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[BigLew]

I have booth and have never used either. But I will need to this weekend for our toy run. The sock liner is made by First Gear and the heated insole by Gerbings. The insoles didn't feel like they got very warm but maybe they don't need to. Any input?

BigLew

[porthole]

Which socks? Socks with wire on the top only or across the bottom as well?

The socks I have have the wire on top and bottom and are the warmest things for my feet. But I only wear them if I don't plan on walking much, they are a bit uncomfortable.
And my insoles like yours, are not as warm.

What I found with the insoles is to have them turned on long before I thought I would need them.

[JCZ]

Lewis I have both....so speaking from experience on both, the insoles are leaps and bounds over the socks.

With the socks you have to wash them out in the sink each night at the hotel.  The boot insoles.....once you have them in your boots they stay......no muss, no fuss.....plug n play!  And you don't have a bunch of tiny wires under your feet as you're walking around.  The heat in the insoles seems to be more even across the entire bottom of your feet.  Well worth the money.   

EDIT:  Like Duane points out.......it's much easier to stay warm up front than it is to try to get warm after they're cold (especially your feet and hands) so I always turn mine on as soon as I'm plugged in.  Control the temps  once they get warm.

[Road Dad]

You don't have to wash out the electric socks every night if you use cotton socks inside them.

I have ridden for hours in negative 14 degrees. (MN up to Canada fir lunch last fall) and the socks worked great.  Insoles in my experience are not as warm since they only warm from below.

[BigLew]

Yeah I was thinking something like that. I believe my First gear socks just have heat on the top and toes.

BigLew

[BigLew]

thanks guys i will say i bought some of the new gerbins dual power gloves. They have a pouch with there own batteries or plug into the bikes power. on the battery they can get extremely hot on the high setting. only problem when using there battery cant wear a watch. makes the gloves to tight.

BigLew

[Para Bellum]

I like the socks better b/c they have heat over the top and bottom of the toes, and it's my toes that get cold first and worst. And I use a sock liner (very thin) so I don't have to wash the heat sox very often.

Insoles are convenient, though, and if they have enough heat elements in the toe area...

[SDCVO]

Lewis I have both....so speaking from experience on both, the insoles are leaps and bounds over the socks.

With the socks you have to wash them out in the sink each night at the hotel.  The boot insoles.....once you have them in your boots they stay......no muss, no fuss.....plug n play!  And you don't have a bunch of tiny wires under your feet as you're walking around.  The heat in the insoles seems to be more even across the entire bottom of your feet.  Well worth the money.   

EDIT:  Like Duane points out.......it's much easier to stay warm up front than it is to try to get warm after they're cold (especially your feet and hands) so I always turn mine on as soon as I'm plugged in.  Control the temps  once they get warm.

If they can keep those big "clog hoppers" warm they should be able to warm a small village...

[guppytrash]

I use the Firstgear socks along with pants, jacket, and gloves.
Only the gloves are outer wear. 
I always wear cotton socks under the heated socks.

Probably the best thing I ever bought for motorcycling comfort. 
Heated gear is something every rider should treat themselves too.

Never tried the insoles so I can't say, but I could see a benefit to them staying in the boot.
Socks are great but 2 layers can get bulky.

[CupidsCowgirl64]

I use the Firstgear socks along with pants, jacket, and gloves.
Only the gloves are outer wear. 
I always wear cotton socks under the heated socks.

Probably the best thing I ever bought for motorcycling comfort. 
Heated gear is something every rider should treat themselves too.

Never tried the insoles so I can't say, but I could see a benefit to them staying in the boot.
Socks are great but 2 layers can get bulky.

I was going to inquire about heated gear. Its something that my husband and I have been talking about investing into. I can see where the socks would be better in some ways as it is your digits (fingers n toes) that get cold first before the rest of your hands and feet. Right now layering up isnt an option for me as my jacket is already snug. I thought about the thin heated liners for under the jacket etc. Any brands better then others or do you end up paying for the name?

[BigLew]

So cupid does Northern mean Flag? I can say over the years I have accumulated a little of everthing. I like some of the Gerbins stuff and the First Gear. I really like the First Gear under gear its like thin long jonhs. Heats great but not bulky so once it warms up just cut it off and its not hot or bulky. Also have a 2 zone wireless control that is well worth the money. JCZ on the West coast turned me on to the new extreme suits and they are great if you ride on trips a lot. You see I've alway been a leather kind of guy but when space is limited and packing leather, heated gear, and a good wet suit it just takes alot of room. so now when I'm traveling for a week or more with warm and cold and wet I take my Gerbins Xtreme jacket and pants. Its ballistic material with armor. It has a removable waterproof layer and a removable heated layer. So one jacket and one pair of pants for riding. You can wear a tee shirt and pj bottoms and stay warm. Not as stylish as a leather Harley jacket,which I now pack, but better for riding with limited space. I also like the new dual power gloves that will run on the bikes power or have there own battery. Now that I have completely confused everything..............

BigLew

[Para Bellum]

Right now layering up isnt an option for me as my jacket is already snug. I thought about the thin heated liners for under the jacket etc. Any brands better then others or do you end up paying for the name?

I've had several brands of heated liners, and all have been bulky, so I can't recommend one over another for fitting under already-tight leather (I'm in that camp too).  Maybe there's a newer make available that's really thin?

Here's an option that might work depending on your cold tolerance and riding temps: Heated gloves, heated socks (or insoles lol), and a heated seat (or maybe heated pants).  The heat from seat and socks seems to get carried to the upper body.  Sadly, it's no help for the arms, which most heated jackets provide, but the gloves help a lot.

The HD heated gear used to be made by Gerbing; not sure who makes it now.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I have heated grips on both bikes, I also use Gerbing heated gear.  I have the G3 gloves, the mico-wire liner, the outer pants and the heated socks.
I have apes on both bikes so, to keep hands warm in 30 degree weather at 80 mph, both gloves and grips are needed.  I just were a light sweater under the heated liner or a long sleeve shirt, the liner and a middle weight textile jacket over the liner, just a pair of blue jeans under the heated pants.  I rarely wear the socks.  Have lowers on both bikes, and two pair of socks is usually enough.  The heated socks my feet get to hot, or my legs too cool if the socks are comfortable.

I love the heated gear.  So much easier for traveling.  So much less bulk for winter riding.  Mines seven years old now.

[CupidsCowgirl64]

So cupid does Northern mean Flag? I can say over the years I have accumulated a little of everthing. I like some of the Gerbins stuff and the First Gear. I really like the First Gear under gear its like thin long jonhs. Heats great but not bulky so once it warms up just cut it off and its not hot or bulky. Also have a 2 zone wireless control that is well worth the money. JCZ on the West coast turned me on to the new extreme suits and they are great if you ride on trips a lot. You see I've alway been a leather kind of guy but when space is limited and packing leather, heated gear, and a good wet suit it just takes alot of room. so now when I'm traveling for a week or more with warm and cold and wet I take my Gerbins Xtreme jacket and pants. Its ballistic material with armor. It has a removable waterproof layer and a removable heated layer. So one jacket and one pair of pants for riding. You can wear a tee shirt and pj bottoms and stay warm. Not as stylish as a leather Harley jacket,which I now pack, but better for riding with limited space. I also like the new dual power gloves that will run on the bikes power or have there own battery. Now that I have completely confused everything..............

BigLew

No BigLew Northern means Prescott area

[Mano]

I too have both. The socks are bulky and are harder to get in the boot. I find them very uncomfortable. As for the insoles I got another pair of boots, took out the original sole and installed the garbing heated insole. It is very comfortable and just slides on. The thing that I found was that since the insoles and the gloves share the same switch/knob on the controller one would heat up more than the other. Sometimes the gloves first other times the insoles. So after changing the heated liner, the gloves and the controller I realized that it had to be the same circuit on the controller. I got a single controller with a spliter. Now all three have there own control switch/knob. Now it works great.