What is Better? Heated Socks vs Heated Insoles. People often wonder what is the better and more effective choice to prevent having cold feet when you want to enjoy your outdoor activities when the weather is very cold, especially in winter. Cold feet are a common problem for people, that not only causes discomfort but also prevents you from focusing and enjoying what you are doing.
Many people love to have a variety of outdoor activities throughout the year such as hiking, fishing, hunting riding a motorcycle, running, etc. They often face the problem of cold feet, especially most often this problem occurs in the winter
A common and well-known method that people use to warm their feet is to wear more pairs of thick socks. This is an old-fashioned method and is often not very practical and effective in more extreme conditions.
One of the better solutions nowadays that people apply to protect their feet from the cold is to use heated socks and heated insoles. But, to properly answer whether it is better to wear heated socks or heated insoles, we first need to see how do they work and what are their advantages and disadvantages.
Heated Socks
How Heated Socks Work?
The way heated socks work is very simple. First of all, they have super light and tiny high-quality heating elements that are usually placed in the area of your toes and heel and also around your feet.
To deliver heat to your feet, these heating elements use the electricity they receive from the batteries through a special wired system. These batteries are usually housed in specially designed pockets on the top of the socks.
Heated socks usually use AAA batteries, nickel-cadmium, or lithium-ion batteries. The batteries can be disposable and some of them can be recharged such as lithium-ion batteries. It is advisable and most profitable to use batteries that have the ability to be recharged.
One of the best features of these heated socks is that they offer several levels of heating. The selection of the required heat level is usually done through special buttons placed on the top of the socks in the pocket area. For better management of the temperature of the socks, most of them come with remote control, and while some of them have a management option through a specially designed Bluetooth application from your Smartphone.
Pros of the Heated Socks
They Are Battery Powered
To produce heat, the heating elements of the heated socks are connected to batteries. Different heated socks use different types of batteries. Heated socks often use AA, NiMH, and Lithium-Ionic batteries.
Always look for heated socks that use rechargeable batteries. This type of battery can provide more than 500 charges, which means you will be able to use the batteries without any problems for several winters. This will save you a lot of money.
The Heating Elements Can Cover Whole Foot
Unlike heated insoles, the heating elements in heated socks can cover the entire foot and up to mid-calf or knee, which means they can heat your feet more efficiently.
The Heated Socks Can Be Used in Tight Footwear
The high-quality materials used to make heated socks make them lightweight, elastic, durable, and thin. This allows them to be worn with tighter footwear.
They Are Washable
Heated socks can be easily washed by hand. It is very important to remove the batteries before washing the socks. Batteries are not water-proof and can be permanently damaged.
You should pay special attention while washing your heated socks. In fact, you don’t have to twist and squeeze the socks too much to prevent damage to the wires of the heating system.
Some premium models of heated socks from brands such as Hotronic, Lenz, and Volt can be washed in the washing machine.
For Indoors and Outdoors Use
The good thing about heated socks is that they better usability than heated insoles. In fact, you can wear warm socks outdoors and indoors, just like regular socks.
The Heated Socks Offer Multiple Heat Settings
One of the best features of heated socks is that they offer multiple levels of heating. Most of the heated socks have two or three heating settings such as low, medium, and high.
Wireless Controllable
Heated socks are usually operated manually via a special button placed on the top of the socks and by a special wireless controller. For easier and more comfortable handling of the heated socks, some of them have a built-in special feature that allows you to control them from your Smartphone using a special application via a Bluetooth connection.
The Heated Socks Can Provide Heat for a Long Period of Time
They can provide you many hours of heat, but not as long as the heated insoles can do. Otherwise, the heated socks can keep your feet warm from 2 to 14 hours, depending on which heat setting you are using.
Cons of the Heated Socks
The Heated Socks Need to Be Washed
Heated socks are one of those heated clothing that needs to be washed after every use, the same as the regular socks. They can be washed into the washing machine or by hand.
Sometimes You Can Feel the Heating Wire
Yes, this is true. One of the disadvantages when wearing heated socks is that you can feel the wired heating system that is woven into the fabric of the socks while walking.
They Are More Expensive Than Heated Insoles
Their price can vary from $30 to $350. But know this; you don’t have to buy an expensive pair of heated socks if you don’t have a need. Always think about what you need them for and at the end check how much you can afford for such a product.
Who Are the Heated Socks for?
The heated socks are perfect for people who don’t have many activities and love to stay at home during winter.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t use heated socks for outdoor activities. They are great for hunters, winter hikers, and winter sports lovers. They are made to fit inside ski boots, simple hiking boots, hiking shoes, and sports shoes of all sizes.
Arthritis and Raynaud’s Syndrome
Also, they are an ideal choice for people who suffer from cold feet and especially for those with arthritis and Raynaud’s syndrome.
Heated Insoles
How Heated Insoles Work?
Heated insoles work the same way as heated socks. They also have ultra-thin heating elements that are placed inside the insoles that are also connected to the batteries via a wired system.
The main difference with these heated insoles is that the heat they produce is focused only on the soles instead of the entire foot. You cannot use these heated insoles indoors, but only with your shoes outdoors, while heated socks can always be used indoors and outdoors with your footwear.
Just like heated socks, heated insoles offer a choice of several different heating settings. They are operated via remote control, while some of them also have the option to be managed from your Smartphone via Bluetooth using an application.
Pros of the Heated Insoles
They Are Battery Powered
Most of the heated insoles are battery-powered. There are a few types of batteries that are used for powering the heated insoles such as AA, NiMH, and Lithium-Ion batteries. Some of the batteries can be just for one use while some of them are rechargeable.
For more convenient and economical use, it is recommended to look for heated insoles that are coming along with rechargeable batteries. These types of batteries can be used for several seasons. Some of the batteries are placed inside the insole while some of them are attached to the back top of your boots or shoes.
They Can Provide You with Heat Almost All Day Long
They can provide heat longer than heated socks. In fact, depends on which heat setting you will use, you will be provided with constant heat between 5 and 21 hours. This is more than enough even for more demanding people.
They Can Be Rechargeable
As I mentioned earlier, some of the heated insoles use batteries that can be recharged by using a charger.
They Are Remote Controlled
For more convenient use, the heated insoles are coming with remote control. Some of the premium heated insoles can be controlled via Bluetooth from your cell phone by using a specially designed app.
They Are Easily Customizable
The heated insoles are easily sizable. You can trim them to the size of your feet and you can make them properly fit into your footwear.
They Are Less Expensive than Heated Socks
The heated insoles can save you some money; they are less expensive than heated socks. You can find them between $50 and $100. But, also there are more expensive products which price goes over $250. But, always first look at your own needs before you determine how much you will spend on pair of heated insoles.
Cons of the heated Insoles
The Heating Elements Don’t Cover the Whole Foot
The heating element of the heated insole doesn’t cover the entire foot. They only cover only small areas under your foot, mostly the toes area, and sometimes the heating element is placed right under the ball of your foot.
The Heated Insoles May Not Fit in Tight Footwear
Some of the heated insoles can be thick so in order to get a better fit into your footwear you will need first to remove the existing insole of the footwear before installing the heated insole. Sometimes, depending on the thickness of the heated insole, you may feel even tighter in your shoes
They Are Not Machine Washable
The heated insoles are not allowed to be washed into a washing machine. If you need to wash them you can do it carefully by hand using a damp cloth and when you finish with washing just leave them on the air dry. Never use a dryer to dry them.
Who Are the Heated Socks for?
One thing is for sure, the heated insoles are not for indoors, and they are only for outdoor activities. They are specially made for more active people, for those who enjoy winter sports throughout the whole day when the temperatures are far below zero.
My Conclusion
So the right answer to the question of which one is better to use, heated socks or heated insoles, you will need to take into consideration all the advantages and disadvantages of both products and then make a list of all of your needs including your limited budget.
It is logical that if you don’t have the intention to go skiing or hiking in a freezing condition in winter or you need to warm your feet while you are at home or walking every day to your workplace, then you don’t need to buy heated insoles, in this case, you will need to purchase a pair of heated socks. This is just an example of how to choose which product to buy.
But keep in mind, on the market, there are also high-quality heated socks that will warm and protect your feet when doing winter sports in really extreme conditions. I tried to do my best to give you the most accurate information about heated socks vs heated insoles and to make a decision which better will suit your needs. But in the end, it is all about your personal needs.
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