Winter is by far my favorite season of the year, as the temperature drops, my excitement rises! Chilly nights followed by frosty mornings, cozy naps in bed with blankets wrapped around me, and cups of hot cocoa – it all sounds like heaven to me. As blissful and beautiful as winter can be, it can also be harsh on our bodies and our lifestyles, if we don’t equip ourselves for it. So, we’ve curated a bunch of super interesting and functional tech designs to get you through this winter season…in style! These innovative designs are the ultimate winter essentials for you.
1. Tornado
NextNova has designed something pretty awesome – a terracotta heater with a unique airflow pattern that creates an impressive tower of fire that heats your home, while also having the option to distribute a fragrance of your choice.
Why is it noteworthy?
Dubbed the Tornado, this terracotta-based heater merges the charm of a fireplace with the safety of a scented candle. It works based on airflow and the thermal properties of baked clay to produce radiating heat for the outdoors and the indoors. It burns bioethanol utilizing ceramic wool as a substrate.
What we like
- Outputs 7000 BTU (British Thermal Units) of heat
- Mimics the effect of a fireplace without the danger and hazards of smoke or a disaster
What we dislike
- There is open space on the top, and on one side, so it could be dangerous for kids and pets when placed indoors
2. Bio Heater
Called the Bio Heater, this innovative appliance provides an ingenious and novel way to make excellent and judicious use of cooking oil that would otherwise be wasted after use. Designed by Unichest for their client Flint Lab, the Bio Heater is a unique solution that employs cooking oil as fuel.
Why is it noteworthy?
It uses cooking oil to produce an eco-friendly fuel for the Bio Heater. It is equipped with a combustion technology under its belly which transfers heat energy, which is then further radiated in the room.
What we like
- Features a minimal and clean design that perfectly merges with modern homes
- The rounded top can be used to hold items when not in use
What we dislike
- Bulky and space-consuming design, not intended for smaller homes
3. Hotdog Hand Warmer
The Hotdog Hand Warmer is designed to warm your hand with the appearance of a cute dog’s face. Although it’s not easy to catch the resemblance easily, once you do, you really can’t unsee it. It is the kind of design that will be appreciated by people of all ages, including kids who have no idea about different breeds.
Why is it noteworthy?
The hand warmer isn’t just a “hot dog”, it is an easy-to-use hand warmer, that can be charged via USB from a power bank or even a smartphone, making the device pretty portable and usable almost anywhere. It features a simple slider to switch between off and two heat settings to suit your needs and comfort levels.
What we like
- Delivers warmth while also providing an emotional and adorable experience
What we dislike
- The dog’s ear or nose doesn’t function as buttons
- It isn’t exactly a revolutionary design
4. Thermaphones
The Thermaphones are an innovative pair of cans created to alter the temperature to nullify the effect of both a super hot day or a super chilly winter. They’re designed by Kevin Chiam.
Why is it noteworthy?
The headphones have a unique hybrid design, and the temperature-changing earbuds offer unique thermal comfort. The earcups on the headphones are super cozy and comfy.
What we like
- Eradicates any chances of vertigo induced by the extreme variation in temperature
- It provides you comfort during the winter and summer
What we dislike
- It’s a concept, so we don’t know how the final tangible product will turn out to be, and how effective it will be
5. POCO
Called POCO: Portable Capsule Coffee Machine, this compact and lightweight device can be slid easily into your backpack or bag along with coffee pods, making it a great coffee maker on the go for the winter.
Why is it noteworthy?
You can recharge POCO via a USB-C, charging it on the go using your laptop or a portable charger, making it an excellent device for those who are always on the move.
What we like
- Features a built-in thermal insulation function
- Allows you to enjoy a cup of coffee anytime anywhere
What we dislike
- Since it’s a concept we don’t know how functional and credible it will be as an actual product
6. Breeze Desktop Hand Warmer
Named the Breez desktop hand warmer, this little device makes texting in the cold super easy and efficient. The desktop hand warmer makes using your keyboard a breeze!
Why is it noteworthy?
Designed to keep your fingers warm and toasty, the Breez desktop hand warmer lets you clack away on your keyboard without feeling cold. It features a horizontal form that uniformly warms your hand as you type.
What we like
- The hand warmer covers the entire keyboard making sure there are no cold zones or spots
What we dislike
- There aren’t any color options, besides pastel blue, so not a lot of variety
7. Fire Safe
The Fire Safe is an envelope-sized, portable fire and cooking companion that lets you create a warm and comfy fire wherever and whenever you like. It creates communal campfires and cooking experiences with friends and family.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Fire Safe builds quaint campfire and cooking experiences while minimizing the environmental footprints left behind by typical campfires. It features a hinged collapsible design.
What we like
- Lightweight and slim design
- Portable and easy-to-carry design
What we dislike
- It is built from stainless steel, which cause a unique patina to form over time, which may not be preferred by all users and their myriad tastes
8. Hearth
Dubbed Hearth, this stylish but normal table with a black tabletop is designed to be a stunning centerpiece in its dormant state, but also as an electric fireplace in its activated state. It has a tapered and shuttered base to evoke images of a burning fire.
Why is it noteworthy?
The glow that comes from within the heater provides a warm and soft light that feels like an alluring and open invitation for families and friends to huddle together and spend some quality time together, much like what people did in ancient times.
What we like
- Multifunctional design that works as a fireplace and a coffee table
What we dislike
- It’s a concept so we don’t know how well it’ll translate into an actual product
9. UZE Heated Jacket
Called the UZE Heated Jacket, this unique and innovative jacket totally changes the jacket game, by letting you wear it in all four seasons, while also giving you the power to decide how warm you wanna get.
Why is it noteworthy?
It features four graphene heat zones and three heat settings of 120°F, 140°F, and 160°F, so you don’t have to search for the right jacket when it gets colder or warmer. By simply pressing a button, you can select the level of warmth that will make you feel comfy.
What we like
- Can keep you warm for up to 10 hours and charges in 45 minutes
What we dislike
- Aesthetics are quite dull, they could be worked upon
10. BioLite Firepit
Called the BioLite Firepit, this smoke-less wood burner lets users have a little glance into whatever is going on inside the fire. The pit doesn’t need any chemical fuel or gas to build a great fire.
Why is it noteworthy?
The firepit utilizes standard wood mixed with some clever engineering, which basically involves air being injected through 51 air jets, which maintains a uniform temperature throughout the firepit, providing improved combustion.
What we like
- It is equipped with a fan that controls the fire’s intensity
What we dislike
- You need to have access to chopped wood at all times to use it, otherwise it is useless