Best Heated Insoles and Socks

Friday, 4 November 2016

Keeping your feet warm in the cold weather is vitally important. As well as being one of life's greatest comforts, warm feet are more mobile and better protected from injury and disease. For example, Raynaud's syndrome, a disease where blood flow to your extremities is reduced, is most commonly triggered by cold weather.

The best way to protect yourself from this affliction is through the use of heated or electric insoles and socks. Heated insoles are also a great thermal tool for winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and cold weather mountaineering, helping you to reach new heights (literally) and keep going for longer in cold conditions. Purchasing electric insoles can often quite naturally feel more complex than purchasing standard insoles, however. That's exactly why we've decided to offer this helpful guide to the Best Heated Insoles and Socks, which we hope will leave you feeling informed and at ease with this range of products.

Heated Insoles and Socks Basics

As all heated insoles and socks rely on electric heating elements, they all require a power source. Usually, this comes in the form of a battery pack which charges the insoles or socks. These battery packs often attach to the person or directly to the product, for charging on the move; this can be particularly useful when using the product continuously over a number of days, such as during a mountaineering ascent.

Almost all battery packs use a high quality lithium-ion battery which is rechargeable at the mains. Some heated insoles and socks are supplied with a compatible battery pack, while for others the battery packs are sold separately. Where this is the case, you'll always be able to find a link to a suitable battery pack on the product page.

Best Electric Insoles

Heated insoles provide the best of both worlds. Retaining the medical benefits of orthotic insoles, such as protecting you from certain foot conditions, they are also able to keep your feet toasty warm, regardless of the weather. In no particular order, we profile some of our favourite heated insoles below.

Sidas Volcano Heated Insoles

With outstanding levels of cushioning and support married to high performance heating elements, these Sidas Volcano Heated Insoles are the perfect choice for skiing or snowboarding. A thin cable runs along the base of the insole, and once connected to a Sidas battery, this provides a steady stream of heat to fend off the cold, and even help to dry wet feet.

The Sidas Volcano insoles aren't only suitable for sporting use, however – they can just as easily be worn in everyday footwear whenever extra warmth and comfort is needed. The therapeutic warmth and comfort they provide can be extremely beneficial to sufferers of Raynaud's disease, diabetes, and arteriosclerosis, amongst other conditions.

ThermicSole Trimfit Heated Insoles

If you already have a particular pair of insoles that you wear regularly – perhaps to guard against a specific condition, then you'll probably be wary of the prospect of replacing them in their entirety. The ThermicSole Trimfit Heated Insoles provide an answer to this conundrum, essentially allow you to add a heating system to your existing insoles!

This thin, lightweight product attaches to your existing insole via a self-adhesive cover. Following an easy installation process, a high quality Cambrelle cover protects the heating element, preventing the ThermicSole from damaging your existing insoles.

Blazewear Heated Wired Insoles

If you're looking for a no-frills, easy to use pair of heated insoles, look no further than the Blazewear Heated Wired Insoles. These versatile, economical insoles can be powered using a pair of standard AA batteries, meaning no bulky battery packs and use almost straight out of the box. Remember, however, to trim these insoles down to a snug fit, as they are supplied in a universal size – our guide shows you how.

Though the Blazewear insoles are great when you need use almost straight out of the box, this doesn't mean that they are limited to that. If need be, they can easily be upgraded with a set of rechargeable lithium ion batteries. They are also supplied with garters so that the battery box can be placed on the leg so it doesn't get in the way.

Best Electric Socks

For ultimate comfort, there's just no beating heated socks. While insoles offer direct warming only to the sole area of the foot, heated socks are able to enwrap the whole of the foot and much of the lower leg, providing direct, therapeutic heat.

Therm-IC Powersock Standard Heated Socks

Suitable for everyday use during the winter months, the Therm-IC Powersock Standard Heated Socks are anatomically optimised to ensure they remain comfortable when in use. Due to their whole-foot warming capability, they can be great for sufferers of Raynaud's disease, or just those who appreciate toasty warm feet (who doesn't?)

Discreet and comfortable, they resemble a standard sports sock at a glance. An imperceptible heating elements runs along the outside, whilst the lightweight battery which provides power to the Therm-IC Powersock is held neatly in a compartment at the top of the sock.

Blazewear Heated Socks

For durability and efficiency, it's difficult to beat the Blazewear Heated Socks. With a strengthened toe and heel alongside slim-fitted battery and element pockets, the Blazewear socks are optimised for skiing and snowboarding.

With the heating element placed at the front of the sock, the Blazewear Heated Socks are designed to heat the toes first – because the toes are usually the first part of the foot to get cold, this means that the Blazewear Socks can stop cold before it even starts to cause discomfort.

Sidas Pro Heated Socks Set

The Sidas Pro Heated Socks Set contains both the Sidas Pro Heated Socks and two high performance batteries to provide an easy all-in-one solution to cold feet. The Sidas Pro Socks are fantastic all-round, suitable for both winter sports and for medical conditions including Raynaud's, Arteriosclerosis and Peripheral Vascular Disease

The double batteries provide excellent usage time, and can be charged easily using the universal charger which is supplied with the set. The batteries attach to the sock via press studs and then tuck under elasticated straps for further security, providing peace of mind during winter sports.

Comfort in the Cold

Whether you want extra thermal support for winter sports, protection for medical conditions such as Raynaud's, or simply the unbeatable feeling of warm feet, ShoeInsoles.co.uk has a range of heated and electric products which can provide warming comfort to your feet, whatever the weather. For a wider selection, why not see our full range of Heated Insoles.