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There are different types of boot heaters for different needs. For onsnow pros who spend all day, everyday, in the cold often times having to stand around or waiting for students, often choose electric boot heaters. This is also true with serious racers who have to stand and wait for extended periods between runs through the gates. Electric boot heaters are battery powered and typically a footbed with a resistance type of heating element built in. Typically batteries will keep the heater working for hours, but when the batteries run out of power the heat stops. Battery life can be increased by using HeatShields heat reflecting multi-thermal layer in addition to the electric heaters. The HeatShields trap heat inside the boot and allow users to turn down the heaters a click thus extending battery utility. The advantage to using HeatShields is the added heat reflecting value they provide. If batteries do go dead, the HeatShields still keep feet warm. Some pros have stopped using electric boot heaters and only use HeatShields to keep their feet warm, opting for the convenience of not having to charge batteries every night. Though electric heaters are a necessity for staying warm in certain extreme conditions, today's battery technology is a serious limitation on convenience. External battery mounting onto the back of the ski boot can be an issue with certain chairlifts, as it is not uncommon for the bottom of the chair to dislodge the battery pack. By using extension cords the battery can be kept in the pocket of a jacket eliminating this issue for certain makes of electric boot heaters. Most electric boot heaters retail for under $200 US. Besides electric boot heaters a common remedy for folks who rent boots are the little chemical pack heaters these work to produce heat when the pack is ripped open and air is allowed to enter. The chemical reaction is exothermic between the air and the chemicals and thus produces heat. The packs are a little bulky inside tight fitting boots. they are a cheap fix on really cold days or for crappy boots. The important consideration is that air must be exposed to the chemical for heat to be produced and boots are typically not the airiest of places. These chemical packs do make excellent hand warmers and are a good item to carry for emergencies. So much for heat producing boot heaters. There are also two other types of items for keeping feet warmer longer, external insulation and internal heat reflection. External insulation is like a blanket for your boots. Typically external boot warmers strap on or fit around the front of the boot and are constructed of a neoprene material that adds an extra layer of protection from the cold reducing the heat transfer from the bootshell into the air, or preferably fresh deep powder or other frozen stuff that collects on your boots. Though effective for keeping feet warmer, external boot warmers can make getting at buckles a little more challenging and look a little different in the lift line. Internal heat reflectors are a very effective and rather inexpensive addition to any ski boot. Typically these stick to the outer surface of the inner liner of boots or underneath the footbed or electric heater footbed. HeatShields are the worlds first heat reflecting multi-thermal layer for wintersport boots and also the worlds largest internal heat reflector manufacturer for the ski industry. HeatShields are a multi-layer construction of specialized thermaly reflective technical plastics that help to keep heat from escaping out of the boot. Typically the toe box, sole and heel area of the liner are covered and the liner replaced into the boot shell. Being very thin in design HeatShields offer increased warmth without adversely affecting proper boot fit for the serious skier. Once installed, typically HeatShields can last as long as your boots. Even if you choose to use any other style of boot heater, HeatShields are an important addition to any ski boot. Most skiers find that HeatShields work well enough to keep feet warm. MountainSports and Living magazine included HeatShields in their annual boot test and in their article stated that HeatShields raised the temperature of the inside of the boot 10-15 degrees F. HeatShields sell for under $30 retail.
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