That said, inquiring minds want to know... how did the heated socks work out?
Hi Ed,
Well, let's say they were a definite improvement over the charcoal-based, toe heaters that one can buy in Walmart. Those require a steady supply of oxygen to work, and when you seal them up in a boot with thick socks, they give about 10 minutes of heat and don't work again until you try to peel them off your socks at the end of the day.
The heated socks I purchased were called "Hotronics." At about $270/pair, they are clearly the most expensive socks I've ever purchased. Unlike older, battery-powered socks, these use Lithium-Ion batteries, and they last quite a bit longer. They have 4 heat settings, which have trade-offs. The more heat you ask for, the less time they'll work. On Friday, which was very cold, I started out with Zone 1, and after about 2 hours, my feet felt cold (but not freezing), so I jacked them up to Zone 2. My feet were then comfortable all day and right until the train returned at about 4 PM. But then, after shooting around the yard for an hour, my feet started to freeze. When I got back to the hotel, the batteries were exhausted. So, for Saturday and Sunday, I left them in Zone 1 all day. Yes, my feet did feel cold a times, but never freezing or numb. Zone 1 was enough to take the edge off all day, and when I got back to the hotel, there was still some juice left in the batteries on both days.
So, are they worth it? Yes, I think so. They are definitely coming with me to Nevada next week. The one worry I did have was when we were tromping through all of the fresh snow on Sunday. I was a bit concerned that if snow got into the battery connections at the top of my socks, I could end up with a Lithium Battery fire, which would not be good. Fortunately, the socks have a flap over the batteries, and I also stretched 2 layers of long johns over them, and my snow pants have gators that cover them. So, they stayed dry all the time.
If you are someone who has issues with cold feet during prolonged exposure to low temperatures, they are definitely something to consider. They seem pretty well-constructed and you can buy components, such as replacement battery packs and sock units. The batteries are also alleged to be good for upwards of 5 years.
/Kevin Madore