14 last-minute winter essentials to buy before it's too late—clothes, tools and more
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Winter is one of the only seasons that truly requires some serious planning. Cold comes in many forms depending on where you live in the US, but whether you live in rural Wisconsin or on the Florida panhandle there are plenty of winter essentials you need before the season ends.
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Does your winter coat protect you from the elements? Do you have all the tools to make a big pot of hearty soup? Most importantly, do you own special emergency tools to dig your way out of a pile of snow? It never hurts to be prepared. Here are 14 last-minute winter essentials to buy before the season ends.
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Best winter clothes
1. For the coziest coat: Orolay women's thickened down jacket
There are few coats out there as winter-ready as the Orolay thickened down jacket. Our reviewers love how toasty this coat is along with the generous amounts of pockets. It's also available in a wide range of sizes to fit just about anyone. Orolay also makes a version of this jacket for men which is just as great.
2. For avoiding spills in the snow: Sorel Caribou boot
Snow may look fluffy and soft in movies and commercials but in real life it can get slippery and, well, wet. A good pair of snow boots like this pair by Sorel makes trudging about on snow easy and safe. Our reviewer loved how warm this kept her toes while providing enough traction to avoid falls. This boot is also available in men's sizes.
3. For device-friendly digits: Harrms touchscreen leather gloves
In colder months you have to choose between warm fingers or swiping and tapping on your phone. These gloves let you avoid this seasonal Sophie's choice with fingertips that allow you to navigate all touch screens. Our reviewers loved these gloves because of the way they keep your digits warm with touchscreen functionality on every finger.
4. For full-body cold protection: Thermajane long johns thermal underwear
On especially cold days the trick to staying warm is putting on an extra layer or two. Thermajane thermals aren't just excellent at keeping you warm from ankle to neck but they manage to be stylish to boot. Our reviewer loves how eye-catching they are and the wide array of styles Thermajane offers. These thermals are also available in men's sizes.
5. For warm noggins: Carhartt men's knit insulated beanie
A good beanie isn't just good for keeping precious body heat from escaping out of your head. It's another opportunity to put the cherry on top of any stylish winter outfit. This offering by Carhartt is insulated which will keep the chill at bay and available in 12 different colors. They're affordable enough to buy a few. For women, we recommend the Carhartt women's rib knit fisherman beanie.
Best winter tools
6. For clearing paths: Suncast snow shovel
If it snows where you live, you'll need to shovel it out of your way. The Suncast snow shovel is maneuverable and makes quick work of big piles with ease. Our reviewers picked this as the overall best snow shovel on the market because of its ergonomic handle and ease of use.
7. For cold weather driving: AstroAI 3-in-1 snow brush
Cold climates add an extra step to daily activities from clearing your doorway to scraping ice off your windshield. This tool is perfect for this task but it does so much more. It's a snow brush, a squeegie and an ice scraper to tackle any and all cold-weather car annoyances. It detaches into three parts so it will fit in any trunk, glove compartment or front seat pocket.
8. For emergency situations: Eton American Red Cross crank-powered flashlight and smartphone charger
Winter storms and power outages go together like peanut butter and jelly, unfortunately. Even the most reliable emergency chargers still rely on electricity to power up. This flashlight and smartphone charger combo goes extremely analog powering up with a simple crank to generate energy. It's convenient and portable enough to stash away in your home and car's emergency kit.
Best winter home essentials
9. For efficient climate control: Google Nest Learning thermostat
If you're going to heat your home a little more in the winter, you should do it in a way that saves power so your bills don't shoot through the roof. There's no better way to do this than with a smart thermostat. For our reviewer's money, there's no better smart thermostat than Google Nest because of how intuitive and easy to use it is. Once it's set up you can control the temperature in your house from anywhere using a handy smartphone app.
10. For hearty winter meals: Chef iQ smart pressure cooker
Making a delicious meal that warms you down to the bone is easy if you've got a handy countertop pressure cooker. The Chef iQ is one such device complete with an attractive build-quality and interactive LCD screen. Our reviewers found that the Chef iQ is the best pressure cooker on the market for the money because of its customization capabilities. With its companion app you'll never run out of ideas for quick and comforting winter meals.
11. For drafty rooms: De’Longhi HMP1500 panel heater
Sometimes it doesn't make sense to heat the entire house, especially if you tend to congregate in a single room most of the time. The De'Longhi panel heater is perfect for heating up small spaces and navigates from room to room easily with its built-in wheels. Our reviewers love how fast it heats up and easily it travels, though you can also mount it on a wall.
12. For restful sleep: Gravity weighted blanket
Using a weighted blanket may unlock some of the most restful nights of your life. The Gravity weighted blanket is our reviewer's pick for the best overall weighted blanket because of its equal weight distribution and how easy it is to clean and maintain. It's a little on the pricey side but it can last for years.
13. For warm cocoa, coffee and tea: Cosori electric gooseneck kettle
Being able to boil water in a flash is an easy way to survive especially cold winter days. The Cosori is our reviewer's pick for the best gooseneck kettle, which is perfect for beverages that require precise heat like pour-over coffee and black tea. It boils just under a quart of water in mere minutes at the touch of a button.
14. For keeping out the cold: Evelots door stopper
Heat loves to escape out of cracks in doors near the floor. The Evelots door stopper is an easy and inexpensive way to keep cold out and keep heat in. It slides easily into the bottom of any door using a handy magnetic strip. While the door stopper is made to preserve heat, it works equally well at dousing out noise and foul odors.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed: 14 last-minute winter essentials to buy before it's too late
