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Some products take some getting used to.
Especially if the smartphone app suddenly asks to be allowed to play an update on the left shoe sole.
And then on the right shoe sole.
At least now you know that everything can really be networked.
And with that it is also clear that the insoles from the French manufacturer Digitsole with the designation “Warm Series V7” are in reality small computers.
What do you need them for?
Short answer: for warm feet.
In addition, it is simply fun to be able to adjust the heat in the shoes on the smartphone.
If you cut too much, you destroy the soles
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The operation of the smart shoe soles is very easy.
In order for them to fit, users must of course specify the correct shoe size when ordering, between 36 and 47.
You don't have to be very precise because the soles always fit two shoe sizes and can be cut accordingly.
However, you should orientate yourself on the given marking line.
If more is cut off, the soles are destroyed.
They need to be charged before using for the first time.
This is done via the micro USB connection on the inside of the sole.
A cable with two micro USB plugs is included.
While the soles are charging, a small LED lights up red, when they are full it lights up green.
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Then the soles, the front part of which is very flexible, are put into the shoes.
After the WarmSeries smartphone app, which is available for iPhones and Android devices, has been installed, the user must log in.
The connection to the soles is established via Bluetooth.
At 40 degrees it is over after two hours
The temperature can then be set on the smartphone, between 20 and 45 degrees.
The soles automatically adjust to the ambient temperature and then regulate the heating level accordingly.
If the setting is above 40 degrees, the app issues a warning that it could possibly get very warm.
In the test we chose 35 degrees.
The battery was exhausted after almost four hours.
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The higher the sole temperature, the earlier the soles switch off.
At 40 degrees it can end after two hours, according to the manufacturer.
At 30 degrees, the official figure is four to eight hours.
A timer can also be set in the app.
In the test with an outside temperature of almost zero degrees, the feet stayed pleasantly warm.
You don't really have to worry about overheating.
The manufacturer has not used any lithium-ion batteries here, which can sometimes burn if damaged.
Rather, the built-in solid battery should be "absolutely insensitive to damage" - and thus not only safer, but also more durable.
Since the battery is housed under the heel, the shoes should not be cut too tight.
Because there the sole has a small elevation, so the foot is higher at the back.
We quickly got used to it in the test.
The pedometer is unreliable
There are also motion sensors in the soles so that you can read the number of steps taken in the app.
However, this function is extremely unreliable.
In our case, 200 steps were counted over a distance of almost nine kilometers.
That would be 45 meters per step.
After the recording, which has to be started manually, the app reliably shows the route on a map.
To do this, it also uses the smartphone's GPS satellite positioning.
It also shows the calories consumed.
Overall, however, a fitness tracker or a smartwatch should provide more precise results here.
Ideal for anglers and skiers
Conclusion: The heating in the "Warm Series" soles works extremely well.
However, good shoes should be able to provide this performance - at least when taking a walk above zero degrees.
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It quickly becomes clear that the heated soles are more for cyclists or motorcyclists in winter.
Or for anglers who don't move around a lot.
But the ideal scenario is likely to be skiing, which of course is currently not an option in the corona pandemic.
But times will change.
The tracking function is an unreliable accessory that should be left to other devices.
Unfortunately, the soles have to be removed from the shoe after each hour of use in order to recharge them.
The "Warm Series V7" soles cost 200 euros.