York-based writer and author of the blog Life Of Pippa, Pippa Stacey has recently become increasingly passionate about the health benefits and joys of getting outside and experiencing the great outdoors. She knows how important it is to keep warm throughout the year, especially when living with a chronic illness, and has shared some of her thoughts on our latest Heat Holders products...
There’s nothing more exciting than realising the end of winter is finally within sight, knowing the seasons will soon change and the warmer months are on their way. However, as anybody from the UK will be quick to tell you, the temperature often doesn’t become milder as quickly as we’d like it to!
We all feel the cold, but people with chronic illnesses often feel it more than most. Colder weather can be very tough on our symptoms, especially if we have joint or circulation issues. Our body’s valuable energy is often in short supply, and keeping warm can quickly gobble up more of our reserves than we realise. I have a neurological condition called ME/CFS, with hallmark symptoms including fatigue, pain, and sensory sensitivity, and let me tell you, the cold is not my friend. It can often leave me feeling drained and completely listless, and it wouldn’t be unusual to find me swaddled in a blanket even in the height of summer. Through years of experience navigating the changing seasons, I now know first-hand how important it is to honour your body’s needs and keep warm and cosy…. especially at this time of year.
This holds especially true when venturing into the outdoors. The transition into Spring is such a beautiful time of year to be outside – as a wheelchair user, I’ve recently discovered Trampers (a kind of off-road mobility aid) which are helping me to spend much more time in nature than I once thought possible. Using a wheelchair has changed my life with chronic illness for the better in so many ways, and this time outside can be wonderful for your wellbeing, but I’ll be the first to tell you that being seated in a wheelchair can make keeping warm outdoors quite a bit more difficult.
From experience, I’ve found that the best way to go about things now is to layer up and choose your garments wisely - and this is where Heat Holders comes in. Constructed with warmth, softness, and comfort in mind, Heat Holders has been a go-to brand of mine for over a decade now. Their New In range for the season is full of treasures, and I’ve recently discovered a few new favourites. This includes…
Ladies Kiruna Pom Pom Hat - Oat Melange
This lovely hat is created with Heat Holders’ two-part thermal construction for extra warmth, combining a stylish outer layer made of thermal yarn with an inside layer made of bespoke HeatWeaver thermal lining. Between them, they create a thermal cavity between the layers that traps warm air close to your head and keeps you feeling all lovely and cosy, even while the wind is whipping around you.
Ladies Tampere Thermal Gloves - Oatmeal Melange
Of course I had to try the gloves that match the hat, especially as they too are lined with HeatWeaver insulation. As somebody who also has a neurovascular condition that affects my hands and flares up during changes in temperature, it’s wonderful to see that Heat Holders gloves are widely praised by people with sensitive joints and Raynaud’s syndrome. Both the hat and matching gloves come in various different colours, each of them beautiful, but the Oatmeal Melange immediately caught my eye and pairs nicely with plenty of my wardrobe.
Ladies Lite Fairisle Nordic Socks - Ivory & Grey
If you’re in need of new socks, look no further! Heat Holders create socks to fulfil every need you can imagine, from soft slipper and lounge socks for inside the house to ski socks and wellington socks for bigger adventures. Personally, I always find myself leaning towards their Lite range. These socks still have excellent thermal properties, boasting a 1.6 TOG rating that’s four times the rating of the basic cotton socks you may currently have in your drawer at home, and yet they’re thin enough to wear with everyday shoes. There are dozens of beautiful designs, including some New In jazzy character socks, but I absolutely love the pretty colours and pattern of these Fairisle Nordic ones. I can’t wait to wear them under my boots as I go about my day.
Ladies Thermal Centre Seam Free Tights – Black
I’ve been wearing Heat Holders tights for at least ten years now. As well as keeping you nice and cosy when paired with dresses and skirts, they also make an excellent base layer under trousers and jeans. At 160 deniers and with a TOG rating of 0.52, they’re slimline enough to be comfortably worn under jeans and to not be visible under clothing if you don’t want them to be, but they can still make a world of difference at this time of year. They’ve definitely helped me to keep warmer and more comfortable when venturing out, both with and without my wheelchair, during the changing seasons.
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Happy adventuring, and keep cosy!
We’d love to see your outdoor adventures on social media. Tag us on Instagram and TikTok at @HeatHoldersUK and Facebook at @HeatHolders 🌳
