ThermaCELL Heated Insoles Review

Let me preface my ThermaCELL Heated Insoles review by saying that I live in upstate New York - about twenty minutes from Lake George - so I know all about the blistering cold. In fact, as I'm typing this right now, upstate New York is being ravaged by a snowstorm, dumping over 10 inches of snow on all of our porches. So, the fact that these ThermaCELL Heated Insoles arrived just hours before the snow began to fall this morning felt a little bit like fate. But are these wirelessly controlled heated insoles actually worth your money, or are they just a novelty?

The first thing I'd like to note about the ThermaCELL Heated Insoles is that they're a little intimidating when first opening the package; any insole that comes with a wall charger and a remote control would be considered intimidating, no? But they're actually quite simple to set up. First, cut the insoles as necessary to fit inside your boots or shoes. I own a pair of size 11.5 Timberland Helcor boots, and these XX-Large insoles fit rather well after a quick trim. After getting the right fit, plug these insoles into the wall charger and plug the wall charger in to charge (which takes four hours). When they're all done charging, unplug them and flip the switch to on. Take your old insoles out, put these insoles in. Then, grab the remote and click your preferred setting.

You'll definitely notice just how fast these babies heat up. I began feeling the heat within two or three minutes, and that was just on the medium setting. Crank these up to high heat, and they'll get your toes feeling nice and toasty. But not too hot; not uncomfortably hot. Your feet aren't going to sweat, at least not from the insoles alone. I tested these on one foot for a comparison, and then on both feet to determine just how well they work. There's a noticeable improvement in heat compared to not wearing the insoles, and that's just what they're made for. So, basically, they work...and they work very well!

That doesn't mean that the ThermaCELL Heated Insoles are a 5/5 though, because they do have some minor issues and create some minor concerns. First and foremost, you have to keep taking them in and out of your shoes to charge them - that's the biggest and only really hindering annoyance. But secondly, I'm curious as to what would happen if you left these on with high heat for an extended period of time, unattended, and in your shoe. How much of a fire hazard are these? Is there an auto-off? There's no mention of an auto-off mechanism in the instruction manual, although it does mention that the heat is thermostat controlled.

Still, even with its minor concerns, the ThermaCELL Heated Insoles are going to get some daily use from me. Especially if you work outdoors, hunt, or are the one responsible for shoveling snow in your household, I have to note that these are more than just a novelty product. They're sure to keep your feet warm without making them too hot or sweaty (although they're highly water resistant). The ThermaCELL Heated Insoles can be picked up for $94.99 (27% off the list price of $129.99) on Amazon.

Our Rating: 4 out of 5