The top winter technology for 2026 to help you survive the coldest months
The holiday lights, time off, and attractive scarves can only hide the reality for so long: winter can be rather dreary. I don't intend to sound depressing, but it's cold and gloomy most of the time, and this lasts much beyond the most delightful time of the year. We at Engadget have tested a variety of techniques and solutions to make winter more comfortable, ranging from therapy lights to heaters. We've bought tea sets, wrapped ourselves in warm blankets, and learned how to cultivate herbs indoors—in fact, we've tried everything to make these three months more tolerable.
Here, you'll discover some of the greatest winter tech that gets us at Engadget through the coldest months, as well as a few choices from our other gift guides that will keep anybody warm, comfortable, and satisfied this winter.
Best winter technology and gear.
The gift of warmth is something that everyone can appreciate, and a pair of these magnetic hand warmers is one of the nicest (and easiest) ways to deliver it. They're rechargeable small pucks that may be used together or individually to warm up cold hands in the winter—or any time of year. They heat up quickly (in seconds) and may last for up to eight hours on a single charge. They'll even be useful for individuals who say they never feel chilly because they're small and compact enough to go in their coat pockets without anybody noticing. — Valentina Palladino, deputy editor
Levoit Top Fill Humidifier 2.5L
Winter certainly pulls out my vintage, geeky side. There's the fact that I'm always wrapped in a warm blanket, reading with my large spectacles. To counteract the cold, dry air, I need to make sure I always have my inhaler and nasal spray. Then there's my trusted buddy, the 2.5L Levoit Top Fill humidifier.
My house is constantly dry, and it becomes excruciatingly worse once the heat is turned on (surprising, right?). I usually fill my Levoit humidifier about halfway before going to bed and leave it on all night. A dial allows me to choose the intensity of the cold mist that comes out; I usually go for just under half power and place it a few feet away from me. It has an auto shut-off function, but it may run for up to 25 hours, so it is usually still turned on when I wake up. I particularly appreciate that this humidifier emits no distracting light and is silent. However, it is worth noting that I enjoy white noise, although my spouse finds it disruptive.
Humidifiers have two major drawbacks: putting them together after filling and cleaning them. This humidifier's design enhances both of these aspects. For starters, the top-fill mechanism eliminates the need to precisely flip the entire item over onto the stand in order to use it. I can just hold the container upright and guide it into position. Cleaning is always going to be a little irritating, especially since you have to clean it after nearly every usage. However, I've discovered that the open form of this model makes it a little simpler, and the provided little brush eliminates the need to waste cotton buds to reach its smallest crevices. — Sarah Fielding, a contributing reporter
Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus fan heater AM09
Every place I've lived in as an adult is frigid in the winter, and while I prefer to burrow beneath layers of blankets, I couldn't get through a snowy season without my beloved Dyson AM09 Hot + Cool fan. I've owned this thing for almost five years, and I believe it's been in Dyson's lineup for even longer—and for good reason. It works great as a heater in the winter and as a simple fan in the summer. It has several heat strength settings, and the Diffused and Jet Focus modes allow you to easily heat a whole (small- to medium-sized) room or just the couch my husband and I are sitting on.
The section of the machine that pumps out the air may be tilted up and down to direct its focus, and there is an oscillation mode that allows it to spin side to side. And, of course, because it's a Dyson, it's bladeless and rather sleek. It's also lightweight, so we can take it wherever we need it in the home, whether it's upstairs in the bedroom or all the way below in the basement. When combined with its convenient remote, which magnetically attaches to the top of the machine, you have an all-year-round essential that is used just as much in the winter as in the summer. - V.P.
FrostGuard Deluxe Full-Coverage Car Windshield Cover
While this may not immediately keep you warm during the colder months, it will assist by minimizing the amount of time you must spend outside clearing snow and ice off your car. I've used one of these FrostGuard windshield covers for years, and the toughest part about using it is remembering to cover my car before a snowstorm. The most recent model is available in two sizes, allowing you to choose the best fit for your vehicle, and it fully protects the windshield, wipers, and side mirrors from snow and ice. Instead of chopping away at a layer of ice or laboriously clearing snow off your car, just remove the FrostGuard to expose clean, clear surfaces. — V.P.
Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2
During the winter, you'll want to keep a warm drink on hand at all times, and the Ember Mug 2 may help with that. It provides up to 80 minutes of heat retention at the temperature you specify or all-day warmth when placed on its charging plate. It contains sensors that detect when heated liquids are poured into it and switch it on, and the built-in indicator light will alert you when the mug has reached the temperature you specify. If you find yourself continuously filling up your coffee or tea because it has gone cold, this is the mug for you. — V.P.
OXO Brew Adjustable Temperature Kettle
OXO's take on the electric kettle is a reminder of why their products are so popular—it's appealing, incredibly functional, and simple to use for people of different technical skills. While there are other inexpensive electric kettles on the market, some of which even mimic OXO's stunning glass design, the company's version enhances the simple process of heating water. The glass and stainless steel kettle enhances the appearance of any kitchen, and its slender base allows you to easily regulate the boiling temperature for various varieties of tea. It also has a built-in metal filter to keep your pores cleaner and a non-slip handle to prevent nasty mishaps. — Devindra Hardawar, Senior Reporter
Miir New Standard Carafe
Miir's New Standard Carafe is a supercharged Chemex. You receive the benefits of a conical pour-over extraction, but the precious brew is stored in a double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel vessel rather than a glass container. The carafe also has a cover that completely shuts the spout to preserve heat within. This is a simple technique to improve your pour-over setup and ensure you get warm coffee all season. — Billy Steele, Deputy Editor
Bombas Men's Merino Wool Blend Calf Sock 4-Pack
Despite climate change, it may still be very cold in the Northeast United States. Times like this are much easier to bear with a decent pair of socks, and thankfully, I discovered my absolute favorites a few years back. The Bombas Merino Wool Blend Calf Sock (available in any length) is highly warm without being too thick or heavy, allowing shoes to fit as expected.
They are not inexpensive, but there is something to be said for having a go-to sock for the winter. I don't wear them every day, but when the weather drops below freezing, I bring them out. I'm even delighted to get some as a holiday present, something the younger version of me would feel embarrassed about. But, hey, maybe if I had these wonderful socks when I was 10, I would have been more enthused about them at Christmas. — Nathan Ingraham, deputy editor.
Nekteck Shiatsu Foot Massager Machine with Soothing Heat
Have you got cold feet? Not an issue. Instead of merely putting on some fluffy socks, pamper your soles with a heated foot massager. Now, I'm a massage snob who thinks massage chairs, belts, and neckbands are too weak or rigid to be comfortable. However, when your entire foot is enclosed in technology that can utilize air and rollers to squeeze and knead all of your pressure points, it feels similar to receiving a massage from a human.
Not only can just placing your feet in a box's fabric-lined holes assist in warming up your toes, but the stimulation of all the robotic balls and mechanic squeezing results in blood flow that will keep you warm. Add in the fact that the Nekteck Shiatsu foot massager I recently purchased has a heated function, and even the most reptilian of feet can easily defrost after a 10-minute session. I do have to warn you that it takes three to five cycles to find the mode and amount of pressure you want and that my size 8 feet had enough wiggle area to tilt them at angles to get greater attention on certain regions of my soles (or to prevent pinching my fragile toes). The larger-footed among us may have a more difficult time enjoying the Nekteck massager, and those who are ticklish or have lower pain tolerances may find the machine too forceful, even on the lowest level.
Still, in the week or so I've had it, my Nekteck foot massager has weirdly become a sight for my tired eyes and feet, and I welcome any opportunity to pop my feet in for a little warm-up, hoping to notice improvements in my overall muscular weariness over time. — Cherlynn Low, managing editor.
Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock
My alarm is set for 6 a.m. three days a week, with the ambitious goal of making it to a 6:30 a.m. yoga session. In the winter, it is midnight-dark at that time, and the only reason I occasionally do an early morning vinyasa is the Hatch Restore 3's dawn alarm clock feature. I set mine to start lighting the space with a progressively increasing glow around 20 minutes before the sounds of singing bowls begin. The light causes my brain to wake up before I do, and the gentle bongs of the bowl penetrate into my subconscious—I frequently find myself awake nearly without understanding why.
True, there are plenty of dawn alarm clocks available. Many are less expensive and do not have an extra membership. But I enjoy the Hatch app, which allows you to change the duration, colors, brightness, volume, tones, and other settings of your morning alarm.
You may also program morning meditations, activities, or motivational speeches to play after your alarm. These are a few minutes long and are designed to assist you in transitioning from horizontal to ambulatory. Of course, if you share a bed and the other person is still sleeping, playing encouraging messages is impolite. So I get more out of my sleep aids. Sound baths, ambient soundscapes, storytelling, and guided meditations aid in the shift from the excess of daily life to sleep.
The whole collection of alarm and sleep sounds, as well as access to all stories and music, costs $5 per month. Without it, you have just a limited number of choices. I've been a subscriber for almost a year because anything that gets me up and out to a grueling early exercise in the dark is worth the money. — Amy Skorheim, senior reporter.
Vertefarm Hydroponic Home Garden
I'm a city lad with a weak green thumb. I also reside in Minnesota, which has pretty harsh winters. How can I get my daily salad fix without having to brave the perilous wintry weather? I use the Vertefarm Hydroponic Home Garden, which is virtually foolproof (I am the stupid one). This refrigerator-sized gadget is pricey, but it can hold 48 grow pods and several varieties of fruit.
It was quite simple to create and works just as described. I filled the water basin with fertilizers, inserted the seedling pods, set the light timer using an attached app, and waited. Seedlings sprouted and finally grew into massive lettuce plants. There was no way for me to mess it up. The only drawback to this? Your cats will most likely figure out how to get the pods out and disperse them across the home. Keep the cats away until the plants are mature enough to fend for themselves. — Lawrence Bonk, a contributing reporter