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Okay, couldn't find any threads on these. Anyone try these? I'm wondering if it's worth it instead of buying winter shoes or would they not be warm enough. Anyway, some real world experience would be nice.
http://www.sidiusa.com/winter.html#a
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Cute. Pricey, but that is usually the way it is with gadgets like these. Chances are, if you live in an area rugged enough where something like heated insoles would be worth their price and the hassle of charging them before uses, then neccessity has already forced you to figure another solution. That something may well be the bus!
H
Wow, those are expensive. There are cheap disposable chemical foot warmers that cost around 10 for 30 USD. But I've heard that the chemical warmers have a tendency to be too warm for some riders.
The owner of my LBS is going to test these. I will see if I can get some information after he does.
That price can't be right:eek: . I want them though.
I'm thinking of trying these...
http://www.sahalie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10974&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C6%2C509&iProductID=10974
today was 36 degrees with probably a "bike induced" wind chill down to 30 easy and when I got home after 25 miles my toes were literally frozen numb... two pairs of wooley bullies and PI calientoes on too... it's starting to ruin my winter riding fun. I must have circulation issues in my feet.... I thought it may have been too bulky, but I was fine for a while then they started to get cold when I hit decents and flats at higher speeds.
although, the above insoles may not help with wind protection, maybe they'll just help to retain heat better.
The Sidi Toasters have a built-in thermostat. AND they are remote-controlled. Amazing!
But $300.00 amazing?
Only $150.00 ea. :D
But $300.00 amazing?
Have you ever been on a ride where you would have been happier with a pair of these on your feet and a $300 cheaper bike underneath you?
(I haven't!)
Some cyclists have tons of money - this might be the best option for warm feet - money no object.
Only $150.00 ea. :D
Maybe you could split a pair with a riding buddy. Of course, you'd have to fight over the remote...
Seems a lot of folks can't justify the price on these things.
Well, here's what I think (2cents). If you road and mountain bike during the winter and booties with thick socks just won't do, then I think it's definitely worth looking into. Why? Well two decent pairs of winter shoes (road and mountain), will cost you between $400 and $600 (NW or Sidi). One pair of these is $300. And since you can charge them up to 600 times. They should last you at least 4 years, since you'll use these on the coldest days/nights and only during the winter months.
I fall into the above category, but my dilemna is if these things will actually warm my toes well enough and that they won't fail on me.
It also might be too early to try them out. Maybe the ones that come out in the next few years (if they keep making them) will be cheaper and better.
I'm thinking of trying these...
http://www.sahalie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10974&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C6%2C509&iProductID=10974
today was 36 degrees with probably a "bike induced" wind chill down to 30 easy and when I got home after 25 miles my toes were literally frozen numb... two pairs of wooley bullies and PI calientoes on too... it's starting to ruin my winter riding fun. I must have circulation issues in my feet.... I thought it may have been too bulky, but I was fine for a while then they started to get cold when I hit decents and flats at higher speeds.
although, the above insoles may not help with wind protection, maybe they'll just help to retain heat better.
Let me know how they work if you get them. I'm always weary of insoles since I don't like really thick ones taking up room. I already have a large foot and need all the space I can get. I actually usually take my insoles out of my Sidis during summer riding.
Im going to try some of these (http://www.rei.com/product/2607.htm). Ill buy some of the disposable for long weekend rides.
Sidi is hardly the only people that make heated insoles. That said, if you're paying $3 per heating pad, and you're using two a day during the winter months, you're going to blow through the price of the Sidi in only 50 days. Now, I've looked into this, and you can easily find the chemical foot warmers for around $1/each, but that's still pretty expensive over the long term. I'd find heated insoles to be a pretty attractive solution if the choice was between chemical heaters and heated insoles.
Sidi is hardly the only people that make heated insoles.
Very true. I ended up going with Hotronic M3s (http://www.hotronic.com/products/fw/index_m3.html). They have changed my winter cycling life. I'd be a little leery of the Sidi's "automatic" thermostat. The M3s are user adjustable (4 heat settings) with a separate (and ultimately replaceable) battery pack. With the Sidis, once your 600 cycles are up wouldn't you have to throw them out and start over?
As far as the expense goes - I got mine for less than $200, and along with my light(s) I consider these a truly indispensible piece of winter cycling gear - it was 0 degrees F this morning and I never thought once about my feet for the hour or so I was out.
Keeping the road lit and the feet toasty are the only places I've felt the need to invest much money. Otherwise, thrift stores have been very good to me.
I think those Toasty Feet Insoles from sahalie.com look pretty good. I wonder if my Sidi's are loose enough to fit them.
I think those Toasty Feet Insoles from sahalie.com look pretty good. I wonder if my Sidi's are loose enough to fit them.
I just picked up a pair of the Toasty Feet Insoles, and it didn't make much of a noticable difference. That's not to say they don't help, but it wasn't nearly as big a difference as I would have expected. I imagine it depends a lot on the construction of your shoes, etc. However, I have to say I'm pretty dubious of the theory of heat loss through the cleats. At least with mine they're only attached to the shoe via two small bolts. It seems a lot more likely that I'm losing most of the heat right through the front of the shoe, which is much more poorly insulated than the sole.
On the other hand, I also got a pair of Sealskinz Chillblockers, and those seem to have make a much more dramatic difference. I replaced a pair of thick REI wool socks with a thin liner socks and the Sealskinz and my toes stayed warm the whole way home with it 30F outside, and about 20mph winds, over about an hour ride.
The Sidi Toasters have a built-in thermostat. AND they are remote-controlled. Amazing!
Two more things to break though.
Specq, thank's for that link. I can justify 200 bucks for something that will keep my toes warm. 300 is a bit too steep for me (Sidi's)
what about spending 150 to 300 on some winter riding boots? Bicycling had a little mini review on 3 pairs... anybody try them instead? I would think those would last a lot longer than 4yrs and you would never have to worry about recharging them.
cineill,
Thanks for the feedback on those toasty Feet insoles. It sounds like they are not going to do much.
Thanks for the info on the hotronics insoles. The Sidis are certainly slick, but very limited in application. I agree with other posters about the question of the auto thermostat and also the reliability issue. If the battery on one fails, or the charger fails, or the remote fails; you have lost 300 dollars. The warranty is one year so I'd be worried about them failing after the first season, which for most people would only be 50 -100 rides.
About the Hotronics. They are obviously not as well integrated as the Sidis. Is it a hassle to mount the battery to your leg and run the wires? Could you describe how you have them set up? I also like the fact that they can be used in other shoes such as ski boots or hiking boots. The replaceable batteries are nice and they certainly have much more power than the Sidis. What power level do you usually use? Have you used them in other shoes? Do you use the Hotronics insoles or just your standard insoles? Thanks I appreciate the info!
what about spending 150 to 300 on some winter riding boots? Bicycling had a little mini review on 3 pairs... anybody try them instead? I would think those would last a lot longer than 4yrs and you would never have to worry about recharging them.
I like them, but... they are not well insulated (insulated some but I would prefer more) and I do believe I get a lot of cold coming in through the cleat. They are sized larger than normal Sidi shoes. I like that. I can wear a pair of Smartwool ski socks, thin and tall, with a pair of Smartwool Mountaineering or heavy hiking socks over that. That keeps me warm to about Upper 20s for about an hour. I have begun using Segoi over booties and that keeps me warm to upper teens for about an hour. I also have cold feet so YMMV. I have been very tempted by the Sidi Toaster but worry about failure after the one year warranty. Since they say they are good for 600 charges I wish the warranty was 2 or 3 years. I'm checking into Hotronics.
About the Hotronics. They are obviously not as well integrated as the Sidis. Is it a hassle to mount the battery to your leg and run the wires? Could you describe how you have them set up? I also like the fact that they can be used in other shoes such as ski boots or hiking boots. The replaceable batteries are nice and they certainly have much more power than the Sidis. What power level do you usually use? Have you used them in other shoes? Do you use the Hotronics insoles or just your standard insoles? Thanks I appreciate the info!
Batteries are mounted to the back of my Lake MX300 winter cycling boots using the built-in metal clip (seems very sturdy) that comes on each battery pack. I folded the flat cables into a neat little bundle with just a little slack left over and secured them to the connector with a rubber binder. The rest of the cable runs down inside against the back of the heel cup and under the std insole that came with the boots. I had to slice a hole in the insole for the cable to feed through to the actual heat unit that attached via a peel-off adhesive to the top of the insole. So there was some assembly required, but I'd still call them absolutely hassle-free. I've left them on ever since first installing them, and I hardly even notice them - they certainly don't interfere with taking my boots off or putting them on.
If I get a chance later I'll take some pictures.
I really don't notice the cables nor the extra weight of the battery packs (I did go with the M3 over the M4 because of the smaller size and weight of the pack - and the M3s already give me more run-time overhead than I could possibly ever need). I've had people comment on the LEDs glowing on the back of my heels (extra visibility bonus!) and since I had forgotten I was wearing them, it's taken me a moment to figure out what the heck they were asking about.
Another bonus is that their position is perfect for fitting easily under the cuffs of my rain pants without interfering with the velcro ankle closure. Important on those freezing rainy days. And the extra bulk of the battery pack actually helps keep the pants from riding up.
I usually use the first or second setting. I've used setting 3 just once - during a 0F 1hr morning commute, but I'm sure I would have been fine with just the second setting and a slightly thicker pair of socks.
In the past, the Lakes were simply not a solution that worked for me at anything under 20 degrees - and that's with stuffing as many socks as would fit AND a plastic bag, AND chemical toe warmers (AND anything else I could think of) and still having to defrost the toes upon arrival. Anything colder than that and I was forced to go with sandals and tons of socks - which also took tons of time. Now I just run a thin liner sock and a fairly thin pair of smartwool-type socks, throw on my boots, and I'm done. No defrosting necessary. My feet are as happy as if they were hanging out on an ottoman in front of the fireplace all day.
Frankly, I was a little disappointed in my Lakes. Austinguy's description of his Sidi boots sounds very familiar. But adding the Hotronics has turned my boots into everything I could want from winter cycling footwear.
I haven't put the Hotronics into anything else - and I don't anticipate a need to. It certainly could be done, but if I were to do it, I'd probably get a set of insoles that I could make fit in everything I planned on using them in and transfer the whole thing (insole, heating element, wires & battery pack) rather than try to reinstall them each time.
I appreciate that info on the hotronics. I am ordering some this week!
Hmm... despite the price and poor product description for the Sidis vs. the Hotronics (which provide est. run times based on temp use), I decided upon the Sidi version for the sake of the clean fit in the shoe w/ no wires or clips to worry about. Afterall, I can use this for the road or MTB and I'd hate to damage the battery/wire in the event of a digger on the MTB.
World Cycling Productions was the only place I could find them, but delivery time won't be until early January, so I'll have to wait a while. I hope I won't regret this! Pics and review to follow in a few weeks.
I appreciate that info on the hotronics. I am ordering some this week!
Have they shown up yet? What's the verdict? It was 26F here today, and my feet were still cold, so I'm considering ordering the M4 customs myself.
...I'm considering ordering the M4 customs myself.
Unless you really need 30% more duration, I'd go with the lighter and less bulky M3s (oh wait, I did!)
The M3s last for 3.5-5 hours on setting 3. The M4s go for 5-6.5 hours according to their website. Since I've only needed setting 3 for 0F and colder and I can't imagine wanting to be out for more than 3 hours at a time at those kind of temperatures, the tradeoff for slightly less runtime vs smaller and lighter seemed a good one.
On setting 1 (which I find myself using the most) the M3s go for 15-17 hrs. If they ever find me after I've been out for that long, at least my corpse will have warm feet...
I actually ended up ordering the M4's this afternoon. I figured the bigger size wouldn't be that big a deal, and I probably only need them in the mornings around here. This way on the lower settings I can probably go a week or so before I'd need to charge them, which works well with charging my light and bike computer also.
Hmm... despite the price and poor product description for the Sidis vs. the Hotronics (which provide est. run times based on temp use), I decided upon the Sidi version for the sake of the clean fit in the shoe w/ no wires or clips to worry about. Afterall, I can use this for the road or MTB and I'd hate to damage the battery/wire in the event of a digger on the MTB.
World Cycling Productions was the only place I could find them, but delivery time won't be until early January, so I'll have to wait a while. I hope I won't regret this! Pics and review to follow in a few weeks.
Let us know how they work out. Very, very curious. I'd also rather spend the extra 100 bucks and get something clean and easy to deal with like the Sidi. I'm thinking of going with the Sidi GTX for now.
I like them, but... they are not well insulated (insulated some but I would prefer more) and I do believe I get a lot of cold coming in through the cleat. They are sized larger than normal Sidi shoes. I like that. I can wear a pair of Smartwool ski socks, thin and tall, with a pair of Smartwool Mountaineering or heavy hiking socks over that. That keeps me warm to about Upper 20s for about an hour. I have begun using Segoi over booties and that keeps me warm to upper teens for about an hour. I also have cold feet so YMMV. I have been very tempted by the Sidi Toaster but worry about failure after the one year warranty. Since they say they are good for 600 charges I wish the warranty was 2 or 3 years. I'm checking into Hotronics.
Are you referring to the Sidi Hydro GTX winter shoes for 07? So you're saying that the shoe fits a little larger than other Sidis?
thx.
There was discussion in this thread last year about the Sidi toaster insoles and the hotronic M3 foot heaters. What was the final verdict between these two foot warmers?
Has the winter forum members tried these, and have comments they can provide regarding Sidi Toasters versus hotronics M3?
There was discussion in this thread last year about the Sidi toaster insoles and the hotronic M3 foot heaters. What was the final verdict between these two foot warmers?
Has the winter forum members tried these, and have comments they can provide regarding Sidi Toasters versus hotronics M3?
I haven't used the Sidi, but I'm very happy with the M4's I have. I tend to use them on the highest setting, which has worked well for me with the wind chill down below zero. Last year I had them in a pair of Diadora's Bike Patrol shoes, which worked ok, but they were cheap shoes and wore poorly. I picked up a pair of Lake MXZ 301's at the end of season last year for $75, and I have the M4's in those now, and they're very warm down to freezing, which is as cold as it's gotten here when I've commuted. Lake replaced the MXZ 301's this year, so you might be able to find a pair cheap on close out. Everyone says the Lakes run very narrow, but I've not had a problem with them, and I have very wide feet. However, I am wearing them with thin socks, because that works better with the heated insoles.
thermostat and also the reliability issue. If the battery on one fails, or the charger fails, or the remote fails; you have lost 300 dollars. The warranty is one year so I'd be worried about them failing after the first season, which for most people would only be 50 -100 rides.
Austinguy is on key.
$300 = 8 tanks of petrol. At 2 tanks/month (if driving to work and for errands on weekends) the Sidis will pay for themselves in 4 months. If they fall apart after 1 year, it's a wash financially but you get to ride in comfort instead of hassling with chemical warmers and shoe covers, the only combo that I've found to work for my size 14 feet. Granted, I'm clipless so the cleats/pedals are heat sinks, but I ride fast and can't imagine wearing insulated winter boots on my bike.
Guess we'll find out in 3 years if these things last.
I've been using the Sidi toasters for over a year now with excellent results. The heat output is just enough to keep from losing any heat from you foot through the cleat/pedal connection. I can interchange the toasters among all my shoes depending on what I am riding.
The charge gets me to work and back w/ no problem (2 to 2 1/2 hours of riding). The remote control is small and you can lose it if you are not careful. There is an attachement for you key ring if you desire.
I received them as a gift so the price was not painful for me. There may be other good products, but I would recommend them if you live in a cold climate like me.
I'm thinking of trying these...
http://www.sahalie.com/jump.jsp?itemID=10974&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C6%2C509&iProductID=10974
The description makes them sound a lot like those Dr. Scholls gel insoles they advertise on TV. I bought a pair once (not for biking) but didn't like them because my feet got so hot. Might be a worth a cheap try.
Skip Montanaro
The description makes them sound a lot like those Dr. Scholls gel insoles they advertise on TV. I bought a pair once (not for biking) but didn't like them because my feet got so hot. Might be a worth a cheap try.
I bought a pair, and didn't find that it made any real perceptible difference if it was cold enough that the cold really bothered me. It's possible it moved my tolerance down by 5F, but that's just not significant enough to justify them for me.
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