Battery Heated Socks

[StreetDragster]

Hi All,

Anyone any experiance with battery heated socks? Are they worthwhile etc etc?

I find the biggest end to my flying, is that my feet are too cold. So this year i'm going to get some fur lined rigger boots instead of my wellies, and hopefully some heated socks.

Looking on ebay, there seems to be some cheap ones at £20, and some expensive ones up at £80-£120. The cheap ones using 'D cell' batteries, the expensive ones using rechargable lipos.

I'm looking at the cheap ones, and hopefully at some point, converting it somehow to lipo using old packs. However, D cells are 1.5v and the Lipos are 3.7v, so i don't know how that would pan out.

Thanks

Matt

[Paulo uk]

Hope the chaep ones dont melt your feet mate!?

Ive just bought a transmitter muff too!

[StreetDragster]

I've got one of them, some don't like them but mine works for me, wouldn't be without it in winter. Might upgrade it with some gas hand warmers in the pockets this year

But my feet just end up like blocks of ice in no time, probably the lack of movement, i don't think i can nose in land whilst doing the riverdance so heated socks look to be the answer

[Kozmyk]

Lol, I thought from the title that it was heated socks for warming up lipos.
Got it backwards ...

[Sao]

Thick walking / hiking socks and some Decent walking boots will be 100 fold better than wellies. Riggers boots are ok but no where near as good as the walking / hiking combo. I wear riggers on site all the time and even the expensive decent lined ones don't work as well as proper 'outdoorsy' boots and socks.
The heated sock things are ok but they don't last all day unlike decent socks and boots do

[Janek]

[Kozmyk]

I was Sooo lucky, the Mrs found me a pair of Meindl boots in a charity shop.
Nubuck outer, leather lined, padded, insulated ...
I practically live in them.

If these ever wear out, and they don't seem to be wearing much at all, I'll be buying new Meindls for sure.

[maderdog_1024]

i use Haix blue ridge chainsaw boots, I was a linesman for the elecy company and they were standard issue. they go halfway up shin and keep feet warm and dry.

ebay arborist boots
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[StreetDragster]

Cheers for all replies, i'll look into all leads.

Going away from the rigger/sock combo and researching the cold weather hiking boot style boots, would these being a decent buy? Similar in price to riggers

MENS STUNNING TRESPASS SNOW BOOTS SIZE 10 RRP £60 BLACK on eBay (end time 20-Oct-10 15:37:51 BST)

Or what about 'moon' boots

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Campri-Adult-M...item2eb0246ce5

I don't do much cold weather walking etc, so these will generally be used for model flying, standing for long periods of time, stationary, on cold/icey/damp grass/mud. Plus occasionally walking in snow, if we have a similar winter to last year.

Thanks
Matt

[Ewan]

I agree with what others have said about decent boots and I also know someone from my kite flying days that used to swear by seal skinz waterproof/breathable socks at the best way to keep his feet warm during a winters day flying. Not tried them myself but I trust that chaps judgement. They are not cheap for sock but probably better than battery powered ones which I reckon will be a bit of a gimmick.

SealSkinz Mid Thermal Socks, Black - 0800SPORTS

[maderdog_1024]

try to go for a long boot and it wont stop you flying in snow :-)

[Ewan]

try to go for a long boot and it wont stop you flying in snow :-)

What about take off and landing, would that not hurt the heli?

[maderdog_1024]

What about take off and landing, would that not hurt the heli?

didnt stop us in the winter.

we just trampled down a part and made a heli pad.

we fitted skis to our planes too and they worked really well.

[Sao]

Whatever boot style you decide on make sure you go and actually try a pair on in a shop.

[scallybert]

Altbergs are proper Yorkshire boots...

Seem very good, but not cheap. Then again, it reminds me of the Jack Dee sketch.

Another thing to bear in mind is that cold hands &/or feet are possibly a symptom of a cold body. [IIRC, your body then reduces blood flow to extremities to conserve heat.]

So an extra/better jacket or fleece might help. Or better trousers.

Replace the welingtons, though.