We’ve heard from two creative Frosties who’ve found unique ways to warm their bodies during this extremely challenging season. We are happy to share their stories with you in this Winter 2026 Member Tips column.
Here’s an idea from Lynda in Canada that seems so logical – a creative way to warm your core. In her case, it appears to also be training her body to stay warm overtime. As Raynaud’s tends to be a conditioned response, we know the importance of protection and prevention. We’ve also heard of classical conditioning therapy involving cold exposure for the body with hands immersed in warm water, but this is the first we’ve heard of “retraining” the system with a heated product. Very intriguing!
“I was diagnosed with Raynaud’s in 1988, and it has often been scary and limiting during the colder months. I’ve lived in Ontario, Canada, all this time (though my career has taken me around the world).
Over the years, I’ve tried every possible aid and warming device, including many brands of heated apparel from head to toe. Honestly, I never felt like any of it helped much—with the exception of rechargeable hand warmers, which I rely on inside my mitts. But even those only address the symptoms, and the disease has progressed steadily.
I’ve learned that my body is extremely efficient at transferring heat outwards. Moisture (rain, showers, humid air) and touching anything remotely cool (plastic, metal, even paper) accelerate that heat loss.
The past six months have shown a new progression; parts of my hands and feet are very slow to regain circulation. This winter has been unusually cold, and I’ve had to cancel most of my plans. As I type this, the wind chill is -34°C (-29°F)—clearly dangerous for someone with Raynaud’s.Out of desperation, not wanting life to be so limited, I re-evaluated the problem. Most heaters address the symptoms; I needed to address the source.
I thought about the non-Raynaud’s event that results in the same symptoms in healthy people: falling through the ice. The body tries to save internal organs by concentrating blood flow in the core. First I switched from heated jackets to heated vests, but even those focused too much on the upper body. Next, I tried using a heated scarf under my hoodie, around my waist. It was awkward, but I felt like maybe I was onto something.
Then, I bought a rechargeable heated belt (the Bob and Brad Thermored heating pad belt massager for lower back). I thought maybe I’d have to wear it constantly, but after wearing it for just a couple of 15-minute rounds, my finger circulation became better than I’ve seen in months. It has remained that way for days, even in the middle of an extreme Raynaud’s season.
I keep looking at my hands in wonder. It has been so long since they looked like normal, healthy hands. It’s like an amygdala switch: once Raynaud’s is triggered, it stays in a ‘hair-trigger’ state. Using the heat belt seems to send a message to my body: ‘You haven’t fallen through the ice; you’re safe.’ The switch flips off.
I wanted to share this with other sufferers because for me the discovery is astonishing. Perhaps in the future, manufacturers will create a sleeker belt tailored specifically for Raynaud’s—without the bulky vibration or red-light features of the heated massage belt—that we can easily wear under our clothes.” The heat belt I’m using is the only thing I’ve found that gives the kind of concentrated, targeted heat that works for me. I hope that sharing this experience helps someone else.”
Editor’s note: We are aware of a manufacturer working on a slim heated belt that can be worn under apparel. We’ll keep you posted when it’s available for sale!
Here’s an idea from Sandy on Facebook: A DIY neck warmer. Sandy from Facebook shared a brilliant DIY solution. We’ve always found that keeping the neck warm helps heat the entire body. Research suggests the back of the neck is packed with blood vessels close to the surface, making it a prime spot for regulating blood temperature as it circulates to the rest of the body. Here’s her warming idea:
“I’ve had Raynaud’s for 30 years and it’s definitely gotten worse. I have short hair and have found if my neck is warm my hands stay warmer. So I sewed a small pocket into a handkerchief and placed a hand warmer inside, then tied it around my neck at work. I can’t tell you how much it helped my hands!”
Our thanks to Lynda and Sandy for sharing their Winter 2026 Member Tips with us. What are your ideas? What products work for you? Write to info@raynauds.org, post them on our Facebook page or share them with us on Instagram, Twitter or Threads.
