Calling S&Bers with Raynaulds! The thermaltastic coats, boots, socks and gloves thread.

[Houseofmaidens]

I am 36 and started going properly white with cold repeatedly last year. I went into denial and shivered in a Next Coat and market stall stretchy gloves but I just cannot face another winter with cold edges (and middle). I need some properly properly warm stuff.Can anyone direct me to the warmest possible kit. It would be wonderful if it was not also too fugly for words....

Following

I have a lovely furry sheepskin hat & mittens. I wear thin proper wool gloves, then a pair of silk gloves over them, then the mittens on top. The silk gloves means the woolly ones don't catch too much on the inside of the sheep fleece mittens. It does look a bit Dr Zhivago but it's toasty warm!

I also have some sheep fleece slippers.

Silk liners are your best friends!

I have had mild frostbite - twice - in my poor toes (and I wear thick socks and boots) and find that layers are the only things that work.

I bought my silk liners from a ski shop in the sale. You need to buy as expensive as you can afford.

I have bought snow boots. They're North Face shellista ones and are brown with bright blue laces. I found them for 50 quid (which is still way more than I've ever spent on shoes).
Last year I had cheapo fake uggs and they fell apart, they were so much better than unlined boots though. I plan on being warm all winter this year as I'm sick of the pain and chill blains.

I'm treating myself to some lined leather gloves to hopefully last me for years to come and to my surprise I spotted a pair 100% genuine leather in Primark of all places only £8

I started having this problem two years ago, and the best purchase I made last year was a pair of Celtic Sheepskin boots. Wore them with warm socks and for finally could go out without having painful toes! Highly recommend them. Only problem is they are not waterproof, so if we have much snow this year I'll have to find some snow boots as well.
For coats, try Lands End - I got a 600 power fill waterproof down coat last year in black. Warmest coat I've ever had. It won't win any fashion awards but then it's not too ugly either!

I buy boots a half size too big and put in Ugg sheepskin insoles. I also find cashmere lined leather gloves to be the warmest

I bought some furry lined (not real fur as I don't like it) boots with hiking soles. They are sold as hiking boots but aren't what I'd call hiking boots (not sturdy enough). I bought them a size larget for hiking socks and they did come up a bit too big! I wear 2 pairs of socks and tie the boots tightly!

I managed to get them cheap on Amazon. My feet get it far worse than my hands for some reason. I now dread winter (and I used to love skiing and the cold winter days!).

Uniqlo heatech thermals are great, but if buying online, buy quick as they sell out. Everything looks like normal clothes (rather than the granny style traditional thermals you might find elsewhere), and comes in loads of colours. I have long sleeve tops in black, navy, grey and cream, tights (like wearing blankets on you legs, so warm), thin socks, chunky socks and leg warmers.
I'd also recommend a down filled coat, from somewhere like North Face if you can afford it (maybe eBay?) but if not, layers are the way to go.

I have both a northface coat and a padded barbour which is lovely and toasty.

On my hands I wear silk gloves, layering gloves and north face mittens and I can still cry because my fingers are still cold. I bought the silk gloves from the raynauds society website and the others from a proper outdoor shop. I also bought some of those handwarmers last year but as it wasn't too cold i didn't need them.

My feet don't seem to get quite as cold as my hands but on really cold days I wear thermal socks and merrell snow boots.

I dread the cold weather and the painful fingers.

Watching too!
The only contribution I can make is to agree about sheepskin insoles. I had some synthetic sheepskin ones (from the pound shop or primark or somewhere, so no need to shell out for Ugg ones) and they made a big difference just putting them in my normal boots.

Following as I'm in exactly the same position. I've been gradually giving into the need for super warm stuff and abandoning my pretty but impractical winter clothes over the years. Every year I swear I won't allow myself to get so miserably cold next winter.

Good buys in recent years have been:
*Sheepskin boots. I hate how they look but they do keep my feet warm.
*Wool tights or Heatgen tights from M&S
*Those thick fleece lined tights from Primark
*Sheepskin slippers.

None of these things will win any S&B awards for elegance but they do the trick.

This year I'm debating whether or not to get a down coat (not keen on that look but I may have to give in).

I haven't cracked the gloves issue. Even silk liners and big thick gloves don't seem to work for me.

It's so miserable. I've had what should have been perfect, snowy days out with the kids and friends totally ruined by being in terrible pain in my hands and feet. Once I've got cold I find it really hard to warm up again.

Oh yes, and Uniqlo heattech layered up. The M&S version (Heatgen) is good too and they have a few more different styles (eg. lacy bits, different necklines etc) and they sometimes have offers on. They're often on the M&S outlet site.

I really like the Isotoner thermal gloves Gloves. I also use Superdrug fleecy insoles inside all my winter boots and trainers. I have 1 pair 2 pairs of Merrell Snow boots too!

I have:
Down filled long coat, with hood.
Uniqlo heat tech tops and leggings
Uniqlo merino wool V-necks/cardigans
Fleece-lined thick tights from Primark
Wool tights M&S autograph
Wool or cashmere cardigans
Silk glove liners, sheepskin boot liners
Padded boots-need thick soles to keep you off the ground.

Basically layering layering layering. I still can get it wrong and once my fingers or toes have gone cold it is very hard to get them to warm up without pain. It is just miserable.

Hand warmers! Those little packs you get that heat in the microwave. Pop them between your silk liners and mittens and they are great.

I also have boot warmers to heat my boots before wearing them.

I buy hats and gloves from a hiking shop in Scotland - pretty rural area full of farmers, so it won't win any fashion awards but by god they are warm!

I was given a down coat from Jigsaw and it is very toasty. I also find that a long wax coat keeps the cold out.

Is there any food supplements or herbal medecines you can take? I've heard that ginko works but I'm not sure. My doctor said 'wear thick socks'.

Down filled coat, Celtic sheepskin knee high sheepskin boots, celtic sheepskin insoles for all my other boots (leather and suede boots). Real thick wool socks, sheepskin wool gloves and hat. All jumpers and cardigans are made from wool and use cotton for all my tops and vest tops etc. Layering works best for me.

hand warmer [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zippo-Hand-Warmer-Non-Reflective-Black/dp/B005MIM8U0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410884809&sr=8-1&keywords=zippo+hand+warmer]] one of the best gifts DH ever bought for me!

Link fail Zippo hand warmer

should be correct now!

Quick thoughts:

Thermal body base layers: M&S or ski technical silk stuff.
Feet: knee-high snowboots.
Legs: wool tights, fleecy fine leggings.
Heavy vintage wool/tweed coat. Just added a shearling coat to my arsenal for this coming season.
Wool or technical acrylic accessories.

PLUS heat patches - disposable ones (4hr life) from pound shop.
I generally pop one in each boot, glove and sometimes stick them onto leggings underneath jeans/trousers just above the knee.

Merino wool thermals
Sorrel winter boots
Fleece lined beanie
Thermal tights

Brilliant..keep them coming....I found wrist warmers to be a really useful thing (mine were cheap off amazon) - somehow they ramped up the warmness of the crap gloves I was wearing..Might be better with good gloves! Any recs? I have to be able to do kids coats up so maybe silk liners in sheepskin gloves? Just ordered a Lands End coat and bought a tres chic fleece gilet for layering under... Gah.

Sheepskin gloves are the best. Warmer than cashmere. Celtic does them. They are pricey but I've had mine for 10 years.
Sheepskin boots. I wear uggs as slippers at home.
Wool socks and tights, not cotton.
Silk long johns. They are thin enough to wear under jeans.
Cashmere sweaters. Gap ones in the sale are my staple.
Agree with millydots about layering.
Vests. Silk and wool are both warm.
If you have a friend in the US, llbean does good thermal underwear.