Hot Gear Bag - Review

[SnowHot]

What a Great Idea!
There have been many threads about how to travel with ski boots, which have consisted of questions regarding...........
1) What kind of bag to carry, that will accommodate ski boots and still fit in the overhead compartments on planes,
2) How to dry your boots on a road trip
3) How to keep your boots warm for the drive to the mountain

The answer has come in the form of Zip Fit Hot Gear Bag.

The bad is large enough to hold all your boots, helmet, gloves, and a few other miscelaneous items, yet its compact enough to fit in an overhead compartment of most airplanes.

Handy features of this bag
1) Warming abilities in three modes, Warm, Dry, Hot
This allows you to be flexible about the temp of the items in the bag depending on your preference and weather conditions.

2) Cord attachements that can be used in the cigarette lighter style outlet in your automobile, as well as an standard wall outlet plug. Both of which have their own handy zippered pocket for easy storage when not in use.

3) Besides the roomy heated main compartment, this bag also includes handy zippered side pockets, and a stretchy lace up harness on top for helmet storage(If you don't wear a helmet, then you can use that space for your hairdryer or heat gun)

4) Reinforced handle for carrying, as well as Back pack style straps that store in their own zipper compartment, when not in use, yet easy to access when you need to strap on your back and get going.


I have used my hot gear bag twice since I've had it, though I have not used it for Air Travel yet.
After only two days of use, I can safely say, .............a girl can really learn to get used to cozy feet on a cold morning.

*Important warning:
The only drawback I see with this bag is that its devastating to your Snickers snacks and Hershey kisses when you forget you put them in the bag, and turn on the power. Although my boots smell yummy!!
Good thing they are the Krypton Storm instead of the Krypton Kryzma, or someone may mistake the boots for chocolate and edible.

 

[SueNJ]

*Important warning:
The only drawback I see with this bag is that its devastating to your Snickers snacks and Hershey kisses when you forget you put them in the bag, and turn on the power. Although my boots smell yummy!!
Good thing they are the Krypton Storm instead of the Krypton Kryzma, or someone may mistake the boots for chocolate and edible.

LOL! I take it you learned this tip from firsthand experience?

Great review--it's tempting. My Transpack bag is developing some tears on the outside of the boot compartments, no doubt from stuffing the bag into tiny lockers.

 

[NannyMin]

I totally agree with SnowHot! This bag rocks! Yesterday I took 3-four year olds to Big Sky and used my Hot Gear Bag. I was able to fit three pairs of children's boots, my boots, extra layers and gloves/mittens for all, and a million other little things in the bag with no problem. I also found that it doesn't melt swedish fish.

 

[SouthernSkier]

I'm so glad to see this review - I've been thinking of getting one of these bags myself. Which size did you get? Next year will be my first year skiing with my (will be by then) 4 yo son, and I'd love to be able to fit both of our boots into the same bag.

 

[SnowHot]

Mine is the classic, which is the medium size bag.

There is a member of epic who has one that is unused that he said he'd consider selling.
I can check on it if one of you ski divas would like.

 

[num]

SnowHot, I'm interested in this used one. If you can check on it that'd be great.

 

[SnowHot]

SnowHot, I'm interested in this used one. If you can check on it that'd be great.

I checked. Its spoken for. Sorry. :(

 

[Calgal]

Thanks for the review. I have been thinking of a gift to buy for myself this season when my income tax refund arrives in my bank account, and I think the Hot Gear Bag would be great !
Has anyone found any sites with deals on this item??

 

[num]

Maybe we should move the two Hot Gear Bags for 199 deal discussion and pairup requests over to the [aptly named] Hot Gear Deals section.

 

[ski diva]

Good idea, num! Will do!

 

[NannyMin]

Just a quick update to SH's review. I used the bag on the last two trips to Colorado this month. I had no problem with fitting it into the overhead compartment. I have the classic version and had my boots, one set of ski gear (jacket, pants, base layers, socks,gloves and gaitor) and my laptop in it.

 

[volklgirl]

I just bought one during my trip to Colorado (at 1/2 price - $80!!!), and am excited to try it out. I love that every single compartment is labled for each piece of gear with a little tag, that it has an awesome grab handle and both backpack and shoulder straps (each with their own storage space), that it has 2 soft goggle pockets, that all the hardware is really sturdy metal, and that it has an itegrated lock and cable! My initial impression is that this bag is SWEEEEET!!!!

Hubby is geeked to see me actually put my boots in a bag instead of carrying them on a strap around my neck, and I'm geeked to know my boots and Zip Fit liners will be molding themselves to my feetsies with every use! Plus, warm, dry boots and gloves are a huge bonus.

Does anyone know if my season pass will melt itself to its armband holder if I leave it in the front pocket while it's on??? I'm also guessing that leaving my Chapstick in the pocket is a big no-no?

 

[SueNJ]

VG, I think that, at a minimum, the goggle pocket doesn't get heat. Your season pass should be fine, and likewise for your chapstick as long as the pocket you put it in isn't heated. There's also a net water bottle pocket on one side that's not affected by the heating coils.

I absolutely love my Hot Gear Bag. I have Intuition liners in my boots, and there is nothing more "aaahhhh"-inspiring than slipping my feet into toasty warm boots with soft-ish shells that just peel open instead of stiff, room-temperature boots.

I've found that, when using the cigarette-lighter cord (with only 1 heat setting), it's best to have a minimal amount of non-boot items in the main compartment, to allow the heat to circulate around the boots. With the regular plug, you can use one of the three heat settings so you can crank it up enough to get past clothing items.

 

[SnowHot]

*Important warning:
The only drawback I see with this bag is that its devastating to your Snickers snacks and Hershey kisses when you forget you put them in the bag, and turn on the power. Although my boots smell yummy!!
Good thing they are the Krypton Storm instead of the Krypton Kryzma, or someone may mistake the boots for chocolate and edible.

Does anyone know if my season pass will melt itself to its armband holder if I leave it in the front pocket while it's on??? I'm also guessing that leaving my Chapstick in the pocket is a big no-no?

No effect on season pass', or anything else in the outside pocket. Those pockets can get warm but don't tend to get hot.
Good thing you don't like chocolate tho!


As a follow up to my Original review......
I have traveled by plane many times with this bag and have had no trouble getting it into the normal size over head compartment. On planes that have smaller overhead compartments, I just gate check the bag, as do all the other folks with carry on bags.

The car adapter cord:
While the primary cord with the Hot/Dry/Warm switch has the capability of actually drying your boots. The car plug in is meant to just keep the boots warm and will not be very effective for drying purposes.

Cinnamon rolls and muffins warm nicely on the way to the hill, just in case you're wondering.

 

[volklgirl]

No effect on season pass', or anything else in the outside pocket. Those pockets can get warm but don't tend to get hot.
Good thing you don't like chocolate tho!

Thanks for the update on that!
How're your boots smelling these days, still yummy???

Cinnamon rolls and muffins warm nicely on the way to the hill, just in case you're wondering.

Why does it not surprise me that you know this?????

 

[Jerez]

FWIW, we have the large version and it holds both my husband's and my boots. plus goggles, mittens, passes, etc. etc.

It is the BEST. don't know how we lived without it. There is nothing like putting on buttery soft, warm boots to start the day right!

PS it has a backpack strap feature that makes it easy to Schlepp with skis and poles.

 

[Kayakgirl]

Ditto to the positive reviews of this bag. I got the Classic. I think I could get two pair of women's boots in it. Plenty of room for one. Plus lots of associated gear. The bag itself is very well constructed. But the heating is an incredible benefit. I was thinking of a boot warming system of some kind. But instead, I went for Daleboots (which I've commented on in a recent post -- suffice to say that they fit in a way that gives me great control and good circulation). Then I added the heated bag. Putting on nice toasty warm boots is worth the price of the bag, plus, so far, my feet haven't gotten cold at all during the day. Smart system! I hightly recommend it.

 

[volklgirl]

I wanted to add my review to this thread now that I've actually had a chance to use it.

I LOVE this bag!!! The straps are heavy duty, there's plenty of room for all my junk, all the labeled pockets mean I don't leave anything behind, and dry, warm boots and mittens just makes my ski day! Having the boots warm makes them a breeze to get into and I haven't needed toe warmers since using the bag. In addition,the warm, malleable ZipFit liners keeps my feet and legs happy, too.

I've also had occasion to use the bag on HOT to remold some areas of my liners to alleviate ankle bone pain......I gotta say this feature worked perfectly! I never suspected that molding the liners myself could be soooooo easy!!

This bag is worth every penny, even if you have to pay full retail for it!!!

 

[Little Lightning]

I used mine to remold the tongues on a pair of new shoes that were digging into the top of my foot!

 

[Nadine_A]

Has anyone travelled with the (larger) Classic Race as carry on luggage on a plane?

I'm trying to decide between it and the Classic.