Heated Socks Comparison - Fit/Comfort/Sizing

[gunniride]

I've done a fair bit of searching and landed on a number of pros and cons to Hotronics, Therm-ic, and Lenz.

To consolidate useful information from actual users of these products, I propose the following. Please comment on the Fit/Comfort/Sizing for any of the listed socks below. This is not a thread about the batteries or bluetooth or which brand is preferable because your uncle sells them in his shop...just the ACTUAL socks themselves. Please include your street shoe size, size of sock used, thickness comparision to a known ski sock like darn tough ultralights.

Hotronic:
Classic Comfort
Classic Thin
Surround Comfort
Surround Thin

Lenz:
5.1 Toe Cap
5.1 Toe Cap Slim
6.1 Toe Cap Merino Compression

Therm-ic:
Fusion Uni
V2 Uni

[SoVT Joey]

I have lenz in both a compression and a slim. I like them both. I’m an 11 street shoe and the large is ok for fit. I have to make sure to pull them up tight and then pull a little slack back to the toes to not have the seams pressing too much on my toes. and also make sure the wires and cap are sitting correctly. The merino compression is nice. Good quality merino. I don’t wear them as much as the slim though. The slim is great. Before heated socks I always wore ultra thin socks to stay warmer, but it’s not necessary now. My feet never sweat anymore. And if they do it’s fine until the batteries die. I would compare the compression to smart wool thins in material. The slim is more like the darn tough light ski sock.

i didn’t research brands at all simply due to the fact my buddy gave me a pair at the shop as a barter. I had hotronic boot heaters in my racing days and never had a problem with them except for wear and tear or losing a battery. They always worked well and I’m sure their socks do too.

only complaint about lense is the tightness on the cuff. I have bigger calves and they have to be folded down over the batteries just right.

[gregL]

Three pairs of Lenz 5.1 Toecaps in large - I measure 27.8 on the Brannock, wear a 10.5 street shoe, large is a decent fit but not snug by any means (medium is too small, though). I also have a very large calf and the socks work fine.

[Stuntmonkey]

I'm super finicky on socks and can only wear smartwool no-cushion, even the darn tough ones didn't work for me so I've been hesitant to try the socks. Was looking at boot heaters but I kinda want to get zipfits for heel hold......Lenz Slim seems like the go to?

[North]

I have the Lenz 6.1 Toe Cap Merino Compression. It's noticeably thicker than Darn Tough ULW and LW, and I find Darn Tough to be noticeably thicker than Bridgedale Ultra Thin. I don't think I'd be able to use them in my old boots that had a very tight shell fit. Newer boots are roomier in the toebox but still have good heel hold so the Lenz work.

[FlimFlamvanHam]

Hotronic Surround Thins. I&#39;m 274mm on Brannock; 10.5 street shoe. Other than high arch and med-high instep (technically high volume) my foot is as skinny and boney as they come (96mm wide) so went size medium over the size chart recommended large. Very happy with medium for my feet. My non-heated socks of the past were non-padded ultra thin Smartwools or Icebreakers. I&#39;d imagine a Darn Tough ultra light is similar. Every sock makers idea of &quot;thin&quot; and &quot;medium&quot; seems to differ greatly. Based on what I&#39;m seeing these days I&#39;d say the Surround Thins are on par with a &quot;thin&quot;. But the material has far more structure and no loft so is a compressive fit and may seem thicker. The soles and toes are thicker than rest of sock. I believe they are very, very similar to the Lenz slim or 6.1. <--- update: nope, the Surround Thins are thinner than either the 6.1 or 5.1 Thins. But, the material used on the Hotronic Surround Thins is anything but comfortable. They are like sandpaper on my shins. After a few days my shins get used to them.

[Stuntmonkey]

So looking at Lenz, the slim fit isn't a thinner sock material, but rather geared towards narrower feet?