ThermaCELL, popularly known for their mosquito-repelling devices, just released Heated Insoles—another product that might allow hunters to spend more time in the field.
The folks at ThermaCELL contacted us (NAHC editors) just before the product launched. I had the opportunity to get one of the first pairs of Heated Insoles, so I took the liberty to shoot a short video to show you what they look like fresh out of the package (blog post continued below):
Cold feet have left me miserable—and cursing—on ice-cold winter stands more times than I care to remember, so naturally I was interested in the product. I figured I'm not alone, so I interviewed a few folks at ThermaCELL to learn more about their Heated Insoles and pass the details on to you. Here's what I found.
- Remote controlled. You can choose from "No Heat (i.e. standby mode)," "Medium (100 degrees F)" or "High (111 degrees F)" with a wireless remote control that works up to 7 feet away. They should increase your boots' cold-weather performance by -27 degrees F.
- Contain a thermostat. "The insoles will turn on and off accordingly to maintain the temperature that has been selected," said ThermaCELL's Josh Silvia.
- Rechargeable. They can run 5 continuous hours per use between medium and high settings; their life is 500 uses (that's approximately 2,500 hours).
- Inexpensive. The retail cost is about $120. Do the math—that's right around 25 cents per use. Throw-away, one-time-use warmers are usually about 99 cents to $2 a piece.
- Customizable. They come in five sizes (S, M, L, XL, XXL), and each insole can be hand trimmed to fit your individual footwear.
- Super tested. SATRA (European footwear testing gurus) tested the insoles like mad for durability and safety. Their peditron machine (mechanical leg with foot) "walked" the insoles more than 60 miles and "ran" the insoles for 12 hours with simulated perspiration; they held up nicely.
I tested the Heated Insoles last weekend on stand during Wisconsin's firearm deer season opener. Result: They will be a permanent installment in my cold-weather gear pack. And if for some reason they leave me "out in the cold" (sorry, I had to do it), I'll take advantage of ThermaCELL's 1-year warranty.
What do you do to hunt longer in brutally cold weather?