2 Matkao Must Haves- Heated Gloves and Socks
Previously, my idea of winter and the cold season was to lay in bed all day and binge-watch my favorite TV shows.
And before you start judging, understand that I suffer from Raynaud’s condition, and the last time I headed out for mountain camping, I also got severe toe frostbite.
Ever since, the cold season was generally a nightmare for me. Regardless of how well I planned with cold-weather gear, my insulated winter boots and gloves weren’t enough to keep my feet and toes warm in the frigid climate.
But all that changed once I got introduced to heated gloves and socks.
Heated gloves and socks are far from the magic pill to the frigid conditions, but they promise to keep your puppies cozy for several hours.
Rechargeable batteries power heated socks and gloves to keep your feet and toes tasty.
About Matkao Heated Gloves and Socks
Of course, not all heated gloves and socks are equal. I’ve tried several heated gears; some are trash, while others work great.
My favorite brand, however, is Matkao.
I’ve used their heated socks and gloves for the past two seasons, and the experience has been wonderful.
Matkao brand is dedicated to designing and manufacturing a range of heated products such as gloves, socks, and heated accessories.
According to their mission statement, they aim to provide quality products and services to their valued customers.
Read on if you’re interested in learning more about the Matkao heated socks and gloves. Here, I’ll share my experience and detail everything you need to know about Matkao heated gloves and socks and probably give you a reason to consider them.
Matkao Heated Gloves and Socks Review
First Impression
Out of the box, the Matkao heated Gloves and Socks seem well made.
I’ve worn them for several seasons now, and so far, I’ve not seen the threads coming loose, holes, or the obvious wear that comes with most regular gloves and socks.
The pair is also aesthetically pleasing, and being mostly black, they can go with almost any combination of style and clothing.
But if I was to change anything in the aesthetics department, I would remove the simple lines on the socks and the grey tick on the gloves for a more appealing look.
However, this isn’t even a grip, but I like things to be a little bit “plainer.”
Durability
I choose the Matkao gloves and socks because durability is one less thing to worry about.
The durability of these gloves and socks seems decent, and I can see them lasting for several seasons. It’ll save me from buying new warming gear every season.
Thickness
Matkao gloves and socks are neither too thick nor too thin, and I barely notice them. The sweet medium prevents the socks from bunching up in my boots or the gloves from affecting my hand’s dexterity.
The medium-thickness Matkao gloves guarantee my hands from going numb and allow me to perform fine motor skills such as using my phone, paying for purchases, or flipping my bike’s blinkers.
On the other hand, the medium-thickness socks ensure plenty of breathability and air circulation in my feet so that I don’t sweat and get wet.
In short, you can expect to do everything in these, including pulling something out of your pockets.
Heating Performance
The signature feature of any heated warming gear is the heating function, and the Matkao gloves and socks don’t skimp on this department.
I would recommend Matkao warming gear for pretty much any cold-weather excursion.
If you also suffer from Raynaud’s condition or arthritis, the Matkao warming gear is also an excellent option.
I’m absolutely in love with these gloves and socks because they keep my hands warm, even without turning them on. They keep my fingertips and toes from hurting, even in the lowest temperature conditions.
The heating function is reliable, and they heat up super-fast. Of course, you’ll notice this a lot when you use the Matkao gloves and socks in cold conditions.
Another thing is you shouldn’t expect them to get hot, like a heating pad or anything. They take the chill out and won’t burn your hands.
The heated gear provides a warm sensation across the top of your hands and feet. There’re no heating wires on the underside, which makes sense because you don’t want anything getting in your way when working.
On top of it all, the heating functions have three settings: low, medium, and high. When you start them on, they start in the high heat setting, but you can always customize the heat levels to suit the cold conditions.
And if you feel the heating element isn’t sufficient for your conditions, which is highly unlikely, you can use the gloves as liners to keep you warm for chilly days.
I also like that the gloves have longer cuffs that extend into my wrists and are perfect for snowboarding to keep my hands dry.
Overall, I give the Matkao heating function a 9/10. It keeps the top, arches, ankles, toes, fingers, and the entire hand toasty with an instant wave of cozy heat.
Batteries
The biggest issue I had with my previous heated socks was the low run time of batteries.
Matkao 7.4V 2600mAh batteries, however, have a decent run-time, and if you keep them on the low setting and turn them off at break or take a break, they should last for 6-7 hours.
Middle-level temperatures can run for around 3-3.5, while high-temperature setting runs for around 2-2.5 hours.
Therefore, if you’re planning to spend a long time outdoors, or your ski days include many days below 10 degrees, I’d suggest you carry an extra spare set of batteries.
Away from the extended run-time, the other thing I liked about Matkao batteries was how innocuous they came.
First, they’re slim and barely noticeable. They will hardly get in your way. I also like how the battery compartment holds the batteries well without wobbling.
Each glove and sock have a zippered pocket to hold ad connect one battery. The batteries connect seamlessly, and the zippers are easy to use.
Charging is also easy, and I like the fact that Matkao includes a “wall wart” charger with two connector cables allowing you to charge both batteries simultaneously.
Ease of Use
Using the Matkao heating gear is as easy as ABC.
Charging is a breeze, and I like the adjustment on/off button on the outside of the glove.
The heating function is pretty easy, too, as you can make all the changes at the push of a button.
It takes about five minutes to start feeling the heat and about 10-15 to reach the full potential-it’s still worth the wait.
Fit
The sizing on the Matkao gloves and socks runs a bit small (in my case), and I felt they were too tight for me.
However, I guess it’s because I’ve burly hands. You can try the sizing in the description. The good thing is if your gloves don’t fit, you can always request a replacement.
Getting the heated gloves, in particular, was a little bit tricky. Not in a bad way, but when I think of gloves, I imagine something that seamlessly slides onto my hands.
With Matkao, you’ll need some elbow grease to get them on because of the battery. You need to get a nice grip on their edge and squeeze your hands past the battery. Otherwise, it should be easy.
Tips of Keeping your Toes and Feet Warm
That’s everything you need to know about the Matkao gloves and socks, but here’re a few handy tips that I like to use with all my heated gloves.
It helps if you pre-heat your feet and shoes before going out. Once I get cold, no amount of insulation can fix this.
Here’s a DIY step-by-step method of warming your hands and fingers warm fast:
- Keep your arms straight down at your side
- Bend your wrist so that your palms face downwards. Your hands should be sticking on your sides
- Shrug your shoulders and push them down as hard as possible while maintaining a straight posture
- This should allow blood to get pushed through your hands and fingers to keep them warm
It’s also important that you pick snug-fitting gear. Contrary to popular opinion, tight-fitting socks and gloves constrict blood flow and numb you.
On the other hand, snug-fitting gear warms the air between the foot and the sock, not the foot itself.
Aerobic exercises are also handy but not a complete fix.
Wrap Up
Overall, Matkao gloves and socks tick all the boxes for heated gear. They’re cozy, easy to use, and keep your hands and feet toasty even in frigid conditions.
Do you have those favorite gloves you wear during the winter that you don’t want to give up? Well, you don’t have to. Matkao has a pair of heated glove liners you can purchase. Great for Arthritis Raynaud disease.
Their pricing is also decent, especially compared to what they offer.
I do highly recommend these socks and gloves.
