As much as I like getting new toys to play with, I also like being comfortable and warm when skiing. Enter the Thermic C-Pack 1700 B boot heaters, which do both: they are cool new toys that keep my feet warm. These Bluetooth-controlled heaters might not be the least expensive option on the market, but technology-wise, they might be one of the best values.
Thermic offers three versions: the C-Pack 1300 B, C-Pack 1700 B, and C-Pack 1300 (no Bluetooth). The higher number means the lithium ion battery will work longer at the lowest setting. For most people, the 1300 will be fine, but for those who ski bell to bell and for multiple days in a row -- and maybe are forgetful when it comes to charging batteries -- the mac-daddy 1700 could be worth the slight premium.
This review will have quite a few references to "But wait, there’s more!" Let's start with the compact battery that clips easily to a booster strap. But wait! You don’t need an extra clip to keep it out of the way of your top buckle; the two-position clasp integrated into the back of the C-Pack keeps it nicely in place above your top buckle. Next, the heating element is one of the thinnest on the market, and it has one of the largest heating areas, making it less intrusive than even the IC1200 that I reviewed two years ago (see HERE). The hardware is the steak of the C-Pack 1700 B; now let's get to the sizzle.
Thermic built a pretty cool Bluetooth app for the C-Pack and its other heating systems. I am using the Apple version, which can be downloaded from the app store; an Android version is available, as well. The Bluetooth pairing is as simple as you would hope. Now, once you pair the heaters with the phone, you set up one as a left and one as a right; yes, you can control left and right independently. Inside the app, you put the boot heaters under a specific product that you name yourself; I created one for the boots on which I will be using them, K2 Recon, with its own picture. You can set up additional products in the app for other heating devices like gloves or socks.
Ok, so not only can you specify left and right heaters that are controlled independently and go from 1 to 10 (but wait, there’s more!), you can also set up motion control. This means you can set the power to drop to a predetermined lower level while you are skiing. If you have the left boot set at 7, you can go -3 when in motion, which brings it to a 4 when you are skiing; then when you stop, the heat returns to 7. If your right boot is set to a different temperature, it will still drop the same three levels. An ECO mode allows you to set up the heaters to work in 30-min sessions. You can set the heaters to be on for 20 min and off for 5, then on for 20 and off for 5, or on for 10 and off for 5, and so on. All of these features can be controlled right from your phone.
Heating element installed on footbed. Note: Because of longer lead, I felt it better to do cut behind first metatarsal.
Charging is simple and easy, too. Thermic supplies a USB charger, which is nice in that you don’t need an outlet or even a larger cord like the one used in previous generations.
- Who is it for? Those who appreciate function and are willing to pay for it.
- Who is it not for? The price-concious; but no worries, there is also the 1300, and if that is still out of your budget, the non-Bluetooth version costs about the same as other popular boot heaters.
- Insider tip 1: The app has a "Switch" feature allowing to change left and right heating packs incase you attach the wrong one on the boot after charging but an assymetric shell would be nice to help determine which heater you use for left or right if you take them off of your boots to recharge. Even an L or R printed on the battery would be nice.
- Insider tip 2: While I am not an Apple watch user, I could see watch access to be very convenient so you wouldn't have to take your phone out. Check out @Tricia's upcoming review on this.
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