# Handy tips to beat the freeze! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2010, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398 "2010-11-30T10:54:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/1 "2010-11-30T10:54:25Z")
I’ve heard a few cute tips about how to beat the cold and the snow, including one bit of advice about carrying freshly hard-boiled eggs in your pockets on cold mornings. The eggs keep your hands warm, and they also make good eatin’ when it’s time for lunch! So does anyone else have any handy tips or advice about how to beat the cold? Best way to keep your driveway clear of snow? Common mistakes to avoid? How not to fall on your ass on icy sidewalks? ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/2 "2010-11-30T11:11:02Z")
Best way to avoid falling on your backside on icy pavements is to stay in. Shop online and let the delivery bods risk life and limb. The most fun way is to use small children in the place of sled dogs and have them drag you to and from the corner shop. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/3 "2010-11-30T11:16:39Z")
_scribbles furiously in notebook_ Small children…sled dogs…corner shop…gotcha! And these small children, would they need to be whipped in the same manner as \*actual \*sled dogs in order to provide the proper motivation, or did you have in mind some sort of “chocolate on a long stick” arrangement? ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/4 "2010-11-30T11:26:14Z")
Motivation comes from a promise of a pack of Wotsits and a Curly Wurly each from the corner shop (and then telling 'em they can’t have said treats until they get you home again). Whipping only needs to be done if they complain about the cold and then its main purpose is to warm 'em up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/5 "2010-11-30T11:37:36Z")
Doing a small load of dishes by hand is a great way to get your hands warm before you put your gloves on and head out. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/6 "2010-11-30T12:03:24Z")
That’s the kind of stuff I’m looking for! More please! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/7 "2010-11-30T12:10:59Z")
Grow out your hair. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliovore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Bibliovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliovore)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/8 "2010-11-30T12:12:34Z")
Easier said than done for some of us, alas 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/9 "2010-11-30T12:29:00Z")
Wear something on your head, like a wool cap. If you go bare-headed in freezing temperatures, at least half of your heat loss is from the head. For some of us guys, a modest 50% is the best-of-the-best-of-the-best-case scenario. And don’t go jogging in shorts. I’ve seen people (in the US) jogging in long sleeves and shorts even below freezing. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/10 "2010-11-30T12:48:10Z")
> [@Bibliovore](#): > > Easier said than done for some of us, alas 😃 I know - I keed, I keed. 😛 Maybe it’s just me but I find that if I make sure my feet are warm enough the rest of me is fine. Woolly socks! Walking on slippery surfaces - lean slightly forward and center your weight over the balls of your feet. You’ll look a bit funny but it’s easier to adjust to the danger of sliding. Also, if you slip you’ll fall forward and it’s much easier to catch yourself falling forward (by bringing your legs up, putting your hands out, etc) than if you fall on your arse or back. After I shovel my walk I put a _very_ light sprinkling of salt over the pavement - dishwasher salt works very well for this. It takes very, very little to melt the ice and keep it melted (I’m talking a few granules per square foot). Too much salt and you can damage your walk, your garden, your car etc. Experiment to see what works for you. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/11 "2010-11-30T12:52:07Z")
Also - I don’t have a car in London so I don’t know if people here do this but in the US I used to keep a large bag of cat litter in the back of the car when the snow was bad. This serves a dual purpose when you get stuck in the snow: 1. it adds weight over the rear wheels 2. it makes good grit to put under the wheels. I also haven’t looked at cat litter in years so I can’t recommend a brand, but I would think in this situation absorbency is NOT desirable. Cheap might actually be better. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/12 "2010-11-30T14:28:16Z")
Layers - it’s all about the layers. Takes me 10 mins to get unlayered when I get to work in the morning but damn i’m warm during the walk. Hat + hood, silk scarf under my coat, knit scarf over it, thick socks and warm boots with my dress shoes sitting under my desk waiting for me (Okay they actually sit in a drawer and there are … _counts_… currently 5 pair but that’s just details!) Make sure your boots have treads, slick soled dress shoes are a recipe for a bruised tailbone. If you are going to salt and you have pets spend the extra couple bucks to buy the pet friendly version. Salt can really hurt their paws and make them sick when they lick it off. When driving leave more space to stop, you will need it. Drive defensively, other people will screw up. Plan a sunny vacation for late Jan/ early Feb. Trust me it will save your sanity. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/13 "2010-11-30T14:34:53Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > Wear something on your head, like a wool cap. If you go bare-headed in freezing temperatures, at least half of your heat loss is from the head. For some of us guys, a modest 50% is the best-of-the-best-of-the-best-case scenario. > > And don’t go jogging in shorts. I’ve seen people (in the US) jogging in long sleeves and shorts even below freezing. WTF? I’ve done that - not below freezing, because I’m a Southerner, but when it’s cold, sure. Runners get hot. I was never that guy with no shirt, tiny shorts, hat and gloves, but I did wear shorts (with hat and gloves and long sleeves) sometimes. My legs got hot. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/14 "2010-11-30T14:35:37Z")
Old mountain man saying: “If your feet are cold, put on your hat.” In a similar vein, significant heat can be lost from the neck. Turtleneck, scarf, collar up – make sure your neck isn’t exposed. Hands and feet are last on the body’s heat distribution list, so if too much heat is escaping from the neck and head it’s the extremities that suffer for it. Some footwear provides good thermal insulation from the ground, some doesn’t. It can make a BIG difference. I don’t know what guidelines to give other than a thicker sole is almost certainly better than a thinner one. Silk long underwear is marvelous. It’s light, non-bulky, and drapes nicely. Makes a noticeable difference out in the cold but has less tendency than some other fabrics to roast you indoors. A coat that covers the butt works far better than a waist-length jacket. The torso (like the head) is obliged to keep internal organs warm. Use a coat long enough to insulate it. The legs are not so much a concern, they can stand exposure better than any other part of the body (although if it’s cold enough, a full-length coat is a big plus). ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/15 "2010-11-30T15:13:14Z")
**Coat tree or hooks:** The best way to beat the cold is to keep your cold gear (hat, gloves, scarf) next to the door and **not in a closet**. A coat tree or some hooks by the door, or just placed near the entry/exit door you use will make going out with warm gear easy. Also… running around in a warm house or ruffling through stuff on your knees looking for the gloves or hat in the closet (or were they in the other closet?) will get you sweating, especially after that morning coffee. Go outside, you hear rate is still up and it’s “sweat vs. cold” and that ain’t fun. I highly suggest a coat tree or hooks at the exit/entry door. **Coat that ends below the waist hidden benefit** : When you sit on a cold car seat, cold bench, etc, the bottom of the coat keeps your butt/thighs warm. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/16 "2010-11-30T15:22:36Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > Plan a sunny vacation for late Jan/ early Feb. Trust me it will save your sanity. That’s how we stay sane. Right now we are teasing each other with how great our time in the Caribbean will be. Just when winter seems like it will win, vacation arrives to save us. After two weeks away we return tanned and certain that we can make it t ill spring. Another idea is a sauna. We use ours maybe a half dozen times a year, but it sure is nice to have. Sitting in 160 degree heat for 15 minutes warms you up and cheers you up as well. Getting seeds started is another activity that takes my mind off of winter. The time spent under fluorescent lights may even be a help with SAD. ---
**Author:** ![Ispolkom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@Ispolkom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ispolkom)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/17 "2010-11-30T15:35:17Z")
Don’t skimp on your extremities. Good, warm boots are the best investment you can make. If it’s icy, wear ice cleats. My mother in North Dakota swears by Yak Tracks, but I use a pair of Stabilicers. Just remember to take them off when you go inside, as they’ll tear up carpet and market wood floors. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/18 "2010-11-30T17:50:36Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > 1. it adds weight over the rear wheels > > 2. it makes good grit to put under the wheels. 1. You really don’t need weight over the rear wheels unless it’s a rear wheel drive car (although it will help slightly). 2. Sand is MUCH better than kitty litter, which can turn into a greasy, slippery mess. ---
**Author:** ![BleizDu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@BleizDu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BleizDu)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/19 "2010-11-30T18:10:45Z")
We go visit family/friends who have a warmer house than us, for ten days at a time. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398/20 "2010-11-30T18:33:45Z")
Buy a quality down comforter and turn down the heat at night. Nothing warmer. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handy-tips-to-beat-the-freeze/562398.md?page=2)