Gear review: Hotronics keep your toes toasty on the slopes
- Details
- Created on Monday, 20 December 2010 17:12
- Written by R. Scott Rappold
MONARCH MOUNTAIN- Saturday was one of those days in the mountains when you can't see the sun, 20 feet in front of you or, for that matter, any mountains.
In the past, such days would force me inside after a half-dozen runs, to take off my boots and rub my toes until the feeling returns. Perhaps it's poor circulation, but no combination of socks and foot-warmers has ever been able to keep my toes warm on the coldest Rocky Mountain days.
My toes, however, were nice and toasty Saturday, thanks to my early Christmas gift, the Hotronic FootWarmer Power Plus, which could be the greatest skiing gear innovation since the pocket shot. It retails for about $220.
Such devices were once clunky or had batteries that gave out before your legs did, but latest models are light-weight, with enough juice to last a full day of skiing.
Here's how it works: A thin liner under your foot connects to a battery pack that straps on the side. At The Ski Shop in Colorado Springs, I had to spend an extra $10 for a mounting bracket, but the good folks there hooked up the system to my boots for free.
My boots are already tight-fitting, but I did not notice any extra squeeze from the liner.
There are four heat settings. For most people, setting 2, which heats the feet up to 106 degrees, is sufficient. I skied for several hours at this setting, and the cold did not intrude. You can ski at this setting for seven to nine hours of battery life.
At setting 3, my feet felt like they were soaking in a jacuzzi. The battery can sustain this temperature for up to 6.5 hours.
Setting 4, which gets as warm as 144 degrees, would only be necessary for someone with extremely poor circulation, or, say, someone climbing Mt. Everest.
After the day of skiing, they recharge in a few hours by plugging them into any outlet.
I was prepared to notice the extra weight, but the only issue I had was getting my ski pants over the battery packs, so I could stop answering questions about them. They fasten quite securely to the boot, which is a good thing because a replacement battery pack runs about $75.
I would recommend Hotronics for anyone who has been plagued by cold toes. Yes, it's pricey, but not compared to skis, snowboards and boots. And you'll be surprised how much more energy and vitality you will have on the hill when you can feel your toes.
They can also be fitted to other types of footwear, so cold-weather cyclists and hikers could also give them a try.
You can buy Hotronics at most Colorado skiing shops. Get more info here.
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