KEEPING WARM IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES WITHOUT SPENDING A BOMB

Layering your clothing in wintertime without looking like a Michelin Man is an art but is worth the effort. The key is plenty of light layers which trap pockets of warm air.  Don't pack away summer vests and t-shirts; use them against the skin and save yourself the costs of yet more therrmal underwear!  

updated Dec 2023 

Remember this from 2017?? Primrose Hill in a striking white-out 

Pretty but potentially harmful for some

DRESSING INDOORS AND OUT

Bottoms:

• Warm tights/leggings/pyjama bottoms beneath trousers/skirts/jogging pants
• Thermal socks or two pairs of socks, 1 thick, 1 thin

Tops (as needed):

• Use summer vests as a first layer, then..
• A close-fitting thermal polo/turtle neck then...
• Shirt or blouse, light or fleece, then...
• Jumper, wool, if you really feel the cold, then...
• Shawl/Wrap/Blanket

Venturing Out: 

• Head: hats prevent heat loss 
• Neck: Long scarves wrapped twice around the neck and chin make the cold more bearable
• Coats: look for a neck which can be raised at back and front, cuffs and waists that keep out the chill/wind, deep pockets for gloves that won't need to be replaced 
• Feet. Thermal socks can be found at very reasonable prices (eg £12 for 3 pairs) at camping/outdoor shops like Mountain Warehouse though prices will likely go up this year. Also Uniqlo. 
• Snow Boots: Outdoor wear shops like Mountain Warehouse (& occasionally  Blacks) stock thrifty snow-friendly wellies & other options.  Jogging shoes with a deep ridged rubber sole may be sufficient if the snow is not too deep.  Catering shoes designed to prevent slipping also have a deep ridged rubber sole and sturdy uppers but are not necessarily waterproof. (£35 upwards at Denny's Hospitality, Berman Street, Fitzrovia - between Oxford Circus & Tottenham Court Road, London -  also phone orders 01372 377904).  

Stockists: Nearly every respectable department store will stock some or all of these items at reasonable prices.  Recommended for thermals: Uniqlo (but sells out fast), M&S, John Lewis.  

• Uniqlo: Fashionable Heat-tech Thermal polo necks & Jumpers (turtle neck & other designs), leggings/long johns, gloves, hats & scarves in pretty colours/designs and in various weights
• M&S: Thermal underwear; also gloves, socks 
• Outdoor/hiking outlets like Mountain Warehouse (& less so Blacks) offer serviceable budget-friendly winter woolies including thermal gloves, thermal socks, scarves & hats; thick jogging trousers  £7-8 upwards depending on item but certain styles are often on offer.  Kids' snow boots, too. Register online for latest deals.  
• Draft-blocking high pile Ultra Warm Hooded Dressing Gown: Futon Shop & most department stores £40'ish (Aug 22).  Or try the super enveloping over-sized ponchos with or without hoods, online.
• Thermal Coats: Reasonably priced full-length and short fashionable: John Lewis has a good selection of must-have brands including Barbour (which often go on sale in the) summer; also have a look at Uniqlo, H&M & Revolut.  AT least 1 of M&S's winter coats become an in-demand  fashion winners every year. but get there fast!   

Bedding:

• Prevent hypothermia: if all spare blankets/duvets/sleeping bags are in use, a winter coat spread on top of the duvet is effective
• Though 67 has not not yet tested Emergency Foil Blankets (EFBs) - the kind given out during Marathons and in driving/hiking/mountainside emergencies  - they are said to be excellent at retaining heat when placed on top of the bedcovers. EFB's are cheap and can be used more than once.  Packed in tidy packets, they take up very little space.  If you're worried about keeping kids warm at night, stock up and store for coldest nights.   
• Electric blankets/underblankets can be helpful to some but dangerous to others, even if they come with an automatic cut-off switch.  And that's presuming you have - for can afford - electricity! 
• Inexpensive hot water bottles can be lovely if there's no danger of spillage while filling the bottle or warming the bed 
• If you can afford it, brushed cotton bedding (the modern equivalent of flannel sheets) is a joy to slide into at bedtime and adds extra warmth.  A double duvet cover is around £40 & pillowcases are £5 each (2023) at John Lewis.  Some (not all) brushed cotton is heavier than you think -- like an extra blanket, really -- and could take longer to dry. 
• The classic solution: share the body heat of a loved one! Have young children share a bed; they'll love it.

B Lee/Bright Sun Enterprises accept no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.