Sometimes, when it’s cold, gloves aren’t enough. You need some extra technological help to keep your hands warm. Hand warming gadgets shouldn’t be seen as an easy option, however. They are often used by tough outdoor experts who need to stay in a cold environment for long periods as well as people who don’t want the pain and discomfort of freezing fingers and toes.
Hand warmers are all essentially small devices you put in your gloves or hold in your pockets which give out heat, but they use different methods to generate that energy. Some disposable models rely on a chemical reaction to heat up, others use liquid lighter fuel and the latest designs are based around a rechargeable battery. All of these examples will warm your hands and keep the cold from forcing you indoors.
OCOOPA Hand Warmers Rechargeable
Warm your hands and charge your phone
A hand warmer and a power bank in one, this pebble-shaped device gives double-sided heat up to 140°F with three temperature settings. If your hands are warm enough, you can also use the 5200mAh lithium-ion battery inside as a fast charge powerbank for your phone or tablet.
HotHands Hand Warmers
Air-activated hand-heating packs
You get up to 10 hours of heat from these clever disposable sachets. Activated by air you simply put them in your gloves or pockets and benefit from gentle but consistent heat that drives the cold from your fingers. It’s always worth keeping a pack or two in your jacket in winter. Works in socks too!
Tundras Hot Hand Warmers
Flight-safe hand warmers
Single-use and ultra-thin, these hand warmers give up to eight hours of heat. Once activated by air, they will heat up in 15-30 minutes and you can reheat by shaking them. TSA approved, which means you can take them on your travels to colder climes.
Zippo 12 Hour Handwarmer
Twelve hours of heat, runs on lighter fluid
The famous lighter maker also does a neat line in liquid fuel hand warmers. They put out 10 times more heat than a disposable pack and last for 12 hours before you need to refill. Made from durable metal, you should put it in the supplied pouch otherwise it could be too hot. No need to remember to recharge, just fuel it up and it’s ready to keep the cold at bay.
Bottom line
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Cold hands can put a premature end to any outdoor adventure or just make your daily commute feel even longer. The answer is to employ some hand warming tech that will keep your gloves or pockets toasty. Having warm hands isn’t just for comfort either but by keeping your fingers thawed out and flexible you can work outside for longer. It’s no wonder construction workers, fishermen and women, hunters, skiers and campers all swear by them. We recommend the OCOOPA Hand Warmers Rechargeable as the best device for most people. Using battery technology means it’s rechargeable, puts out a decent amount of heat and doubles up as a power bank, which could come in handy when you’re outside with a dead phone.
If you want to use a more traditional hand warmer that you don’t need to remember to charge, the Zippo 12 Hour Handwarmer is a good choice. It allows you to respond to freezing conditions when they happen. You simply fill it up and can get out there with up to 12 hours of heat you can rely on in your pocket.
