I’m a Florida native — I’ve been here for 49 years. I live for the heat and sunshine. Daylight Saving Time is my first enemy, followed closely by Old Man Winter. Throughout my life, I’ve lived in more southern/central parts of Florida (St. Pete, Ft. Myers, Orlando) and in Northeast Florida for the last 23 years. And yes, there is a significant temperature difference in these cities.
The past two years haven’t been terrible in terms of cold snaps around the First Coast. I remember a year where we were in the teens/20s for 10 solid days. This year is following suit, and I don’t winter well.
I’m a mom of two active boys (7 and 14), and most weekends involve some sort of outdoor team sport. That means I am required to be outside as well. I would rather stay inside my heated home than have to venture outside in truly cold weather. But sometimes I have no choice.
My Florida Cold-Weather Must-Haves
Here are my go-to things to stay warm and cozy when it’s anything but outside in that Florida cold.
A heated mattress pad. My heated mattress pad is one of the best things in my house. Who likes crawling into cold sheets? The pad covers the entirety of the bed and has dual controls, so my husband doesn’t have to lie down in a hot box, as I prefer. It immediately warms me up (especially after coming in from walking the dog or a soccer game) and keeps me warm all night. I also have a heated blanket that I keep on the couch, so I have a source of heat there as well.
The perfect Florida winter coat. I have a few “winter” coats, but nothing close to a parka or anything suitable for extreme temps. I was in New York City recently, and my coat wasn’t cutting it. I popped into Nordstrom Rack and bought the first puffer coat I could find (the Longline Puffer). This one was longer than any other coat I own and almost goes down to my knees. What a difference it makes when your bottom half is properly covered! This was a game-changer for me. Sitting down on cold bleachers is no longer an issue, either.
A hand warmer. My dad gifted me a pink G-tech Sport Heated Hand Warmer that he uses on the golf course in the mountains of Colorado. Not the little ones in the package that you unwrap and hold in your hands. (Though those do help in a pinch!) This thing is legit. I’m talking about a fully padded, rechargeable hand pouch, like the ones football quarterbacks use to keep their hands warm between plays in a really cold game. I feel like if my hands and feet are warm, I’m normally more comfortable. My family and fellow soccer parents fight over this thing! It’s worth the investment.
Proper wool socks. When the temperature drops below 60, I swap my flip-flops for sneakers or boots. Without proper socks, it can feel like you’re still wearing flip flops. Wool socks (I like Bombas) do wonders versus thin, workout-type socks. Especially in rain boots — I find that the wool socks can make or break how long I am able to stay outside before my feet turn to icicles.
A heated steering wheel and/or heated car seats. Does your car have heated seats or a heated steering wheel? I know it sounds ridiculous to think Floridians need these features, but I use them daily and don’t want to experience that morning car ride without them. I also use the Remote Start feature about 5–10 minutes before I have to get into the car. That initial start in the morning can be very cold after sitting all night. Even if you don’t have a remote start, you can run out and start the car and let it run for a few minutes.
A heated vest. Another soccer mom and I were joking during a cold game last year that we needed heated vests. Guess what we both purchased? This accessory really surprised me at how toasty I feel along my torso, back, and even my neck, which can get cold easily without a scarf or hood. This is also rechargeable and lasts for hours. It also adds a layer to what you’re wearing. I guarantee that if you look around at your next sporting event, you’ll see people wearing them. You can tell by the power button on the chest. There are many, many options to choose from — at all price points. It took me a while to select one, but I liked the reviews of the Ororo Heated Vest, and it turned out to be practical and stylish.
A fleece-lined hat/muffler. If you’re like me, your ears are super sensitive, and if uncovered in the cold, you are miserable and in actual pain. I’ve seen people wearing full-face masks when skiing, and it makes complete sense to cover your face when going downhill into the freezing wind and snow. I may not be on a mountain while wearing a fleece-lined hat/muffler, but I’m sure not going to be complaining about my face or ears being chilly.
A Weather Pod. I’ve seen ads in my feed for Weather Pods, which, honestly, I have thought about ordering. I might look ridiculous at the field, but I’d be dry and out of the wind/cold temporarily. If only these came with a plug to bring a space heater! They have sizes from single-person pods to pods big enough for four people. This may be my next must-have winter purchase.
The classic Snuggie blanket. Last but not least, remember Snuggies — the original blanket with sleeves? They are making a comeback. Or maybe they never went out of style? You can get one of these head-to-toe sherpa-type wearable blankets almost anywhere. Our soccer club even sells branded versions, and they do not disappoint on a cold game day. Plus, the moms look really cute in them! This also provides another layer that is easy to put on and take off with changing weather conditions.
If I can’t hibernate for the winter or head south, you can bet I’ll be doing and wearing these things to survive the coldest months of the year.
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