Heated insoles vs heated socks at a glance

Heated insoles for boots: turn the boots you have into heated boots

Our Gen-X4 Electric Heated Insoles are made of lightweight EVA foam with a carbon fibre heating element that covers the entire foot area and spreads the heat evenly. An anti-slip base stops them sliding around, you can trim them with scissors to fit your boot, and you can move them from one pair of boots to another. On 12V they provide 14.5 watts of heat and draw 1.2 amps per pair.

What owners tell us about heated boot insoles:

• Less in the boot. One owner who has both says the insoles are more comfortable than the socks because there is less bulk and fewer cables inside the boot.
• They go in and stay in. Another fitted them into his boots with no adjustments and finds them a sturdy way to heat a boot.
• They get warm. One snowmobiler uses them at minus 20 with a wind chill of minus 30. Another says they run warm enough that a temperature controller is worth having.

Two limits from the product page: they are not suitable for women under a US 7.5 shoe or men under a US 6.5 (if that is you, choose the socks), and they work best in a windproof and waterproof boot, which holds the heat in.

Heated socks: heat over and under the toes

Our Gen-X4 Heated Socks use ZEPTO fibres to heat under and above the toes. They are made of polyester with antimicrobial Lycra, they are extra tall to cover most of your calf, and the left and right socks are shaped differently for a better fit. They fit well under tall or short boots.

Two tips from the product page: wear a pair of thin, no-show socks under the heated socks, and wear a windproof and waterproof boot over them. Because the socks add a layer, check that your boots still have room for your toes to move; a boot that squeezes the foot is a cold boot, heated or not.

Owners use them on sleds and quads alike. One rider who wears a size 11 shoe took the XL and found them a perfect fit, with the medium heat level keeping him warm. If you are between sizes, send us your shoe size and we will help you pick.

12V heated socks and insoles: how to power them

Both run on 12V, and the wiring is sold separately because it depends on what you already own. Here is what each product page lists for the common setups. The socks can also be ordered with the Y-switch-cord and Coax Battery Cord included.

If you already wear a GEARS heated jacket or vest, the Y-switch-cord connects between your temperature controller and the jacket or vest. On a single temperature dial, your feet then run at the same temperature as your upper body; the jacket and vest pages show how a Dual Temperature Controller lets you set them separately. Riding two-up on a sled with only one RCA outlet? The insoles page lists the extra Male RCA to 2 Female RCA Splitter so both riders can still power their visors.

Our Gen-X4 Heated Leg Chaps are the tidiest way to run either one: the plugs sit at the bottom of each leg, so there is no cord running down inside your pants. If you plan to pair the chaps with heated socks, the chaps page says to go one size down on the chaps.

Running another brand of heated clothing? Our heated clothing works with Firstgear, Gerbing, Warm and Safe, Tourmaster and Venture Heat. If your chaps from another brand have male connectors at the bottom, you need the Female Coax to Female Coax Adapter.

For how the whole system connects, including gloves and jackets, see our heated clothing FAQ and our guide to heated gloves vs heated glove liners.

Off the vehicle: portable battery power

For ice fishing, hunting, outdoor work or a walk on a cold day, our Heated Clothing Portable Battery Kits run both the socks and the insoles. Each kit has three heat levels, a wireless remote and a 1 to 9 charge display, and comes with a pouch that sits around your waist. The ZR5 runs one or two pieces of heated clothing; the ZR8 runs three, or a heated jacket liner with others. To run more than one piece from a single battery, you need the Male Coax to Dual Female Coax Adapter. The batteries have their own heat control, so the Single and Dual Temperature Controllers are not used with them.

How long a charge lasts depends on what you power and the heat level (the battery manuals give the detail). Our guide to how long heated clothing batteries last lists the run time for each piece.

Which one should you buy?

• You want the least bulk in the boot: heated insoles, as long as the boot still has room once they are in.
• Your toes go cold first, and your boots have room: heated socks.
• You wear a small shoe (women under US 7.5, men under US 6.5): heated socks.
• You want to move the heat between several pairs of boots: heated insoles.
• You already own GEARS heated leg chaps: either one plugs straight in.
• You ice fish, hunt or work outside off the machine: either one with a portable battery.

Whichever you choose, a windproof and waterproof boot makes the biggest difference to how warm your feet stay. For the rest of your sled setup, see our snowmobile gear FAQs.

Questions riders ask us

What is the difference in heat between heated socks and heated insoles?

The socks heat under and above the toes, and the sock itself runs up most of the calf. The insoles heat the whole sole of the foot evenly. If your toes are your problem, the socks are usually the better fit.

Can I control the temperature of the insoles?

Yes. Add the Single Temperature Controller, which has seven settings and can run up to four heated garments as long as the total stays under 12 amps. Without it, the insoles run simply on or off.

Can I plug them into my sled's heated visor outlet?

Usually, on a snowmobile with an RCA outlet. The Male RCA to Female Coax and Female RCA Adapter, with the Y-switch-cord, lets you run your heated visor and your feet from the same outlet. Check in your owner's manual that the outlet can carry both at once.

Do the socks or insoles come with the power cord?

Not on their own. The wiring depends on your setup, so it is sold separately (the socks can be ordered with the Y-switch-cord and Coax Battery Cord included). Use the table above, or send us a message with what you ride and what you already own.

What size heated socks do I need?

The socks come in XS to 2XL. Tell us your shoe size in the chat on the product page and we will tell you which size to order.

Can I wear them for ice fishing or walking around?

Yes. With a portable battery kit, both the socks and the insoles work off the vehicle.

You can browse all our heated socks and heated insoles.