It’s cold in NYC. Like, really cold. This Hand Radiator iPhone App turns your iPhone into a hand warmer. This might be the smartest dumb thing I’ve ever seen. Or is it genius. I can’t decide.

The app puts your iPhone on overdrive, using 100% of its processing power. That, as you probably have noticed with some applications, makes the components to overheat, which in turn can warm up your hands

How bad is that for the battery life? Via Gizmodo

Great merino wool bobble hats by Alessia Giovanni in Italy. And a damn cute kid!

Ontour’s latest collection “This & That Ontour” is out now. Very nice, some of my favorite pieces after the jump (and I love these gloves!)…

In their words: “This & That Ontour” AW09 collectionWith our biggest and most detailed collection so far we show the direction Ontour is taking;we’ve grown up and combine sophisticated pieces, subtle details with our bold graphics and eye-catching garments.Our designs are soft and loud, round and square, they zoom in and out and combine the past and the present.Opposites attract…enjoy our This & That Autumn / Winter 09 collection.

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Despite being summer, the weather around here has been highly unpredictable. We are mostly blessed with beautiful days, but early in the morning and after the sun has dropped below the horizon, the air can get a bit crisp. I think the best way to keep warm without feeling stuffy or sweaty is to focus on the extremities and head. I am a fan of the beanie, but recently I saw Outdoor Research’s new line of warm headgear and I think I may need to add a few to my wardrobe. The Yukon cap, with it’s textured wool exterior and button ear flaps, really caught my eye. However, the one that I think really stands out is the Odd Job hat (pictured). Besides scoring points for the Bond reference, the brimmed hat comes with a bottle opener attached. Come to think of it, drinking beers is another great way to keep warm! Click here to check out their entire line.

It’s cold! Those mildly chilly days you thought were going to turn into a beautiful extended fall are gone. So instead of trying to argue with Nature to bring back highs in the upper 50s, we may as bust out the Snowball Blaster. This icy supersoaker … this tasty freeze cannon … this rain of hail-fire is the one toy weapon we were without growing up. Sure you had your Wham-O water bazookas and Nerf incendiary grenades, but when it came to packing snow, it was a barehanded guerrilla affair. But now we’ve seen the light. Those middle school kids down the block think they’re so tough — we’ll see how tough they are with a flurry of snowballs to the ear.

Via Technabob

The term “bone-chillingly cold” is one that strikes fear into the hearts of most men and women. People would rather enjoy some hot cocoa in the ski lodge over Duluth in the winter. Ardica has responded to the call by inventing the first personal heat and power platform, guaranteed to keep you or your backpack warm and charge all of your electronic goodies at the same time. While you’re out responding to the call of the wintry wild, this lightweight portable power and heat pack keeps you toasty for up to nine hours on low heat and three on high. It’s also capable of carrying out 11 cell phone charges, 20 iPod charges, and can even keep your GPS or PDA running. But be wary, these babies don’t attach to just any old winter jacket, brands such as Mountain Hardware, Sitka, and several others are producing a few special coats that these babies can clip to. If keeping warm is your concern this winter, Ardica has got you covered..

During the colder months some people take the term “active wear” to mean clothing that you can actively wear while passively keeping warm inside on your couch. Alas, you can be just as active in the autumn as you were in the summer, but you probably just have to wear more layers. Well, that should be no problem now that eco-friendly active wear brand Nau is relaunching with a spanking new website tomorrow, October 21st. You’ll be able hit up their online shop ensuring your ability to suit up for chillier days. Their FA 08 line becomes available to the masses on that very same day and features an impressive array of products from cashmere-angorra dresses to technically-sound ski jackets and pants. And for the first time ever, their products will be available in retail stores such as Paragon Sports in New York, Dan’s in Chicago, and Lizard Lounge in Portland, Oregon. As always, Nau will continue to give proceeds from their sales to organizations working for positive change. Sounds like a win-win situation.

I've never been a huge fan of those earbud headphones that stick right in your auditory canal and wrap around your cochlea. They go a long way towards speeding up your imminent loss of hearing long before you're old enough to be senile and they don't even keep your lobes warm. However, with Von Zipper's Snow Muffs Head Phones you can keep on rockin' in the freezing world while your auditory instruments remain snug as a bug in a rug. These fuzzy sound systems fit on just about any pair of ski goggles, so you can hit the slopes and slalom to the smoothest sounds around.

Via Gizmodo

Although this is old news to Spear Collective comrade Tom Judd, who did the illustration work for this Burton collab nearly two years ago in the Summer of ‘06, and was subsequently sworn to secrecy, it’s new news to us. This 2008 Burton GTwin deck has ‘Tom Judd’ written all over it, although the top sheet was censored a bit to — I’m guessing — scale down the loudness to comport with traditional Burton style. At any rate, whenever Mr. Judd fancies splattering his ideas on a canvas — no matter what type of canvas — we like it. This deck is ladies-specific, so rejoice Tom Judd groupie-snowboarder-chicks!

In case you needed another reason to shop at Nau (other than saving the world, we mean), the planet-friendly company is currently offering a cozy 30% off of all their sweaters. Guys like them because they’re sleek, perfectly cut, and available in trend-safe colors; girls like them because they’re cuddly (made from fabrics like lambswool or angora/cashmere blends), curve-loving, and versatile; we all like them because they’re earth-consciously sexy, durable, and ready for the long-haul. Not to mention that 5% of all your Nau holiday purchases will go to the Partners for Change affiliate of your choice, ensuring that your thoughtful fashion choices make an impact in places other that your closet. No other gift will offer a more realistic case of the warm fuzzies, we guarantee it.

A special collector’s limited edition release collaboration between The North Face and Goldwin Japan has resulted in a very small collection of snowy winter pieces to be sold for one day only in three US stores. The NSE collection, inspired by the white birch forests of Japan’s Kitakami Mountains, will be sold on December 8th at The North Face Soho (beginning at 6am), alife, and at San Francisco’s HUF, and offers the latest innovations in insulation, construction, and high-tech fabrics. The collection includes hoodies, puffy jackets, and accessories, but the centerpiece of the collection (and likely the most sought after item thanks to its smokin’ hotness) will be the birch forest camo print jacket and snow pant. Hunters should know to roll out of bed early for this one — it’s been blogged and read and hyped all over, so you might face a frenzy at the front door. Check out more pictures at Cool Hunting.

Assuming other areas of the country are less chill-deprived than my own, it will be to your advantage to know about Scapegoat, a small line of men’s outerwear that offers the benefits of premium construction and trend-proof (ie, good-looking, from a long-term perspective) design. These are the jackets that function to the cold and wet’s disadvantage, while sacrificing nothing, stylistically, to those same foes. Subtle, confident, and — of course — wind and waterproof, Scapegoat jackets are made with the best materials to keep you warm, dry, and happy in seasons of inclement weather…. should you be lucky enough to have it, that is. Be sure to check out the Nelson (pictured, and extra smokin’ in white) and the Fraser; two jackets that are making me want to move into a freezer until November pulls itself together.

Antarctica is no place for babies. However, thanks to White Desert, an eco-tourism company ran by outdoor enthusiasts, it is now a place for luxury travelers in seek of some frosty fun. Somewhat frosty, anyway; the luxury camp, located near the “unexplored mountains of Dronning Maud Land” and perched on a 150-foot ice-cliff, spoils adventurers with solar-powered heating, cuisine by an award-winning chef, and care from ultra-experienced guides. The cozy camp serves as homebase after traveler’s chosen adventures, which can be as mellow as a stroll with the penguins or an igloo sleepover, and as adrenaline-soaked as kite-skiing into the “amazing loneliness of the polar plateau.” White Desert is offering four 10-day trips this season, running through the end of this month through the beginning of February (and making Christmas sound terribly dull in comparison). Find full dates and details here.

As the weather grows colder, you may be less inclined to go green, instead opting to ratchet up the settings on your furnace over donning long underwear and wrapping yourself in down comforters. It’s a lot easier to remain eco-friendly if your pad possesses a fireplace; if you can heat your home the way mother nature intended why not show the old lady some extra respect by putting away that axe and preserving her resources by not chopping up your entire backyard.

So now you’re probably wondering, “Well what am I supposed to make a fire with, I don’t own any controversial books?” We’re one step ahead of you, or more specifically the folks at Pine Mountain Brands are. They’ve created eco-friendly fuel for your fireplace in the form of logs made from both used coffee grounds and sawdust, respectively.

Java-Log is the first and only firelog made with recycled spent coffee grounds. Both logs are combined with 100% natural vegetable wax allowing for up to 80% less emissions and making them completely renewable. The environment thanks you in advance for your patronage, and so do your potentially severed limbs.

Last Fall, Quebec born Ridehouse Clothing impressed us with their thoughtful and functional Heartwood line. With board sports brands a dime a dozen these days, it’s refreshing to run across a brand that stands for something unique. Ridehouse has nailed it in that department; their feature film, Funderful, will explain it all. This year, they’ve added even more features and understated flair to their clothes, and the Broadband Hoodie is a prime example: limited edition (514 of ‘em), chin-saving collar, embroidered labels, styled out shadow print, super soft fleece inside, and hidden iPod pocket make this my pick for that necessary winter insulator. C’est magnifique!