To not know how to keep warm at the playground?!

[sarahb083]

I don't want another year of freezing all winter at the playground! I have plenty of winter clothes for being out and about, but nothing that keeps me properly warm just standing around. What am I missing? I have a hat and gloves, a warm down coat, cosy socks, etc.

Please tell me how you stay warm at the playground!

You need a dry robe. Yes, you’ll look like a wanker. But you’ll be a warm wanker.

You need to layer. Get a base and mid layer from go outdoors type place. Your torso needs to be covered up snugly, look up haramaki.

Proper lined boots! This was the game changer for me, nothing else worked 🥶

And little hand warmers for in your pockets. You can get rechargeable ones, or single use ones which activate in the air. Or those snap ones which you boil up but I can never get them to work.

Decent shoes / boots with thick soles.

Thermal underwear (proper long ones) and hand warmers like @NorthantsNewbie recommended.

Warm boots with furry stuff inside (not wellies!) and those hand warmers. I have some battery ones which kept me sane during the long Covid winter of 2020/21. Ugh.

Oh and a warm hat. And only visit playgrounds with cafés.

You need to do multiple things. Boots, preferably lined with a thick sole, wool or wool mix socks, long down coat, thin sleeveless down bodywarmer, thin long sleeve merino or cheaper thin thermals from Uniqlo/M&S/Primark. The trick is layering.

Keep moving. Hot drink in a thermos. Small visits are better than trying to stay too long and it putting you off going again.

For football games we use those hand and foot warmers that you can buy from the pharmacy, you kind of snap it like a glow stick and put it in your sock/glove

This is what you need, a Heated Jacket/Coat.

You charge the jacket/coat before you go out.
Then when you are out and about, turn on the power pack and your jacket/coat will start to warm up.

there are tons of different styles, different temperature controls and different prices. But here is a link to one.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SGKOW-Charging-Lightweight-Clothing-Battery/dp/B0C33GDCRS/ref=asc_df_B0C33GDCRS/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18085414298670585627&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046782&hvtargid=pla-2281435176698&psc=1&mcid=3a5d6ada9364324ca4a41073b28a7d4b&hvocijid=18085414298670585627-B0C33GDCRS-&hvexpln=74&gad_source=1

Fleece-lined leggings - complete game changer for a very cold person! Long, warm socks, boots, layers on top: thermal vest-top, jumper, fur lined coat plus scarf, hat and gloves.

Really warm boots (and stick on toe warmers if your child is hardcore like mine was), hat, waterproof ski mittens with hand warmers, dryrobe because you are already looking like a total dick at this stage.

Also be assured that the out-all-day stage passes. I sort of miss it, but not in winter.

Definitely agree with others about layering.
Also if your hands and feet are warm then it doesn't feel nearly as bad. You need thermal socks and decent boots, warm gloves and hand warmers in your pockets.

Move about more!

I think the biggest factor to staying warm outside is keeping moving!

How old are the kids? I still have to follow mine round, but if I wasn’t doing that… maybe some small exercises you can do?

I think a scarf is essential for plugging any gap at the neck of your coat. That and hand warmers (I used to tuck one against my body when watching rugby)

Any recommendations for boots please I'm in the market for some new ones. I wear jeans and leggings so ones that will go with both. Thanks

I always take my coffee with me

I grew up in a country where it gets to -30 in winter. This is what we do:
Top - cotton bra, vest, polo neck, cardigan/thermal vest, coat, scarf, hat which covers the ears, hood up
Bottom - cotton underwear, woolen tights, trousers, wool socks, boots with sheep wool lining plus felted insoles.
Mittens, not gloves for the hands. If extra cold - then gloves plus mittens over the top.

Hot water bottle on a string round your neck but inside your coat.

Boots with thick soles. Either lined, snow-boot type or ones you can wear warm socks in.
These also help:
Down jacket (windproof)
wool jumper
thermal underwear
hat, gloves, scarf

Warm boots. Everything else is important, but boots that keep out the cold are essential IME. Once it starts coming up through the soles of your feet you’ll feel freezing, regardless of how many other layers you’ve got on.

heated body warmer off amazon, some fur lined boots and a big flask

Ugg boots were the game changer for me - never had cold feet since I got some. Thick warm wind proof coat. Toasty.