With the arrival of real cold weather, everyone thinks about how to feel comfortable in such uncomfortable conditions. Due to the fact that winters are sometimes quite harsh, everyone wants to be thoroughly insulated. Sometimes warm, classic things are not enough and it comes down to such little things, it would seem, like insoles. Heated insoles will significantly improve the feeling of comfort and also protect against various colds.
Some fishermen need heated insoles, since they spend almost the entire daylight hours outside in the winter. Heated insoles will allow you to forget about the burning cold and feel comfortable even in the harshest conditions. It is very important to have warm insoles when fishing in the wade, even in the summer. Being in the water for a long time, the feet freeze to such an extent that they stop bending. Of course, you can put extra socks on your feet, but using heated insoles is the best option.
If your feet freeze in winter, it’s easy to get sick, even if you haven’t spent much time in the cold. The use of heated insoles will create a heated space between the sole and the foot, which will prevent you from getting a dose of hypothermia. This means that the fisherman’s body will remain healthy, without colds.
Many people are interested in how heated insoles work. How do they all work?
The design of the insole is quite simple: in its hollow part there is a heating pad. It is made of such material that your feet can stay warm for several hours. The front part is made of perforated material, which helps to quickly warm the toes. The lower part is designed in such a way that the heat is evenly distributed throughout the foot.
On the market you can find low-quality products that do not meet the declared functions. In this regard, you need to know by what criteria insoles are selected and from which manufacturer.
When choosing heated insoles, you should pay attention to the following details:
- The operating principle of the product is based on a chemical reaction. As a rule, they are disposable and this is their main drawback. Before use, the top layer is removed from the insoles, which leads to the start of a chemical reaction. The validity period of such an insole is no more than 4 hours. The advantage is the simplicity of the device, low price, and therefore accessibility.
- The operating principle is based on a built-in heating element operating from a low-voltage source. This type of insoles is considered the safest, especially since they can be used for a long time. The device takes up little space thanks to its slim design. The model is absolutely safe for humans. In addition, the heating temperature is regulated.
Design
Heated insoles are:
Which indicates technical progress, which was even projected onto the insoles. The design is simple and has no wires, which is what interests many potential customers. The insole is controlled using a remote control. The device has a small battery in its design.
Advantages of such models:
- Can be used with any type of shoe.
- The shelf life is about 3 years, although much depends on the intensity of use.
- Possibility of adjusting temperature conditions.
They differ in that they have a remote control unit connected to the heater using wires. The insole is also connected to the battery with a wire. You can use regular AA batteries as a power source.
Advantages of such models:
- In appearance, this is a regular insole that can fit any shoe.
- The ability to quickly replace the battery, which allows you to warm your feet longer.
- Due to the simplicity of the design, the insole can be adjusted to fit any shoe size.
Heated insoles are absolutely safe and if they get wet, you can simply dry them.
Prices for heated insoles
Prices may vary depending on the manufacturer, and you can purchase them either in a supermarket or in an online store.
Manufacturers of heated insoles
This is a modern wireless product powered by a lithium-ion battery. Warms your feet for 5 hours, after which you need to charge the battery and use it again. Operates from a remote control that controls three operating modes. The product is designed to operate up to 3000 hours.
This development is suitable for various types of shoes and holds heat perfectly. There is a carbon plate inside the insole, and heating comes from a source of infrared radiation. The heating element is located at the top of the insole. The control panel can be mounted on the shin or on the upper side of the shoe. The device runs on batteries, and the charge is controlled on the control unit.
The device includes a battery that is attached to the shin. It works on the principle of an infrared radiation source. The device also includes a sensor that uses battery capacity very economically.
It is very important in winter to feel that you are surrounded by warmth. This is especially true for fishermen who are out in the cold all day. If your feet are warm and do not freeze, then your whole body feels comfortable. As a rule, the feet always freeze first, after which the whole body begins to feel discomfort.
The best option is heated insoles. At the same time, it is worth noting that buying a factory product is an expensive pleasure, although the choice is huge. Don't despair, because you can make them yourself.
To do this, you should stock up on the following elements:
- Felt insoles and 60 cm nichrome wire.
- MGTF wire 0.2 mm 2, about 3 meters.
- Battery compartment for 4 batteries – 2 pieces.
- Three-position switch – 2 pieces.
- Mini-connector – 2 pieces (socket + plug).
- Crimping sleeve 0.2 mm 2 – 4 pieces.
- Heat shrink tube – 1 m.
- Velcro.
- Glue.
If all the elements are prepared, then you can begin to independently manufacture such a useful device. For heating, thin nichrome wire is used here. The device runs on several batteries, the capacity of which is enough for several hours of continuous operation.
When the device is working, the nichrome will be hot, but you should not panic. Before installing the nichrome thread, it should be tested for heating by connecting it to a power source. If the wire gets very hot, it can be lengthened, and if it gets too hot, it can be shortened. In any case, even the slightest heating will be enough to prevent your feet from freezing. The average current consumption from 2 batteries should be approximately 270 mA. In this case, it is easy to choose the capacity of the power source that will provide comfort for your feet throughout the day.
The MGTF wire should be secured to the nichrome using crimp sleeves. The sleeve is put on the nichrome, after which the stripped end of the wire is inserted here. Crimping can be done using pliers. The length of the wire is taken with a margin. After final assembly of the device, the excess wire will be removed.
The most crucial moment here is to correctly position the heating element (nichrome). At the same time, it should be remembered that the fingers are always the first to freeze, so the heating element should be carefully secured along the entire perimeter of the insole, and especially in its toe. The MGTF wire is attached to the side of the insole, after which a heat-shrinkable tube is stretched over it. Well, finally, the wire is soldered to the mini-connector. The insoles are ready, so you can begin installing the battery compartment. One cell of the compartment should serve to house the second part of the mini-connector, as well as a three-position switch. All connections are carefully soldered and filled with hot glue. On the reverse side you need to drill a couple of holes for attaching Velcro. That's it, homemade heated insoles are ready to use.
Without heat, especially in winter, and even when fishing, it is very difficult to survive the whole day, especially in severe frosts. If your feet are constantly warm, then warming up your body will not be a problem at all, and heated insoles will help with this.
One way to stay warm in winter is with heated insoles. To make the right choice, it is worth understanding the varieties of such insoles and the operating principles of each of their types.
Varieties and principle of operation
According to the principle of operation, heating insoles can be divided into two categories: chemical and with a heating element inside.
Chemical heated insoles
These insoles are disposable. They are usually sold in sealed packaging. They can be made in the form of insoles or as a small bag with a self-adhesive side - to secure directly in a frozen place, usually in the area of the toes. The package must be opened and, if indicated in the instructions, shaken so that the chemical reaction starts immediately. After this, you need to put the insoles into the shoes or glue them to the sock, depending on the rules provided by the manufacturer.
Typically the heating effect lasts 4-6 hours. Some companies, for example, Toe Warmer, offer up to 8 hours of operation and an estimated temperature of 50°, and “Warm Up” insoles - 6 hours and a temperature of 38-45°.
Heating is possible thanks to iron powder, which, when oxidized, releases heat. Sodium chloride and salt inhibit this process to eliminate the possibility of burns. In addition, the insole may contain activated carbon or small sawdust; their purpose is to absorb excess moisture and unpleasant odors. The outer surface of the insole is coated with a compound that prevents heat dissipation outward.
Typically, the heating temperature of these insoles is not as high as we would like - but this is a matter of choice of manufacturer and price. For example, expensive Japanese heated insoles provide a reliable temperature of about 50° for 6 hours. At the same time, Chinese analogues are only capable of 38-40°, while the operating time can be quite short - 2-4 hours. The price of a quality product may be higher than expected.
A prerequisite for use is air circulation in the shoes. If the shoes fit too tightly, the warmth from the insoles will not be felt. Oxygen is necessary for the oxidation of iron - thanks to this chemical reaction, a warming effect is possible. With the exception of this nuance, the insoles are suitable for any shoes.
Chemical insoles are intended for one-time use. For some, this is a drawback, because if there is a need to warm your feet every day, you need to buy many sets at once. On the other hand, this option is suitable for those who do not want to monitor the battery charge level. At the same time, disposable insoles are perfect for those who do not need such heating often: for example, when going with friends on a winter picnic once a year, or for skiing occasionally. The scheme is as simple as possible: buy, stick, warm up, remove and throw away.
Another plus is that the insoles are comfortable and almost invisible. No batteries, accumulators or wires. Some varieties can be "restarted" with water. However, you should not expect a significant result: a couple of hours at most and the outlet temperature is 30-35°. Unlike other insoles, the minimum size of which is 35, chemical insoles can be inserted into children's shoes.
Insoles with heating element
Another type of heated insoles differs in that the heating is carried out by a metal thread or plate that is powered by batteries or an accumulator. Based on the location of the battery, this type of insoles can be divided into two categories:
- Wireless. The battery is built directly into the insole.
- Wired. The insoles have a remote mount for batteries.
Wireless
The battery of such insoles is located directly inside, usually in the heel. A thread or plate is powered from it, depending on the manufacturer and model. Usually this heating element is located under the toes, because they are the first to freeze, but there are models where a strip of metal runs along the entire foot. Both the battery and the heating element are contained in a shell that distributes heat evenly, minimizing heat loss.
The temperature of the insoles can reach 51°, and the operating time and service life depend on the battery. In order to charge it, it will take no more than 4 hours, but it can work up to 10.
The advantages of wireless heated insoles include a certain durability compared to disposable insoles, and the fact that no wires get in the way, creating the risk of breakage. You can control the heating using the remote control - it’s convenient; you can adjust the temperature or turn them off altogether, for example, when entering a room. Models that do not have a remote control can be turned off only by removing the insoles from the shoes; this is not very convenient. The battery can be replaced with regular batteries if necessary. The insoles are not afraid of moisture, but if you get your feet very wet (for example, drown the insoles in a lake), the battery will stop working and the insoles will turn into regular ones.
More precisely, not quite ordinary - and that’s about the disadvantages. The battery is definitely thicker than a regular insole. Because of this, the heel is noticeably higher than the toes, and this is not always convenient. Although insoles can be reduced by one or two sizes by cutting along the dotted lines with scissors, it is not always easy to guess the right one. You will most likely need a shoe size or two larger. The battery operates cyclically, and the operating cycles of two insoles may differ - one heats, the other “rests”. Some types of insoles turn on when you press on the heel - this is not suitable for cyclists, fishermen and hunters in ambush. If the heating element is a metal plate running through the entire insole, there is a risk of breaking it, this can happen faster than it seems.
The battery, like any other battery, does not like shock. Therefore, you should not jump on rocks from great heights wearing these insoles. It is important to avoid tearing or deforming the insole guard.
Wired insoles
This type of heated insoles is very similar to the previous one, except that the battery is located outside. From the heating element there is a wire, which from different manufacturers can be from 40 cm to 60 cm long. At the other end of the wire there is a block into which batteries are inserted. Blazewear models have a power regulator on this block. With its help you can control the temperature, turn the heating on or off.
On the positive side, we can note the maximum operating time - up to 11 hours with one battery and a set of batteries.
The thickness of the insole does not differ from the usual one, and the size can be reduced with scissors up to 35. Heating is not cyclical, but constant - the temperature depends on the selected mode. The service life of the insoles depends on the battery, which can later be replaced.
The battery is placed on the shin. On the one hand, this is a plus - nothing gets in the way inside the boot. The risk of breaking the wire is small, but still there. The worst thing in this situation is that the insoles will stop working. Moreover, they are designed so that there is no risk of spontaneous combustion. You can jump and run in these insoles without fear of damaging the battery. The Ohm can be attached to the leg or to the inside of a boot or shoe.
Still, you still need to get used to the additional detail on the shin. In this case, a lot depends on the fastening. If it is an elastic band, it is important that the leg is not pulled too tightly - this will impede blood flow. If the batteries are attached with Velcro, they must be quite reliable - that is, the length of the adhesive part is at least 5 cm.
How to choose heated insoles?
Before you go to the store for heating insoles, you need to determine their purpose. If you need them every day, it makes sense to invest in products with a heating element. If such help is needed only from time to time, you can purchase several packages of good quality chemical insoles. If there is a risk of breaking the wire, for example when traveling over rough terrain, it may be better to stick with cordless options.
The best option is if the manufacturer has a service center where you can view and try on the insole and ask any questions that concern you.
Another important point regarding insoles with a heating element is the battery. Is it possible to replace wireless insoles? This is usually rare. If it is specific, then what is the probability of finding a suitable one in three years? It may be worth giving preference to insoles that can be powered by universal batteries or batteries. If we are talking about wired insoles, you need to check the fastening - its reliability, convenience and practicality.
Care and operation
There is one rule that applies to all three types of insoles - you must not break the protective casing. Although most insoles can tolerate a certain amount of moisture, it is best not to test them for water tolerance - although products with a remote battery have a better chance in this regard.
When you get home, it’s better to take out the insoles. If they were wet, let them dry and charge them. Do not allow kinks or tension on the wire - this can shorten its service life.
Review of heated insoles manufacturers
ThermaCell wireless insoles are powered by a lithium-ion battery, a full charge of which provides 5 hours of comfortable heating. To adjust the temperature, the kit includes a small remote control with three settings. The insoles can be adjusted to five sizes.
Wired Blasewear insoles also have three settings, which can be controlled on a remote battery. Can be adjusted to any shoe size. Temperatures can reach up to 51°, which is necessary only in critical frosts. At the same time, infrared radiation helps improve blood circulation, which is a tangible advantage - after all, heating will be not only from the outside, but also from the inside.
Similar properties are also found in DiClime insoles, the battery of which is attached to the ankle. They are equipped with a sensor, thanks to which it is possible to save battery power.
How to make heated insoles with your own hands
There are no particular difficulties in constructing wired insoles, so if you have some skills, you can make them yourself. For this you will need:
- felt insoles;
- nichrome thread with a diameter of 0.2-0.3 mm;
- 3 meters of wire – multi-wire, single-phase, insulated will do;
- mini jack connector and plug (2 sets);
- compartment for four batteries
- thread with needle
- fastening for batteries - Velcro is ideal;
- crimp sleeves;
- switch;
- hot melt adhesive.
Before assembling the insoles, you need to take the nichrome of the expected length, wrap it in a thin cloth and squeeze it with your palms. If the temperature is too high, it is better to increase the length, if on the contrary, reduce it.
After this, the nichrome needs to be secured to the insole with a needle and thread in the place where the foot usually freezes. In this case, it is better to bring the ends to the inside. This end needs to be connected to the wire; a crimp sleeve is suitable for this. A plug is soldered to the other end of the wire. The length of the wire should be about half a meter.
After this, the battery pack is assembled. Three batteries are used, the unit is needed for four, since the charging connector and switch are inserted into the fourth. The elements are soldered and glued. Ideally, you need a cover that protects the batteries from loss; if you don’t have one, you can attach them with rubber bands.
Velcro is attached to the block. This can be done by simply gluing it to the body or drilling holes and pulling it through - whichever is convenient. The main thing is that the length of the fastening is enough for comfortable placement on the leg.
DIY heated insoles - video
Watch a detailed video with instructions for making heating insoles with your own hands from a true professional here:
Heated insoles are definitely a comfortable and useful thing. You can choose them based on your own preferences and price category, or make them yourself. In any case, comfort, reduction of colds, cystitis and other ailments will more than offset possible costs.
Many of us are familiar with the situation of shoes that are wet or frozen from the inside. This phenomenon can lead to colds and aching joints. Conventional insulated insoles made of synthetic fur or padding polyester have an accumulation effect. When they are wet, they are not easy to dry and it takes time. What if you equip them with heating? Then you will hardly have to dry them, and your feet will always be warm.
Today we offer an improvised version of such miracle insoles with electric heating. Their design will help keep your feet warm for quite a long time. They dry literally in a matter of minutes, and maintaining a stable temperature will prevent ordinary insoles from getting wet from small cracks in the shoes.
Operating principle of heated insoles
In his invention, the author decided to make do with a heating element based on varnished copper wire, used for windings of transformers and various inductors. Having experimentally calculated its length relative to the supplied battery voltage, a heating platform was made under the main covering of conventional insoles. The insulation layer between the layers of the insole is made of hot glue. A button-switch with batteries is attached in the area of the laces on the tongue of the shoe.
Necessary elements and tools for homemade work
Materials:- Copper wire;
- Insole template;
- Thin cardboard, paper;
- Batteries – 2 pcs;
- Connector - socket for power connection;
- Wire cutter and stripper;
- Switch button;
- Universal diode;
- Wires, small heat-shrinkable tubes, electrical tape.
- Soldering iron;
- Hot glue gun;
- Scissors;
- Wire cutters.
Insoles manufacturing process
Cutting out the insoles
The device is a multilayer insole, the lower part of which is a heating platform. For it we need thin thick cardboard. It should be able to withstand walking, so it's best to choose something more abrasion-resistant.
We take the template of our insole and mark the platform according to it. It should be approximately one size smaller than regular insoles. We process the edges of this insole platform with a hole punch along the entire perimeter. This will additionally secure the heating element and prevent it from slipping while walking.
Winding the heater winding
The intensity of the wire winding regulates the amount of heating of a specific zone of the insole heater, and it can be calculated individually. The author has marked the insole so that the maximum heat is on the toe, the average heat is on the heel area, and the lowest heat is in the middle of the foot. In accordance with the chosen scheme, we wind the turns of the heater winding, measuring the length of the wire to 10 m.
We mark the protective layers of the heater on plain paper according to the template and cut them out. We glue the heating platform on both sides with paper insoles using hot glue.
Don’t forget to bring the ends of both winding contacts out. We connect them with insulated wires, solder the connection and seal it with heat-shrinkable tubes.
We supplement the circuit with batteries with a power socket and a button
We connect the batteries by connecting them in parallel with soldered contacts. We glue the battery cases with electrical tape.
We solder the switch button with a diode and a power socket according to the diagram (photo 2). We place them on the battery case and hide them with several layers of electrical tape.
We insert the heating platform into the shoes and cover them with regular insoles. The author suggests hiding the battery housing between the laces and tongue of the sneakers.
This is due to the weak base and fragility of the heater.
These materials can be replaced with artificial leather, felt, lavsan, etc. And instead of copper wire, use nichrome or carbon thread for heated floors. Insulation of the heating element will also not hurt, and the batteries, the ability to adjust and turn off the heating, can be brought closer to your hands. In general, there is something to work on.Such homemade products are valuable for those who like to make things with their own hands. They can be remade, modified and changed at your discretion, based on the principle of the device. Otherwise, every home craftsman has a free path to creativity and his own discoveries.
It will be useful for all those people whose feet are constantly cold. Of course, these are, first of all, fishermen and hunters; we also cannot forget about the sellers in the markets who stand in the cold for days. Such insoles can be used not only in winter, but also in spring, autumn or even summer, on rainy days. With them, your feet will always be warm and dry, and this is the key to health. The device works very simply, and anyone can do it.
How do heated insoles work?
The author used a nichrome thread with a diameter of 0.2 mm and a length of 25.5 cm as a heating element. As a result of measurements, it was found that such a piece of wire has a resistance of 8.9 Ohms. In total, the system uses two modes, one provides for operation from two batteries, and the second from three. In the first case, the insoles will be constantly warm. And the third case is needed to make them hot, but not a state of discomfort or burn. Before installation, it is recommended to do a test run in both modes.
In order to check whether the nichrome is the optimal length, you need to put the wire in a handkerchief or other similar fabric, and then, connecting it to the battery, hold it between your palms. If it gets too hot in your hands, the length of the wire needs to be increased. Thus, you can choose the optimal heating temperature for the insoles.
When operating two AA batteries, the calculated current will be about 270 mA, and from three about 400 mA. Based on these figures and knowledge of the capacity of the batteries used, you can calculate the operating time of the insoles before discharge.
Materials and tools for assembling a homemade product:
- nichrome wire with a diameter of 0.2 mm (length 60 cm);
- two felt insoles;
- about three meters of MGTF wire;
- compartment for installing four AA batteries;
- three position switch;
- two sets of mini jack connectors (plug with socket);
- four crimp sleeves (0.2 mm sq.);
- 1 m of heat shrink tube;
- strips of fabric with a Velcro-type lock;
- hot glue.
Homemade assembly process:
Step one. Connect the wire to the nichrome
To connect the MGTF wire 0.2 mm. sq. The author used crimp sleeves for nichrome. First, the sleeve is put on the nichrome, and then its end must be inserted into the stranded MGTF, cleared of insulation. A sleeve is installed at the joint and then crimped. A special crimping tool is well suited for these purposes, but all this can be done just fine with pliers. The length of the wires is taken such that it is 50 cm from the insole.
Where to lay the wire, everyone decides for themselves, depending on which part of the leg is cold. The author's toe is cold, so nichrome is placed in the front of the shoe. You can see in the photo exactly how to lay the wire.
Step two. Fixing the wire
To fix the wire, you can use thread and a needle. It must be carefully sheathed to form the desired pattern. As for the other end of the wire, a headphone plug is soldered to it for quick connection to a power source.
Step three. Installing the battery compartment and testing the device
The author uses three batteries in total, but the case is chosen to accommodate four. One compartment is used to install a switch and a mini jack socket. After soldering, the elements are fixed in place using hot glue. If it so happens that there is no cover on the battery compartment, then this is not a problem; the batteries can be pressed with a rubber band.
In order to fix the power source on the leg, you need to drill holes on the other side of the compartment, using them to attach a piece of tape with Velcro. Now
These are winter insoles with autonomous heating from the battery with adjustable temperature.
What materials are used for this product?
During production, several important principles were taken into account. Firstly, the base of the insole should be made of a material that does not conduct heat well. This is necessary to ensure that there is no heat leakage down to the sole. Accordingly, there should be good heat transfer upward towards the foot. Therefore, to create this useful product with my own hands, I used ordinary felt insoles 5 millimeters thick.
To save on energy costs, it was decided to place the heating element only in the front part of the insole, that is, only where the feet will touch. For this purpose, a nichrome thread 48 centimeters long was used, the wire cross-section was 0.3 millimeters. This is a nichrome thread from a 300 Watt heating device. This is the thinnest wire that the author has found. Purchased at a regular hardware store for 20 rubles.
The temperature is set by a voltage regulator purchased from this Chinese store. Go and write in the search: Voltage regulator from 4 volts. In the same store you can buy ready-made heated insoles.
How the master combined all the parts into finished insoles
The nichrome wire was laid across the insole so that when bending there would be no creases or displacement of the wires. The wire is evenly sewn to the base. In some places double-sided tape is glued so that a second layer can be installed. It is made of genuine leather, which is a fairly dense material that transfers heat very well from the thread to the feet with minimal heat loss and can withstand the heating of the threads themselves. The seams will run between the wires.
After the firmware is completed, the excess parts will be cut off and the insole can be prepared for further installation. Two ends of 2 centimeters each are brought out from the insole. The thread is laid in a zigzag, the distance between the strips is 2 centimeters, in the nose part it is 1.5 centimeters each.
We take two pieces of stranded wire 1.5 meters long. In this case, a wire for car audio was used. It is of very high quality, flexible and less dull in the cold. The wire cross-section is 0.05 millimeters. We connect this wire to the insole. In order to make the connection as thin as possible, it is twisted and clamped with a metal sleeve.
The whole thing is covered with heat-shrinkable insulation on top. We lay the wire, sew it along the bottom side with regular threads to the middle of the sole.
So, the insoles are ready, stitched, wires are connected. It turns out neat. If possible, you can put another insole, sew it or glue it. This will significantly reduce heat loss.
Next, measure the required length of wire and cut off the excess. Now we connect the insoles in series to the required connections. You can use regular connections purchased from a car dealer.
We measure 15 centimeters and make two cuts. There is one such connection on each insole. We install the remaining part of the entire structure.
Detachable connections create convenience in that you can quickly disconnect the contacts and change shoes and dry the insoles.
Power supply for electric insoles
The entire shoe heating circuit is powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery with a voltage of 7.2 volts, 5000 milliamps per hour. Operating time from 5 to 11 hours of continuous operation. The power source may be different. The degree of heating of the insoles depends on the voltage and current. Heating is noticeable from 4 volts. High-quality work from 5-12 volts. The maximum operating temperature is 60 degrees, this is an excessive temperature, but the material can withstand it. The battery and regulator are attached to a leather strap and attached to the waistband.
Heating depending on the regulated voltage (approximately):
4V-0.6A=23-27 C
5V-0.7A=27-32 C
6V-0.8A=32-35 C
7V-0.9A=35-37 C
8V-1A=40-42 C
12V-1.3A=65 C
