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This winter, cold toes are a thing of the past. There are tons of heated socks out there that can provide the same warmth as a toe warmer, or more. You don’t have to worry about an annoying bulge in your sock and you can simply recharge and reuse. These socks have heating coils built into the fabric that you can control from an external battery, or sometimes even an app. Let’s take a look at the top contenders and talk about what to look for to find the best heated socks for you.
How I Tested the Best Heated Socks
During my test of the best heated socks, I fully charged the socks and fired them up to high heat. I left them all on the highest setting to see how quickly the battery drains. Then, I pitted them against each other, bracket style. I put one sock on each foot, walked around in them, and put on shoes to compare their comfort and heat levels. Then, I swapped out the loser to determine the warmest pairs. I also made note of where the heating elements are located and how easy they were to control. Because your feet can sweat and chill again, I also made note of any wool content in the socks, which is one of the best materials for wicking moisture and trapping heat.
Most companies making heated socks choose a calf length, likely because if you need heated socks, you could use the extra length and warmth. In this article I’ll highlight my favorite heated socks and discuss what to look for when you’re shopping to end cold toes for good.
Best Heated Socks: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: iHood Heated Socks
Key Features
- Three heat settings
- Battery Life: 3 hours on high
- Heat Zones: Ring around forefoot
- Materials: 100 percent nylon
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Price: $90
Pros
- Very warm
- Button and app control
- Button displays battery life
- App has a timer
- Machine washable
Cons
These heated socks from iHood were the warmest in my test. The 360 degree heating element wraps around the forefoot keeping your entire foot warm. These socks are also Bluetooth compatible and can be controlled by a button on the sock which also displays the battery level. The app allows you to control the temperature in 21 increments spanning 86 to 158 degrees. The three settings available on the physical button are also shown separately in the app as 104, 122, and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a flash heat feature that turns the socks all the way up for 10 minutes, then turns off automatically. You can also set the socks to turn off on a timer up to 120 minutes later. The Warm Uping app also shows each sock’s perspective battery life. The iHood heated socks are warm, convenient to use, and not too expensive at $90 full price. If you’re looking for an all-activity sock that’s comfy enough to wear around the house, check out the iHood.
Best Value: Relirelia Heated Socks
Key Features
- Three heat settings
- Battery Life: 3 hours on high
- Heat Zones: Ring around forefoot
- Materials: 22.5 percent viscose fiber, 52.5 percent nylon, 10 percent polyester, 15 percent spandex
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Price: $57
Pros
- Pretty warm
- Affordable
- Bluetooth capable
- App has a timer
Cons
- Not wool
- Only lasts 2 hours on the highest setting
- Tiny button on battery to control heat levels without app
I took a look at a few unfamiliar Amazon brands with names stuck in caps-lock to see if these affordable heated socks were worth it. RELIRELIA was the only one that impressed me. First, it isn’t one size fits all, which is a ridiculous concept when it comes to socks. The socks really do Bluetooth connect to an app that I found via a QR code in the included instruction pamphlet. You can control the three heat settings or fluctuate through a range of 95 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit. And there’s a timer. These socks are also actually pretty warm. The heat was stronger than a hand warmer but not as aggressive as the iHood, Gerbing, or eWool products. I wasn’t bothered by the heating elements around the forefoot either.
The batteries are a little confusing. They blink green to indicate the power level, but one blinked while it charged and the other didn’t. But both batteries charged and lasted about two hours on the highest setting. You can toggle between three heat settings on the battery itself by clicking the tiny power button. If you’re looking for heated socks that actually work, but won’t break the bank, check these out.
Best Sock Covers: eWool Heated Sock Covers with SnapConnect
Key Features
- Three heat settings
- Battery Life: 4.5 hours on high
- Heat Zones: Toe box
- Materials: 87 percent polyester, 13 percent elastane
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Price: $359
Pros
- Very warm
- Control button that vibrates when settings are changed
- Don’t have to wash as frequently as socks
- Don’t have to take the battery out to charge
Cons
- Tight compression
- Hand wash only
- Expensive
If you already have a favorite winter sock, and don’t want to switch, eWool’s heated sock covers could be for you. You also won’t have to wash them as often because they go over your socks. This was the warmest product in my test. But the iHood and Gerbing Ultimate heated socks sit next to your skin, while eWool’s sock covers heat through your sock. I love how warm they are and that they have an open heel. However, my toes feel compressed in the slender toe box. My calf also feels pinched where non-slip material at the top grabs your sock to prevent slouching. I would consider sizing up to avoid this issue. An added convenience is not having to dig out the battery to charge your socks; simply connect the entire thing to the charger. The control button also vibrates when you change settings, limiting the possibility of you bumping them into a different heat level unknowingly.
Best for Skiing: Gerbing 7V Ultimate Wool Heated Socks
Key Features
- Three heat settings
- Battery Life: 3 hours on high
- Heat Zones: Bottom of foot
- Materials: 32 percent wool, 31 percent nylon, 20 percent acrylic, 12 percent polyester, 3 percent spandex, and 2 percent rubber
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Price: $190
Pros
- Very warm
- Button controls setting and displays battery level
- 32 percent wool
- Machine washable, includes mesh wash bag
Cons
- Can feel heating elements on bottom of foot
- Unique charger
The Gerbing 7V Ultimate wool heated socks are one of the warmest socks in my test. They get toasty on the highest setting and last three hours on heat blast. This high heat and wool content makes this sock great for skiing. The wool traps that heat and wicks away moisture, too. The only issue is that you can feel the heating elements on the bottom of your foot. They are subtle, but if you’re sensitive to foreign feelings in your boot, these could bug you.
The batteries also need a unique charger, not a micro USB or USB-C. But they’re machine washable and Gerbing includes a mesh bag to wash them in. If you’re looking for maximum warmth and wool, give these a shot for whatever snow sport you’re into.
Best for Hunting: ActionHeat AA Wool Battery Heated Socks
Key Features
- One heat setting
- Battery Life: 3 hours
- Heat Zones: Top of toes
- Materials: 50 percent wool, 48.5 percent cotton, and 1.5 percent spandex
- Battery: Three AAs each
- Price: $50
Pros
- Warm
- Wool
- Recommended hand wash only. But you can use the included mesh bag to machine wash
Cons
These socks are super simple to use in the field. Instead of rechargeable battery packs, these socks take three AA batteries each. That way, if you’re at hunt camp or in a blind without access to a charger, you can pop in some replacements and keep heating. I used fresh Kroger brand batteries to test the battery life, but I would recommend getting rechargeable batteries in the interest of cost effectiveness and not burning through batteries.
The heat zone is small on these, but it’s about as hot as a hand or toe warmer, without the annoying bulge. I like that I can’t feel any heating elements underfoot, but my feet stay warm. There’s only one setting so you won’t have to fiddle with them while you’re sitting in a treestand. Just push the button and enjoy three hours of warm feet.
Therm-ic Sock Set Fusion Uni S-1400B
Key Features
- Three heat settings
- Battery Life: 3.5 hours on high
- Heat Zones: Forefoot and toes
- Materials: 15 percent merino wool, other materials not available
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Price: $399.95
Pros
- Can control socks from button or app
- Motion control and eco mode in the app
- Some wool
Cons
Therm-ic’s app is pretty cool because you can use motion control and eco mode functions. Motion control senses if you’re moving and will drop the socks’ 10 digit temperate settings your desired amount. While I couldn’t trick the app into thinking I was in motion by just moving my feet in place, it picks up within seconds when I’m actually moving around or at rest. You can also turn the socks and LED light on and off from the app.
While the app is a great idea, the socks’ actual warmth is very subtle. It’s much less than a hand warmer and only measured 104 degrees Fahrenheit with a digital probe thermometer. These socks are best if you plan to use them while active.
Fieldsheer Premium 2.0 Merino Heated Socks
Key Features
- Four heat settings
- Battery Life: 3.5 hours on high
- Heat Zones: Forefoot
- Materials: 50 percent merino wool, 12.5 percent polyester, 0.9 percent spandex, and 2.5 percent rubber at the top near the battery
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Price: $80
Pros
- Bluetooth capable
- 37 percent wool
Cons
- Can’t control heat settings without the app
- Subtle warmth
- Can feel heating elements under foot
These merino wool socks feature one heating panel on the forefoot. It’s relatively small, but the material is noticeable. If you are sensitive to foreign objects in your boots, this one could bug you. The heat is also subtle, but you can control it from an app instead of fumbling around your layers to get to the sock button.
The Rest of the Field
I originally included three other products in my test of the best heated socks. Weston’s heated socks were removed from testing because one battery wouldn’t turn on, so I tried to recharge it and the plastic casing split open, resulting in an exposed battery and a safety hazard. I also tried out pairs from FunDadYus and MraWarm. The FunDadYus heated socks claim to be one size fits all and bluetooth compatible, but the pair marked XL that they sent me certainly didn’t fit my women’s size 8 feet. The warmth was very subtle and I couldn’t locate the app they were supposed to connect to online, on the packaging, or in the instruction pamphlet. MraWarm’s heated socks require 3 AA batteries each, which I’d only recommend if you own rechargeables. The heat was very subtle with only one setting and the socks have no wool content.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Heated Socks
Warmth
If you’re looking to buy heated socks, obviously you are concerned with warmth. I listed my subjective heat level for each pair ranging from subtle warmth to warm to pretty warm to very warm. Subtle warmth was listed in the cons section because I found those to be a little lackluster for my cold feet. Warm meant I felt like the sock was on par with a hand or toe warmer you could throw in your boot, though without the added pressure of a foreign object. Pretty warm means I likely wouldn’t need the highest setting while active. And very warm means I likely wouldn’t need the highest setting at all.
Also keep in mind where the heating panels are located, as this makes a huge difference. I found the ring around the forefoot to be the most effective heat placement and they were less likely to be distracting. I also appreciated Action Heat’s top of toe heating zone.
I’d like to caution against relying solely on heated socks for warmth in the backcountry. Any battery powered device is subject to fail. Maybe you spill your water bottle on the battery pack; maybe it dies. Maybe a squirrel chews through the wire. You never know what can happen and heated socks are not an excuse to improperly layer.
Read Next: How to Layer for Hiking
Controls
When you have pants and maybe thermals on over your socks, it’s harder to get to the control button. I appreciated the socks with the option to use manual controls or a Bluetooth compatible app most. Though, if you set your socks on a low and steady temperature, you might not even need to mess with it.
Battery Life
I tested the batteries on all of these socks at the highest setting to make sure they perform as advertised. On the warmer socks, the batteries will last longer because you won’t need to use the highest setting the whole time.
FAQs
Q: Are heated socks worth the money?
If recreating outside becomes impossible in the winter because your feet are too cold, heated socks are 100 percent worth the money.
Q: What should I look for when buying heated socks?
Look at where the heating panels are located, what fabric the sock is made of, and the battery life to determine which would be the best fit for you. You don’t want the heating panels to be distracting but you also want the cold parts of your foot to receive heat. To properly layer your heated socks, you’ll want to make sure it’s made of quality material so you aren’t relying solely on the heating element. And take battery life into account so you aren’t taken by surprise when your socks die.
Q: Do you wash heated socks?
Yes, you should wash heated socks as needed. Wool socks should have to be washed less thanks to wool’s natural odor. Most of the socks on this list came with mesh bags to contain the socks in the washer for a more delicate cycle. Remember to take the batteries out before washing.
Final Thoughts on the Best Heated Socks
Heated socks are a great way to power through the colder temps while hiking, hunting, snowshoeing, and more. If you’re looking for quality heated ski socks that are really warm and convenient to use, the iHood heated socks are the way to go. If you don’t trust socks that aren’t wool, then try the Gerbing Ultimates because they’re also very warm and contain 32 percent wool. And if you want to stay toasty on a budget, the Relirelia heated socks from Amazon performed as advertised.
