Ebike powered heated winter cycling suit

[guerney]

Has anyone tried cycling with electrically heated insoles? My feet really suffer in the cold because of poor circulation, cramp up, so my ebike battery may power these via a DC converter. Cheap at the mo:

Insoles for Shoes USB Heated Shoe Insoles Feet Soft Washable Foot Pad Mat Electrically Heating Insoles Washable Warm Thermal - AliExpress 18

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

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Unisex Silicone Shoe Covers Solid Color Rain Waterproof Reusable Stretchable Shoes Socks Protector - AliExpress 322

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

1/2/3/4 PCS Built-in Universal Car Seat Heating Pads 12V Alloy Wire Car Seat Heater Cushion Covers Winter Warmer Heater Pads - AliExpress 34

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

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Customizable 2024 New UZZDSS Heating Heated Vest - AliExpress

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Also ordered a few other bits and bobs to make the rest of the winter cycling suit. I might weave heating wires from an electric blanket through overalls.

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The other use case is warming myself up using my ebike battery before cycling home, after winter gardening 12 miles away. If I set myself on fire, I can't burn for as long as I would have before I lost weight.

 

[kangooroo]

I wear USB heated gear but on my body rather than heated insoles or gloves, although I do have these.

My heated insoles have their own battery packs slotted into pockets and last about 5-6 hours. The same for clothing and I carry spare power banks - easier than powering by the bike and no trailing wires.

 

[guerney]

I wear USB heated gear but on my body rather than heated insoles or gloves, although I do have these.

My heated insoles have their own battery packs slotted into pockets and last about 5-6 hours. The same for clothing and I carry spare power banks - easier than powering by the bike and no trailing wires.

On my travels I often find myself chatting to railway workers on cold train platforms about the weather. Many wear heated waistcoats and socks and have spoken highly of them - one even showed me the two rechargeable AA battery packs strapped to his legs powering his electric socks. My plan is to try the heated waistcoat I've bought and add heating elements to it if necessary, power with power banks most of the time... but to quietly be roasted by my ebike battery while sitting in a chair resting after winter gardening, enabling a 12 mile ride home in the cold without horrible cycling interrupting cramping foot and calf muscles. I may wear it powered while riding, will see how it goes, hopefully won't be necessary. I'd simply plug into the 12V 2A DC converter on the handlebar, or the 20A converter on the pannier rack.

 

[kangooroo]

Probably not AA batteries - they wouldn't have the capacity. The socks will have their own battery packs in pockets.

 

[saneagle]

I have the jacket. It was really useful in the house when my central heating was not working. The 4-cell battery lasted about 4 hours. I can imagine that it wouldn't be nearly as effective if there was any wind blowing over it.

 

[guerney]

Probably not AA batteries - they wouldn't have the capacity. The socks will have their own battery packs in pockets.

I'll measure current draw of various permutations of the above products and others, see what works. My ebike battery has 20A available - hoping it might be enough to melt frost around me and my garden chair.

 

[guerney]

I have the jacket. It was really useful in the house when my central heating was not working. The 4-cell battery lasted about 4 hours. I can imagine that it wouldn't be nearly as effective if there was any wind blowing over it.

This is why I went for the heated thin waistcoat instead of the puffy version - I'll use it as a sortof base layer with windproof and insulating layers over it. Chinese sizing for clothes is weird, so I have no idea what size the thing will be until it arrives. If too small, I'll rip out the heating system to electrify something which does fit.

 

[saneagle]

This is why I went for the heated thin waistcoat instead of the puffy version - I'll use it as a softof base layer with windproof and insulating layers over it. Chinese sizing for clothes is weird, so I have no idea what size the thing will be until it arrives. If too small, I'll rip out the heating system to electrify something which does fit.

I bought the largest size, which was very tight on me.

 

[guerney]

I bought the largest size, which was very tight on me.

I chickened out of buying running shoes labelled Wong". Figured they were wong to start with and things will only get worse. Could have been a complete waste of money - my local charity shop doesn't accept donations, all stock is selected from a central catalogue.

 

[thelarkbox]

Put your feet into a thick polythene bag before the shoes.. Sweaty sure but great for heat retention.. Just use a lazzy band to seal the neck around your leg to stop wind/rain ingress. Worked a treat for me when commuting 40 miles each way on 2 wheels . Ideally with an opportunity to freshen your feet at the end of each trip..

 

[kangooroo]

I'll measure current draw of various permutations of the above products and others, see what works. My ebike battery has 20A available - hoping it might be enough to melt frost around me and my garden chair.

Mine use a 7.4V 3000mAh lithium power pack with DC connector as standard. I think you're making this over-complicated!

 

[AndyBike]

Sealskinz make a heated sock, but theyre really F*****g expensive

You could look towards skiing and motorcycling suppliers for reviews. Those are two groups that use heated socks and you might find something that doesnt cost the earth but is preforming above its price point.

If you want to make some improvements over winter, a simple overshoe will help
The neoprene are best for insulating and mostly arent waterproof.
Heres a pair on special offer. £41 reduced to a tenner - though price is for small only. so if you've got little tootsies, could be a goer. But they're not really that expensive and theres nothing to break.

SealSkinz Neoprene Open Sole Overshoes Hi Viz Yellow

The <strong>SealSkinz Neoprene Open Sole Overshoes</strong> are a high performance overshoe made from close fitting neoprene ideal for all cycling disciplines.

www.leisurelakesbikes.com

Waterproof

Altura Nightvision Waterproof Overshoes | Tredz Bikes

Save 30% - Altura Nightvision Waterproof Overshoes £20.99 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Overshoes are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

 

[saneagle]

Sealskinz make a heated sock, but theyre really F*****g expensive

You could look towards skiing and motorcycling suppliers for reviews. Those are two groups that use heated socks and you might find something that doesnt cost the earth but is preforming above its price point.

If you want to make some improvements over winter, a simple overshoe will help
The neoprene are best for insulating and mostly arent waterproof.
Heres a pair on special offer. £41 reduced to a tenner - though price is for small only. so if you've got little tootsies, could be a goer. But they're not really that expensive and theres nothing to break.

SealSkinz Neoprene Open Sole Overshoes Hi Viz Yellow

The <strong>SealSkinz Neoprene Open Sole Overshoes</strong> are a high performance overshoe made from close fitting neoprene ideal for all cycling disciplines.

www.leisurelakesbikes.com

Waterproof

Altura Nightvision Waterproof Overshoes | Tredz Bikes

Save 30% - Altura Nightvision Waterproof Overshoes £20.99 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Overshoes are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

That reminds me. After about half a million miles of riding motorbikes in all weathers, I found the best way to keep my feet warm was to buy boots one zize bigger and wear some thick socks over my normal ones. The main thing is for them still to be a bit loose because any tightness restricts blood flow that would otherwise warm your feet. the same applies to gloves. It's very important that they're loose, regardless of how many layers you have on.

 

[guerney]

Mine use a 7.4V 3000mAh lithium power pack with DC connector as standard. I think you're making this over-complicated!

After happening to lose my power bank in my overgrown garden, to be drenched by weeks of rain... I discovered while drying it out and confirming function, that it contains cheapo Chinese 18650 cells. I really don't want to tax those too much with bodily heating duties, but drawing enough to charge phones tablets etc. slowly wouldn't stress those cells much. I'd sooner trust my ebike battery's LG MH1 cells for higher current, and besides it's fun assembling potentially useful stuff especially when it's cheap, and I may against all intention end up learning something new in the attempt.

 

[guerney]

Put your feet into a thick polythene bag before the shoes.. Sweaty sure but great for heat retention.. Just use a lazzy band to seal the neck around your leg to stop wind/rain ingress. Worked a treat for me when commuting 40 miles each way on 2 wheels . Ideally with an opportunity to freshen your feet at the end of each trip..

Yes that does work, is smelly, but wrapping my feet in space blanket, over two pairs of wool socks, with a wind cover over my shoes worked even better and is just as smelly. Also, space blanket sheet over front torso warded windchill away by quite a lot, was warmer. Still not enough though, hence the happy electric feet project. Dispatched and marching to arrive in 7 days.

 

[guerney]

Sealskinz make a heated sock, but theyre really F*****g expensive

The AliExpress foot heating elements only cost a couple of quid, but you have to spend over £8 on other tat to get free postage. Plus VAT on all tat.

If you want to make some improvements over winter, a simple overshoe will help
The neoprene are best for insulating and mostly arent waterproof.
Heres a pair on special offer. £41 reduced to a tenner - though price is for small only. so if you've got little tootsies, could be a goer. But they're not really that expensive and theres nothing to break.

SealSkinz Neoprene Open Sole Overshoes Hi Viz Yellow

The <strong>SealSkinz Neoprene Open Sole Overshoes</strong> are a high performance overshoe made from close fitting neoprene ideal for all cycling disciplines.

www.leisurelakesbikes.com

Man those are tiny. Headed for landfill.

Waterproof

Altura Nightvision Waterproof Overshoes | Tredz Bikes

Save 30% - Altura Nightvision Waterproof Overshoes £20.99 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Overshoes are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

I've got a couple of pairs of overshoes: windproof, waterproof, Amazon generic and Aldi. Also ordered £1.58 worth of silicone overshoes to try.

Unisex Silicone Shoe Covers Solid Color Rain Waterproof Reusable Stretchable Shoes Socks Protector - AliExpress 322

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

You could look towards skiing and motorcycling suppliers for reviews. Those are two groups that use heated socks and you might find something that doesnt cost the earth but is preforming above its price point.

Feet are not in a largely static situation on bicycles vs motorbikes - warm air is pumped out by pedalling. Also, heating elements on clothing are in weird places sometimes. I mean, who wants a hot collar? It'd be nice to be able to select where to situate heating pads, and have switches to turn certain ones off. Hopefully possible when a bunch of AliExpress stuff arrives. It'll be a slow project hastened by cold weather.

 

[guerney]

That reminds me. After about half a million miles of riding motorbikes in all weathers, I found the best way to keep my feet warm was to buy boots one zize bigger and wear some thick socks over my normal ones. The main thing is for them still to be a bit loose because any tightness restricts blood flow that would otherwise warm your feet. the same applies to gloves. It's very important that they're loose, regardless of how many layers you have on.

I reckon my ticker is too far gone for inbuilt central heating.

 

[chris_n]

M

Sealskinz make a heated sock, but theyre really F*****g expensive

You could look towards skiing and motorcycling suppliers for reviews. Those are two groups that use heated socks and you might find something that doesnt cost the earth but is preforming above its price point.

If you want to make some improvements over winter, a simple overshoe will help
The neoprene are best for insulating and mostly arent waterproof.
Heres a pair on special offer. £41 reduced to a tenner - though price is for small only. so if you've got little tootsies, could be a goer. But they're not really that expensive and theres nothing to break.

SealSkinz Neoprene Open Sole Overshoes Hi Viz Yellow

The <strong>SealSkinz Neoprene Open Sole Overshoes</strong> are a high performance overshoe made from close fitting neoprene ideal for all cycling disciplines.

www.leisurelakesbikes.com

Waterproof

Altura Nightvision Waterproof Overshoes | Tredz Bikes

Save 30% - Altura Nightvision Waterproof Overshoes £20.99 or available with 0% APR finance on baskets over £99. All Overshoes are delivered free to the UK mainland*, 365 day returns & Price Match. Buy Now.

www.tredz.co.uk

Most skiers who require extra warmth use heated footbeds (insoles) rather than socks. Given you need clean socks daily (one would hope) then the average holidaymaker would need multiple pairs. I personally have never come across anyone using heated socks despite dealing with hundreds of people every season.

 

[guerney]

I bought the largest size, which was very tight on me.

Everything else has arrived for my winter heated cycling suit project. I'm one step closer to happy heated cycling feet. I'll attach the car chair heating elements (white with yellow edges) to two inner sides of a sleeping bag, get myself really toasty in cold weather for the ride home.

The heated waistcoat isn't bad - at least in this instance from this seller, turns out the size stated in cm, is the exact size of the garment, so if you're buying one, account for an extra inch or more for a comfortable fit. Clearly not using much power because my cheapo Amazon "Teknet" power bank lasts 5 hours. Power bank and wires remain cool. Keeping the power bank inside the pocket next to a heating element, doesn't seem a wise idea, and there are no upper pockets away from heating elements on the waistcoat, so I'll connect an USB extension lead and situate the power bank somewhere else.

I can secure the heating pad set (pictured below) to the same or some other garment, it might even be safe to do so - I'll measure how much current each set of heating elements draws. I might be in the market for another power bank. They never say what cells any given powerbank contains.

I could line two sides and the back of the winter cycling boiler suit upper section with the heated car seat elements, to be powered by my ebike battery. The heating pad set could be used for heated trousers, powered via a DC converter by the ebike battery, plugged into the handlebars, along with the heated insoles.

Man narrowly avoids launderette explosion caused by charger left in tumble dryer

This is the moment a lucky man leaves a laundromat seconds before a dryer explodes in a giant fireball that rips the front of the store clean off.

metro.co.uk

 

[guerney]

I bought a jacket with heat elements built in for £20. Not been cold enough for it the last course of years. I'm thinking this could be the year though

There's always a situation when wearable heating could be useful. The heated waistcoat I bought can be worn under a light fleece and/or jacket, making for lower volume and weight. Of course there is the weight of the power bank, but I often carry one of those anyway.

This PWM controller arrived the other day. I've also bought a cheapo 5A 12V power supply to test current drawn by the various heating elements I intend to combine for my heated cycling suit. I may buy more heating elements and power supplys, plus other stuff for other clothes. Could make a heated hoody, with heated hood. Unsure I'd want a headed hood. People could accuse me of being a hothead and be right.