Jack Pyke Charcoal Hand WarmerAs winter chills start to kick in, here's an anti-technology solution to hand-warming, but it's none the worse for that. This is like having a perfect hand-sized stove in your pocket.
It’s a cloth-covered tin with a glass fibre lining; you light a charcoal fuel stick, let it burn a little and then simply pop it in the tin where it gently reaches the ideal ambient temperature and warms for several hours. Go on, throw another stick in the tin. Your Jack Pyke Hand Warmer comes with eight charcoal sticks – and, indeed for shorter warm-ups, you’ll only need half a stick. Of course, you can also buy spare charcoal for a fuel top-up if it goes arctic on us again.
And the whole lot comes in a little storage bag to keep all the bits together. Don’t forget you’ll need to light it.
It’s an ideal gift for anyone who fishes or hikes, or even if your weekend mornings are spent roaring on the under-10s on some wintry wastelands.
Cost€8.75, from Rory's Tackle in Dublin, rorys.ie
Bean Bag SledPardon my trans-Atlanticism: for sled, read sledge. As with most ideas, there's no doubt this bit of lateral thinking came from a "what if" moment where someone hefted a beanbag out in the snow for a more comfortable downhill spin.
And then refined it somewhat. It has an inflatable bladder you pump up to give it a little bounce over bumps, but the lining is still the standard tiny polystyrene balls. So a burst beanbag at speed would give you a personal blizzard.
It’s double-stitched PVC-coated polyester all round with a double layer on the bottom to take the abuse. You hang on rodeo-style to a strap. At the price though, I think an improvised version with a blagged beanbag and heavy refuse sack might do the job better.
Cost$299.95 (€222), from hammacher.com
Sleep HeadphonesThere's a certain bitter pang of envy when one's fellow passenger falls asleep virtually as soon as your plane has levelled off, while you're still all-too wide awake. This could be the trick – though it will involve a complete sacrifice of dignity.
Sleep Headphones have flat, flexible speakers that slip inside a soft headband, letting you doze off to your favourite composer or perhaps your much-misunderstood whale music compilation. No discomfort from leaning on your headphoned ears and they won’t fall off or out. They’ll even double as a blackout mask. With standard 3.5mm jack; available in different colours.
Cost$39.95 (€30), from sleepphones.com
Beko Gear Face ShieldsA balaclava can often be too bulky under ski helmets – which are increasingly the norm for adults as well as kids. Here's an alternative.
A couple of years ago, Beko introduced a very simple nose guard to protect your snozzle from the sun. Beakish as it was, it worked, and now they’ve launched a range of facewear, some of which is a little too heavy on the graphics, but which focuses on protection from the cold.
Made with a fine wire mesh between layers of durable exterior fabric and a soft interior lining, the Bekos are light, comfortable and, crucially, breathable.
Depending on the model, they attach in a variety of ways. The Cheeko is for, eh, your cheeks. Peeko leaves a mouth free and Fathom is deep cover, full face – and quite scary.
CostFrom $7.95 (€5.90), at bekogear.com