Many of us are familiar with the situation of shoes that are wet or frozen from the inside. This phenomenon can lead to colds and aching joints. Conventional insulated insoles made of synthetic fur or padding polyester have an accumulation effect. When they are wet, they are not easy to dry and it takes time. What if you equip them with heating? Then you will hardly have to dry them, and your feet will always be warm.
Today we offer an improvised version of such miracle insoles with electric heating. Their design will help keep your feet warm for quite a long time. They dry literally in a matter of minutes, and maintaining a stable temperature will prevent ordinary insoles from getting wet from small cracks in the shoes.
Operating principle of heated insoles
In his invention, the author decided to make do with a heating element based on varnished copper wire, used for windings of transformers and various inductors. Having experimentally calculated its length relative to the supplied battery voltage, a heating platform was made under the main covering of conventional insoles. The insulation layer between the layers of the insole is made of hot glue. A button-switch with batteries is attached in the area of the laces on the tongue of the shoe.
Necessary elements and tools for homemade work
Materials:- Copper wire;
- Insole template;
- Thin cardboard, paper;
- Batteries – 2 pcs;
- Connector - socket for power connection;
- Wire cutter and stripper;
- Switch button;
- Universal diode;
- Wires, small heat-shrinkable tubes, electrical tape.
- Soldering iron;
- Hot glue gun;
- Scissors;
- Wire cutters.
Insoles manufacturing process
Cutting out the insoles
The device is a multilayer insole, the lower part of which is a heating platform. For it we need thin thick cardboard. It should be able to withstand walking, so it's best to choose something more abrasion-resistant.
We take the template of our insole and mark the platform according to it. It should be approximately one size smaller than regular insoles. We process the edges of this insole platform with a hole punch along the entire perimeter. This will additionally secure the heating element and prevent it from slipping while walking.
Winding the heater winding
The intensity of the wire winding regulates the amount of heating of a specific zone of the insole heater, and it can be calculated individually. The author has marked the insole so that the maximum heat is on the toe, the average heat is on the heel area, and the lowest heat is in the middle of the foot. In accordance with the chosen scheme, we wind the turns of the heater winding, measuring the length of the wire to 10 m.
We mark the protective layers of the heater on plain paper according to the template and cut them out. We glue the heating platform on both sides with paper insoles using hot glue.
Don’t forget to bring the ends of both winding contacts out. We connect them with insulated wires, solder the connection and seal it with heat-shrinkable tubes.
We supplement the circuit with batteries with a power socket and a button
We connect the batteries by connecting them in parallel with soldered contacts. We glue the battery cases with electrical tape.
We solder the switch button with a diode and a power socket according to the diagram (photo 2). We place them on the battery case and hide them with several layers of electrical tape.
We insert the heating platform into the shoes and cover them with regular insoles. The author suggests hiding the battery housing between the laces and tongue of the sneakers.
This is due to the weak base and fragility of the heater.
These materials can be replaced with artificial leather, felt, lavsan, etc. And instead of copper wire, use nichrome or carbon thread for heated floors. Insulation of the heating element will also not hurt, and the batteries, the ability to adjust and turn off the heating, can be brought closer to your hands. In general, there is something to work on.Such homemade products are valuable for those who like to make things with their own hands. They can be remade, modified and changed at your discretion, based on the principle of the device. Otherwise, every home craftsman has a free path to creativity and his own discoveries.
"Baffin Montreal
Color: black Size: 38 / Small size
I didn’t think that you could buy buffins for that kind of money))) I’m happy with the purchase, even though the instep fits really snugly. But otherwise the size is just right ...
Mer! I even have 38.5. The length of the foot is excellent, light, comfortable and very warm))) If you have wide feet or a high instep, then try one size larger. They arrived in the original packaging, apparently no one had even tried them on before me. There are a couple of drops of glue on the outer fabric, but I considered this unimportant for myself.»
Karina,
Moscow
“I ordered a vest, gloves and a heated sheet from this store. Sent from Moscow in 3 days by Russian Post.
Everything fits, the quality is at the level"
Ivan Ustinov,
Kazan
“I am a professional skier. Sometimes training takes more than one hour, so it is very important for me that my feet always remain warm. I bought insoles with hems in this store ... roar and remote control - I was pleased. A normal microclimate is maintained for 3-4 hours. Thank you»
Ivan,
Trainer, Moscow
“I’m a freezing person, so for me the temperature even +10 is already cold. Fate also decreed that for work I have to travel or walk the streets a lot. In winter such walks were simply unbearable ... Oshima, in order not to freeze, had to buy heated insoles. This is my second winter using them and so far no complaints.»
“I bought myself a heated vest from Austrian Alpenheat. Warms very well, stylish in appearance. Convenient, there is a choice of heating mode, you can adjust the temperature. Very soft on the body. The cost is of course ... oh.... but consistent with the quality»
Olga ,
Yakhroma
“I work as an instructor, teaching people how to snowboard. Therefore, you have to spend a lot of time outside, and sometimes your fingers get cold. A colleague suggested a solution to me and said that there are gloves ...
heated. I hesitated for a long time, I thought it was some kind of nonsense, and I didn’t want to part with my expensive border gloves. Everything that I found on the Internet was only a replacement for such gloves, but then I saw that there is an option for internal X-Range heated gloves that you can match with your own. I ordered it for delivery.
Firstly, they are really very thin and stretch well, fit snugly to the hand, the outer glove can be put on completely easily. True, I didn’t immediately figure out how they turned on, I even thought that they didn’t work, I had to read the instructions. Now I don’t part with them, it’s very warm and I enjoy working with them. I am very pleased with these warm gloves!»
There are only three main groups of insoles on the market - chemical disposable insoles, wireless insoles with a battery built into the heel, and wired models with external batteries.
Let's look at the key properties of each model:
|
|
Wireless heated insoles |
Blazewear Wired Heated Insoles |
Chemical heated insoles |
|
Heating temperature |
40 - 51 degrees (three modes controlled from the remote control) | 40-51 degrees (three modes are controlled on the battery) | 30-70 degrees (uncontrolled and unpredictable heating - from imperceptible to burning) |
|
Continuous operation time |
48 hours | up to 11 hours (7 hours from batteries + 4 hours from batteries) | 3-7 hours |
|
Ease of use |
They have a significant thickening in the heel - only suitable for loose shoes (at least one size larger). Felt when walking. | No thicker than a regular insole, suitable for any shoes, incl. model. Can't be felt when walking | At first they are not felt in the shoes, the closer to the end of use, the more they turn to stone (unpleasant to step on) |
|
Battery placement |
The battery is located in the insole itself. The absence of wires is a plus, but under the heel the thickening reaches up to 5 centimeters (a large difference between the toe and heel)! |
The battery is placed on the shin using special elastic bands. It doesn’t cause any inconvenience; after the second use you don’t notice it on your leg. | Absent |
|
Exploitation |
In order to prevent overheating of the battery, heating is carried out cyclically, intermittently. The cycles are not synchronized - the insoles may heat unevenly (one works, one doesn’t). |
Heating occurs continuously, in accordance with the selected mode. | Constant heating, no way to turn it off or make it weaker/stronger |
|
Control |
Remote control control. Pros - convenience. Cons - often does not work the first time, may not receive a signal in the city (interference) |
Battery control. Clear selection of modes accompanied by indication | No management |
|
Versatility |
They have strict dimensions, adjustable by only 1-2 sizes. Due to the thickening there is a risk of not getting your size | Universal: cut with scissors along the lines to any size from 35 to 47 | Universal |
|
Life time |
Not intended for daily use, only for one-time events | Limited by the life of batteries, which are subsequently replaced | Disposable, have a short shelf life |
|
Durability |
It really depends on the shoes. They are critically susceptible to bending, which can lead to breakage after 3-4 uses. | Minimum 3 seasons. Tested by thousands of satisfied customers in Russia and Europe. | 1 time (3-7 hours) |
|
Safety |
If the battery protective casing is deformed (for example, due to a strong impact or jumping on it), an explosion and fire may occur. | The battery is placed on the shin. In wired insoles you can safely walk, run, jump, get your feet wet - nothing will happen to it. Safe even for children! | If you use low-quality chemical insoles, you may get burned. |
|
Price |
From 5,000 rub. Option with a replaceable battery - from 10,000 rubles. |
RUB 1,795 - basic version 4495 rub. - option with replaceable batteries |
From 40 rub. |
Comments on key differences:
- Convenience. Wireless electric insoles have a significant thickening in the heel (where the battery is located). It is unlikely that it will be possible to place such insoles in your usual shoes. You will have to use either shapeless felt boots or buy sports shoes a size larger.
The thickness of the wired insole does not exceed the thickness of a regular one. It can be placed in any shoes (including dress shoes). The remote battery can be discreetly placed on the shin or hidden in the boot. You can also use extension cables to put the battery away, for example in a jacket pocket. - Usage. Wireless heated insoles are not intended for daily use - in a word, you cannot go out for a walk or work in them every day. They are great for “one-time” activities (hunting, fishing, hiking), but with daily use their service life will be extremely short.
The service life of wired insoles is limited solely by the service life of the batteries used, which are then easily replaced. The thermal insoles themselves from the British company Blazewear are very durable and reliable. - Safety. Inside the wireless heated insoles there is a lithium-ion battery, and if the protective casing is deformed (for example, due to a strong impact or jumping on it), an explosion and fire may occur!
Wired insoles are absolutely safe to use - even children use them. The battery is placed on the shin. You can safely walk, run, jump, get your feet wet in the insoles - nothing will happen to it. - Heating temperature and duration. If in terms of heating temperature the compared models are quite comparable (about 51 degrees at maximum), then in terms of operating time it is much more profitable to use wired insoles with a remote battery. After all, to the battery life, a “reserve” resource is also added in the form of a block for AA batteries. That is, when going for a long walk, you can take a set of batteries and an extra set of batteries with you, just in case.
Based on the above factors, to maintain a warm foot temperature during the cold period, we definitely recommend using
Here's what I needed:
- felt insoles - 2 pcs.,
- nichrome wire - 60 cm,
- MGTF wire (not important) 0.2 (mm. kV) about - 3 m.,
- battery compartment for 4 batteries - 2 pcs.,
- three-position switch - 2 pcs.,
- mini jack connector - 2 sets (socket + plug),
- crimp sleeve 0.2 (mm. sq.) - 4 pcs.,
- heat shrink tube - 1 m.,
- strips of fabric with Velcro fastening,
- hot glue.
How heated insoles work
I will explain the principle of operation of the entire circuit. As a heater, I took a nichrome thread with a diameter of 0.2 mm and a length of 25.5 cm. The resistance of such a segment was 8.9 Ohms. The circuit provides two modes of operation: from two or from three batteries. In dual battery mode, the insoles will be constantly warm.
When working from three, the nichrome will be hot, but don’t be afraid, there will be no discomfort from this. Before installation, I advise you to do a test run in both modes. It is done simply: you need to take a nichrome thread connected to a power source and put it in a light cloth (a handkerchief folded in half). Hold this fabric between your hands for a minute.
If it’s hot, then the heater should be longer, and if it doesn’t heat well, we should shorten it. This way you will be sure that your heated insoles will not become toasty insoles. The calculated current when operating from two batteries or batteries will be approximately 270 mA, and from three - 400 mA. Knowing the capacity of your batteries, you can approximately calculate the operating time of homemade heated insoles.
I attached a 0.2 mm MGTF wire to the nichrome. sq. using crimp sleeves. You need to put the sleeve on the nichrome, then its end is inserted into the stripped stranded MGTF. A sleeve is pulled into place at their junction and crimped. I used a special crimping tool, but pliers can do the job just fine. I took the wires so long that their length from the insole was 50 cm... Just right for my shoes.
Regarding how to place the heater on the insole. I decided that since I don’t get cold in my heels, the main task is to keep warm in the forefoot. The photo shows the styling form that I use. Experience has shown that the decision was correct.
Using neat stitches, I secured the heater in the desired pattern on the insole.
I sewed the MGTF wires to the side of the insole, stretched heat shrink over the remainder, and soldered the ends to the plug. The insole is ready.
The battery compartment had to be redesigned to fit my circuit. I allocated one cell for a switch and a mini jack socket. I re-soldered everything according to the diagram. Afterwards, I filled it all with hot glue.
The remaining cells should be signed, since, as can be seen from the diagram, there is a difference in which cell will be empty - the first or third. The batteries are protected from falling out by a simple rubber band. This is not a deep design, but the lack of battery compartments with a lid in the magazine.
Forget about the eternal cold in winter! When going for a walk, fishing or hiking, you can simply insert heated insoles into your boots. During the day they will keep your feet warm and help you forget about discomfort. Meanwhile, you don’t need such insoles if you wear high-quality shoes from a manufacturer that has been pleasing its customers with reliable products and flexible prices for many years.
There is a lot of information on the World Wide Web about insoles that protect your feet from the cold. The advantage of these new products is the use of special orthopedic instep supports, and some of them include a control panel.
How does a heated insole work?
The insole is equipped with a heating pad placed in the hollow part. For several hours it effectively protects your feet from the cold. The insole is made of polypropylene material that retains the shape of the foot and evenly distributing heat. In stores today, there are two types of warming insoles: made of genuine leather and made of artificial suede. Its toe section has a perforated surface that helps keep your toes freely warm. The lower part is equipped with pressed channels that distribute warm air throughout the foot.
But not all heated insoles can clearly perform their functions: often the consumer pays for a low-quality product that does not at all meet his expectations. It turns out that the money is spent, but your feet continue to freeze. Therefore, in order not to make a mistake in choosing, let's get acquainted with TOP manufacturers insole for heated shoes and with the characteristics of this product.
With the products of this company, you are guaranteed a comfortable microclimate in your boots. Your thoughts are no longer occupied with the problem of heating your feet when walking. Despite the use of electricity, there are no wires in this model. The ThermaCELL device works as follows: it is inserted into the charger for 3 hours (the first charge is 6 hours), then placed in a boot or boot. The heated insole is powered by a lithium-ion battery that lasts for 5 hours. The total resource is 3000 hours per 500 recharges. The heating is turned on or off using remote controller a, which fits conveniently in your pocket. There are three heating modes and 5 size adjustment options.
The product of this British company can be cut to fit shoes of any size. Inside the insole there is a carbon plate that heated by infrared radiation to almost 46 degrees. The radiation helps improve blood circulation and distribute heat evenly throughout the foot. The heating element is located right under your fingers. The control unit for each insole is attached to the shin or to the outside of the shoe. As in the first option, the insole runs on batteries, and the heating is controlled by a switch on the power supply.
Another company produces high-quality heated insoles that perfectly keep your feet warm during skiing or a long walk. Modern DiClime models have no disadvantages. They are equipped with a built-in battery, which, thanks to its shape, can be discreetly attached to the ankle and does not interfere with walking. They work using infrared heating elements, which have a beneficial effect on the human body and support natural heat exchange. A special sensor allows you to save battery charge.
The advantage of products from this company is their ability to take on a physiological form, which the same instep support has. The heat from the device affecting the foot can even cure leg pain X. A powerful battery is built into the heel area, where there is an input for the charger and a button, when pressed, the insole begins to emit heat. The built-in microcircuit and thermoelement maintain a high temperature for a long time, and the device charges in 2 hours. 2 indicators show the battery charge level.
The heating area of HeatFabric warming insoles is located under the toes that require the most warmth. Like all other models, these insoles can also be cut along the marking lines to obtain the required size. The insoles of this company are made of dense EVA foam material: this is the basis softens the blows and at the same time provides a high level of comfort, and high-quality fabric on top provides an optimal microclimate for the foot. The heating element distributes heat evenly and continuously over the entire surface of the feet for almost 8 hours, providing comfortable heating V. The electric wire, which is located on the inside of the insole in the center, eliminates chafing of the feet.