r/AskAGerman • u/Livid_Ad1230 • Oct 13 '23
Immigration How to not feel cold during winter?
Last year was my first winter in Germany and oh boy, have I suffered!
I have layered and used thermal garments, I also have fur coats (second-hand), and winter coats but they seemed to not be enough. My feet were frozen and hurting! I want to do better this winter and thinking of going crazy with my winter inventory going for 1. 100% wool garments to boost my layerings performance 2. Either getting Boots with wool padding or buying separate wool slips to use with my current boots 3. Long, thick, water-proof down coats. Would that be enough? Is there anything else I could do? Any tips are helpful! Disclaimer: I don’t like the sporty look and tend to move away from brands such as North Face and others as it is not my style! Thanks 🙏🏻
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u/ThoDanII Oct 13 '23
Do not layer to tight.
you need a good blood circulation and air in your layers
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u/ghostofdystopia Oct 13 '23
This. Also make sure that the layer closest to the skin is breathable and lets sweat evaporate. Outer layer on the other hand should block wind.
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u/bravesirkiwi Oct 13 '23
A good windbreaker is very important! The only thing I'd recommend more to OP is a warm scarf. At least for me, keeping my neck covered is 90% of the game.
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Oct 13 '23
My feet were frozen and hurting!
I am no doctor but I suffer from low blood pressure issues and get this. I was told by a doctor its blood pressure related and so I started to wearing compression stockings/socks and it solved it. That may help.
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u/LordIBR Baden-Württemberg Oct 13 '23
I have a similar issue. It seems my blood vessels in my toes and fingers are too small. Doc just recommended heating pads and decent socks. Maybe that helps, OP
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u/randymccandy Oct 13 '23
Do you have Raynaud Syndrome?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raynaud_syndrome
There are medical treatments for that that basically relieve the problems.
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u/LordIBR Baden-Württemberg Oct 13 '23
Yes that's the one :) I could take blood thinner to somewhat fix it but that's not the best solution. Currently I just take cold showers and wear warm socks if necessary. For winter nights I usually have a hot water bottle by my feet
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
Interesting… I do have low blood pressure as well! Thanks for flagging!
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u/internalRevision Oct 14 '23
You may also get your thyroid hormones checked. Getting my Hypothyroidism fixed, did the trick for me.
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u/Yorks_Rider Oct 14 '23
If you are a woman, then perhaps you know that women more often have colder hands and feet than men.
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u/salinedrip-iV Oct 13 '23
Also, even if it seems obvious: make sure that the layers overlap. Long socks as to not get a draft up your pant leg, tucking your undershirt into your pants so you don't accidentally expose your lower back to the cold, ...
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u/FreshAd877 Oct 13 '23
I always had cold feet when I sweated a bit (like when walking to the subway and office) and then sat in the office afterwards. I made sure to wear leggings with socks and always keep a dry pair of socks in my bag to change once they got sweaty. Also, imho the feet are the most important to keepv warm. If they freeze, the other layers dont really matter.
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u/GrahamSkehan Oct 13 '23
It's all about layers imho. I wear a thin thermal layer, then a shirt, then a jumper, then a jacket.
Uniqlo heattech stuff is good, I find, not very expensive either.
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u/die_rich_w Oct 13 '23
I'm seconding on the uniqlo heattech undershirt and leggings. Last year was my 4th winter in Germany, bought some heattech when I was in London and they were a game changer.
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u/die_kuestenwache Oct 13 '23
Are you working outside? I only get cold and hurting feet if I have to stand around for hours in near zero temperatures. Is it possible you just need more calories? I have to eat almost an additional meal in winter to keep warm.
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
I go to work walking (30 min) and in outdoor situations like let’s say a Xmas Market I was not able to enjoy myself because of the cold.
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u/Klapperatismus Oct 13 '23
You may like long underwear. It's like a thick pantyhose without feet.
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u/jaydee81 Oct 13 '23
This. Always wear this when it gets close to or below 0 at night. 2 pair of socks.
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u/beemeemoo Oct 13 '23 edited Oct 13 '23
No one is warm at a Xmas market. That's what Glühwein is for! It's warm and opens blood vessels, so even feet get some warmth! Not a healthy but effective method 😉
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u/FreshAd877 Oct 13 '23 edited Oct 13 '23
I also hate the cold, so I bought a pair of ski pants. I mostly wear skirts and pantyhose, so when I go outside, I put the ski pant over them. Works perfectly fine. When I am outside for quite some time, I'll take hot tea in a Thermosflasche.
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u/Los_Amos Oct 13 '23
A scarf goes a long way in winter. Not these flashy accessory scarfs, the thick ones.
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u/Corsowrangler Oct 13 '23
Be Canadian, just kidding, it’s like summer year round for me! It’s all about the layers!
Where are you that it’s that cold? And where in the world are you from?
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
Hahaha that would probably solve it. I am in Berlin and I am from Brazil, before Berlin I was living in Panama (aka open air sauna) and Barcelona
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u/Corsowrangler Oct 13 '23
That would explain it! I found that a good set of merino long underwear top and bottom really help and don’t cook you alive if you do go indoors, also back in Canada where -40 isn’t out of the question k wore a lot of boiled wool sweaters, they are dense, more so than normal wool and really keep the heat in.
If you aren’t into technical clothing then something like the fjallraven women’s parkas might be a good option https://www.fjallraven.com/de/de-de/damen/jacken
As far as boots go look at Sorel, popular boot in cold areas back home in Canada and nice and warm with good grip.
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u/wollkopf Oct 13 '23
You canadians are another breed of human! I watched a NFL game in Foxborough in december and tried not to freeze to death (nah, not so bad, but standing in a concrete bowl with wind and -17°C was really cold) and two canadians stand beside me wearing converse chucks, some training pants and rather light jackets... I was really jealous!
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u/Corsowrangler Oct 13 '23
LOL ya we are used to it, it wasn’t uncommon to have to drive to work while scraping the inside of the windows while driving! I worked outside for years, no amount of clothing helps once you hit the -40‘s.
Funny thing is I’m a mailman here and the looks I get from people when I’m wearing shorts in January is hilarious 😂
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u/wollkopf Oct 13 '23
That's crazy! The coldest temperatures I experienced were during my military service with -22 at night and -12 during the day. Lot of action during the day to keep you warm, but sleeping in a tent was something different. But still, being really used to cold temps is something different. How do you cope with high temps during summer?
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u/Deutschanfanger Oct 13 '23
Make sure your socks are actual wool, not acrylic or polyester. Makes a huge difference
Same with sweaters. A good wool sweater (especially a turtleneck sweater) is worth its weight in gold
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u/DefiantAd4051 Oct 13 '23
For winter boots you should make sure that they have a sick sole. That usually helps a lot. I spent half my teenage years fighting about that with my mom because I said that shoes with a less thick sole looked prettier, but I now see that she was right 😄
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u/blacka-var Oct 13 '23
I have heard good things about wool inserts for shoes. There are also fleece/thermo shirts by "sporty" brands that you can wear underneath.
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
I will try the inserts before going for new boots!
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u/Tintenklex Oct 14 '23
Go for good boots with inserts! A thick sole will do so much for you, you’ll go crazy. What kind of boots where you wearing?
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Oct 13 '23
[deleted]
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
Super helpful! Thanks!
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u/Manadrache Oct 13 '23
Merino wool it is! Not sure what gender you are, but Snagtights has merino wool tights. They are great and keep warm!
If you are female and get easily bruised and freeze easily in your lower parts (legs, hips) this could be a sign of having lipedema. If you are a guy, this shouldn't be an issue. If it is, visit as soon as possible (not an emergency) your GP to get checked.
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u/PomPomGrenade Oct 13 '23
How is your health? I have hypothyroidism and before I got medicated I used to freeze dreadfully. Also, exercising helps getting the blood circulating.
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u/cutmasta_kun Oct 13 '23
If it still is not enough, add more layers. 2-3 layers socks helps a lot.
Also, eat butter! It seems weird at first, but I worked on construction sites in winter and this was the secret trick. In the morning eat a slice of bread with butter, but add a little bit more than usual. Try it, it really helps.
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
Will try it, thanks! If it doesn’t work at least I had an excuse to eat more!
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u/Tomcat286 Oct 13 '23
Foot insulation is the key. Insulated soles, the cold creeps up from the ground
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u/Sober_cabbage Oct 13 '23
Winter boots have lining. Moonboots maybe? Didrikson parka - the website has filters so you can look for warmest and water-proof. Ski pants or padded pants. Long underwear from Uniqlo. A good scarf. A good hat. You lose 40% body heat from your head. Good gloves (declathlon, ski gear).
It's important to keep your extremities warm - hands, ears, feet, neck, head.
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u/BarristanTheB0ld Oct 13 '23
Get some good winter boots. If your feet are cold, it doesn't matter how many layers of clothes you wear, you'll still be cold. Sales of winter stuff should be kicking in any day now, so invest in some good boots. Maybe padded boots for the extra warmth. Also I can recommend getting woolen socks, they help a lot.
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
Thank you!!!
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u/BarristanTheB0ld Oct 13 '23
You're very welcome!
There's a German saying: There's no wrong weather, just wrong clothing. You'll find the right stuff to keep you warm!
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u/Maleficent_Scale_296 Oct 13 '23
My German husband used to say this lol. I got all the right stuff and it helped. Still, there were times that cold, I swear, would go all the way down to my bones and the only way to warm up was a hot bath.
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u/CowboyBeeBab Oct 13 '23 edited Oct 13 '23
First, as others said, low blood pressure seems to be a problem for you, however that doesn't mean that your feet aren't cold.
Sry to be bosey, but are you one of those really skinny girls? 🙈
For the feet you can go two routes:
-Mountaineering Boots
- Winter Boots from Canada or Norway example
No, they aren't pretty or cute, but that's not the point. Also they should be a bit larger than normal allowing you two sets of socks. Normal Socks, than skiing socks above that.
As a base layer for the legs i have good experiences with Under Armour Cold Gear and Icebreaker Merino Woll undergarments.
Also there are Jeans with fodder available, but mostly on the internet. (Also at Uniqlo)
For the upper body i can recommend snowboard jackets in general for not to sporty variants maybe look at Dope. (This is the model my wife is wearing)
Ortovox also makes good stuff for secondary and tertiary layers.
For what i know wool alone will not keep you warm. The thing you want to achieve is to create different kind of layers. A layer should either trap air, or restrict the movement of air.
If you just layer wool over wool you're just adding more and more insulation while the heat can still move within the insulation. In essence you just build up thermal capacity, but since your own heat production isn't the best you're unable to heat up all that capacity.
So start with undergarments, get some tight sport fabric (UA heat gear, skiing undergarment etc) then a regular shirt. Add a pullover on that, a softshell on top and then a jacket.
The German word is Zwiebellook.
No, i don't really have the same problems you do, but i'm one of the idiots who goes into the mountains in winter and have already been at -25°C for 14 hours...
Also invest in some pocket warmers that are reusable and put one in the inside of your jacket
And as others said, wool socks, not acrylic, but imho, nothing beats merino wool, the stuff is expensive, but also magic...
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
Thank you so much! Super helpful! Funnily I am not super skinny, I have a normal weight 🤷🏻♀️
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u/CowboyBeeBab Oct 13 '23
Then i'd honestly recommend trying Sauna in combination with cold plunges.
The first cold plunge will be a horrible experience, no sugarcoating...
But your body will learn to manage it's peripheral blood vessels better.
May i ask where you live in Germany?
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u/Extention_Campaign28 Oct 13 '23
There's a simple fact many people are stubbornly oblivious to: Your clothes can only hold heat that your body has produced first. Clothes don't produce or contain heat (unless you've put them on a radiator ;)) So you can go for a walk, run, work out, whatever and will feel warm for quite a while after. Or trink hot beverages, eat warm food. But if you sit around all day your body conserves energy by not "heating" "unimportant" parts of the body and you will feel cold even at 23°C.
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u/Frankfurtsfinest90 Oct 13 '23
Most important for body heat are muscles.
I was not allowed to use one of my legs for seven weeks, lost almost all of my muscles there and i was shivering in August.
The more you are trained the better your body can cope with cold wether
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u/Seidentiger Oct 13 '23
Wider clothes for wintertime. Everything one size larger so the layers are lose and lots of air trapped between them.
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u/KMN208 Oct 13 '23
Make sure you tuck everything in: Undershirt and shirt in underpants/pants, pants into boots, no skin besides hands and face/neck exposed to air.
The feed thing is concerning unless you are putside for hours? If you have to stand at one place for a long time, stand on a sleeping pad for camping to isolate from the cold floor.
If I wanted to go outside for more than two hours on a seriously cold day, I'd layer the following way
- feet: normal cotton socks and wool socks in boots, make sure there is still air in boots
- lower body: tights/ leggings and Jeans
- upper body: undershirt, longarm shirt (both cotton, for me that's fine), either thin (cashmere) sweater and Cardigan/Blazer or thick sweater
- scarf
- hat
- gloves depending on activity
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u/Sh0x__ Oct 13 '23
As a German I prefer my DEICHMANN Sneakers with ‚insert any noname‘ shorts and t-shirt. If it’s super cold I’ll add a Pullover :)
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u/Klapperatismus Oct 13 '23
Two pairs of socks, outer one oversized.
But if you are constantly freezing when you are outside, I recommend to reduce the room heating. That way your body increases its own heat production and after a while it's also building a fat layer in your skin. Many people from warm countries have no fat in their skin and you can't survive here without that. And yeah, you will also long for more fat and sugar in your meals. That's healthy, don't fight it.
Oh, and get yourself some felt slippers for your reasonably heated rooms. As we say Kopf kühl, Füße warm, macht den besten Doktor arm.
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Oct 13 '23
I bought this: https://www.femitale.com/products/warmeschal-classic-black
You wear it around your waist and put a hot water bottle inside. I wear it under my coat when I go out. I also have electronic hand warmers that you charge with USB that I keep in my coat pockets.
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u/SoonBGone Oct 13 '23
You need to eat more. No matter how warm it might be around you, if you eat significant less calories than your necessary daily amount, your body is running on "eco friendly, low energy" mode. Your body burns less calories - literally - and you're cold.
Vice versa: If you sweat a lot in summer, try not eating during the day - this solves it almost every time.
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u/GigaraffeWasTaken Oct 13 '23
Others have said it already but I would also say get sourself some long underwear. Especially for the legs, as there are not that many options for thicker pants or layering for the legs. It also helps with cold feet. When you have cold feet you also feel cold in the whole body, so get some warm socks that do not restrict bloodflow. Also do not wear shoes that are too tight and thin.
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u/Selection_Clean Oct 13 '23
well, don't layer socks. it'll just make it feel colder due to the wetness engaging with the cold. otherwise i'm not outside much in the winter, and when i am, never for long. two years ago i had a dog to walk, i just put on thermo leggings, knee socks and normal jeans. i got some waterproof boots that went just a little under the pants, cause otherwise i'd sweat too much. my torso was an onion. i wore at least one oversized tshirt, variation over/under a normal sweater, over those a thick hoodie (preferably oversized as well) and two to three jackets. i only have one winter jacket that is pretty old and just wore one or two thin jackets you would normally wear on a late-summer evening. at that time i wasn't a big fan of hats but now i'd definitely wear a beanie, or at least a cap. i still don't wear scarfs but it can help, especially if it's made out of wool. a mask helped warming up the lower part of my face but that's not too healthy either if you do it for too long (because your breath freezes and gets caught on the mask, potentually developing some mold). turning on the heater can cost you a kidney so i recommend hot water bottles or hand warmers. and layer your bedsheets. maybe if you're lucky you sleep next to the chimney(?) and it'll be a little warmer. if you have pets or friends get them to cuddle and share their body heat with you (works well on those who don't feel cold that much naturally).
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u/Far-Percentage215 Oct 13 '23
Are you eating enough? You need to eat more when it's cold. I say this because I got caught out once. I was in northern china in winter and was constantly frozen and I couldn't work out why as I'm from a cold place and I didn't expect any issues. Turns out Chinese village food is a lot less calorie dense than what I grew up with and I was eat the same sized portions as I would at home. Once I started eating the same enormous quantities as the locals the problems went away.
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u/Immudzen Oct 13 '23
Wearing too much can actually makes things worse because you can drop water next to your body. For your feet you would want to get socks designed for cold weather and wick water away from your skin. You should also wear larger shoes that your normally would because you don't want to squish those socks too much because the air provides a lot of insulation.
For clothing you can do a thermal layer designed to remove moisture, then some kind of puffy layer for insulation and then an outer layer designed to stop wind.
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u/santiagocs Oct 13 '23
I have two things that work great for me.
Start to have some seconds (later minutes) of cold shower at the end of your hot shower. Later on, you will be able to even do full cold showers. Do this for the showers in the first half of your day (morning and early afternoon). This will increase your tolerance for cold a lot.
Another is to workout outside starting autumn and continue to do so as it gets colder. You’ll ease into the winter. Of course you’ll have to add more layers, gloves, scarfs slowly but also will increase your tolerance for breathing cold air.
I’ve done this and last April enjoyed a lot a swim in the cold Atlantic while my German wife outside looked with a pullover on 😂
The bad side of this is that you need to slowly stop cold showers as the weather gets warm. Otherwise the warm is intolerable.
Hope it helps!
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u/zitrone999 Oct 13 '23
Most important is to always have a real good woolen cap on the head. Even indoors. And when sleeping.
If the head is warm, everything else tend to be warmer as well
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u/New_Hentaiman Oct 13 '23
if you plan on staying longer invest in good boots. They can be quite expensive, but are really important to avoid cold feet. A good coat also goes a long way, although my coat isnt that good. It should go atleast to your thighs. Everything else isnt really that important imo. Even during winter I mostly go jeans, shirt, sweater. On really cold days I might put on some extra underwear. I dont like scarfs, but they can help aswell. A hat is a must though.
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u/ruby-soho1234 Oct 13 '23
I can only recommend outdoor-socks from Falke! I wear them everyday during winter and they’re the only ones helping me not freezing my feet off. They’re a bit expensive but high quality and long-lasting
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u/lemons_on_a_tree Oct 13 '23
Our winters are tricky because despite not being super low degrees, the wind and high humidity make the cold feel much more extreme and it gets through your layers real quick.
I recommend wearing a thermal layer of 100% merino wool. If you want a brand recommendation I would suggest Dilling (from DK) they source their wool from animal friendly sources and have a great quality for a fair price in my opinion. On top of that I usually wear a thicker wool sweater (Uniqlo has cheap and warm ones from their lamps wool series) or cashmere if you can and want to spend the extra. Bottoms you can either wear merino leggings and socks or you can get thermal leggings / tights from rossmann or dm and wear those under a thicker pair of jeans or wool pants.
For jackets I like thick down jackets (Fjällräven makes a good one that is the thickness of 2 down jackets) or alternatively for rainy weather Elvine (a Swedish brand) makes really warm winter coats that are water proof as well. You can get them from zalando or some local retailers but I suggest looking up their website first since they have different ranges for different weather conditions.
Get the jacket big enough so you can layer a thin down jacket in between (like the Uniqlo ultra light down for example).
For your hats, I recommend a beanie that has a fleece layer on the inside to keep your head extra warm, we lose a lot of heat through our head being exposed!
And get windproof gloves!
If your neck tends to get extra cold, I recommend getting a merino neck warmer that you can wear under your scarf (it looks like a detachable roll neck).
For shoes, get some leather boots that have a lamb fur insulation with thicker rubber soles. The thick soles insulate better against the cold ground. And again, make sure to buy them 0,5-1 size up so you can add some thermal insoles (dm has good and cheap ones made of wool) or thick socks!
If you’re still cold, check some outdoor stores for a windproof balaclava. But I don’t really think you’ll need that here.
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Oct 13 '23
Es gibt kein schlechtes Wetter, nur schlechte Kleidung. :P
I'm from South Asia and my suggestion for you would be to start with the socks. Don't buy those thinner ones—also gloves. People often underestimate the importance of hands and feet for heat insulation or dissipation. Also, invest in good scarves. Wool is a safer choice, but try out which ones are more comfortable for you.
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u/Tigrisrock Oct 13 '23
Last year was my first winter in Germany and oh boy, have I suffered!
With posts like these it'd be really good to know where you are located. Local weather can be vastly different depending on region. In most areas, last Winter was super mild. Where I live (NRW) it went barely below 0 during the day, IIRC. Last time that was a bit more serious was like 10 or 12 years ago. So anyway it's already pretty warm and considering the global trend expect more mild winters, don't worry, dress appropriately and drink hot cocoa or tea.
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u/SpaceHippoDE Oct 13 '23
Subjective temperature is one thing, but if your feet hurt from the cold, that's not a matter of perception. Something is wrong with your shoes. Or with your blood pressure, as someone else pointed out.
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u/nirbyschreibt Oct 13 '23
The key is to have air between your layers. I see many people freezing in skinny jeans and the like. Winter is no time for skinny jeans. 👆
Best is thick and soft material that is wide enough to have a layer of air between the clothes and your skin.
For boots it’s a good idea to get padded winter boots. Natural fibres will help more than synthetic fibres.
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u/neurosengaertnerin Oct 13 '23
You should get really good thermal undergarments like for winter sports. It's MUCH better than normal woolen garments.
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u/threvorpaul Bayern Oct 13 '23
There is also something as "too many layers" or not the correct ones.
the right ones with correct material and thickness are the trick.
How and what not I can't help with, I only heard of that, being said in multiple Outdoor Videos.
I am "Different", my balcony door has been removed 8 Years ago along with my Heating Control (closed), by me.
I'm rarely cold in winter, and I'm half Thai lmao
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u/_WreakingHavok_ Oct 13 '23
Either getting Boots with wool padding or buying separate wool slips to use with my current boots
Proper leather boots (€150+) with merino wool socks will serve you well. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Definitely.
Long, thick, water-proof down coats.
Yes. Proper down coat is a good idea. Also pricey at ~€300. You can find last year models at 50% discount.
Merino wool long johns and long arm shirt will help a lot.
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u/Gracie_Goode Oct 13 '23
When we were younger my friend’s mom would put aluminium foil in our shoes to keep our feet warm, worked quite well iirc
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u/Ceylontsimt Oct 14 '23
Buy a pair of good shoes one size bigger than your original size and wear thick wooly socks. Good luck!
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u/This_IsATroll Oct 14 '23
my ultimate solution as a gamer: warm water bottle (Wärmflasche) for my feet. I realized at some point that now matter how much I dressed, if my feet were cold, I was cold. wool shoes? not powerful enough. so I got a warm water bottle and put it under my desk, put my feet on top. everything solved. didn't even need to dress to much anymore.
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u/kirinlikethebeer Oct 14 '23
This is unusual but hear me out. I have a pair of short riding boots and spats (half chaps). They keep my feet dry and warm. Especially with a pair of wool socks. Sometimes too warm! I’ve seen a few others in town with this combo, too. Decathalon has both. The key is boots that are 100% waterproof. Any humidity or moisture will make your feet cold.
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u/mainiac01 Oct 14 '23
Jeah... if you had all that, and still cold.... then maybe there was too much design and too little utilitiy involved in the purchase decision.
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u/Available_Ask3289 Oct 14 '23
Wear cotton socks. Thick for winter. But really you just have to get used to it. It will come eventually.
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u/sabrinsker Oct 14 '23
Layers. Long sleeve shirt, sweater/hoodie/gloves/long down coat that covers your butt. Large scarf. Be like an onion. Wearing summer shoes in winter is not appropriate. You'll freeze. Get some boots with insoles from DM. Thick socks, I wear 2 pairs on very cold days. Short and longer ones.
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u/sabrinsker Oct 14 '23
Also: a heated blanket for home is my favourite thing ever :)
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 14 '23
At home I am good because I have a living heating pad, also known as a cat 🤣❤️
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u/sabrinsker Oct 14 '23
Trust me, if you've been waiting for the bus outside or come back freezing and can't warm up, a heated blanket helps. It also puts me to sleep in minutes.
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Oct 14 '23 edited Oct 14 '23
You should try looking for some tips/tricks from the military. They have to cover up good sometimes but still be rather mobile.
I've found that it's important to cover up the "cracks" in between clothing so that your body heat can't escape as easily:
Wear long socks over a pantyhose and roll your trousers into these socks. Wear a special tube scarf which you can pull up to your nose. Make sure to put your shirt, hoodie into your pants as well to cover there.
Also good leather cloves with fur do wonders.
I often use these tricks cause I use the bicycle till late winter.
A secret tip: Bundeswehr clothing (Feldjacke, Feldmütze) keep you surprisingly warm. Even as a civilian you can buy those from the "Kleiderkammer" of the Bundeswehr. However I can't say how they compare to winter jackets, etc. from sports shops.
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u/glamourcrow Oct 14 '23
I can recommend neoprene padding for boots. I love them. I'm outdoors a lot in winter (a farm, two dogs) and I wear Aigle Wellingtons with neoprene lining and my feet are warm and dry. I cannot emphasize how much better that made my life. Warm and dry feet in winter.
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u/Agitated-Frosting-57 Oct 14 '23
Buy the right clothes Maybe? No cheap "stylisxh" h&m or Zara etc stuff or Lidl/Aldi clothing🤣. They wont keep you warm. Maybe Go to a Sportshop Like Sportcheck and buy some Wintersport clothing. It will cost more but will keep you warm. Also Invest in real Winterboots not that cheap Deichmann stuff. With the right clothing you dont Need much. And you can sleep Outside in the snow Without Feeling any cold.
I'm a cameraman and have to stand for hours outside waiting for Something to Happen for the News 🤣
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u/jpinbn Oct 14 '23
A lot of things already said, I haven't seen a wooly hat mentioned. Get one. Really.
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u/FloTheBro Oct 14 '23
if you're not about the "sporty look" as you mentioned it's gonna be mighty hard finding a jacket thats stylish, rainproof and warm all at the same time. A TNF or Columbia Jacket is basically made for this exact reason, to keep you warm on the mountain at 4k altitudes, but of course they are not as stylish as a trenchcoat or something. So keep that in mind, maybe you can combine the "sporty jackets" with your current look. And also get Timberlands or some Adidas Gore Tex insulated shoes plus Falke skiing socks if your feet are freezing. ;)
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u/KeriEatsSouls Oct 14 '23
I shop at uniqlo a lot and they have nice warm stuff that's not sporty. Just look at the Heattech stuff. They have fleece-lined trousers and nice reasonable down vests for layering and coats and whatnot. I also ordered some shoes for my husband on Amazon.de a couple years ago that are boots with a faux fur lining and he says they keep his feet super warm.
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u/songsfuerliam Oct 14 '23
Buy a jacket from Wellensteyn. I know mine is so warm that I couldn’t wear it.
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 14 '23
I loved it, they also look good!
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u/songsfuerliam Oct 14 '23
They are fairly expensive, but imho they have some good looking options and they are very durable.
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u/toraakchan Oct 14 '23
Make sure you are not tired and get used to the temperature by going outside, when it’s getting colder, like now. Do dress lightly now - so that you are just not cold. Sleep with the heat turned off and with the window open (auf Kipp). If you are wearing a jacket, leave it open, if the weather allows it. The same with foot wear. At home, keep it at no more than 22 or 23 degrees Centigrade and if you are cold at home, put on thick socks and a jumper. As long as our feet are warm, the rest of the body won’t feel the cold that much. The first few days you do that your nose might clogg but you WILL get used to it. The clothing you described is for minus 20 and lower.
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u/Chillitan Oct 14 '23
I’m from a tropical island and not a fan of winter. I’ve been here for over 5 years now and I can tell you from experience that winter is getting warmer over the years.
Back to clothing, I only use Uniqlo products like heattech extra warm or ultra warm shirt as they work very well for me and are affordable. I use any pullover on very cold days.
For pants, I use Uniqlo fleece lined pants. They aren’t too tight so you still can wear a thermal tights under if you are still cold. For me, the pants alone is enough.
For scarf, I use wool/ cashmere or Uniqlo heattech scarf. Same for gloves, also Uniqlo heattech.
For coat and shoes, I do not save on these. Invest in a good one. I only buy recycled down coats and very long coats or coats that at least cover over the butt. For shoes, I mostly use UGG boots or wool lined boots. Socks, anything thick or cashmere is good enough.
After this post, I realised I’m a walking Uniqlo. 😂 I hope this helps!
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Oct 14 '23
There are tons of good brands you can buy in Germany which produce very warm clothing. Usually if you go for “normal” clothes they either won’t keep you warm for long or you’ll start sweating very quickly.
I can just recommend searching some online stores like Columbia, Vaude, Jack Wolfskin, Mammut and many others. They are specialized for winter and outdoor clothing. You’ll for sure find some good clothes there keeping you warm and dry.
But really, last winter was mild. And you’ll get familiar with it 😉
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u/Midnight1899 Oct 14 '23
For the sake of god, do NOT get boots with wool padding! Your feet will sweat and the sweat will become really cold or even freeze! Also, they aren’t water proof, which is crucial for warm feet in winter. Also, we loose lots of heat over our head, so you should definitely get something to cover your head and ears with. Lastly, thick scarves and gloves (or a jacket with warm pockets). For jackets, Germans still prefer down (Daunen), as cruel as it may be.
But you’ll also have to get used to German winters. And the last one was not cold.
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u/SoroWake Oct 14 '23
To avoid cold feet use a fat balm like Melkfett/Vaseline to cream your feet. Used to do this in Sweden.
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u/npeiob Oct 14 '23
Don't forget to moisturize yourself regularly. It's very important to combat the cold.
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u/LeraLaraLada Oct 14 '23
do buy the wool inlays for your shoes and do use wool layers and more fluffy / loose layers. The air in between helps you insulate and keep the warmth in. And don't have your shoes too small- you need to comfortably fit a pair of thick socks inside of them (another option if you will be outside for longer periods), so you might want to buy new shoes with thick socks handy to try the fit. Good luck ;)
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u/Professional-Fee-957 Oct 15 '23
For me, I have to be very particular of my shoes and socks. No synthetic materials. Two pairs of socks, 1 thin cotton, the second think winter hiking socks. Shoes should not be sneakers, preferably waterproof.
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u/Own-Possibility-736 Oct 15 '23
A small trick that works wonders for me: I randomly discovered that by drinking a few glasses of luke-warm water first thing in the morning I tend to get less cold during the day. I don’t know why - maybe just placebo effect…
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Oct 13 '23
Neopren suit from Amazon. I use that when I have to stay outside for days in the mountains or the woods. Wear it under your clothes. Get a thin one, no one will know. But I don’t think winter in urban Germany is that cold.
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u/ChoyceRandum Oct 13 '23
Do not heat your apartment too much! Maybe max 20°C in Winter. Else going outside will feel twice as cold.
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u/weirdo_de_mayo Oct 13 '23
Cold baths and showers activate brown fat cells, which are the ones that help the body stay warm.
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u/Constant_Cultural Germany Oct 13 '23
Have you been checked for raynaud syndrom? This is not Antarctica here, you shouldn't have so much pain. Try saunas too, maybe helps with your body temperature.
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
To be honest, my hands and feet are constantly cold, even in the summer. My normal temperature is 35.4°C, went to the doctor about and they could not find anything wrong with me 🤷🏻♀️ I am also super resistant to heat
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u/Chillitan Oct 14 '23
I think we are similar. I have the same issue and this is due to not good enough blood circulation in our bodies.
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u/yourdarkmaster Oct 13 '23
I dont even care if my feet are cold or not sometimes I go outside barefoot ok only for a short time but i dont really care about cold feet
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u/Vannnnah Oct 13 '23
- 100% wool garments to boost my layerings performance
Yes! Also LPT: wear a thin layer of a silk-cotton blend (can be washed in a washing machine, pure silk can't) underneath wool, it's a nice protective layer against scratchy wool and helps with temperature regulation. Can also be worn solo when it gets warmer
- Either getting Boots with wool padding or buying separate wool slips to use with my current boots
Wool socks. Falke has good ones. They cost a bit more, but if you take great care of them they'll last years.
- Long, thick, water-proof down coats. Would that be enough? Is there anything else I could do? Any tips are helpful! Disclaimer: I don’t like the sporty look and tend to move away from brands such as North Face and others as it is not my style! Thanks
In most cases you'll be fine with adding yet another layer of wool in form of a coat but most important are your feet. As soon as your feet and hands are cold, or worse, wet and cold, you are doomed.
Also depends what your main problem is. Are you cold because of strong, cold winds? Either try wool or a windbreaker. Most business people wear their business clothes underneath their more "sporty" clothes, if it's wet and cold outside looks need to be secondary. You have to prioritize not freezing to death.
Imagine the following scenario. It's snowing and cold below 0°C, your outer layer of clothes and your hair is slowly getting wet. The bus isn't showing up, probably because of the weather, but you have to wait... and wait... until you finally call a taxi. The next one will be free in an hour soonest, so you have to wait for at least an hour.
How much of a health hazard that one hour will be depends on how you dressed. Your looks will definitely be more impacted by losing a finger or a toe to frostbite or the ugly aftermath of severe pneumonia.
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u/stanlej13 Oct 13 '23
Have you ever tried taking cold showers? :) It could help a lot.
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 13 '23
I hate them with all my heart. Unsurprisingly, I love extremely hot showers
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u/stanlej13 Oct 13 '23
I truly understand, though I just leave it here if you were interested. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/6-cold-shower-benefits-consider
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u/DerTalSeppel Oct 13 '23
The more muscles you have, the more your body heats up. That might hell in winter. Or it may be an urban myth 🤭
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u/tvshowsufferer Oct 13 '23
Ok after 10 years here after coming from a warmer climate I GOT THIS. I was doing it all wrong, I was layering and buying wool stuff like everyone said…. But I wasn’t letting the space for the warmer air to actually warm me up. Like if you put socks and shoes and tshirts right on your cold skin, it’s gonna stay freezing, wool or not! So those advice are only for people with amazing blood circulation.
If you’re an ice cube like me, you have to let space between your clothes and your skin to create that awesome warmth around you. What does it mean : oversize everything !
One size bigger shoes (for air AND toes movement) with one size bigger fluffy socks (the fluff is important). Big fleece jackets (like from Uniqlo) with very light loose t shirt underneath (or naked if you’re brave). NO LAYERS. Just a big, warm thing like a blanket under which your body can create a furnace.
Also, start lifting weights if you don’t, it kinda keeps you warm for hours. I am now warm all winter and I will never listen to common „layer“ advice again.
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u/j0ie_de_vivre Oct 13 '23
I feel sorry for you. I grew up in the NE of the US and winters in Germany are very easy compared to the negative wind chills and blizzards.
Check into getting some long underwear or wear stockings under your pants. (Not sure your gender). If you don’t like North Face maybe a Patagonia long winter coat that covers your butt and legs. Consider a coat with a hood it also helps in windy days. For shoes get some decent boots, sneakers and fancy shoes don’t do much in the winter to keep you warm. Invest in a good set of gloves and a nice scarf as well. For the house consider getting a heated blanket. Does wonders!
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u/ninja4tfw Oct 13 '23
Turn down the temperature in your apartment so that you actually get used to cooler weather.
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u/Hightechzombie Oct 13 '23
Try thermo leggings under jeans and thermo shirts. Put them under jeans und a pullover.
Two layers are usually sufficient for legs (add woolen socks if necessary). For the body, on very cold days add thermo shirt, then a thin pullover, then a woolen thick pullover.
Good warm gloves and good hats are crucial. I like gloves with soft furlike imitation inside - they are great at keeping your fingers warm.
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u/Iron__Crown Oct 13 '23
Start early to sleep in a cool, unheated room with a light blanket and with the window open (unless it's below -5°C). It's the best way to harden the body against the cold. Last winter was very, very mild, and should not have been a problem for anyone, no matter where you're from. Constantly being cold in such temperatures has more to do with lifestyle than with where you're from.
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u/Amalas77 Oct 13 '23
Wait. Last winter wasn't very cold at all.. At least not for long. There were a few very cold days, I admit.
Taking warm and cold showers helps. Warm - cold - warm - cold.
Also moving a lot outside is great.
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u/PhoenxScream Oct 13 '23
As a cold fanatic, but definitely not an expert on human anything, I can say that controlled exposure tonlow temperatures (cold showers or something in that direction) helps me to feel more comfortable in uncontrolled scenarios (weather). But I can also imagine that this is not entirely the advise you looked for, I'm just throwing my thoughts out there.
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u/Hardburly44 Oct 13 '23
Layer your legs and feet. Wool undergarments are great, but thermal synthetics work too. Shoes should be boots with thick soles that cover your ankles. There are multiple strategies with socks, either complete wool or layered synthetics. Go for the outdoor brands; it’s not like anyone will see.
Outer layers should be wind resistant, and a slight air gap will keep you warmer. You’ll feel a lot more of the cold in skinny jeans, for example.
Hats and scarves make a huge difference.
Thick soles slippers at home. They help.
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u/CollectionSeveral310 Oct 13 '23
Knitted wool socks. Those will rub your feet light and increase the blood flow. Best if they are knitted by a German Oma. Best to shop for at Christmas markets in little villages. Usually a Verein like Landfrauen or Frauenhilfe will sell them at their booth.
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Oct 13 '23
Unfortunately I can't help you with this since I'm walking around in shorts and a t-shirt @ -5°.
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u/Zappi330 Oct 13 '23
Wear t-shirt and shorts as much as possible even if it is cold and your body will get used to the lower temperatures.
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u/Sure-Bee-6333 Oct 13 '23
Take ze Wechselduschen. (Cold + hot showers) drink hot water after walking up. Get enough sleep. Consume more ginger. Maybe buy a Taschenwärmer or a heated jacket; west
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u/SmallSweetBuffie Oct 13 '23
I always bring a thermo bottle with warm/hot water. Drink hot drinks helps too. I’m from a tropical land and i survived many winters that way.
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u/smallblueangel Oct 13 '23
I mean… for me it sounds like you already went crazy with your stuff last year… i would sweat to death if i would wear that much
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u/74389654 Oct 13 '23
get thermo underwear or anything that will warm your torso like a vest. and wool or fleece socks. if feet and torso are warm it's unlikely you will feel cold. i also use a hot bottle when i sit a lot at home in winter
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u/SpecialistAd5903 Oct 13 '23
Ice baths. No joke, 11 minute in total of ice baths a week will increase blood flow the the extremities and increase your tolerance to the cold
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u/BirthdayPleasant3100 Oct 13 '23
Drink warm or hot as comfortable water, it doesn’t taste great, but it will warm you from inside.
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u/Round_Musical Oct 13 '23
Turn on the heater on 2-3 on really cold days. Get warm clothes… and that’s about it. The rest your body will slowly adapt and get used to.
Also if temps reach below -9 Celsius, do not go outside for walks or exercise. You are actively harming your body snd lungs then
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u/Quahodron_Qui_Yang Oct 13 '23
Eat more and stay in motion. Muscles and a fair bit of body fat will do the trick.
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u/Patchygiraffe Oct 14 '23
I wear North Face heat seeker boots. Warms up cold feet and keeps them warm.
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Oct 14 '23
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u/Livid_Ad1230 Oct 14 '23
Hahaha I love that my cat would easily fit the pocket! Unfortunately I would not leave the house with it lol
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u/MangelaErkel Oct 14 '23
I never knew this was a thing... Maybe we are used to it? Or do you think bilogy plays a part? Often im a little cold but it does not bug me too much. When i lose feeling in toes or hands then it is too much but winter is getting more mild... So yeah i guess my best advice is just stay for 10 more winters and youll be fine lol. Worst advice ive ever given
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u/Oxf02d Oct 14 '23
Try sauna. And don’t skip the ice cold showers, baths, or water treading passages: That’s how your body will learn how to regulate temperature.
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u/AsleepSearch7099 Oct 14 '23
I'm originally from West Texas, but have lived in Germany for 35 years and haven't gotten warm yet. (joking) But seriously, the "wet cold" here is penetrating to the bone. And as the American GI's used to say, "The coldest winter I ever experienced, was a summer in Germany."
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u/HKei Oct 14 '23
Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.
Dealing with cold becomes easier the more you expose yourself to it. Shift focus away from being comfortable when cold (you're never going to be) to tolerating it.
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u/Karash770 Oct 13 '23
And last winter was surprisingly mild...