When you are prone to cold feet -- the literal, sometimes painful, kind -- you can accumulate quite the collection of socks. I have thermal socks in many materials, metalized sock liners, fluffy cotton and cotton-blend socks, wool and wool-blend socks, even alpaca ones (the animal's native Andes are a cold place, too). But there is a problem: Caring for the socks. Generally, cotton and cotton-blends are machine washable, but most of the rest are hand-wash and line-dry. Heat Holders can't be thrown in the dryer, but they dry so quickly on the line, you probably won't care. They can be machine washed in warm water with similar colors, so if you have sweaty feet, keeping them clean shouldn't be an issue. The socks are warm. Worn inside just athletic shoes on a 20-degree morning, my toes were just fine while I shoveled my driveway for a half-hour. Yet when I came inside and did some chores, my feet weren't so warm that they were sweaty. And the fuzzy, brushed-pile lining feels fabulous when you put them on. The only slight quibble is that because of the pile, they aren't exactly snug fitting, so they don't slip into tighter pull-on boots.
-- Vaunda Bonnett
There's no in between with my feet and winter: They're either too cold or too hot. I had decent hopes for this product; but in the end, they're just an average pair of socks. Not quite sure where the manufacturer gets the stat that the socks are seven times as warm as a basic cotton sock. If that was the case, my feet should have melted inside the sock, but they didn't. Instead, they were almost comfortable inside the socks, but not toasty, they were still a bit cold. (Keep in mind, thanks to the warmer weather, I tried these inside my house, so it wasn't even like I was in 20-something degree weather.)
The socks are soft and comfortable, and they did fit fine in different shoes and boots. But once done with them, there was an annoying problem. When I took the socks off, there was a lot of loose fuzz all over the place, on my feet, on the rug, even later in the shower.
They retail for about $15 on Amazon. I don't think I'd pay that much for a pair of these socks.
-- Bill Vidonic
Wearing these Heat Holders thermal socks feels like wrapping your feet in a cotton cloud. The socks give your feet extra warmth and nice extra padding for the soles, so your snow boots don't feel as hard. Even in boots, my toes often get chilly, and this is a good way to insulate them.
-- Kellie Gormly
Additional Information:Heat Holders thermal socks
The claim: Heat Holders are the ultimate thermal sock. They hold more warm air close to the skin, keeping feet warmer for longer -- seven times warmer than a basic cotton sock. The advanced insulating yarn is made from specially developed fibers to provide high-performance insulation against cold with superior moisture-wicking abilities. Innovative knitting technology produces unique, extra long, looped-cushion pile to hold in more warm air, increasing the thermal TOG rating. An intense brushing process maximizes the amount of warm air held inside the sock for all-day warmth and comfort.
Cost: $19.99 to $24.99
Where: Online
