Another week, another round of weather warnings from the Met Office for people across Scotland.
From snow and ice to high winds caused by Storm Jocelyn, the extreme weather conditions don’t seem to be letting up anytime soon. With temperatures still set to plummet, you’d be forgiven for wanting to pop on the heating and wrap up in all your cosy extra layers.
If you’re anything like me, then you’ll feel the cold quite easily. I’d like to say that living in Aberdeen for the past decade has helped me to adjust to the cold temperatures, but I am still a fairly cold person and regularly find myself reaching for the thermostat.
Of course, with the rising cost of energy, I’d rather not rack up the heating bill anymore than it already is. Since I have been on the lookout for ways to keep warm for less, I have been hearing very good things about M&S’ £16 Heatgen Medium Thermal Leggings.
Boasting hundreds of five-star reviews, these extra cosy leggings have been hailed by shoppers who say that they “keep you toasty warm in the colder weather”. Since I have never been officially sold on thermals, I was interested to see how these lived up their reputation, especially with more cold weather on the way.
What are the M&S Heatgen Thermal Leggings?
(Image: Daily Record/Rachel Williams)
M&S’ range of thermal layers are not new by any means, but they have been consistently earning high praise from shoppers when the cold snap hits. Which is exactly why I decided to finally try out one of the items to see if they were worth it.
The retailer’s Heatgen Thermal Brushed Leggings, priced at £16, are a warming extra layer for your wardrobe when the temperatures plummet. The fabric used is a Japanese Heatgen™, which means they are designed to hold onto valuable body heat from your skin to keep you warm, all while absorbing any moisture to keep you dry and comfortable. So, that means no extra sweating, which is a plus.
They aren’t just said to be nice and toasty, as they are also designed to be incredibly comfortable, as most leggings are. The lightweight design means that they are flexible, while a brushed inside means they are super-soft to wear all day long.
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What was my verdict?
(Image: Daily Record/Rachel Williams)
So, you know how I mentioned earlier that I was never really sold on thermals? Yeah, so I am officially going to rethink my thoughts on that one.
First up, I wasn’t expecting much from these leggings. In fact, when I picked them up in the store, I generally thought that they just looked like generic leggings and they didn’t exactly feel special – boy, was I wrong.
As soon as I put them on, they were immediately one of the most comfortable pairs of leggings I have ever worn. Now, I know leggings in general are comfy, but the brushed inside of these leggings made them feel like wearing a cloud around my legs. Not to mention that the stretchy material was never restrictive and I didn’t feel like they were compressing me around the waist area.
Not only were they comfy, they managed to surprise me by actually doing what they promised to do, keep me warm. Despite looking quite thin, these thermal leggings kept my legs feeling a lot warmer than they would if I were to wear my generic leggings, or even a pair of tights.
I knew the leggings had done their job when I wore them all day while working from home. After almost a full day, I found that I hadn’t gone over to my central heating thermostat at all, so I consider that a result right now.
Will I go as far as saying that they are so warm that you will never need the heating? No, because I know everyone is different when it comes to heating. What I will say is that, even being a sceptical person, I found M&S’ Thermal Leggings to be a surprisingly toasty wardrobe addition that will come in handy during the cold snaps.
Also, another neat little plus side is the non-bulky design, which means that you can layer these leggings for extra warmth if you really need to. Since they aren’t restricted at all, you can wear them underneath your trousers, jeans or even dresses when heading out for the day.
Fashion deal of the week
There are few wardrobe essentials that will keep you both warm and stylish in the colder weather like the knitted dress.
Whether you are pairing them with chunky boots or layering over thermal leggings, these winter knits can be both versatile and flattering to wear. Luckily, you can nab one “must have” number from H&M for up to 65 percent less.
The high street fashion retailer’s Polo-Neck Dress, which originally cost £42.99, has been slashed in its mammoth January sale, with the cream colour now costing just £15 – saving shoppers an impressive £27.99. The dress can also be purchased in beige marl, grey and black and white stripes, although they are pricier.
Boasting a rib material with some wool, long raglan sleeves and a snug polo neck, this £15 knitted sale dress is “super cosy” and “perfect for cold days”, according to reviews. Meanwhile, its ribbing at the cuffs and hem give it a bit of a trendy, textured look.
Meanwhile, its long knee-length design and slightly baggier shape is perfect for hiding a multitude of sins that you don’t want to show off, with a few fashion fans praising it for “hiding all your lumps and bumps”. The Polo-Neck Dress is available to buy in sizes ranging from an XS to an XL.
The Polo-Neck Dress currently has an impressive 4.4 star rating based on 510 reviews, with shoppers rushing out to praise its material that is “cosy” for the current weather, and its design that “skims over any unwanted areas.”
One glowing review read: “This is a super cosy and warm casual dress, but is stylish enough to make you feel like you’ve put some effort in! I love the relaxed fit.”
A second shopper praised: “Perfect dress, great at sale price. Skims all the unwanted Xmas weight!! Perfect length and material not too bad, may be scratch for some but I found it was lovely and warm.”
Another gushed: “Beautiful sweater dress. Length perfect for my 5 ft 1 height , skims over any unwanted areas, perfect.”
H&M shoppers can purchase the Polo-Neck Dress for £15 in the January Sale here.
What are other shoppers saying?
As I mentioned earlier, the Heatgen Thermal Brushed Leggings are one of the most popular items in the retailer’s selection of thermals. Boasting an impressive 4.5 rating, they are still “in demand” on the M&S website.
You don’t just have to take my word for it, as over 800 shoppers have left them glowing five-star reviews. Many have praised the “cosy” material that they say has kept them nice and warm during the colder snaps.
One glowing review read: “Comfy to wear, lovely and soft. Just a little too long for my short legs. They do the job and keep me toasty and warm.”
A second praised: “Very happy with the quality and the comfort of these thermal leggings. Thick enough to wear on their own.”
And a third raved: “Best thermal leggings ever had. Cosy and warm and wash well.”
While a fourth added: “The most comfortable legging ever. I’ve bought 3 pairs in the week since I’ve discovered them. They’re soft on the inside, but not too fleecy, and they’re thick enough that they’re not see through.
It is worth mentioning that some shoppers have found the size to be quite large and have recommended sizing down. One shopper said: “Do as they say and keep you warm. This is the second pair I have purchased size 16. Slightly on the large size so could easily have gone down a size.”
If you want to try out the Heatgen™ Medium Thermal Brushed Leggings for yourself, then you can nab them for £16 here. They are available in three colours and sizes range from a UK 6 to 22.
M&S’ leggings are not the only thermal leggings that shoppers are currently raving over, as Sainsbury’s Heat Active Thermal Leggings from its Tu Clothing line have earned five-star reviews recently.
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