People have been severely burned by rechargeable heated socks and insoles when the battery exploded or caught on fire.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Heated Sock Burn Injury cases in all 50 states. If you were burned when the battery exploded in a rechargeable heated sock or insole, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Man Severely Burned After Heated Insole Explodes in Boot
In December 2024, a hunter and fisherman from Minnesota came forward to warn people about the burn hazards from battery-powered heated clothing after a rechargeable heated insole exploded in his boot and caused severe 2nd- and 3rd-degree burn injuries to his right foot.
Man Burned by iHEAT Heated Insole From Amazon.com
Tyler Morris, an outdoorsman from Minnesota, said he bought a pair of rechargeable iHEAT Heated Insoles from iHEAT, a seller on Amazon.com, in 2023 to use when hunting and fishing.
He took them out again in 2024 in preparation for deer hunting season, and although they were not working very well, he decided to keep them in his boots just for comfort.
On December 12, 2024, he said he was wearing the rechargeable insoles in his boots — but they were not turned on — when the battery suddenly exploded. He said he felt a sharp pain in his right foot:
“It just felt like a knife stabbed me in my heel.” The battery got extremely hot and smoke billowed out of his boot. He kicked off his boot in 5 seconds, but still suffered 2nd and 3rd-degree burns.
His wife posted graphic photos of his burn injuries to Facebook in order to raise awareness about the hazards of rechargeable heated insoles, heated socks, and other battery-powered heated clothing. For people considering buying these products, she said: “Don’t do it.”
Doctors Shocked by Heated Socks & Insole Explosions
The doctors at Hennepin Healthcare Burn Center in Minnesota said they have recently treated several patients with similar burn injuries from rechargeable heated socks and insole explosions:
“We’ve had three patients since the beginning of winter already come in with varying degrees of burns on the lower extremities from first to third-degree, and it is from these insoles malfunctioning or even exploding. Our medical staff was kind of shocked.”
What Are Rechargeable Heated Socks?
Rechargeable heated socks, also known as “e-socks” or “battery-powered electric socks,” are designed to keep your toes and feet warm for up to 10 hours. When the battery is depleted, you can recharge it and use it again.
The socks can be made of thick wool, which is ideal for hunting trips in freezing-cold temperatures, skiing, and other outdoor activities.
Other types of heated socks are made of thin cotton. These are used mostly at home or around the yard in cold temperatures to improve circulation, relax stiff muscles, or prevent numbness with heating elements concentrated in the toe area.
How Do Heated Socks Work?
Heated socks deliver warmth to your feet with battery-powered heating elements. These heating elements are thin, flexible wires that are knitted into the fabric of the sock. The wires are connected to a battery pack, and they get hot when electricity flows through them.
Rechargeable heated socks are powered by a lithium-ion battery. This type of battery is useful for small electronics because it is lightweight, slim, powerful, and recharges quickly.
On heated socks, the battery pack is usually tucked into a pocket on the sock’s cuff, which is located a few inches above the ankle or in the mid-calf area. In comparison, heated insoles usually have the battery built-in and embedded in the insole material, where it is inaccessible to users.
What is the Problem?
Lithium-ion batteries can be recharged, which is a big advantage over traditional batteries — but this advantage comes with a risk of burn injuries from battery explosions, fires, and overheating.
The problem is that lithium-ion batteries contain highly-flammable chemicals. If the battery overheats, the chemicals can cause a “thermal runaway” in which the internal temperature of the battery increases rapidly and uncontrollably until it explodes violently.
How Hot Does It Get?
Explosions involving lithium-ion batteries can hit temperatures over 1,000ºC in just a matter of seconds, which can immediately cause 3rd-degree burn injuries to anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby.
Lithium-ion battery explosions are especially dangerous when they occur in close-contact with the skin. People can suffer very severe burn injuries when they are carrying or wearing a lithium-ion batteries — for example, when the battery explodes inside a pocket or purse.
Why Are Battery Fires in Heated Socks So Dangerous?
Rechargeable heated socks put the battery right up against a person’s legs, with only thin fabric between the battery and the person’s skin. There is little protection against severe burns if the battery explodes.
Battery explosions happen suddenly, so it may be impossible to remove the battery before it causes severe burns. Third-degree burns can easily occur in the time it takes to remove your socks and shoes
Another risk is that battery explosions can melt plastic from shoes, socks, or clothing made of synthetic fabrics directly on the skin. Melted plastic sticks to the skin, which can result in full-thickness 3rd-degree burn injuries that will require skin grafts or surgery, and leave scarring.
Case Report Describes Full-Thickness Burn From E-Sock Battery
Burn injuries can also occur when heated socks overheat and they are worn for hours. In October 2024, doctors published a case report of a full-thickness burn resulting from an e-sock.
The victim was a 43-year-old man who was burned on his left leg after 4 hours of wearing a battery-powered electric sock while skiing.
The man “denied feeling any burning sensation during usage and was wearing the socks on both feet. However, after removing the socks, he noted a contact burn to the skin in the area where the battery was positioned on the left lower extremity only,” according to the report.
Tech Gear 5.7 Heated Socks Recalled for Fire & Burn Hazards
In March 2019, Tech Gear 5.7 recalled about 4,000 Mobile Warming Performance Heated Socks due to fire and burn hazards. There were 4 reports of the batteries overheating, melting, or igniting. They were sold at Scheels, sporting goods stores, workwear and farm supply stores, and online from September 2018 to November 2018.
Do I Have a Heated Sock Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Heated Sock Burn Injury cases in all 50 states. If you were burned when the battery exploded in a rechargeable heated sock or insole, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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