I am very fussy about socks and have child sized feet. Once I find some that fit properly I stick with them. Plus you’d need multiple pairs of socks.
We went the hotronics, bit of a spur purchase as 20% off and they offered to fit them. Jen was pretty happy with them but Canada will be the test!
My wife had the hotronics inserted into her old boots. Upgraded to a pair of Fisher vacuum fitted boots at SP last winter and now doesn't use the heater... Interesting example of how much difference a good boot will make.
My friend that has them also has Reynauds, so has made a big difference to her comfort. I’m more likely to get cold hands, though I used toe warmers in CO. For someone like me that just gets cold hands and feet they would be a luxury item. I have good boots.
These were the first boots she had fitted on slope- her first pair were in Brisbane. She was told that "these are perfect for you" and being novice at the time, believed the fitter. She's had several adjustments (including the warmers) in four years since first purchased. This crew (FreeFall at Sunpeaks) ASKED her "how do these feel?" continually and wouldn't stop until she had the firm handshake feel that the good bootfitters talk about. It has made a dramatic difference to both her comfort and skiing.
As I got older I found that hands and feet are more susceptible to cold. Use hotronics on my boots and motion heat glove liners for the hands. Have skied in -29 No problems.
I’m on my 3rd or 4th pair of boots, and have gone in sizing each time I think also beginners go for more of a comfort fit.
It removes any toe wriggle room so not the best option. Which is why I’m looking at alternatives. Are you saying you can’t move your toes at all? I can move mine up and down a bit usually, no other movement.
Gareth buys Nikki 3 sets of boots per season, plus the outfits. What better role model could there be?
Lenz are crazy expensive but they are amazing. Wife loves hers and just adjusts on her phone if she is too hot or cold. -27C In fernie was no match. You can get extra socks and just use the same battery pack. She has also used them hiking which is why we went socks over heated boots
Probably be delivered to a post office or freight depot. Canadian duty and sales tax has to be paid. Also factor in us$ conversion. Some brands will not be allowed so might need a shipping company, plenty of these available for cross border purchases. Easier to buy in Canada.
Pretty sure they planned to head up skiing for the weekend so weren’t to phased, but yeah the offer was nice!
You might want to consider investing in the extension cords for the batteries so you can clip them to your belt around your waist or a strap around the leg. The batteries are large and the clips aren’t particularly tight, hence they’re prone to falling off. I had fun hunting under the Crystal chair at Sun Peaks last year after one battery fell off while I was on the chairlift. Similarly, my ex lost one of his batteries at Perisher this year (fortunately some kind soul found it and handed it in to lost property). The extension cord will also reduce wear and tear on the leads that go from the heated insole to the battery; they are prone to fraying.
Edit above, @zac150 : to clarify, the battery normally clips onto your boot (and falls off very easily)!
Will have to have a look, whilst the design on Jen’s looks similar to yours the clip on hers is seriously tight so they may have adjusted something. But I’ll look at the extensions
Hmmmmffhh! Heated smeated. Don't do it folks. Setting yourself up for even less tolerance by relying on external heating devices. It's a never ending spiral down. Properly fitted boots assist circulation and keep feet warmer. Toes need to wriggle and movement needs to happen when the feet are getting cold. Maybe, I'm being a bit harsh and probably a little too backcountry centric. I would rather take my kids & wife inside for a quick warm up to get the feet dialled back in, than have them relying on heaters. Much of the time its just a bit cold and uncomfortable not anything more. The problem with external heating devices is when they fail, it can be disastrous, as you're body is not used to producing your own heat which can lead to greater complexities depending on location. If all of your skiing is in resort then not too much of an issue unless they fail early in the day.
I had to resort to heaters after I ended up with frostbite. Even have cold feet in the summer now, nerve damage.
This^^^^^ It’s all well and good to generalise about devices but like a few on here my wife has circulation issues. Nothing related to boot fit! If a heating device gets her a few additional hours enjoyment in a sport she loves, it’s the best couple of hundred dollars I have spent.
Skied a week of max -20 in Japan once, survived but was tempted to look for hot socks. The tram car ride was just enough break. PS got a spot of frost bite on the cheek that week cos someone wanted to dick about and not keep moving out of the wind zone. Next time they are on their own.
I’ve never found a need for heating boots in Oz, except maybe when gatejudging at interschools in a blizzard, gloves yes. Did get cold toes at times in Breckenridge.
I’m lucky, as I have good circulation and seem to be able to handle cold temps well. -30 in Lake Louise, -20 in the US and Japan, even cold days at home and in NZ. I’ve never been that cold in Europe. Ive also had really good fitted boots for most of my skiing days through great mate who is one of the best boot fitters going around, so circulation hasn’t been impeded through I’ll fitting boots. Thin socks to let the boot inner do the grunt work in heat retention. I’ve had cold feet at times for sure but mainly from being under the snow all day in deep snow areas. I know I can get me circulation going through doing a few things such as toe wriggles, leg raises and isometric foot crunches to get the blood flowing. For those that suffer, either suck it up or go the least intrusive option which in my eyes is the Lenz heated sock.
FWIW I would argue socks are the worst option, especially as most of us will only use the heated option travelling. Anyone with back country experience will tell you how important socks are in protecting feet; half of the blisters I have seen treated on the trails over the last 20+ years are due to socks. Sweat crystals in socks make for abrasion. Sure ill fitting boots don’t help but I’ve seen boots people have hiked in on multiple trips I.e over 500km without issue, cause blisters when they have re used socks they have sweated in. So unless your prepared to buy multiple sets of socks and wash them (not easily travelling) I’d go with the inners. And yes any heating will cause sweat hence the idea it’s easier to change to fresh socks.
The Hotronics bootwarmers worked really well for me, @zac150. I also have Reynauds syndrome, and there have been times when my fingers have gone white and numb at room temperature. So keeping my extremities warm has absolutely nothing to do with base layers and well fitting boots. If only it were that simple!
I think you missed my point a tad and I agree with your comments. I'm referring to skiing only. Re BC, don't ever use any heated devices because if they stop working, you're in trouble. Also only thin socks. I am fanatical about my socks. In resort heated socks are fine provided they fit. It's not hard to hand wash a pair of socks and have them dry overnight in your room.
Lenz socks have to be washed on delicate cycle or hand washed anyway. A pair of socks only is $90, wash them in hotel bathroom and the wear second pair the following day. Important not to wring them out as this can damage the heating wires. I've had Hotronics when I was teaching and now the Lenz for two seasons. I wouldn't go back to Hotronic, harder to fit and can't be moved easily to other footwear. The Lenz socks work just as well for ice fishing or outdoor work as they do for skiing, I just add a pair of normal thick wool work socks over them. For skiing I wear ankle height nylon stockings against my skin to minimise damage to expensive socks from my rough calloused feet. I too am saddled with permanently impaired circulation from old frostbite. Standing in one place for races or teaching multiple back-to-back groups on cold days has taken its toll. Heaters make a big difference to me, only a few days a year they're needed but then they're a game saver.
Agreed, I am also a bit weird when it comes to socks, especially in the B/C. That’s one reason I choose the inserts as we know the socks work so I didn’t want to change this.
Great news for shoppers. When in Calgary we visited an amazing store called Sporting Life and were gobsmacked at the range of ski jackets etc etc, Canada Goose etc. The store was huge. The good news is they are opening a store in Vancouver in October www.sportinglife.ca
Beerman clan Locked in; Sun Peaks 29 Dec - 7 Jan. Big White 7 Jan - 15 Jan Maybe; Silver Star 15 Jan - 17 Jan?? Apex 15 Jan - 17 Jan?? Red 15 Jan -17 Jan?? Revie 15 Jan - 17 Jan??
Looks like we cross over @The Lunatic, was going to suggest catching up for a ski but the moniker has me worried
Locked in Whistler Jan 22nd to 29th. Still working out the second half of our trip over the Calgary side.
Well ya know where I would tell ya to ski! Extra incentive: Penticton has 6 breweries, 35 wineries, 3 distilleries and 3 cideries...
