urbpan | Things you need for the winter that you don't think you need

1. Sunglasses. The few hours the sun is out it's angled directly at your eyes. Even cloudy days are blinding if everything is covered with snow.

2. Better boots. Your current boots aren't good enough. Get better, taller, warmer, more waterproof boots. Ideally they'll be crotch-high, with soles like tractor treads, and lined with seal fur.

3. Steel coal shovel. If it's been really cold, and especially if it's been a little warm and then really cold, the snow is the texture of cinder blocks. Today I shattered one of those pansy plastic shovels.

4. Ugly hat. No good looking hat will have adequate ear protection. If you don't look like a total dork, you are not warm enough.