Winter Cycling - Those toe-warmer inserts work!

At the advice of someone on this forum, I tried the 'chemical' toe warmers (containing iron, carbon, salt) on today's 35 degree, 2-hour ride. They are not bad! I tried one on top, and one on the bottom, of my toes. Top worked a bit better for me. A 10 pair pack from LL Bean goes for about $12.

I purchased some and forgot to put them on because I was in a hurry. It was 28 degrees when we finished and would have been ideal conditions to test them. I did get to try them recently but it was 40+ degrees, I thought it was colder, and I could not tell if they worked. I am glad to hear they work.

You might try some Toasty Feet insoles. I have had a chance to test them and they kept my feet from getting cold in temps that I had previously gotten cold. Some other riders in my group got some for
Christmas but it has not been cold enough yet for them to try them. I can give you a better report later.

Try the handwarmers, they are larger and work the same. You don't need the adhesive. They stay put with a small amount of tape. Since they are larger, they last longer as well.

I picked up a ten pack of pairs for 5 bucks. Less than half the cost of the toe warmers.

In April all of the sporting goods shops in Wisconsin sell them at cost. Shopko had them for ten cents apiece one year.

At the advice of someone on this forum, I tried the 'chemical' toe warmers (containing iron, carbon, salt) on today's 35 degree, 2-hour ride. They are not bad! I tried one on top, and one on the bottom, of my toes. Top worked a bit better for me. A 10 pair pack from LL Bean goes for about $12.

The ones I use will go longer than 2 hours. Maybe 5 or more.

When you take you shoes off drop them into a zip lock bag squeze out the air and they stop working. Then you have some left for another ride. They start up when you expose them to air agin.

I find the handwarmers are better than the footwarmers. They seem to last longer and don't take up as much room in your shoes.

I pay about $2 for 4 of them at my local Canadian Tire.

Its interesting that the handwarmers are preferred for the toes. Those insoles look like a good idea, too.

I find the handwarmers are better than the footwarmers. They seem to last longer and don't take up as much room in your shoes.

I pay about $2 for 4 of them at my local Canadian Tire.

How long can you get out of one? Either the hand or the foot style.

How long can you get out of one? Either the hand or the foot style.

About 4-5 hours out of the foot ones and about 7-8 out of the hand ones ... depending a bit on how cold it is.

Found the hand ones (Non Grabber brand, but work the same) at Costco: $10 for 50 pair. However still prefer the toe ones for under the toes b/c they are thin and don't slide. Have used the hand ones above the toes, but would imagine them uncomfortable under the toes; might give it a try though.

About 4-5 hours out of the foot ones and about 7-8 out of the hand ones ... depending a bit on how cold it is.

That's about what I get from the foot warners too. I don't use hand warmers.

Try taping the handwarmer between the shoe and bootie. On the outside of the shoe, rather than trying to cram it inside the shoe. Heavenly warmth for 7 hours.

Booties by themselves have never kept me warm for long rides in Wisconsin winters.

Make sure they heat up, since they do age in the package and sometimes fail to start up. I put two in my gloves, ran outside and took off, only to find about two miles later that one had apparently activated earlier in the package and failed to heat when I needed it. I rode anyway, one hand toasty and the other a little challenged. Perhaps using your stock within one season is the best approach.

At the advice of someone on this forum, I tried the 'chemical' toe warmers (containing iron, carbon, salt) on today's 35 degree, 2-hour ride. They are not bad! I tried one on top, and one on the bottom, of my toes. Top worked a bit better for me. A 10 pair pack from LL Bean goes for about $12.

Yup, I've been using these for years. I just go with the top of the toes, though. I've found that it can bother my toes when I place the warmer below my toes. They are a must for me when it gets REALLY cold.

Make sure they heat up, since they do age in the package and sometimes fail to start up. I put two in my gloves, ran outside and took off, only to find about two miles later that one had apparently activated earlier in the package and failed to heat when I needed it. I rode anyway, one hand toasty and the other a little challenged. Perhaps using your stock within one season is the best approach.

The package might have had a tear in it. The reaction is an oxidation-reduction reaction where iron is converted to iron III oxide. You are making rust (Fe2O3), which is an exothermic (heat producing) process. Without the availability of oxygen the reactants in the inner bag should stay good indefinitely.

I find the handwarmers are better than the footwarmers. They seem to last longer and don't take up as much room in your shoes.

I pay about $2 for 4 of them at my local Canadian Tire.


Machka,

I use the World Famous brand and find they last about 1 hour. What brand are you using?

Try taping the handwarmer between the shoe and bootie. On the outside of the shoe, rather than trying to cram it inside the shoe. Heavenly warmth for 7 hours.


Hmm, harder to conduct heat through the shoe than just a sock; however, more airflow to the chemical pack to fuel it. Also more room inside shoe for toes. Would never have thought of this. Must try!

Thanks for the tip.

Machka,

I use the World Famous brand and find they last about 1 hour. What brand are you using?


I also use World Famous, but I have discovered that you have to shake them for about 5 minutes before using them. If you skimp on the shaking, they hardly warm up at all.

I also use World Famous, but I have discovered that you have to shake them for about 5 minutes before using them. If you skimp on the shaking, they hardly warm up at all.


Hmm, thought I did give a good shake (maybe not 5 minutes), but to be fair they ARE last winters purchase, that have been sitting in a drawer ever since. Maybe they're just old......

Hmm, thought I did give a good shake (maybe not 5 minutes), but to be fair they ARE last winters purchase, that have been sitting in a drawer ever since. Maybe they're just old......


They do seem to harden up after a year or so.

Hmm, harder to conduct heat through the shoe than just a sock; however, more airflow to the chemical pack to fuel it. Also more room inside shoe for toes. Would never have thought of this. Must try!

Thanks for the tip.

Gave this a try today. Think it worked well. Appreciated the extra space inside the shoe. I do think the heat conducted through the shoe!. Will continue this method.

Also today used the hand instead of the toe warmers beneath the toes. Kept things just as warm, and not uncomfortable, at least for a short 30 mile ride in 35 degF (28deg wind chill) conditions.

Thanks again for the tip!

Anyone tried Toasti Toes (http://www.heatmax.com/HotHands/toasietoes.htm)? i bought a couple today for a trial. A couple bucks at Lowe's for a pair. found a case on Amazon for about a dollar each.

Anyone tried Sidi toasters? They are electric innersoles.

you can purchase a huge box of hand warmers from costco for 15 bucks. that is 50 pairs of warmers

best deal anywhere if you are gonna eat them up by riding with them a lot

i found 32 pairs of handwarmers at Sams Club for $13.48. They are Eastman Outdoors. Has anyone tried these? I figure it's worth a shot.

I usually keep 2 or 3 pairs in my camelbak, and plan on using them only if
I flat and need to work on it...will crack them open and heat my hands while I fiddle with the bike

usually I can get away without needing them for feets
with Lake winter shoes and fat defeet socks

Yup, I've been using these for years. I just go with the top of the toes, though. I've found that it can bother my toes when I place the warmer below my toes. They are a must for me when it gets REALLY cold.

that's interesting, because the ones i bought had a warning about not placing them properly! am i the only one who worries about such things?

i tried the hand kind for the first time last year and it was a life, er, toe-saver. i personally like how the feet ones have the adhesive and distribute the heat more evenly, but at $1.55 they weren't cheap. they didn't re-use as well as i hoped, but were worth the $ the few times i knew i'd be outside for an extended period of time.

definitely smart to keep a package with you, just in case.

i personally like how the feet ones have the adhesive and distribute the heat more evenly, but at $1.55 they weren't cheap. they didn't re-use as well as i hoped,.

The idea of throw-away heat packs just doesn't agree with me. I searched for a reuseable alternative and found these wet heat packs which last for 30 minutes and that recharge by boiling in water:

http://www.upqt.com/uploads/2200711622301.JPG

You turn the pad "on" by popping the metal disc. The disc is thin and concave like a dented beer cap and you flex it to make it "click" which starts the chemical reaction.

The heat lasts for about 30 minutes and is nice and toasty for about 20 minutes before it starts to go lukewarm. When the pad is completely spent it becomes hard like a bar of soap. You can recharge it right away by dunking the pad in boiling water.

I had 4 of them and would stuff them in my gloves (in various places) and boots (on top of the toes to avoid bursting). Each pad is about the size of a your palm and as thick. So you need big or stretchy gloves and roomy boots to accomodate these pads.

The pouch is made of a tough vinyl-like material and did not break in the 2 weeks that I used them on the road.

However, I burned one by accident when I left it on the stove unattended. The cloth it was wrapped in had unravelled (safety pins would have helped) and the pouch was touching the bottom of the pot. Nothing drastic happened, no sparks or fumes, just an empty pouch with a tear in it and pouring $10 down the drain.

If I were to do this again I would suspend the pouches well above the bottom of the pot by putting them inside a hammock that would hang down from a stick placed across the top of the pot.

If they had a smaller size like a 2X2 or 2X3 they'd probably fit in boots better

I bought the disposable ones at my local sporting goods store.
They usually go for $0.99 a pair, also try Lowe's or Home Depot.
I am usually good with wool socks, booties at 30 degrees of cycling for an hour plus without toe or footwarmers.
I carry them in my saddle bag and put them in my shoes if I stop for lunch, before I go on the bike. They should last 6 hours, I think 4 is more like it.

The biggest problem beside the cold is the restricted position of the foot when cycling. Try to get off the bike and walk if you feel cold. The increased circulation will make a big difference.


Hotronic is a brand of battery operated foot warmers that many cyclists swear by.

i never thought i would put these words together but: thank you walmart! ;)

i will keep my eye out for those gel packs... and hope that they fit in my only-one-size-too-big lake winter shoes!!