As the February freeze is in full swing I, like many another person with a disability are having to think outside the box to practically keep warm out and about…
Below I’m going to share with you my Top 5 methods and clothing items that will keep you toasty, stay practical and not scream π± DISABILITY! Here we go….
1. Thin fitted coats with fur/fleece linings OVER the giant marshmallow effect
Although heavily padded winter coats are the most popular and effective at keeping a person warm, the lack of flexibility in the poofy chambers ends up physically restricting arm and trunk movement. If you find this to be true, a good alternative to these marshmallow effect winter warmers is to browse for something more of a jacket style, but incorporates a thin (yet thermal!) fleece/fur inner lining for that added insulation without the bulk.
2. Mitten gloves!
Mittens are actually in fashion now in 2018 for adults (not just the littles!), which is a bonus for those with dexterity involvement. If you’re like me and need to wear gloves right from the first day of Autumn to stop numbness spreading through your hands and fingers, rendering them useless, you need to get yourself a pair of mitten gloves! The great quality about these is you no-longer have to battle to take them on and off to use your phone. Simply unflip the mitten flap and your fingertips are free to update your Facebook status to your hearts content. Flip the mitten back over and away you go!
3. You lose most of your body heat through your head…
This one’s self explanatory. Succumb to the knit faux fur bobble hat trend! It’s a known fact you lose 45% of your overall body heat through your head. You can’t argue with science! You could have an array of different styles and colours if you don’t want to blend in with the crowd.
4. Thermal/fleece pant + shoe linings
As a wheelchair user myself, my legs are the biggest cold suckers, I also suffer from ‘corpse feet’ (shout out to Carrie Aimes for coming up with that term!). Little did I know you can get fleece lined leggings/jeggings/jeans and they don’t look extra bulky on like I was concerned about. Lined boots are a good alternative to heavy snow boots or frost bite inducing Converse. The less weighty the footwear is, yet equally insulating the better, particularly those with walking difficulties.
5. Layer, layer, layer!
Contrary to your initial thoughts that layering may present a ‘bulk’ issue all on its own, it’s actually more practical mobility wise to wear multiple thin layers to again insulate (my favourite word in this blog apparently π) than wearing one big bulky item of clothing. Reason being its been proved heat gets more trapped within layers than one garment and it gives you the option to shed layers to accommodate your changing environment over the course of the day. Getting too hot is equally troublesome!
I have a wasted calf and poor circulation in my lower left leg. My husband is pretty sure that foot produces cold all on it's own! I tend to live in thermal / slipper socks in winter, and wear slipper boots at home and have the heating blasting on my feet in the car once the windscreen's sorted! I also love the microwaveable heat packs to warm up my feet in bed! #BlogCrush
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Great post, informative and useful for other wheelchair users. I like your fleece lined coat, looks very cosy! Thanks for linking up to #Blogstravaganza
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