoor winter activities, and indoors when they want an extra ring of warm comfort around their chest. It’s basically a portable electric blanket.
There are, of course, time tested alternatives to electric forms of heat. “HotHands” hand warmers are an ingenious mix of iron powder, salt, water, activated charcoal, and wood fiber. When the package is opened, they create heat through an air-activated oxidation process. This is the same oxidation process that creates rust – but in this case it creates heat. Many people use HotHands in their gloves. They also make a thinner version called “Toe Warmers” with an adhesive side that attaches to the top of your ski socks that can be used in ski boots or everyday winter boots. Speaking of a comforting glow, its 7:10 pm on a Sunday night and the Bills just finished their final game ever in Highmark Stadium with a resounding win – many warm memories in Bill’s Country!