The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has told consumers to immediately stop using COOWALK and COOWALI heated insoles after 26 reports of fires, explosions, and thermal incidents linked to the products’ lithium-ion batteries. At least 23 people have been burned, with injuries severe enough to include second- and third-degree burns requiring skin grafts. The batteries can ignite even when the insoles are switched off, and the products were sold through Amazon, placing them in the hands of buyers who had no warning before purchase.
A pattern of fires across four heated insole brands
The COOWALK and COOWALI warning is not an isolated case. The CPSC has now flagged at least four separate heated insole brands sold on major online marketplaces for the same core defect: an internal lithium-ion battery that can overheat, explode, or catch fire without any user action. The agency documented 11 thermal incidents and eight burn injuries from iHeat heated insoles sold on Amazon, with some of those burns reaching second- and third-degree severity. Tajarly heated insoles generated four reports of ignition or fire, including two incidents that required extended hospital stays, according to a separate CPSC warning. And ZroeZroe heated insoles, sold on both Amazon and eBay, accounted for 10 additional thermal incidents.
Across all four brands, the failure mode is identical. The lithium-ion cells inside the insoles can reach thermal runaway, a chain reaction in which a battery cell overheats and releases energy uncontrollably, sometimes while the device sits unused in a closet or bag. That shared defect across products from different sellers suggests the problem is not limited to one manufacturer’s quality control but extends to the category of low-cost, battery-powered wearable devices flowing into U.S. commerce through third-party marketplace listings.
26 fires and 23 burns behind the COOWALK recall
The COOWALK and COOWALI case carries the highest incident count of the group. The CPSC stated that the internal lithium-ion battery can explode or ignite even when off, and the agency’s tally of 26 fire or explosion reports and at least 23 burn injuries makes this one of the more significant wearable-device safety actions in recent memory. The burn injuries included cases serious enough to require skin grafts, a medical procedure typically reserved for deep tissue damage.
A weekly CPSC roundup confirmed the same incident and injury figures, reinforcing the scale of the problem and underscoring that these are not isolated, one-off failures. In several cases, consumers reported that the insoles caught fire inside shoes or boots while being worn, leaving users little time to react before sustaining serious burns. Others described batteries igniting while charging or while stored in a bag, raising concerns about secondary property damage and the risk of fires in confined spaces like cars, closets, or luggage.
According to the CPSC, the implicated COOWALK and COOWALI insoles were sold in multiple sizes and configurations, often bundled with remote controls or power adapters and marketed as rechargeable winter footwear accessories. Listings typically highlighted long battery life and adjustable heat settings but did not warn about any fire or burn risk. Because many of these products were offered through third-party sellers on Amazon, they could be re-listed under slightly different names or storefronts, complicating efforts for consumers to identify exactly which models are affected.
What consumers should do now
Regulators are urging anyone who owns COOWALK or COOWALI heated insoles to stop using them immediately and to store them away from flammable materials while next steps are determined. Consumers should not attempt to repair the insoles, continue charging them, or dispose of them in regular household trash, since damaged lithium-ion cells can ignite in garbage trucks or landfills. Instead, owners are advised to monitor CPSC announcements and contact the seller or marketplace where they purchased the product for guidance on refunds, replacements, or safe disposal options through local hazardous waste programs.
People who have experienced burns, smoke, or fire involving these products are encouraged to report incidents directly to the CPSC through its online reporting tools. Such reports help the agency track patterns, identify additional sellers using the same battery designs, and decide whether broader enforcement actions or marketplace takedowns are warranted. Consumers should also keep documentation such as order confirmations and photos of the insoles and any damage, which can support both safety investigations and potential claims.
A broader warning on cheap lithium-ion wearables
The spate of heated insole incidents serves as a broader warning about inexpensive lithium-ion powered wearables sold online. Batteries that are poorly designed, lack adequate protective circuitry, or are assembled with substandard components are more prone to short circuits and thermal runaway. When those cells are embedded in items worn on the body, such as insoles, vests, or gloves, any failure can quickly become a serious burn hazard.
Safety experts recommend that consumers purchasing battery-powered wearables look for clear product labeling, accessible manufacturer contact information, and evidence of compliance with recognized testing standards. While no checklist can eliminate risk, avoiding unbranded or poorly documented devices, reading recent customer reviews for reports of overheating, and following manufacturer charging instructions can reduce the likelihood of dangerous failures. For now, the CPSC’s actions against COOWALK, COOWALI, iHeat, Tajarly, and ZroeZroe make one thing clear: when it comes to heated insoles powered by sealed lithium-ion batteries, caution is warranted until manufacturers can demonstrate that their designs meet basic safety expectations.
