Insole Foot Warmers

[Isk8NYC]

For human-lizards who need a little external warmth in their skates:

HotHands' Foot warmer insoles (bulk)

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-20321B/Protective-Clothing-and-Personal-Safety/Insole-Foot-Warmers-Bulk-Pack?pricode=WY759&gadtype=pla&id=73107563842&gclid=CNe1hLemucECFUkF7AodLRAAUA&gclsrc=aw.ds

Wow - lasts up to 9 hours!  Imagine being able to stay upright on the ice for that long, lol.

[dlbritton]

For human-lizards who need a little external warmth in their skates:

HotHands' Foot warmer insoles (bulk)

http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-20321B/Protective-Clothing-and-Personal-Safety/Insole-Foot-Warmers-Bulk-Pack?pricode=WY759&gadtype=pla&id=73107563842&gclid=CNe1hLemucECFUkF7AodLRAAUA&gclsrc=aw.ds

Wow - lasts up to 9 hours!  Imagine being able to stay upright on the ice for that long, lol.

Some days I am out on skis from 8 AM until 7 PM with no more than a 15 minute break every 90 minutes.

On really cold days I use toe warmers which last about 8 hours. Not sure if a full insole if really necessary, the toe warmers do a pretty good job. Skiers that get really cold feet can buy battery powered heated insoles or wear neoprene boot "gloves".

[littlerain]

I wish they were reusable - I would totally get some!

[dlbritton]

I wish they were reusable - I would totally get some!

The Toasti toes do a really good job and cost less than 1/2 what the heated insoles do.

http://www.uline.com/BL_1198/Hand-and-Foot-Warmers

REI and a number of other shops sell Hotronic battery powered insoles and heating elements for custom insoles. I know a number of ski instructors that swear by these, but you have to strap a battery pack to your boot or leg, which isn't a problem with ski boots but would probably be a problem with skates. Plus you are probably looking at $200 plus for a pair.

http://www.rei.com/b/hotronic

I have noticed my toes are cold after an hour on the ice, so they would probably get uncomfortable after more than 2 hours. I guess that thin layer of leather under my foot doesn't provide much insulation from the big chunk of metal sitting on top of the ice.

[CaraSkates]

My one coach always has cold toes. He coaches 4hrs straight some mornings and said pretty much nothing works after the 2nd hour. He has tried the toasty toes and said they don't seem to work in the skate - not enough oxygen to heat up?

Last winter I made him fleece bootcovers with an inside pocket to put a handwarmer in. He said those did help. I plan to make him another pair this winter and improve some of the design.

[dlbritton]

My one coach always has cold toes. He coaches 4hrs straight some mornings and said pretty much nothing works after the 2nd hour. He has tried the toasty toes and said they don't seem to work in the skate - not enough oxygen to heat up?

The same thing happens in ski boots sometimes. You have to make sure the Toasti toes are exposed to the air for a while before putting them in. Taking them out after 3-4 hours and shaking them can help as well.

Last winter I made him fleece bootcovers with an inside pocket to put a handwarmer in. He said those did help. I plan to make him another pair this winter and improve some of the design.

This sounds like a nice niche product that could probably sell decently. I know lots of ski instructors do get neoprene "booties" to add a layer of insulation. Putting a warmer on the outside of a ski boot isn't practical but I can see where it would work with skates.

[davincisop]

I have actually used these before. They were my savior when the rink was 18 degrees. The only downside is sometimes they get so warm your feet go numb from the heat. They also take up a bit of room in the skates, but for the sake of warm feet, they're worth it.

[Query]

This sounds like a dumb question, but do you suppose chemical packs like these could burst and let out the hot messy fluid in jumps?

Littlerain, there are re-usable toe warmers, which you warm up in the microwave. The good ones use a phase-change to store extra heat. But they are all pretty thick, and would totally mess up the fit of the boot.

Maybe these full-insole warmers Isk8NYC mentioned are thinner than the similar toe-warmers, and would therefore interfere less with fit.

A few people order custom fit boots allowing space for warmers. When you don't need a warmer, I guess you use an old used warmer to take up the same space, or some other extra insole.

I sometimes warm up my boots (e.g., with a hot air drier) before putting them on - but that doesn't last 9 hours.

[sarahspins]

There is no fluid in these.. it's a dry chemical reaction that causes the heat when exposed to oxygen.

[Christy]

I get really cold feet when I ski so tried the thermic foot warmers - they made no difference whatsoever 
then a friend said she found the best way to keep her feet warm was to ski in bare feet. I have to say I was a bit dubious but it worked. Not sure I'd want to try bare feet with skates as they have more seams / creases which I think would bother me, but another friend does skate barefoot and never complains of cold feet.....

[lutefisk]

Has anyone tried electric (battery powered) socks?  I wonder if there's a thin pair which would be compatible with skating (also need to accommodate the wiring from the battery pack(s) to the inside of each boot).  I know that such socks are available for fishermen/duck hunters who wear waders.

[Query]

a friend said she found the best way to keep her feet warm was to ski in bare feet...

Possibly she and you have very tight boot fits, in some spot or other. That cuts off some of the blood circulation and makes your feet cold.

Adding in a thermic warmer would just make the fit tighter.

It might help to use a thinner insole, to make the fit a little less tight.