Father Winter has already landed in a lot of places here in the United States and if he hasn’t made his presence known in your area yet, he probably will soon. So, what better time than now to put out a list of geeky gadgets that might make your winter a little more manageable and hey, maybe even a lot more fun.
At some point you’re going to have to leave the house over the next couple of months and many of you will likely want to listen to music during your travels. Thing is, headphones don’t offer much warmth and getting cold ears isn’t fun.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
Well, what if you could keep your ears warm while listening to your tunes?
Enter, 180’s lineup of earmuffs some of which have headphones attached to them. These earmuffs slash headphones allow you to listen to your iPod or Zune HD or whatever audio device you use while keeping your ears safe from the elements. They have double layer wind-resistant shell and binding, feature 100% Polyester Thermolite for great insulation and they are adjustable in case you have a huge noggin.
Oh, and if you’re not in the mood for listening to tunes, they also double as straight up ear warmers because the headphones are detachable.
They can be yours for $35.
The cold weather isn’t going to stop you from using your smartphone or tablet device but it may make using them uncomfortable. Say hello to the Fivepoint Gloves, gloves that are designed for touchscreen devices.
The tips of the gloves are conductive making every swipe and every touch on your device register. If you’ve ever tried to use a device with regular old mittens then you know how hard it is to operate.
Besides making it easy to use your phone, camera, tablet, music device and so on, they also keep your hands warm. The gloves are made of lambswool which means that they won’t scratch your display.
Prices range from £19.99 (about 31 U.S. dollars) to £24.99 (about 39 dollars).
This one is for all of you pet owners out there because no one likes looking at a shivering dog, cat or monkey. The K&H Lectro Soft Outdoor Bed solves that issue. It’s a low-wattage, PVC rocking bed that has an internal thermostat to make sure it never gets any colder than 102 degrees.
Have a pet that loves running around in the snow?
It won’t absorb water either.
It’s also super compatible and works just about any place where a plug outlet is available. It’s usually $75 but right now, it’s only $48.18. Odd price but a good one.
Hitting the ski slopes? Have a penchant for getting lost? Want to brag to your friends about how fast you were cruising down the double black diamond? Well, why not invest in some GPS Ski Goggles for a cool $500.
When you strap on the goggles, you’ll be treated to a “Heads-Up” display which will show you performance data including your current speed, the temperature, vertical distance traveled and more using GPS and sensors.
All of the data that’s picked up by the goggles can be uploaded to a computer using a USB cord and from there it can be scrutinized by friends and family. Oh, and not to mention, they use anti-fog polarized lenses which block out 99% of glare.
If you need a demo, why not check out our own Tris Hussey’s coverage of these bad boys.
For those of you not content with the warmth of regular slippers or moccasins or even shoes for that matter, here are some microwavable slippers that you might enjoy. Seriously, they are microwavable. They also will make your feet smell like lavender.
Not bad, right?
After two minutes in the microwave, these Hot Slippers will keep your feet warm for around an hour. These slippers also have non-slip soles and interiors made with fleece. They are cheap too. You can find them for $24 dollars American or £14.99.
Battery Powered Hand Warming Gloves
Maybe gloves just aren’t good enough for you. Maybe, you need more warmth than the fabric provides. If that’s the case, then you probably want to take a look at these battery powered Hand Warming Gloves that will keep your hands warm for 8 hours.
All from the battery.
You can turn the heat on or off or even adjust the strength of it just by flipping some switches.
The gloves themselves are great too. They employ waterproof and breathable lining with the main fabric made of polyester and the palms and thumbs are also non slip.
They are available in three sizes for a pretty reasonable $24.95.
This next gadget is truly for the geeks of the world. Many of you are going to want to keep using your computer even when the temperatures get chilly so why not invest in a cheap way to keep your mouse hand warm while doing so? This fleeced pouch is big enough to hold most mouses and mouse pads and has a non-slip surface so you won’t be flying around when using it.
It’s only $19.95, energy efficient and doesn’t use a USB slot which makes it easier to use the next gadget on our list.
No one likes cold drinks that are supposed to be enjoyed warm. Better yet, no one likes having a drink get cold when driving or when glued to the computer chair. That’s why a heated mug that can be used either via USB or 12v plug for the car is a perfect gadget to have this winter.
It’s a double insulated stainless steel mug with a spill proof lid and the capacity to hold 16 oz’s of your favorite warm beverage.
Not a bad deal for $20, huh?
This very well could be ultimate weapon this holiday season. Whamo’s Snow Trac Ball can launch snowballs up to 150 feet which for those wondering is 50 yards or half a football field. That’s downright impressive.
It also comes with a built-in snowball maker which means while your foes are busy packing ice together with their hands, you’ll already have a stockpile of ammo to unleash. Oh, we should also mention that it also has an ergonomic design and is perfect for all ages.
Come on, who doesn’t like pegging their friends with snowballs?
Get yours for $15.
For those not satisfied with the GPS Ski Goggles, how about some ski goggles that can record video? These babies can record high-definition 720p MPEG4 video footage or 5 mega pixel quality still photos in with a 135 degree field of view.
The microphone has a foam guard that protects it from the wind making it easy for your friends to hear your taunts and your family to hear you celebrate after successfully nailing a jump.
The goggles also have dual-pane, anti-fog 100% UV-protected lenses and also can support a 4G microSD card which will be more than enough room for you to store all of your exploits until they are uploaded and throw up on YouTube.
The goggles will set you back $249.99 and unfortunately, the microSD card is sold separately.
So, there are 10 mildly inexpensive, geeky, outrageous, wacky, and fun gadgets you might want to consider picking up for the winter months ahead.
Anything we’re missing?
Chime in.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.