 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone tried them and are they worth it?
My partner has heated footbeds but still suffers from painfully cold feet when skiing.
I assume they are washable?!
Any thoughts much appreciated 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@MCL, I've not used heated socks. My heated foot beds work though, but that probably has something to do with having foam injected boot, which provide more insulation anyway.
My concern with socks would be reliability, as they are relatively high wear item of clothing. I've extensive experience of heated skiing gloves, and most don't last more than 2-3 week before some part of them fails. All have been replaced under warranty without question, so check the warranty on any socks.
This seems to be a relatively unbiased review of 12 different pairs of heated socks:
https://sportprovement.com/best-battery-heated-socks-men-women-skiing-hunting
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@MCL, I am not being patronising about this but the few occasions I have had 'painfully' cold feet (and oh my I swear it was pain like nothing else) it was due to poor circulation and nothing to do with the actual temperature. Have you checked the boot fit is correct? My feet were going blue, a bit of shell stretching in the lower foot later and we were back in business with perfectly comfortable feet.
If you have poor circulation (potentially just due to the boot cutting off the blood somewhere due to bad fitting or over-tightening), you could spend a lot of money on heated socks and still come out with cold feet.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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There have been some very cold temperatures in Western Canada recently; colder than normal for this time of year. Personally I just wiggle my toes, but you need to keep on it. If you're lazy, then you need to go inside and warm up fairly frequently. It's something everyone needs to take care of, even those of us with perfect circulation and correctly adjusted boots. Actually my recommendation would be to loosen boot fastenings when it's cold: it helps circulation and you need space to waggle your toes.
The new electric socks (as opposed to the old electric insoles) are hugely popular. They were selling like hot cakes over new year. I've not heard users complaining about either the huge cost or the longevity of the things - I think they do what they say they'll do. I have met many guides who use them every day. I have not heard anyone lamenting the old insoles - these are better, is what I hear.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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cold feet can be caused by boots being to tight
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Thanks for info everyone.
No definitely not to do with boots too tight- same problem for my partner walking and cycling in the cold- I think it’s a general circulation problem - same with hands. She says her ski boots are a touch big and going to replace with snugger fitting ones.
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@MCL, I have a couple of pairs of the Lenz socks too - bought for a trip to Baffin Island where it was rather cold. Used them most days up there and have used them quite regularly in the Alps for skiing and climbing since. My pairs are still going strong, I have the higher capacity (1800?) battery which is overkill for the Alps, and only ever tend to use them on setting 1 as this is enough to take the edge of the cold for me. Only negative is the version I have has the heating elements under the sole of the foot, so they are not as comfortable as a regular ski sock, particularly when skinning/touring, as opposed to lift served. The newer models apparently have gone a long way to solving this by putting the elements over the foot...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Cycling in the cold: that's something which affects almost everyone. The cure is to get off and walk until they warm up.
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@MCL, I am thinking of trying deep heat sprayed on my toes and feet prior to skiing. Seems to last a few hours indoors as I am testing this at the moment, so might be quite effective once I put boots on.
It was a common application in rugby changing rooms prior to a cold winter game, usually all over thighs.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@MCL,
I don’t wish to be a doom and gloom merchant, but it may be worth your partner checking with a doctor to see if she has the start of Raynauds Syndrome. It’s a circulatory problem that effects the extremities. My wife was diagnosed with it years ago. Luckily our GP at the time specialised in Rheumatology and suspected it could be the start of something else. After several tests she was diagnosed with Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma); which is very unpleasant. Raynauds does not always develop in Scleroderma, but is often the precursor. Early diagnosis was a big help in getting the right treatment for my wife.
Chances are your partner has nothing more than poor circulation; but probably no harm in getting it checked out.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| MCL wrote: |
Thanks for info everyone.
No definitely not to do with boots too tight- same problem for my partner walking and cycling in the cold- I think it’s a general circulation problem - same with hands. She says her ski boots are a touch big and going to replace with snugger fitting ones. |
Has she been to see her GP or Nurse?
My other half has Raynauds syndrome. So when it gets cold her extremities cut off circulation to the point her skin goes a paley white.
She also suffers with low blood pressure (below 100 over whatever!)
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@Mr.Egg, sounds similar with skin going pale colour.
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You know it makes sense.
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Almost certainly Renauds. My daughter suffers from it and frequently gets chilblains on her toes. She skis with boot warmers which mitigate the cold toes to a degree but certainly not 100% when cold. She also wears silk liner gloves in mittens on hands but still gets cold fingers. I think you should get heated footbeds as For socks I can’t comment. Good luck it can make skiing (and life when it’s cold) very challenging.
I would be interested to learn how you get on with heated socks.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Snowsartre, thanks. Is there anything that can help it? Supplements or medication?
Yes my partner has had chillblanes too- v sore! Hands manageable now always wears mitts instead of gloves plus liners and disposable warmers when really cold.
She has had heated insoles for a number of years now and whilst better than nothing don’t solve the problem.
As she is thinking of Getting new boots this year we just wondered if the socks were better. Plus battery packs on sides of boots a bit bulky.
Our instructor in canada last year said that a lot of the instructors over there had gone for the heated socks.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone tried any of the cheaper heated ski socks? I do not normally need them, just keep wiggling my toes. But as the temp is looking to be pretty low next weekend, I thought I might get a pair just in case?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I've switched from heated boots to heated socks this winter (Lenz Sock 4.0, which have a heated element all around the toes, not just underneath). They are a bit thicker than the socks I normally wear, and the part of them with the heating element seems to comprise a double layer of material so I've tried to be careful that it doesn't get scrunched up inside the boot. So far they've been great, and the ability to control them via an app on your phone rather than fight your way to the battery pack attached at the top of your stock makes them very convenient to use. Highly recommended if you struggle with cold feet.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I was getting cold feet recently - starting to get frostbite in my toes - partly due to cold temperatures and too much standing around. I could feel the soles of my feet were noticeably cold all the time.
Sole Boot Labs in Chamonix put a couple of mil of insulation and reflective foil under the inner, which helped a lot. I also wore slightly heavier layers to keep my core warmer - the body's response when it's cooling down is to cut off circulation to the extremities which is often interpreted as poor circulation.
Last step will be some merino wool socks.
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My better 50% suffers from Renauds and I bought here some Lenz 4.0 recently.
She has worn them for photographing rugby matches and last week for skiing. We had regular - 10c temps and she has forgotten all about freezing feet.
No problems whatsoever. She says her feet never feel warm, but neither do they feel cold.
A huge result for her.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@rob@rar, Noticed your post from last January re Lenz 4.0 heated socks. At seasons end how did you rate them? We have just finished our ski season in Oz and I had cold toes much of the season by early afternoon. Skied in new light weight Salomon Flex100 boots with thin liner and some neuropathy in my toes from past chemo treatment. Would you recommend the Lenz sock?
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I know that many of instructors in Saas-Fee (really cold in Dec/Jan) who used heated insoles for years have now switched to heated socks. I haven’t heard any of them complain about reliability issues, and instructors probably give equipment more abuse than most.
Most of them were using the Therm-ic version - https://www.therm-ic.com/en/20-socks
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| Aussie Steve wrote: |
| @rob@rar, Noticed your post from last January re Lenz 4.0 heated socks. At seasons end how did you rate them? We have just finished our ski season in Oz and I had cold toes much of the season by early afternoon. Skied in new light weight Salomon Flex100 boots with thin liner and some neuropathy in my toes from past chemo treatment. Would you recommend the Lenz sock? |
Yes, happy with the way they worked out. I'd prefer a thinner pair of socks, but so far there don't seem to be any heated versions so I made do with the Lenz socks. Battery life was good, so I never exhausted the power before the end of the day. The Bluetooth connection to my phone worked well, and the socks never failed. Power level 3 (out of 10) seemed about right, once I cranked it up to 5 on a very cold day when my boots were often in the snow rather than on the snow and that was more than warm enough. Washing the socks by hand or in a washing machine seemed OK (they recommend no hotter than 30 degrees IIRC), so they are reasonably civilised when I take my boots off. All in all, happy to recommend them.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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With heated sock and insoles are the batteries safe from getting wet? I always thought about getting a pair.
Anyways, I have raynauds diease and so suffer from really cold hands and feet. What I wear are compression socks. Thye work the best I find as they help to keep blood circulated and tackle the root of the problem rather than just keeping your feet warm for a little bit.
https://nuovahealth.co.uk/product/raynauds-disease-compression-socks/
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Thu 14-11-19 15:11; edited 1 time in total
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| Snowwer wrote: |
| With heated sock and insoles are the batteries safe from getting wet? I always thought about getting a pair. |
I've never had a problem. Batteries for heated socks are connected at the top of the sock, just below the knee, and therefore inside your skiwear so reasonably protected from getting wet. Batteries for heated insoles are normally attached to the top of the ski boot, and you fit the gaiter of your ski pants over the top, so again protected from moisture to a certain extent.
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FAQ
(but a second pair would be useful)
