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Gear Review | Lenz Heat Socks 5.0. Toe Cap & Lithium Pack rcB

Control the toe temperature via app

by Carla Brandt • 03/05/2022
Carla Brandt
Lenz Socken
Socks that not only warm the sole of the foot, but also the toe area in particular - this is certainly of interest to all of us with frozen feet. The small Vorarlberg company Lenz has made a name for itself in recent years with heatable socks as an alternative to the heatable soles from various other suppliers. How does the technology work?

Is it suitable for us as freeriders or ski tourers who have high demands on pack size and battery life and also don't want to do without the most important thing - really warm feet?

The family-run company Lenz has set out to conquer the ski market, mountain biking, equestrian sports and other outdoor and winter sports with heated socks. Their concept: lithium-ion batteries that are attached to the socks at the touch of a button (not a button to switch them on - no, real buttons to button them on). The socks are longer than "normal" socks, have a fold at the top of the knee and three rivet button holders to which the battery can be pressed. Once the battery and sock are one, the extended sock cuff is folded over and the battery disappears underneath. What remains is a small flashing light, signalling that the sock is ready to heat!

First impression

The Lenz Heat Sock 5.0. comes in a cardboard box - red and black, just like the sock itself. The design is plain and simple. I'm not holding a style product in my hand, but something that lights my toes on fire. The sock is hardly heavier than a standard ski sock. Three press studs on the cuff and a sewn-in line to the toe cap. The toe cap is the essential part. It surrounds the toes from above and below, making them feel warm and comfortable. The socks are made to measure, with an ergonomic fit and reinforcements in areas relevant to skiers such as the ankle and shin. They are also made from odour-inhibiting material (and without merino wool).

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Carla Brandt
Carla Brandt

Tester and test conditions

I can't remember the first time my toes were white, cold and stiff when I pulled them out of my ski boots in the evening. It started on some glacier (probably on some training course where you do more standing than skiing...) and has been with me ever since. The cold toe problem. At some point, the front part of the sole of the foot can no longer be felt, it doesn't hurt, but half of my power-transmitting sole is no longer really active. I notice that the turns become rougher and the fun factor decreases. For example, at the beginning of this season in Saas Fee at -20°C and wind chill. I'm in a great skiing mood, but my feet don't want to join in. Annoying.

That's when I discovered the Heat Socks and was immediately curious to try them out. I use them for freeriding and freetouring, although I rarely have persistently cold feet on tour.

The only ski boot used in the test is a Lange XT Freetour boot with SIDAS Winter sole and Intuition liner.

Test report

At the beginning of the test period, it is unfortunately terribly warm (New Year's Eve, rain) and the socks' heating function remains switched off. Nevertheless, they are still comfortable to wear. The small batteries are so light that you don't feel them when skiing, they don't pinch and don't get in the way under your ski trousers.

If you switch them on manually, you have 3 heating levels. They are set using a button on the battery, which can also be operated by briefly pressing it through the ski trousers. The "standard version" using the manual button proves to be practical when it is so cold that you really need the socks and the mobile phone battery (for using the app) runs out as soon as you take your mobile phone out of your pocket.

Control via the app is contactless and does not require searching for the button on the lower leg. Once you have connected the batteries to the "Lenz Heat App" via Bluetooth (available in all popular app stores), you can switch them on at the start of the day at the touch of a button and then control them very conveniently via the app. Here you have the option of setting 9 different heating levels. You can also differentiate between right and left. For example, if you have a larger cold spot on your right big toe, you can heat the right sock more than the left. Intermittent heating can also be set via the app function. Programmes of 20 minutes heating and 20 minutes pause are the maximum possible, and there are also quick heating intervals of one minute. My test shows: saves electricity, but not so much that it's really worth it. You can also switch off the LEDs on the Li-ion batteries. This may not matter to us as freeriders, but if you also want to use the socks for hunting (?!), you can make sure you don't scare off any game.

To switch the socks off completely, I spend a long time looking for a button or instructions. They cannot be switched to OFF mode manually. If the LED flashes at level II, they are on standby. If the batteries are no longer connected to the socks via push buttons, they automatically switch to OFF mode after 12 hours.

Maurice Kilgus
Lenz Socken

Power consumption and battery life

The batteries are disconnected from the ski socks after use and connected to a battery charging unit using the same button strip. This is small and handy, takes approx. 2 hours to fully charge under 230V household current, via a second battery in the bus (with 12 V) it takes considerably longer, but also works. I usually run the socks manually at level 1 at the touch of a button during the day, and the batteries last for a whole day. According to the manufacturer, the running time on level 1 should be at least 14 hours.

After (weeks of) use, I wash the socks in the washing machine at 30°C according to the manufacturer's instructions. Afterwards they look like new, no fluff or worn spots after 20 days of use and a single wash.

Speaking of sustainability, the materials used for the socks comply with Ecotec certification and the batteries (including charging technology) are CE certified. Lenz is not trying to save the world with its company, "but to set positive impulses through its products". Examples are the resource-saving production, non-toxic dyeing processes and plastic-free packaging of the "Think About" Every Day sock series from Lenz.

Conclusion

The price of just under €250 may seem daunting, but the Lenz Heat Socks 5.0 with Lithium Pack simply let me ski relaxed and are guaranteed to keep my feet warm, regardless of whether it's -20°C or I'm waiting a lot for my fellow skiers and therefore get cold. This winter shows us once again that rain and temperatures of 0°C at 3000m in January are nothing out of the ordinary.

So is it worth it? Investing in the future warmth of your feet when it gets warmer every winter anyway? Yes, is my answer. If your liners aren't completely dry because you've been on a road trip for a week with inadequate auxiliary heating or the queue for the lift is colder than expected in the morning because it's a powder day... My most sensible new purchase this winter!

Advantages & disadvantages

+ reliably warm feet
+ toe cap (not as usual foot sole heating)
+ short battery charging time
+ ergonomic, low odour
+ easy to control manually & via app
+ intuitive operation
+ small, light, not noticeable
- toe cap seam can create pressure point in unfavourable fit mode
- complete switch-off only after 12h standby mode

Information on

RRP 249,99€

Sizes XS (31-34), S (35-38), M (39-41), L (42-44) and XL (45-47)

Weight: Total 289 g (socks 126 g, battery 163 g) after weighing (socks 113 g, battery incl. charging technology 330 g according to the manufacturer)

Material socks: 50 % polyester, 25 % polyamide, 15 % merino wool, 5 % silk, 3 % elastane, 2 % polypropylene

Package contents: 2 lithium pack rcB 1200 (rechargeable), 1 global USB charger 100 - 240 V, 1 USB charging cable with charging indicator, 1 pair of Lenz heat sock 5.0 toe cap

Machine washable up to 30°C

Warranty: 2 years

Made in Italy (socks) and China (battery)

Click here to go to the Lenz website for more information on socks and accumulators.

The socks were provided to PowderGuide by the manufacturer free of charge for testing. Find out how we tested them in our test statement.

Maurice Kilgus
Lenz Socken
Maurice Kilgus
Lenz Socken

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This article has been automatically translated by DeepL with subsequent editing. If you notice any spelling or grammatical errors or if the translation has lost its meaning, please write an e-mail to the editors.

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