Hand warmers keep fingers warm during football games and when hiking, hunting, skiing or engaged in any other cold-weather outdoor activity. They can be slipped into mittens, pockets and shoes.
Disposable Chemical Hand Warmers
These are sealed packets of chemicals (natural and non-toxic). Tearing open the packet causes the chemicals to react with the air and generate heat. One packet costs less than a dollar and can last for hours. Popular brands include Grabber, Heat Treat and HeatMax (Hot Hands).
Advantages
- High energy capacity. Stays warm for up to 10 hours.
- Safe. Doesn't get hot enough to burn.
- Small. Can be slipped almost anywhere.
- Convenient. No special preparation is required.
- Long shelf life. The packets can be kept in the backpack or car, ready for use at any time.
Disadvantages
- Takes 10 to 20 minutes to warm up.
- Cannot be reused. While one packet is cheap, the total cost adds up after a few months of daily use.
- Needs to be periodically taken out and aired to keep the chemical reaction going.
Battery-powered Hand Warmers
Small AA-powered hand warmers are simple electric heaters. The look like flat plastic eggs or bars of soap. An example of a battery-powered hand warmer is the Optronics FirePod. The different brands and models are basically the same, differing mainly in how much heat they generate. The more heat, the more quickly the batteries will run down. The main limitation is the energy capacity of the batteries:
- Rechargeable AA NiMH batteries are the most economical as they can be reused hundeds of times. Energy capacity is limited to about 2 or 3 watt-hours per battery.
- Alkalines have more energy capacity but are expensive if used frequently.
- Disposable lithium AA batteries are light and have even more energy, but are the most expensive. Their higher voltage means that the hand warmer will give out more heat compared to other types of batteries.
Advantages
- Clean and convenient.
- Easy to switch on and off.
- Theoretically unlimited running time. Will keep on going as long as there is a supply of batteries.
Disadvantage
- Limited energy capacity. Two AA batteries might last an hour or two. Enough batteries for a full day will be heavy.
Some hand warmers use rechargeable Li-ion batteries, just like cell phones and notebook computers.
Advantages
- High energy capacity.
- Convenient recharging: just plug in the electric cord, like recharging a cell phone. No need to remove the batteries.
Disadvantages
- Expensive.
- Needs to be recharged after each use. Not possible to top up with disposable batteries or swap out with a spare.
Flameless Lighter Fluid Hand Warmers
Platinum catalyst hand warmers use lighter fluid but are flameless. A cigarette lighter is needed to start the reaction but there is no flame after the initial start-up. They look like an oversized, square old-fashioned metal cigarette lighter and can get quite hot. A cloth bag is provided to prevent the metal from burning skin.
Different manufacturers claim different lifespans for the catalyst, from 500 to 5000 uses. The catalyst should be replaceable, bought as a separate item. Unfortunately some manufacturers don't sell the catalyst separately. Popular brands include Zippo and Peacock.
Advantages
- Heats up quickly.
- High energy capacity. A single filling can last 10 to 20 hours.
- Practically unlimited endurance. A small bottle of lighter fluid will be enough for days.
Disadvantage
- Lighter fluid can be a fire hazard.
Reusable Gel Hand Warmers
Gel hand warmers are reusable plastic packets of chemicals. Popular brands include ProHeat and EZ Heat. Before use, they are boiled in hot water. This melts the chemical gel. The gel stays liquid even after the packet is removed from the hot water and allowed to cool. To "switch" the packet on, a metal button on the packet is clicked. This causes the chemicals to crystallize and harden, giving off heat in the process.
They are also sold as baby bottle warmers and muscle heating pads. These are generally larger than hand warmer packs, suitable for those who want more heat.
Advantages
- Reusable.
- Heats up quickly.
- Waterproof.
- Sealed. Clean and foolproof for children to use.
Disadvantages
- Limited energy capacity. Lasts about 30 minutes.
- Can accidentally trigger if knocked or dropped, heating up before it is needed.
- Cannot be topped up. For more capacity, more gel packs are needed.
- Needs to be prepared (boiled) ahead of time.
The Best Hand Warmer
Hand warmers do work. While some might not give off enough heat, more can simply be added (subject to the manufacturer's safety warnings) for more warmth.
The best strategy is to mix and match a few different devices:
- Convenient quick-start short-duration (1 hour) hand warmers for short outings, and long-duration (10 hour) hand warmers for all-day use.
- Reusable hand warmers for economical long-term use, and a few disposable hand warmers for emergencies.
If traveling outside the city, an emergency survival kit with a cigarette lighter or fire starter should be carried.
Yuen Kit Mun - Kit Mun is a self-confessed information junkie, reading an average of a book a week over the past two decades. His growing Internet ...
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