Toasted Toes and Hot Hands: Solutions

[Natasha]

I have a set of Hotronics heated insoles in my Lake winter boots for cold weather riding. They use rechargable batteries that hook onto your boots/shoes. They are not wireless and the batteries are a bit heavy, but everything is reusable. They have gotten me through a number of Minnesota winters.

[lph]

I carry a couple of those small heating packs with me on most mountain hikes or skiing trips, in case of "emergency", mostly in case my son gets cold hands. He's skinny and takes a while to warm up. I'm not happy with the idea of using them on a regular basis either, but they're great to have in your pocket just in case.

[Becky]

I don't use warmers on a regular basis, but they're essential on those sub-freezing days that I'm wearing steel-toe boots for more than an hour or two. No number of layers, liners, or wool socks can counteract the heat-sucking properties of metal on your toes!

I seriously need to consider some battery-operated heated socks or those insoles that Natasha mentioned....

[Tuckervill]

Back to the TP...when my children were in diapers I didn't use disposable wipes. I purchased a set of specific color wash cloths which I used, washed, and reused. I don't know why we couldn't do something similar for ourselves? Isn't that the idea behind a bidet? (I've never had the opportunity to use one.)

Karen

[Mr. Bloom]

I'm not being argumentative, but I am curious:

- rechargeable batteries
- microwavable gel packs

All these sound like great ideas. But, if the use of these items were indexed (due to energy consumption and manufacturing impact) relative to disposable toasties, where would the fall.

I'm really just trying to keep this one off the toilet paper!

[Crankin]

I'm with you Mr. S.
If I had a bidet in my home, then I wouldn't worry. But, as long as I am using a toilet, I'm OK with TP.
Of course, I used disposable diapers, formula, and baby wipes.
OK, you guys can shoot me now.

[Tuckervill]

I didn't use wipes because my son's skin wasn't that great at fighting off the assault of the soap in them. Plain water did the trick.

Karen

[Aquila]

For bedtime (and indoor sitting around), I have these big fabric tubes (18" long) filled with some sort of grain; you stick them in the microwave for three minutes, and they hold heat for several hours, to warm cold feet and such.

I love that they're re-usable, but of course using the microwave to warm them has an energy cost.

I'd love something smaller that held heat well for biking (or whatever).

I did buy a couple of those warmer packs for the car for emergencies, but I'm way too whussy to be riding outside these days. Alas!

[bmccasland]

LOL... What about reverting to sphagnum moss for "that time of the month". Renewable, biodegrable and totally absorbant!

Only if you live where it grows naturally. If it's harvested and shipped out, then like so many things, it gets overharvested.

I too like my toilet paper, although I have used pages of the Sears catalogue at my Grandmother's out-house, then scooped lime on top.

And back to the topic at hand
Wish there was something "rechargable". I'm all for layers. It is no fun being cold and wet. Warm and dry is good. and I have been known to use instant warm or instant cool stuff in emergencies.

[PamNY]

For bedtime (and indoor sitting around), I have these big fabric tubes (18" long) filled with some sort of grain; you stick them in the microwave for three minutes, and they hold heat for several hours, to warm cold feet and such.

These bags are easy to make from rice or corn. I tried making tiny bags reusing rice from one I'd bought, but they burned when I heated them. I don't know what the problem was -- maybe too much microwave time for the smaller size?

I'm going to try heating the rice/corn in a pan and pouring it into a zipper bag. That would be handy for car camping.

Pam

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I was just reading about heating grain in fabric pouches in a microwave.
It said if you overheat the rice it will smell burnt and stay that way, so maybe you overdid the heating of the pillow. There are lots of good websites with instructions for making the pillows. I think the raw rice stays warm way longer than for example cooked rice- otherwise maybe we could just fill our boots with a scoop of hot rice and beans (arroz con habichuelas) before we go out in the cold.

[PamNY]

I think the raw rice stays warm way longer than for example cooked rice- otherwise maybe we could just fill our boots with a scoop of hot rice and beans (arroz con habichuelas) before we go out in the cold.

Yum. I love beans and rice. Never would make it into the boot. I'm thinking of making some bags with corn. Not a lot of deer corn for sale in Manhattan, but you can get it from Ebay.

Pam

[Aquila]

I think mine is barley. It doesn't really have an odor, but maybe would if I burned it.

But it sure feels good next to cold feet at night!