Bring the Heat

Worried about Jack Frost nipping at your nose? BRO found some of the hottest digs on the market, from next-generation portable heaters to old-school mittens. columbiabugaboothermal_cli copyColumbia Bugathermo Your toes get cold first, so Columbia integrated a rechargeable “toe-heating element” into these burly winter boots. Plug the boots in overnight and you get several hours of heat on the lowest setting, which was plenty warm for our tester. The footbed-heater is tricky, but what impressed our tester most was that he rarely needed to turn it on. Built with a waterproof membrane and a plush Thinsulate insulation, the Bugathermo is warm enough in most conditions on its own. $250. columbia.com P16400_001_snowdrift3n1_cl copyMarmot Snowdrift Mitten Three gloves in one: a Polar fleece glove, Gore-Tex waterproof insert, and an insulated outer mitten. This monster mitten kept hands toasty warm in sub-zero weather. $70. marmot.com

Nau Down Vest_FIX copyNau Down Shirt This 850-fill down button-up jacket is built from 100% recycled polyester, and insulated with renewable goose down. There’s not enough insulation to keep you warm on its own during the harshest winter expeditions, but unlike thicker down jackets, the Nau Shirt is supremely packable. Roll it up tight and stuff it into a pack as an insurance policy in case the temperature drops. $195. nau.com

gear.girl.mounthard2_clip_ copyMountain Hardwear Radiance
This lightly insulated layering piece includes a flexible sheet of batteries that slips into the back of the jacket.  The rechargeable power pack feeds two heaters built into the chest and one in back of the Radiance, providing up to eight hours of heat on the lowest setting. Even better, the battery pack acts as a mobile power station, enabling you to play or recharge your MP3 player or cell phone. You’re adding some weight with this jacket (almost four pounds) but carrying your own personal heater has to come with some price.
Jacket: $230. Moshi Power System: $145. mountainhardwear.com

Share this post:

Discover more in the Blue Ridge:

Join our newsletter!

Subscribe to receive the latest from Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine sent directly to your inbox.

EXPLORE MORE:

Skip to content