Can You Heat Your Winter Cycling Shoes - Bertschat Heated Insoles

In this video, I look at the options available to heat your cycling shoes during the winter months.
Please note, changing the insole in your cycling shoe may affect both how your shoe, and your bike fits. If you have any concerns about this, then I recommend that you don’t do it.
Shed24:
/ shed24h
shed24h.godadd...
Insoles tested in this video.
Single use disposable insoles:
amzn.to/3SCQMLV
Bertschat USB Powered heated insoles:
www.bertschat....
Bertschat did not influence the outcome of this test, and did not pay me. This is my own personal opinion.
About Ribble Valley Cyclist:
I am a regular road cyclist based in the Ribble Valley, in the North West of England. I have been a cyclist my whole life, and try to get out every day. The purpose of my KZbin channel is to share the knowledge I’ve built up in my 40 years as a cyclist.
Email me:
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Follow me on Facebook:
/ ribblevalleycyclist
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See my routes on Komoot:
www.komoot.com...
Audio credit:
/ audiolibraryplus

[@mtbboy1993]

Hello from Norway. I've never needed this, I use water and wind proof flat mountain bike shoes, Marino wool socks. To get specific I use Defeet Woolie Boolie. Not an issue in at least as low as -10C. But I do get a bit chilly at start, the first few seconds, but once I ride some I'm toasty. I have different shoes for different conditions. Ride Concepts Tallac are my summer shoes, Ride concepts TNT are my autumn/spring shoes, both have great toe protection, robust and stiff enough, Five Ten Trailcross GTX (Goretex) Water & wind proof/winter shoes, not insulated. horrible toe protection, way too soft.But great to walk in and great grip, adjustable gaiter. Shoes to definitely avoid: Northwave Multicross as they have a slipper and hard, stiff sole, horrible to walk with as the ball of the foot area is way too stiff, it barely flexes. But they are insulated, I suspect I would be fine in -15C or even -20C. But not tested it. Soon Anamoly mtb riding shoes will arrive, so I will try those. Sizing is not ideal for me, as none of them fit me, they are all too long, but I need size 44 for the width.

[@cyclonasaurusrex1525]

Only successful solution I’ve found (many sub-freezing rides during winter): Flat pedals and winter boots. Perfectly comfortable, and I don’t give a damn how I look!

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

It’s a good shout that 👍

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

I did this yesterday...... But with a air activated inner soul for added warming.....

[@dogbreath6974]

I'm surprised the cycling boots manufacturer haven't made boots with heaters built in. great video by the way.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

That is a good point. 👍

[@zedddddful]

Now this is why you are the goat winter cycling KZbinr I've always wanted heated gloves but heated insoles sound incredible i struggle with keeping my feet warm and it can make rides absolutely miserable.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Glad you enjoyed it. These things are great, if you’ve got shoes that’ll accommodate. Should probably do a glove video too.

[@zedddddful]

​@@ribblevalleycyclisti found some ski socks in aldi for £4.99 54% wool just if anyone wants to grab them while they are there.

[@chokehanson1830]

Cheers for the heads up on these. Like you - I'm a year round cyclist regardless of the weather so warmth & comfort is always a big issue. I've tried the el-cheapo versions of warmers but they tend to show their limitations quite quickly. So I'm def going to check these ones out - expensive for sure but their value will show in the quality of my winter rides. New subscriber btw, love your content.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Hi Choke, thanks, and welcome onboard 👍. As I say, space in a snug fitting shoe can be an issue.

[@mtbboy1993]

For absolute extreme conditions 45NRTH Wolvhammer BOA might be the shoes. as they are intended for temps near -20C riding. They have a removable chunk in the sole to make them clipless. I've not tried them yet. But those are purely winter boots. Recommended temp is -4°C til -18°C.

[@joelchernov5342]

I have Raynaud's and for skiing use two products that have battery packs: Lenz heated socks and a product by a company called Hotronics that has a heating element that goes under the toe area of one's insole. If one could accommodate the battery packs, I'd recommend them both, although they both are quite expensive. For my fall, winter and early spring rides, I use my normal summer shoes, but I tape up the holes under the toes, put a chemical toe warmer on top of my toes (similar to the chemical insoles discussed in the video), and use either toe covers or overshoes depending on temps. And, on particularly long rides, I'll sometimes replace the toe warmers at lunch. While the idea of the Bertschat heated insoles sounds great, I have custom insoles that I'm not looking to remove. The heated socks are thicker than my normal socks, but the batteries are kept in place by the socks themselves and likely are workable for riding. And, with the Lenz socks, you can control the heat level with an app on one's phone. As with the Hotronics, however, they provide heat only to the toe area.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Hi Joel, Thanks for your detailed advice and recommendations on the subject, very helpful. Jon

[@sunmand6136]

@joelchernov5342 - Hi Which ones do you like better? The lenz socks or the Hotronics socks. Also, which Lenz Socks do you have? The latest 6.0? I ask because I am considering buying one of them for skiing. And it would be great to get your opinion/advice, considering you have already used them.

[@joelchernov5342]

I've never used the Hotronic socks. I have the Hotronics that have a heating element that go under one's footbed in one's ski boots (there is a wiring element that runs under the footbed and exits the boot's liner and then clips onto the top of the back of my boots). When it isn't too cold, I use only the Hotronics, but when it's below 20°F, I use both the Hotronics and the Lenz heated socks. I have the 6.0 version. I have high arches and large ankle bones and thought that version would fit best with my boots. If only buying one, I'd advice going with the Lenz heated socks. They probably do more to keep your toes warm. In addition, as mentioned, you can potentially use them for cycling and you definitely can use them for hiking and just walking around in the winter.

[@sunmand6136]

@@joelchernov5342 Thanks Joel.

[@mj-cd9lk]

As the man who introduced me to the Merino ski socks and the budget winter gloves from Amazon. You’re now my go to guy 😂 both of those mentioned are amazing by the way so thank you again👌 I do have and use the disposable toe warmers to pretty good affect but I definitely don’t feel like I get 8 hours out of them. Good tip about the air. I might try them with flip flops 😂😂 They do last long enough for my rides though. The remote control insole sounds good but again, too expensive for me but I possibly would purchase if I could afford. I HATE cold hands and feet, it can absolutely spoil a ride for me. Also I turn 50 in a couple of weeks so definitely feel the cold more as I’ve got older. Another great informative video mate. Cheers for always taking the time out to give us all the heads up.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Eyup, M J! Glad you enjoyed it. Do you recon you could fit cleats to flip flops? 😂😂😂😂

[@mj-cd9lk]

@@ribblevalleycyclist😂😂😂 I’ll give anything a go if it keeps my feet warm 😂

[@stepheneaston8354]

Great video. I wear heated gloves because I suffer from the cold. Use them pretty much on every ride from mid October through to early March in the UK. Nothing else works for me. The heated in soles may now be hard to resist…..I also have very large feet so no shoe covers fit me either.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Glad you enjoyed it. May well end up doing a heated glove video. What ones do you use?

[@stepheneaston8354]

@@ribblevalleycyclist Sealskinz.

[@MHMvanOs-qt9cc]

Can i ask which brand and type you use for the heated gloves you have ? i am also a cold suffer every winter 🥶🥶

[@stepheneaston8354]

@@MHMvanOs-qt9cc Sealskinz. Bertschat also do them.

[@harvindersinghuppal2162]

Simply excellent content with all the common sense questioning of the product choices. Well done and thanks. Be well mate

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Thank, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@Robutube1]

Thanks for bringing these innovative insoles to our attention and for conducting what came across as a very fair comparison/review. A barrier to purchase for me would be the likelihood of having to buy new shoes specifically sized to accommodate the Bertschat insoles. That's quite a commitment given that the other barrier is the purchase price of the insoles themselves, so I'd be very interested in a long term use review if you can do one at the appropriate time? Thanks again. I really enjoy your channel and as a rider mostly in the southern Dales I sometimes venture as far as Dunsop Bridge and even Longridge on occasion and so enjoy a spot of 'location spotting'!

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Thanks Robutube, glad you enjoyed it. My thoughts are that if you're out on the bike a lot in very cold conditions, and you have space in your shoes, then they're worth it. However, as you say, if you need to look at changing your shoes to accommodate them, then this option starts to look very expensive. I may well mention their performance in an upcoming video, but I won't be doing another video on them. Sadly, you won't spot any familiar locations in my more recent stuff. I started the channel when I lived in the Ribble Valley, hence the name. But I relocated to the edge of the Peak District. I miss it a lot. Dunsop Bridge... Beautiful. Longridge, the home to the mighty Birdy Brow. What a killer climb that is. The southern part of the Dales is beautiful. I used to be based between Clitheroe and Skipton, in a small village called Gisburn. So I would venture out into the Dales on a regular basis, through Hellifiled, Airton, then on to Grassington. Then through the Littondale valley, Halton Gill, then home via Stainforth. Some wonderful memories.

[@Robutube1]

@@ribblevalleycyclist Ah, that explains a drop off in my location spotting success of late! The Peaks are beautiful too so you'll not be short of climbs with views. My walking group uses Gisburn as one of our meet-up points. Thanks for the very informative reply.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

@@Robutube1 The Peaks are nice, but it’s not the same. Went back for a ride a few times this year. I’ll be honest, I really miss it.

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

Currently waiting for delivery ive some of these "Premium" heated inner souls. For last few months ive been using the air activated inner souls and ive had very inconsistent results with them. In short their simply not up to the job for rides any longer than 1-2 hours and probably for the reasons you gave. So eagerly awaiting delivery........ Freezing currently in Yorkshire and itching for another ride on my newly converted cheap argos hybrid steel framed bike to a pretty impressive gravel bike...... At a fraction of the cost or others A heavier slower build to my road bike however a frame material that absorbs with ease the poor conditions of uk roads and of course our gravel tracks.... (Mainly canal paths where i live)

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Great. Let us know how you get on with them, Jason.

[@gmivisualsjason3729]

@@ribblevalleycyclist Just going through the Breaking in the battery as per the manual.... Lasted 7 hours today on a very cold Yorkshire day ( 4hrs cycling ) Currently on second 8 hour charge then run em flat again tomorrow and repeat X3 in total. Got the pro version. First impressions are as you say it's a nicer heat than the air activated versions but glad I have room in my boots for them

[@msamways4720]

Great video, really useful. Heated gloves next please!

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Yeah, been thinking the same 👍

[@brianessex7102]

@@ribblevalleycyclist I also have a pair of Sealskinz heated gloves. Xmas gift from the wife. I'd recommend those as well. One thing if you do try - I found i needed to go up a glove size.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Thank, Brian.

[@LakeDistrictcyclist]

Another great video mate, where was the Lake at the start

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Hiya mate, it's a small one near the Peak District.

[@Richard_Johnson69]

Sealskinz gloves are best but people complain about breathability which is not feasible if u want waterproof. But it works for me and great gloves 😊

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Wish more people understood the breathable/waterproof argument 😂😂

[@IowaNinersFan]

@@ribblevalleycyclist Can't have both when it's sub-zero outside.

[@waynebond6379]

Great video and well explained.full of usefull info .thanks jon

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jaquesdaniels2964]

I've been using chemical toe warmer pads from the Heat Company , I buy in bulk from Amazon . I carry a couple of pairs all year round just in case . No probs and they last pretty much all day , for deep winter , I change to dual pedals and ride in walking boots if really bad .

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Good tips, thanks for sharing 👍

[@davidcollier6520]

Thanks for posting this, it was entertaining and really helpful and I'll go for the Bertschat insoles. I get cold feet and I am a recreational cyclist so my shoes are roomier than the tighter fitting road cyclist shoe. Thanks for the links, I did see in their link they now do an ultra thin version ... but maybe that's what you tried and still too thick for tighter fitting shoes?

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Hi David, glad you found it useful. The ones they sent me were their standard thickness.

[@alistairmacfadyen9365]

Wheel bearing and bottom bracket removed and replacement video would be brilliant

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Watch this space 👍

[@alexanderlawson1649]

Got cheap elec insoles off Amazon, 18 mths ago. Have used them several times, they produce enough heat to make my feet comfortable. Operation is with a power bank(already in my possesion) connected by cables that run down my leggings and plug into the insoles. Bit of a palaver getting set up but my feet freeze, even with 2 sets socks, overshoes and additional toe warmers, at any temp below 5C. This causes chillblains, its not fun. I cant hand out 100+ quid for somthing made in China, when I can get a similar product without the fancy package at a small fraction of the price, made in, you guessed it, China. If you have cold feet probs, its worth looking into and you do not have to take out a bank loan to try it out.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas, Alexander. Keep warm 👍

[@mtbboy1993]

I don't get the point of heated insoles, if you need it you use wrong shoes. Or have unusual requirements. Why not use winter or water and wind proof shoes with Marino wool socks? Coldest temp I've ridden in so far was -11C.

[@Brookes79]

I just found some 8hr one use ones in Home Bargains for 99p. I will have to wait probably till next week, as I just twinged my calf on a cold 75km ride on Friday afternoon. I may actually carry them in my bag & put them in my shoes when I'm around 90 minutes from home.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Nice find, Leon. Fix up, and let us know how you get on with them.

[@paulc8801]

It might be interesting to test out heated socks as an alternative solution? … another video maybe?

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Yes, gloves and socks have crossed my mind.

[@LivandTrekGoCycling]

Enjoyed the video but educate me please...how do you get away with having the three degrees music clip feature in the video without incurring a copyright strike? I'm intrigued to know, thanks 👍

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Only a few seconds.

[@LivandTrekGoCycling]

@@ribblevalleycyclist Any idea what the time limit is?

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

@LivandTrekGoCycling I’m sure I read somewhere that it’s 3 seconds….. but don’t quote me on that, because it was a while ago. KZbin editor has an audio editing option, so if the bot does pick up on that tiny snippet, I’ll have to mute it.

[@pippipster6767]

Did they work straight out of the box or did you need to charge them first?

[@Bazza1968]

Good review- how waterproof are the Bertschat ones? ie if they got a dunking and submerged would it affect them ? Are they IP rated or have a USB port cover? I'm normally a 44, so 45 (UK9.5) in Shimano for summer, but also fit a 46(UK10.2) for winter with the cleats slammed back and can get thick enough socks in them for winter and BBB neoprene overshoes on the top...if it gets really cold and off road it's hiking boots and flatties!

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Waterproof, Good question. There is no mention in either the user manual or their website. If you’re looking to purchase, I’d recommend emailing them.

[@julianwinn4502]

Is that Rudyard Lake - now you are straying into my territory

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Well spotted that man!

[@sunmand6136]

@Ribble Valley Cyclist Which Bertschat version do you use? There is like 5 versions of them.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Hi Sunman, These: www.bertschat.co.uk/products/limited-heated-insoles

[@sunmand6136]

@@ribblevalleycyclist Thanks.

[@gammelgemse]

What do you do about your eyes? Doesnt the freezing cold wind constantly blowing in you face/eyes bother you, especially over 2-3h rides?

[@fabianbinder3681]

I bought a used Aero Helmet with a visor. Giro Air Attack. It’s a game changer. Alternatively, ski goggles work well, too.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

I normally wear cycling specific glasses. I tend to take them off for videos though, makes it a bit more personal……. If you get my drift

[@IowaNinersFan]

I break out the snowboard helmet and goggles when snow's on the ground. Speed is a non-factor during Winter riding months lol.

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

@IowaNinersFan Cracking idea 😂

[@fabianbinder3681]

@@ribblevalleycyclist A decade ago, I even drilled holes in a fully integral motorcycle helmet. That was real comfy in minus 20 Celsius. 🤣

[@scotiavelo1405]

Come to Scotland mate in -5 temps trust me nothing will stop cold feet. Just like “Waterproof” the rain is horizontal here and nothing is 100% waterproof 🤣. Good videos tho

[@ribblevalleycyclist]

Thanks, Lekidoo, glad you enjoyed it 👍