One of my biggest problems, being an avid hunter in Idaho, is keeping my feet warm in the winter months. There are many ways in which I have attempted to do so, including wearing insulated boots, a myriad of different sock types, and now, heated insoles. The biggest problem I have experienced is being able to stay warm with the equipment I have, without causing my feet to sweat. The moment moisture gets inside waterproof boots (the only kind I buy, thanks to the weather and terrain), you are doomed to get cold.
Good, Better, Not the Best Solutions…
I do not buy insulated boots because boots are expensive in general, and that is without buying a dedicated pair for all the seasons of the year. Another reason I do not buy insulated boots is due to the fickle weather here in Idaho. On the same day, it can start at 16 degrees in the morning and peak in the 60’s. Add that temperature swing in on top of some rigorous hiking, and you’ve got hot, sweat-soaked feet that are sure to freeze up as night approaches.
The other way that I have attempted to solve my cold feet problem was by changing the type of socks that I wear. I started by wearing thick, wool socks and liners. These proved to have their own problems such as the liners or sock itself slipping down into the toe of my boot, making me have to take my boot off to fix the issue. The other problem is similar to the insulated boot issue I mentioned: Once you have that warm sock on, you are basically stuck with it for the whole day. It was a hassle, but in the past, I’ve carried a spare pair of thin socks in my pack so that I could sort of customize my attire for the situation/weather at hand.
The Best Solution
After using the ActionHeat Heated Rechargeable Insoles through the summer months as well as the busiest part of winter, I am convinced that this is the solution that I have been looking for. I am able to adjust the heat with a remote fob, which allows me to cater to the situation at hand. There were days while I was out deer hunting off of horseback in sub-zero weather, where I had them turned to max power in order to keep my feet warm in the stirrups, and then turned them off when I transitioned from riding to walking in order to keep my feet comfortable.
In the summer when I was not worried about keeping my feet warm, I still had the ActionHeat insoles in my boots because swapping them out was… too much to be bothered with. These insoles were extremely comfortable to put miles on due to their foam construction. Even though they are heated, I found them to be an asset during all seasons.
About the ActionHeat Heated Insoles
ActionHeat insoles can be used by almost anyone because of their trim to size design that makes them suitable for women’s sizes 5.5 and larger as well as men’s 4 and larger. These insoles are powered by built-in 3.7V batteries that keep it warm for 8+ hours. In fact, on the low setting, I was seeing a battery life of well over 12 hours in mine! On top of this, the heating is very even across the insole thanks to heating panels placed under the toes which use ultra-fine fibers to keep your toes warm.
ActionHeat heated insoles reach temperatures up to 130 degrees on the highest setting and 95 degrees on the low setting. This range provides maximum heating comfort without the risk of burning yourself or feeling uncomfortable to the touch.
When fitting the insoles to my shoes, I could have used the cutting guidelines on the insole in order to trim them to the correct size, but I chose a different route. I removed my old insoles from my boots, superimposed them on the ActionHeat insoles and then traced them with a pencil. That way, when I trimmed them for my boot, I had a perfect fit! This is the easiest and most effective way of customizing them for your footwear.
The insoles take about 4-6 hours to charge to full capacity, which I tended to do overnight between hunting. The insoles have a battery level indicator light, which you can check on by pressing the power button on the insole briefly. From the highest charge to lowest, the indications change from red (100-67%) to blue (66-34%) to green (33-0%).
Specifications and Features
- included is 2 ActionHeat Rechargeable 3.7V Heated Insoles
- targeted heating panels under the toes
- USB wall adapter included
- 40″ dual micro-USB charging cable included
- features (2) built-in 3.7V 1800 mAh lithium-polymer power packs
- charge time is 4-6 hours
- wireless remote control with 3 heat settings
- easy cut-to-size guidelines
- manual power button
- LED light power indicator
- Micro-USB charging port
- Heating ranges from 130 degrees F to 95 degrees F
- heats up to 8+ hours on a single charge
- fits Men’s size 4+ and women’s size 5.5+
- MSRP $129.99
More About My Experience
The most rigorous test that I ran the ActionHeat Heated Rechargeable insoles through was likely during deer season. I packed into the backcountry on horseback and stayed in a drop camp for 3-5 days at a time, several weekends in a row. During this time, I used the heated insoles in my boots in order to keep my feet warm while they were doing nothing but hanging in my stirrups on my saddle. They proved to be a valuable asset, keeping me comfortable and warm. Charging them was very easy, which I accomplished by charging them with portable power banks which I had brought with me. Each charge lasted from morning to night when I left them on the lowest heating level.
If it was extra cold, or oddly warm, I was able to change the heating level with the included remote. It was very convenient because I did not have to remove my boots to adjust this, and the remote is extremely small and able to comfortably fit in a pocket. While hiking with the ActionHeat Insoles, I did not experience any problems or discomfort. In fact, the extra height in the heel made walking up extremely steep hills much more comfortable on my ankles. Overall, using them was a great experience and I would recommend anyone with a similar need for something of this sort to give them a serious look.
Nice to see the single greatest issue with keeping one’s feet warm in the cold addressed – that of accommodating perspiration and after that, custom fitting.
Todd.
These actionheat insoles look awesome! I’m going to get some for sure.
Certainly NOT the first company to offer this type of product. Thermacell’s had them out for years. They help, but I still wouldn’t go out in 16 degree weather with a non-insulated boot