We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Travel Products Style Apparel The 5 Best Heated Socks of 2024, Tested and Reviewed For comfy-cozy feet, check out the best heated socks tested by our team. By Theresa Holland Theresa Holland Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer and editor specializing in lifestyle, beauty, apparel, and more. She has contributed to numerous digital publications, including Byrdie, People, The Spruce, TripSavvy, The Financial Diet, Thought Catalog, and Elite Daily. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 6, 2024 Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Nick Blackmer is a librarian, fact checker, and researcher with more than 25 years’ experience in consumer-oriented content. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process In This Article Expand In This Article Our Top Picks ReviewsOthers We Liked Our Testing Process Tips for Buying Frequently Asked Questions Why Trust T+L Photo: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Are you planning a ski resort vacation, sightseeing in one of the best U.S. cities for winter travel, braving Antarctica's white desert, or heading on another type of cold-weather adventure? While planning ahead with cold-weather gear is crucial, even the most insulated winter boots might not be enough to keep your feet and toes warm when spending time in frigid climates. Enter: high-tech heated socks. Most are powered by rechargeable batteries that tuck into a pocket on the upper calf, and many promise to keep your puppies cozy for several hours before needing a recharge. To see which pairs live up to their claims, we tried 15 options firsthand. Our testers slipped on the socks and performed a series of assessments, including recording how long it took them to warm up and dipping their booted feet into an ice bucket. (Learn more about our testing process below.) Our Top Picks Best Overall: Day Wolf Heated Socks at Amazon ($80) Jump to Review Best for Leisure: Sun Will Electrically Heated Socks at Amazon ($77) Jump to Review Best Cushioning: Savior Heat Heated Socks at Amazon ($80) Jump to Review Best Toe Heating: Snow Deer Rechargeable Battery Electric Heated Socks at Thewarmingstore.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Instant Heating: Dr. Warm Heated Socks at Thewarmingstore.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best Overall Day Wolf Heated Socks PHOTO: Amazon $80 at Amazon $69 at daywolfsports.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 4.5/5 Heating 4/5 Design 5/5 Comfort 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Why We Love It Boasting slim batteries and a soft, comfy feel, these socks provide evenly distributed heat that won't falter in icy conditions. What to Consider They aren't machine-washable and take 15 minutes to heat up. Day Wolf is a tried-and-true maker of outdoor apparel, so it's no surprise the brand's heated socks were the best we tested. The material is soft, breathable, and stretchy with excellent cushioning. These socks are a nice thickness that isn't too thick or too thin, and they didn't bunch up in boots even after wearing for long periods of time. Not only that, but the slim, compact battery is barely noticeable when wearing the socks. The heating function is conveniently straightforward too — all you do is press the button to turn it on, then adjust the temperature as needed. It took about eight minutes to feel any warmth and 15 minutes to reach full heat, but it was worth the wait. The tops and arches of feet, ankles, and toes were nice and toasty. Even after submerging booted feet in an ice bucket for 30 minutes, the temperature held strong. After using these socks regularly for two months, they kept feet warm on every cold day including while skiing. The thickness is warm enough for winter activities, and the batteries aren't too noticeable for sports. Just a heads up, these heated socks aren't machine-washable, but you can remove the batteries and hand-wash them as needed. All things considered, we think the price is fair and would recommend them for pretty much any cold-weather excursion, including snow sports and leisure activities. The Details: Polyester, elastane, nylon | Size S-XL | 102 degrees Fahrenheit after 3 hours | 121 degrees Fahrenheit max temp | Rechargeable 7.4V lithium-polymer | 3–10-hour battery life Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Best for Leisure Sun Will Electrically Heated Socks PHOTO: Amazon $77 at Amazon $90 at Walmart Our Ratings Ease of Use 4.5/5 Heating 5/5 Design 5/5 Comfort 4/5 Value 4.5/5 Why We Love It These knitted socks have an intuitive, fuss-free design that keeps your feet cozy when you're out and about. What to Consider Since they're not very stretchy, these socks are kind of hard to get on. Looking for something you can wear out and about while sightseeing, shopping, taking snow selfies, or watching winter sports? Sun Will Heated Socks might be your best bet. They have an intuitive, fuss-free design — just insert the batteries and press the power button. The slim battery packs are discreet, and you don't have to remove them to adjust the temperature. We could feel warmth within two minutes, but the soles took about 11 minutes to heat up. Walking around in boots, toes and the front of feet were very nice and cozy while wearing these socks. One thing to note is that they aren't very stretchy, so they don't pull on as easily as more elastic pairs. However, they stay up well and are definitely comfortable to wear. Also, while the knitted cotton blend might not have the sweat-wicking abilities you'd want for snow sports, these socks are perfect for leisurely activities in chilly climates. The Details: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Size S-XL | 110 degrees Fahrenheit | 150 degrees Fahrenheit max temp | Rechargeable 7.4V lithium | 2–6.5-hour battery life Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Best Cushioning Savior Heat Heated Socks PHOTO: Amazon $72 at Amazon View on Saviorheat.com View on Keepwarming.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 4/5 Heating 4.5/5 Design 5/5 Comfort 5/5 Value 4/5 Why We Love It Savior Heated Socks are not only cozy-warm but also comfortably cushioned, with excellent compression on the calves. What to Consider They aren't machine-washable and don't heat the arches and heels very well. Setup for these socks was easy enough, but it took a minute to connect the batteries and confirm which colors represented each heat setting. We could feel the warmth in about 10 seconds, and within a few minutes, it reached the top and front of the feet and toes. They didn't heat the arches and heels very well, but overall, our feet stayed cozy, even during the ice bucket test. Heating abilities aside, we loved the cushioned design of these socks. The knitted material is slightly more padded over the toes and balls of the feet, with a stretchy feel and excellent compression on the calves. Not only that, but the batteries are comfortably lightweight and slim. These were so warm and cozy to wear during the cold, they feel like regular socks, and we love that they are thick, but lightweight. These socks have to be hand-washed, and the price is pretty steep. Still, we think they're a decent value and would recommend them for skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and winter hikes. The Details: Cotton, polyester, elastane | Size S-XL | 111 degrees Fahrenheit | 149 degrees Fahrenheit max temp | Rechargeable 7.4V lithium-ion | 3–8-hour battery life Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson The 12 Best Warm Socks of 2024 Best Toe Heating Snow Deer Rechargeable Battery Electric Heated Socks PHOTO: Amazon View on Thewarmingstore.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Heating 3.5/5 Design 4.5/5 Comfort 5/5 Value 4/5 Why We Love It These stretchy, breathable socks keep your toes warm consistently, even in icy conditions. What to Consider They don't always heat up at the same speed, and the batteries are slightly bulky. If your toes tend to get the coldest, go with Snow Deer. The brand's Rechargeable Heated Socks are easy to use, with a single button that controls both the power and temperature settings. They work as they should, but one sock heated up quicker than the other (one minute versus four minutes). Also, the warmth is mostly concentrated to the toe area, so if you're looking for a full-foot effect, we suggest getting a different pair. All that said, our toes stayed consistently warm during the testing process. And the socks performed impressively well when we wore them with boots submerged in ice. We also liked the stretchy, breathable, not-too-thick fabric that stayed up well without feeling too tight. While we wish the battery was slightly smaller, it sits high enough on the calf that it shouldn't interfere with most boots. The Details: Polyester, elastane, nylon | Size S-XL | 113 degrees Fahrenheit | 131 degrees Fahrenheit max temp | Rechargeable 7.4V lithium-ion | 2–6.5-hour battery life Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson The 11 Best Heated Slippers of 2024 Best for Instant Heating Dr. Warm Heated Socks PHOTO: Amazon View on Thewarmingstore.com View on Mycoolingstore.com Our Ratings Ease of Use 5/5 Heating 4.3/5 Design 4/5 Comfort 4/5 Value 4.3/5 Why We Love It They heat up immediately and can be controlled with the power button or the included remote. What to Consider They don't get quite as hot as other pairs we tested, and all the heat is concentrated to the toes and balls of the feet. Want something that delivers instant warmth? Dr. Warm has you covered. We found these socks very easy to operate with the power button on the battery pack. They also come with a remote, so you can adjust the temperature without fiddling with the sock. More to the point, they heated up immediately. The temperature remained steady during our tests, even in the ice bath, and didn't make our feet sweaty. One drawback is that most of the heat is concentrated around the toes and balls of the feet, so your upper feet and heels won't be as warm. Also, while we wouldn't call the batteries uncomfortable, they're a little bulky, which might be an issue with some boots. Still, we think these socks are worth buying for the fast-acting heat. The Details: Cotton, acrylic, nylon, spandex | Size S-XL | 111 degrees Fahrenheit | 167 degrees Fahrenheit max temp | Rechargeable 7.4V lithium-ion | 3.5–11-hour battery life Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Other Heated Socks We Liked One pair of socks performed well in some areas of testing but had pitfalls we couldn’t ignore. Trazon Rechargeable Heated Socks: We could feel the warmth of these socks almost immediately after turning them on. But while we found the soft, stretchy design comfortable, we could feel the wire on the side. And unfortunately, the right-side battery was defective, so we were only able to test the left sock. Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Our Testing Process Travel + Leisure editors selected 15 pairs of highly rated, bestselling heated socks to try firsthand in our New York City lab space. After inspecting all the parts and reading the instructions, we put on the socks, powered them up, and timed how long they took to provide any warmth and heat to the desired temperature. We also checked the temperature 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and three hours after turning them on. We wore rain boots over the socks and walked around to get an idea of the overall feel. Next, we submerged booted feet in an ice bucket for 10 minutes to see how well the heating element holds up in frigid temperatures and icy conditions. With notable features and care requirements in mind, each pair of heated socks was scored for ease of use, heating, design, comfort, and value. After lab tests, each pair of socks were also sent out with testers to use in the real world to test durability, heat, and comfort over a two-month period. Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson Tips for Buying Heated Socks Pick a pair with heat that lasts When buying heated socks, look for a design that provides long-lasting warmth. Most pairs remain warm for three to eight hours on a full charge, but some claim to last up to 12 hours (sometimes more). Using your socks on the lowest heat will make the battery last longer. However, we found the medium setting most comfortable with many of the pairs we tested. With that said, they should stay consistently warm on medium heat if you're planning to be outside for more than a few hours. Put comfort first There's nothing worse than uncomfortable feet when you're out in the cold. For the best heated socks for your needs, you may want to select a pair that has a range of heat levels so you can control the temperature.You should also consider socks that are plush and comfortable even when not heated. Heated socks tend to be bulky, so take that into consideration when deciding on which pair of socks and shoes to wear for your day out. Think about what activities you'll wear them for You should also consider the intended use. Do you need heated socks for hitting the slopes? Or will you be wearing them for leisurely activities, like sightseeing, shopping, watching winter sports, or strolling through a holiday light display? If you stay home, even more foot-warming options are available. For snow sports and icy conditions, you'll want something not just reliably warm but also with a performance-focused design. Think sweat-wicking materials, reinforced toes, cushioning under the balls of the feet, and light compression around the calves and ankles. For less extreme outings, a knitted pair with compact battery packs should suffice. Don't plan on wearing them with small shoes Lastly, you'll want to account for the thickness of the material. As you might be aware, a thick pair of socks makes for a snug boot fit. Since the heated variety features wires within the knitted layers, they're often thicker than your average winter pair. Keep this in mind, and make sure your shoes or boots have plenty of wiggle room. The battery packs can also add bulkiness around the calves, though some are much slimmer than others. Frequently Asked Questions How do heated socks work? Most heated socks are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. The battery packs are separate from the socks and typically charge with USB cables. They go in designated pockets located on the upper calf area of the sock, where they attach to a wire connector. The socks have wires embedded into the knitted heat-safe materials. When you turn them on, an electrical current will pass through the wires, thereby warming your feet and toes. How long does it take heated socks to heat up? Heated socks can take anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes to fully warm up. The majority of heated socks we tested took less than a minute to warm up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Are heated socks safe? Heated socks are generally safe in that they're not considered a fire or electrical hazard. Most lithium batteries are designed to power down if they short circuit, and even if you touched exposed wires, they probably wouldn't shock you or even feel hot. Also, the maximum temperature of heated apparel is several hundred degrees lower than fire, so there's really no risk of them igniting. How do I wash heated socks? Most heated socks call for hand-washing with mild detergent, then letting them air-dry. Some are machine-washable on a delicate cycle, but a wash bag (aka laundry bag) is usually recommended. In any case, be sure to always remove the battery packs before washing your socks. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Theresa Holland is an experienced commerce writer and product reviewer specializing in recreation, travel, and lifestyle. For this article, she compiled insights from our in-house testers, then pored over the product manuals and spec sheets for our winning heated socks to create a thorough list of trusted recommendations. The 7 Best Heated Jackets of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week. Updated by Taylor Fox Taylor Fox Taylor Fox is the Commerce Outdoor Gear Editor at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Taylor holds a Master’s in Geography and has been a writer and editor for over nine years. learn more