| Many people know the excruciating pain that comes in | | | | with my toes going numb, even with sock liners, wool |
| the winter when you are trying to hike, snowmobile, ski, | | | | socks, and neoprene booties (used with a pair of |
| or cycle, and the biting cold cuts through your shoes | | | | shoes one size up from my normal size.) These really |
| and numbs your toes. A simple solution to this comes | | | | work. (And after the ride, keep your toes toasty for |
| in the form of chemically activated heat packs that | | | | the drive home!) |
| can be inserted into the shoe, called heated insoles. | | | | If you don't want to use a throw-away insole, and |
| Bending the metal disk inside the pack starts the | | | | would like to be safe from tearing the pack and having |
| crystallization process, and you the crystallization | | | | it leak on you, a battery rechargeable insole may be |
| proceeds through the liquid and makes a solid and heat | | | | right for you. |
| as a byproduct. You can then insert the insole in your | | | | I've only used them on 5 hour rides in the 40's, but with |
| shoe and feel the warmth! | | | | enough other insulation, they really seem to help. Insoles |
| Some of the packs are reusable. When you boil the | | | | will take up some space inside the shoe, so you may |
| solid, you melt it back to the liquid state. You have to | | | | want to consider wearing a pair that are roomy |
| completely melt every crystal, by the way, or the liquid | | | | enough to still be comfortable on your feet, but even |
| will quickly re-solidify. You can repeat this cycle | | | | buying another, bigger size winter shoe would be |
| forever, theoretically, just as you can freeze and melt | | | | worth it if it means feeling your feet during a bike ride. |
| water as many times as you like. The plastic pouch | | | | Take the opportunity to make winter cycling and |
| eventually wears out and leaks, though. | | | | outdoor activities that much more pleasurable and |
| For a buck-fifty, they keep your toes warm and | | | | comfortable, and pick yourself up some heated insoles! |
| toasty for up to 6 hours. I've always had problems | | | | |