We tried and tested several gadgets that will keep you warm and save on bills
Sub zero temperatures, snow, frost, ice - it's fair to say that it's going to be a week of trying to keep warm at all costs, but with the cost of living crisis still very much a part of people's everyday lives, turning the heat all the way up whether at home, in the car or in the office, isn't going to be possible for everyone.
Over the winter months our shopping experts at The Mirror have tried and tested many energy and cost-saving devices and gadgets with our readers in mind, and given their expert opinion on which ones are well worth snapping up and spending the money on, if you're wanting to stay as warm as possible without increasing your energy bills.
From gadgets to use whilst walking the dog that will keep the body warm, to a little smart heater for the home that costs just 20p per hour to run plus so many more cost-saving tips and tricks - we here at The Mirror have got you covered.
Cost-effective ways to stay warm
Duux ThreeSixty Smart Heater - 20p per hour to run
It's small but mighty (Narin Flanders)Key Features:
- Emits heat from all sides
Heat a 30m2 room twice as fast as a standard heater
Tips to stop windscreen freezing and prevent blades from sticking to window
Connect to Alexa and Google Home devices as well as own app
Turn on and off and adjust temperature via app
Automatic 'off' setting
Easy to set up
- Small and compact
Mirror Choice's Narin Flanders has been using the Duux ThreeSixty smart heater to take the edge of the chilly weather while working from home. Here's what she had to say about the wee gadget:
"The Duux Threesixty is a small but mighty heater that stands at a petite 29cm high. I realised quickly with it doing exactly what its name suggests and heating from all sides, the best thing to do is put it in the middle of the room.
"It's not quite as stylish as other premium fans like the Dyson fan heater, but the ThreeSixty comes in at less than a third of the price and takes up considerably less space. One major difference though is to get warmth across a wider area the Dyson oscillates, whereas the Duux by definition emits heat from all sides packing a mighty, warming punch."
Read Narin's full Duux Threesixty Smart Heater review to find out everything you need to know.
It's available to buy at both Currys and John Lewis.
Read More: My New Look coat is 'like walking around in a sleeping bag' and over 300 shoppers agree
Portable fan heater has 70% off in huge deal as cold weather continues
Heated Under Blanket
Don't let the cold nights interrupt your sleep (Dunelm)If you really feel the cold at night a heated under blanket may be just what you need.
Mirror journalist Narin Flanders likes to keep the heating on low at night and her husband doesn't - for obvious reasons like racking up the heating bill. But, has Narin found the perfect solution? Keep reading to find out.
"An electric underblanket is the simplest and most straightforward way I’ve found to ensure we both sleep easily and with prices in the Dunelm sale currently starting at £27 picking one up needn’t break the bank.
"As the heating elements under the blanket work independently to each other, my husband is able to resolutely leave his side of the bed cold, while I can sneak off and turn on my side half an hour before bed to make sure I climb into a cosy, snuggly cocoon when the time is right - even if our timed heating has already gone off for the night."
Buy here now from Dunelm
Read more: 'I tried the 'cosy' energy-saving gadget that saves money and stops bedtime arguments'
Oversized hoodie blanket - was £89, now £29!
Bethan wearing her favourite hoodie blanket (MEN)Reviews writer Bethan Shufflebotham has been testing energy-saving gadgets for an entire year as reported in the Manchester Evening News, and this hoodie blanket is one of those gadgets she uses everyday - here's why.
"I’ve racked up quite the collection of oversized hoodie blankets over the last 12 months, and currently have three I wear on rotation. But my favourite so far has to be the Kudd.ly oversized hoodie blankets. While they are quite a bit more expensive than some of the alternatives online, they’re so worth the money for how much warmer they are."
The now £29 Kudd.ly hoodies come in nine different colours and patterns, and their one-size-fits-all design will fit anyone from age 10 years, up to 6XL. Read Bethan's full review here.
- £29 down from £89
HotHands Foot Warmer (2 Pack) - £1
They certainly keep the heat for quite some time (Boots)Mirror writer Charlotte Henry gives us the lowdown on these very handy little foot warmers that costs just £1.
"I had every intention of getting the Hothands Foot Warmers underfoot while doing the school run today. Being the nosy person that I am, I opened the packet the night before I had planned to use them to see what they were all about, and than noticed the packet was getting warm. What I hadn't realised, was once the air gets to it, they get straight to work!
"Admittedly, I didn't get full use out of them, but what I will say is, they certainly got very warm and I was quite impressed. I was even more impressed when I woke up this morning - ten hours later and they were still warm. Mildly, but there was still some level of heat involved."
Other, more 'successful' users have commented that they're "comfortable & perfect for winter", they keep my feet warm!, and "does the job."
Buy now from Boots - £1
Read more:
Mirror Choice top rated Heated Throw that costs 1p an hour to run
Mirror Choice top rated Heated Throw (Amazon)The Mirror's shopping writer Narin Flanders put Lakeland's Sherpa Electric Heated Throw to the test as a solution to putting the heating on, and we can all agree, she wasn't disappointed.
"It's a really simple product to use, with a power button, a button to set the auto shut-off time and a temperature setting button. There are nine levels of warmth and you can set the blanket to switch off automatically at anything between 20 minutes and three hours, although if you struggle with the controls it will automatically default to the 20 minutes.
"It warms up quickly, I soon realised I wasn’t tempted to give the heating a quick boost."
You can read Narin's full review here
The luxury heated throw in teal is currently out of stock but you can still get hold of the grey version from Lakeland and Amazon.
Luxury 6 Point Massage Office Chair - that heats up!
Work from home? Here's how to stay warm and keep the heating low (B&Q / KMS Direct)If you work from home and want to avoid putting the heating on, would a heated office chair keep you warm enough? Mirror writer Gareth Butterfield has one of these luxury office chairs and explains exactly why it's a good investment.
"This Westwood heated chair is one of the best things in my office, if not my whole house. I can't believe it costs just over £100 for a very attractive, extremely comfortable and amazingly clever piece of furniture.
"I've had mine for three years now, and one armrest is starting to wear a bit but, otherwise, it's working perfectly and it's still as comfortable as the day I bought it. The massage function is great, a bit noisy perhaps, but very relaxing.
"However, it's the heating function that's been my favourite thing, especially over the winter months. At the press of a button on the wired remote I can ask it to provide heat for half an hour, an hour, or an hour-and-a-half. And it's so effective, it means I can run my central heating a little lower."
Buy now from B&Q - £109.99
Read More: 15 best electric heaters to keep you warm and save money on your bills
Read More:13 best electric blankets to buy that will keep you warm and help reduce your heating bill
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