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TECH FEATURE

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Keeping warmth up – and power bills down There are several ways that you can stay warm without having to chew through enough power to light up the MCG. Watch the room temperature setting. While you may be super toasty at 24 degrees, you’ll likely notice little difference knocking it down to 22 or even 20, but the power savings will add up. Rug up! You can’t complain about the cold if you’re flopping around in a T-shirt and shorts. If it’s cold, pop on a jumper and you won’t need the heat set so high. Close doors and windows. If the entire family is in one room, shut the doors to keep the heat in. Also, make sure that no windows are ajar and letting cold air inside. Draught excluder snakes (not real ones!) are also a cheap and handy way to keep warm in, and cold out. Make sure that you have an efficient heater. You may have an old faithful that’s been serving the family for years, but advances in tech mean that a newer model will likely be more efficient, both in heating and keeping those energy bills down.

GETTING PERSONAL WITH WINTER WARMERS

There are many ways to keep the winter chills at bay beyond traditional room heaters. Here are some more personal options for keeping toasty, and also aiding in sports recovery. Words Bec Summer

Heated throws If you have fond memories of your blankie as a child, you’re certainly not alone. There’s something reassuring about snuggling up with a woollen wonder – but when they’re heated, they’re even more comforting! Not only does a heated throw keep you warm – allowing you to target areas that are really feeling the chills such as the neck, back, or shoulders – they can allow you to keep the room’s thermostat a degree or two lower, saving energy. They’re also perfect for folk who tend to feel the cold more than others in the family. The Homedics HeatedThrow Blanket is a perfect example of this delightfully simple but ever so desirable item. A generous 180 x 130cm in size, it comes complete with three heat settings and

Heating pads You’ve likely heard of the comfort benefits of weighted blankets, and a weighted heating pad offers a similar experience, with added warmth. Not only perfect for general personal warming, a heating pad can also provide pain-relieving benefits, allowing you to target problem areas with soothing warmth, whether you’re sitting, standing, or lying down. A top performer in the category is the Homedics HP-G41DK-AU Weighted Gel Heating Pad with InstaHeat , which is wonderfully soft and plush, and comes in a generous size of 60 x 30cm. It features six different heat settings – and can be used for cooling when required - and comes with a super-long 3.65 metre power cord and handheld LCD controller, complete with automatic shutoff. It even has a super convenient machine washable cover!

Massage guns You may think it a bit odd that we’re mentioning massage guns in an article about heating, but please hear us out. While most massage guns offer

portable relief, they don’t always include heat in their feature set. However, the Renpho R3 Massage Gun with Heat Percussion Muscle Mini delivers on this front, even including five different interchangeable heads with which to target different areas of the body more proficiently. Ideal for deep tissue massaging, heat can make all the difference relief-wise, providing improved healing in some instances of muscle pain. The special heated head helps muscles to relax and offers a top way to relieve stress. The Renpho R3 is really convenient to use, too, totally portable with USB-C charging allowing you to run cord-free for up to three hours from a full charge – and this puppy packs some serious power, too, without being a burden to your ears with excessive noise. It even comes with a handy storage case so that you can take it anywhere.

also automatic shut off, and its 200GSM flannel microfibre fabric

is super-soft to the touch. A long cord features easy-to-use controls, whether you’re sitting in a chair, reclining on a couch, or even laying in bed.

36 JULY 2024

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