Conforteck Heated Liners – Trial – We tested in the few days it was -15oC a carbon heated liner meant to be tucked into a pair of larger gloves, mittens or just handlebar mittens. These polyester gloves are rather fragile and could easily get snagged. They should not be worn without other protection over them. The electrical wiring is very simple. We connected the Nano 3-current controller directly to output 12 of the quad. Since the circuit is already protected by a fuse, the wiring is simple and even if it remains on the surface, it is not very bulky.
The heat is diffused to all fingertips and is perfectly controlled by the Nano control. Its three intensities allow to vary the power at 33%, 66% and 100% of the available power. The power needed to keep the hands warm varied between 33% and 66%. We therefore stayed between 33% and 66% of the available power. The full power seemed excessive and for this reason, we recommend minimally purchasing the Nano controller with three intensities.
The Manual model is just an ON/OFF switch that will force you to endure overheated gloves. In short, we found the perfect solution to our testing needs and the Conforteck liners allow for comfort through precise heat control. The buttons are big enough to be handled with gloves and are backlit at night. They’re weatherproof, which means you can safely mount it on the handlebars for easy comfort control.
THE CONFORTECK RANGE OF HEATING EQUIPMENT
Speaking of heated garment controllers, Conforteck offers a range of three devices that provide 10 levels of heat control. These devices named Mini, the Duo or the Extreme allow respectively to control one, two or three different heated garments. You can be sure that Conforteck offers everything you need in heated garments to fill all the circuits of the Extreme.
A pair of heated insoles is available and looks like a regular felt insole. It can be cut to fit the size of your shoe.
There is also a jacket with or without sleeves available in sizes from XXS to XXXL with a pleasant distribution of heat in the back, neck, chest and in both sleeves. You can complete the set with heated pants with elements on the hips, thighs, knees and legs. You can also choose from a variety of heated gloves and mittens to keep you warm while hunting, riding a motorcycle, quad bike or snowmobile. Depending on the application, they will be made of black leather or a camouflage colored waterproof membrane.
Finally, for those who want to recreate that sweet morning moment when they activate the heated seat in their vehicle, they can purchase a 10″ x 10″ heating pad.
POWER SUPPLY: A MATTER OF CHOICE
Originally, the Conforteck systems were all powered from the vehicle’s electrical supply. In order to give the user more autonomy, the manufacturer offers three models of rechargeable battery packs to power the Conforteck systems. The user gains more autonomy from the power source, but is still tied to the electrical wires that power the garments.
The first battery pack, called the “C” battery holder, is worn on the belt and contains 8 “C” type batteries, rechargeable or not. According to the manufacturer, it offers an autonomy of 8.5 hours with a pair of half-intensity heating insoles. This battery pack can only be used with insoles. The intermediate battery pack is the Conforteck Energy Kit, which is a rechargeable NIMH battery that can also be worn on a belt. It provides a half-intensity battery life of 8 hours for the Conforteck insoles, 4 hours for the heated gloves and 5.5 hours for the glove liners.
The Conforteck Power Kit cannot be worn on a belt because it is too bulky. It is a sealed rechargeable battery that weighs 9 lbs and is the size of a lunch box. According to the manufacturer, the autonomy while using the equipment at half intensity is 24 hours for a pair of conforteck insoles, 12 hours for heated gloves, 8 hours for a heated coat. In short, you will have all the power you need to wait for the buck sitting in your hunting blind.
The Conforteck system has a good reputation among powersports users for the effectiveness of the garments, both in terms of heat delivery and power consumption for the heat provided. Just be careful not to work too hard with the gloves/mittens to avoid breaking the heating elements. A Conforteck set will definitely enhance your winter hikes, even below -20o C.
It’s never too cold, there are just a lot of poorly dressed people.
