Tested: Does Lenz Heated Gear Actually Keep Cold Feet at Bay?

I tested the Lenz Heat Sock 5.1 and Women’s Heat Glove 6.0 during a week skiing Cardrona and Treble Cone in New Zealand, where temperatures hovered between 0°C and -3°C. Here’s how they performed.

My Starting Point

Normally I ski with heated boot liners, where the heating element is permanently installed inside the liner. Unfortunately, I’d misplaced the battery attachment before the trip, so it was the perfect opportunity to try a completely different heating system.

The Lenz socks look just like a normal pair of ski socks, with discreet heating elements woven into the fabric. I was initially concerned I’d feel the wiring against my feet, but once inside my boots I completely forgot it was there.

How They Work

Both the gloves and socks are powered by rechargeable battery packs that charge overnight. The batteries simply clip into place and offer three heat settings, allowing you to adjust the warmth depending on the conditions. For the relatively mild New Zealand winter, I found the lowest setting more than adequate.

On Snow Performance

The warmth isn’t what I’d describe as hot. Instead, the socks gently take the edge off the cold. What surprised me most was that I barely noticed they were working until I realised everyone else on the chairlift was complaining about frozen toes while mine remained perfectly comfortable. Rather than heating my entire foot, they simply prevented my toes from becoming painfully cold, which is exactly what I wanted.

One unexpected advantage over permanently installed heated liners is portability. Because the heating element is built into the sock rather than your ski boot, they’re easy to share with family members or take on different ski trips without needing specialised boot fitting.

This Brand is a Lifeline for Raynaud’s

For my travelling companion Sharlene, who suffers from Raynaud’s Syndrome (a condition that restricts blood flow to the fingers and toes), heated gloves and socks aren’t a luxury, they’re essential. Without them, she really thinks she’d struggle to continue skiing.

“When my Raynaud’s flares up, my fingers and toes turn white. As the blood returns, it honestly feels like someone has sawn off your fingers and toes.”

Sharlene uses the mitten version of the Lenz gloves, preferring the extra warmth over traditional finger gloves.

“The batteries heat up quite quickly and stop that intense cold setting in. On a bluebird day at Treble Cone I only had them on level one and my hands actually became sweaty. At Cardrona, level one was perfect for my hands all day.”

She switches on both her gloves and socks at the same time she puts on her boots. In Australia and New Zealand she rarely needs more than level one, due to lower temps, while colder destinations such as Japan and Canada usually need levels two or three heating.

Something interesting of note…

I usually ski with a much heavier and thicker mitten (Hestra brand) but during my second week in NZ my hands in Hestra were sweating and uncomfortable. So much so that I tucked them into my jacket and skied with bare hands from mid-morning. However, I noticed the Lenz gloves on the days I didn’t have the battery were lighter and didn’t make my hands sweaty and wished I was wearing the Lenz gloves on the Hestra days. Something to think about! 

Final Thoughts

For occasional cold feet like mine, the heated socks offer a subtle but noticeable improvement in comfort without feeling bulky or intrusive. Those who regularly battle freezing temperatures or circulation issues will appreciate the ability to fine-tune the warmth throughout the day. It’s a game-changer in this regard.

My only recommendation would be to pay close attention to sizing. The socks will fit snugly without bunching and they will be long as they need to fit over your boots and have the heating element discreetly at the top of the sock. For the gloves, I’d personally choose the gloves one size larger than the sample pair I tested to allow a little more room in the wrists. I did ski with the heating elements turned OFF as well, to see if they were adequate when heating is not in use and my fingers and hands were not cold.

Whether you’re someone who feels the cold or you rely on heated gear to stay on the mountain, Lenz is a thoughtfully designed system that’s comfortable, portable and, most importantly, effective. What would we do without this technology!!! 

Purchase available from here.