Magnets wound from NbTi or Nb3Sn may be conduction-cooled and operate in vacuum without the need of liquid helium (e.g., “cryogen-free”). Cryogen free systems can replace most conventional liquid helium cooled magnet systems if a compact system is required, or if liquid helium is undesirable or unavailable. Current leads constructed with HTS material allow the system to be cooled using either a G-M or Pulse Tube type cryocooler.