Heated Shoe Insoles

This is super off topic, but I figured you guys might have some experience with this.

I’m looking for a way to heat my feet while flying at altitude. The floorboards of the airplane get extremely cold and wearing dress socks and shoes don’t offer much help. I’ve considered just throwing down a heating pad and running an extension cord to an outlet, but then I saw these at Bass Pro ThermaCELL Heated Rechargeable Insoles

Unfortunately the price tag is pretty outrageous. (Enter Chinese sellers: stage left)
I looked through Gearbest, Fasttech, Banggood etc but couldn’t find anything. But then I found these on Aliexpress battery heated insole for shoes

Does anyone have any experience with heated insoles or know a reputable retailer that might sell some. I’ve never ordered from Aliexpress so I’m a little weary. Thanks!

I’ve gotten everything I ordered from Ali, but with the recent rash of hoverboard fires due to cheap batteries, are you sure you’re willing to take the risk? It will give a new meaning to the term “hot foot” if those cells decide to go thermal at 35,000 feet.

KuoH

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009HMFPC/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

which did not work at all, even tried 14500 batteries & still no heat. They were noted on this thread:

I’m still searching for something reasonably priced that works…doing a construction project in the snow.

Gerbing makes heated clothes for power sports. They’re supposed to be good, just out of my price range. I believe most of their stuff is designed to run on 12v automotive source. You might be better off with insulated boots.

have jackets heated by the same small 12 volt batteries used in compact drills & impact drivers. Wish they had that set-up for socks. Gerbing had such a thing but for $200, & it’s discontinued.

At first I was going to suggest some you make your own, which is still an option, I’ve made or help make numerous heated things (jackets, chairs, mice, etc) with either 40ga teflon wire (good for large surfaces) or power resistors (more compact) and with a PWM controller they offer a nice adjustability. You could buy some cheap insoles, silicone in some power resistors, deans wired up to a PWM controller and an outlet gives you all the power and control you want for pretty cheap.

I don’t know how much you want to avoid using outlets and having wires (potential safety issue) and depends how much you want a plug and play solution. I did notice they have usb heated insoles on ali for way way cheaper. Maybe some of those with a usb power bank in an ankle holster. Can use safer cells, safer battery monitoring, might be a bit cheaper, and have much longer runtime.

edit: Actually they have ones with separate batteries for about $21 so some of those with protected 18650s?

Run your extension cord and use this. http://www.amazon.com/Cozy-Products-FW-Warmer-Warming/dp/B000079896

The foot warmer uses 90 watts, and needs this additional switch to add a low setting of 45 watts, which is plenty enough heat. http://www.amazon.com/Cozy-Products-HI-LO-Control-Temperature/dp/B001FOPQQI/ref=pd_sim_201_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41R4Y61GsyL&dpSrc=sims&preST=*AC_UL160_SR160%2C160*&refRID=0YFNMK2KH2CAFY1DAH7Q

Have a look at a motorcycling forum, some of these guys ride in all weather:

I used to wear battery-powered socks while hunting. If you try that, make sure you get the ones with an On/Off switch, because your feet will need it.

Waitaminnit! Aren’t your feet on the rudder pedals?? How would a heating pad help there?

Wow a lot more replies than I thought I was going to get!

I hadn’t thought about the battery exploding problem. I just read the “hoverboard” thread and now I’m concerned with having a battery 1mm from the skin of my foot. Probably a bad idea (unless they are verified to be good, quality batteries).

I’ve been seeing the heating element with just a bare wire (some have cords that run to a USB), and figured this would be a cheap alternative. Having wires running all over the cockpit probably isn’t the best idea, but maybe a large power pack with dual USB outputs would be my best bet. I was originally searching for a USB powered heating pad, but the only one I’ve found has a lot of reviews saying it doesn’t get warm at all. USB Blanket: Amazon

Nice find Brad! I haven’t seen that one yet. I’ll have to measure the floorboard and see if it will fit. Might be my best, cheap option to get some real heat for my feet.

Those are pretty awesome! I wonder how thick they are though; I’m wearing dress shoes so it might make for a snug fit. Luckily, larger planes have yaw dampers (pretty much an electric motor that acts as a shock absorber for the rudder), and an aileron/rudder interlink. So I only ever use the rudder for takeoff and landing.

We have a winner folks :bigsmile:

Wearing two pair of socks will help a lot. Others will not notice and the extra layer helps when trudging across snow in normal shoes.
Worth a try.

Huh, I always dress for an out-landing and posible trek across the wildlands.
And that’s whether I’m flying my hang glider or Southwest …
No cotton clothes, and sturdy footwear.

THICK! Think Lamborghini LM002 to your Miura. You’d want a half-size larger shoe, I’d wager, until hunting boots become fashionable.

“Oxfords, not Brogues.” :slight_smile:

If I may share some more hard-won experience, it may not need to be said, but it’s important not to over-tighten your laces, which you can usually tell you’ve done if your feet get cold (or numb). I realize you’re resting them on a frozen Aluminum plate, but for me the difference between “tight” and “snug” is dramatic.

HTH…

Hmmm, I guess it depends which part of a disaster you are preparing for. In a fire, cotton clothes burn away rather than melt to your skin like man made fibers do. Wool is probably ok though.

The easy way to add warmth without thickness is to grab all your lady’s old stockings or tights before she throws them away and cut the feet off of them. (It works shoe or boot length just cut to the length you want.) Wear them under socks and you’d be amazed how much warmer your feet stay but without adding bulk.

I’ve done a lot of outside work in my life but not in extreme cold and wool socks work great. If they itch wear a pair of thin cotton dress socks under them. In less harsh conditions two pairs of cotton socks is usually enough. And Dimbo is on target about not having your shoes too tight- that slows down surface blood circulation which is exactly where you need it the most. You can also assist circulation by doing isometeric muscle flexing without moving your legs. The most LiIon I’d want in a cockpit would be in a small sturdy flashlight; kind of hard to quickly get a bad cell outside from there and you can’t leave the room till the fumes clear! Though ATP oriented and Euro-centered, PPrune may have some ideas on this and you’ll be among fellow Pilots there. Join and ask.

Phil

I ordered these heated pads and plan to fit them to liner gloves over the Xmas break using a power bank with my own cells.A 10km ride to work at 7:30 am when it’s frosty is no fun.I have plugged them in and they do warm up nicely.Maybe Aliexpress has something similar for feet.

AdaFruit has some pretty cheap ($4) heating pads that you can sue to make some heaters.

Heck you could even use some Oogu and make some custom sole inserts with the heating pad embedded in them. pop out the regular soles, stick these in and plug them up. A Toykeeper firmware A6 driver board for a flashlight would provide fairly granular and adjustable current control. (Although to get enough heat you may need one designed for two or three 18650 cells.) Probably need one driver per foot.

The big problem I see would be getting them through TSA security: “Sir, there are wires in your shoes. Please step over here.”