For outdoor use electrically heated clothing also has another great benefit - it broadens the useful temperature range of the clothing that you're wearing.<p>I fly an open cockpit aircraft (an Autogyro). In the winter months I wear a soft-shell flightsuit, with an Ororo electrically heated Gilet underneath. The flightsuit itself is very warm, and the gilet provides extra insulation over my torso even when off. This is sufficient to keep me warm most of the time, but then if it does get colder I can just turn on the Gilet the appropriate amount and I'll be cosy. The heating elements are close to my skin with both the gilet and flightsuit insulation on the outside so the heat stays in where it's needed.<p>This setup works anywhere from "slight winter chill" down to "as cold as I have encountered". And because my core is so warm, I don't even have to have too much in the way of gloves (I use some hand knitted merino roll top mittens so I can still use the controls easily).
The solar version of lowtechmagazine is a great design.<p>Same article in the solar lowtechmag website.
<a href="https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/11/heat-your-clothes-not-your-house.html" rel="nofollow">https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2013/11/heat-your-clothes-...</a>
As one of the comments mentions, the best solution to cold temperatures has always been wool. As a foreigner it's striking to me how little wool is worn here in the US.<p>It's one of the few renewable natural fibres and a fantastic insulator. Get some merino long johns and wool sweaters and you're good. It's not itchy.
When i was a young lad in the seventies, our local town shop had shirts and pants you could plug into the electrical system on your tractor during the cold days (before cabins were a thing)
You're still having to breathe the cold air though, which isn't great for your health below certain temperatures. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/01/how-turning-the-heat-off-this-winter-could-damage-your-health" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/sep/01/how-turning-...</a>
Back in the 60's (?) magazines proposed not heating houses at all, but just broadcasting microwaves that would heat your skin and make you feel warm!<p>Microwaves were a new thing, and lots of purposes got invented.
What I <i>really</i> want is USB powered heating in my bones. Like just the long bones in the arms and legs would be fine. Or wirelessly powered (put the charge in my mouse-pad.)
> Heat Your Clothes, Not Your House<p>In the name of environmentalism, you will live like an impoverished, preindustrial Inuit, but without any of the upside.
For me, I'm totally fine with the house being cold and in the low 60s during the winter and just using sweatshirts and space heaters as necessary.<p>However, some folks (especially females) don't like the ambient air being that cold because their fingers start to hurt. Can't blame people for not wanting to wear mittens at home.<p>EDIT reply to: <i>>(note that some people regard the use of "females" as a noun to be a red flag)</i><p>Thank you for the heads up but I'm surprised <i>"females"</i> has become controversial. I did a cursory google check with a mainstream respectable outlet like NYTimes and they use "females" the same way I did. When did the norms change?<p><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=nytimes+%22especially+females%22" rel="nofollow">https://www.google.com/search?q=nytimes+%22especially+female...</a>