Hand warmers

[fin]

What is the downside of refillable hand warmers?

 

The only things I’ve read is that some people don’t like the smell, and you can’t put them out - you have to let them burn up however much fuel you put in them.

 

I also see they sell replacement wicks, so I assume these things have a limited life?

 

Is the smell sort of like a kerosene heater? It seems like you could figure out how much fuel to put in them if you didn’t want it to keep burning.

[FishTank]

The ones mentioned I think are just for camping.  I wouldn't put anything like that on a boat or near me while I am fishing.  It's an accident waiting to happen.  The $1 pocket wormers work well or if you want to go all out.....

 

 

 

It's about $40.  One the best investments I have made.  Kept my hands and body warm when I needed it on my last trip (25 degrees and 20mph winds) and it will recharge my phone. 

 

 

[GreenPig]

During the winter I'll use a Zippo handwarmer in each pocket of my coveralls. It has a very very faint smell of burning fuel. Downside is you can suffocate it if your pockets are too tight and it's not instantly hot. I actually light mine before leaving the house. You can indeed figure out just how much fuel you need for a specific timed burn but I always fill mine.You should never need to replace the wick just the burner. You can find replacement burners online that burn hotter and last longer than the factory burners. 

[desmobob]

I think I've received at least three of the Zippo refillable hand warmers for Christmas over the years, as well as buying a couple of the other brands. 

 

I just cannot get them to stay lit and have finally given up on them.  I used to be a smoker for many years and always preferred a Zippo lighter but just couldn't get the hang of the hand warmers.  I followed the directions exactly to no avail, whether I put the lit warmer in my pocket or tried leaving it where it could "breathe" better.

 

I buy a case of HotHands chemical hand and toe warmer packs at the beginning of each winter.  I hate using disposable stuff, but they work very well.  I'm looking into rechargeable electric heated insoles...

[fin]

6 hours ago, GreenPig said:

You should never need to replace the wick just the burner.

 

I meant burner. So how long does the original burner last?

 

I also just learned there's a trick to turn the thing off - just bang it upside down on a hard surface and the burner pops off.

 

8 hours ago, FishTank said:

The ones mentioned I think are just for camping.  I wouldn't put anything like that on a boat or near me while I am fishing.  It's an accident waiting to happen.  The $1 pocket wormers work well or if you want to go all out.....

 

They're made to put in your pocket, so I would expect them to be pretty safe, they've been around for years and they'd be out of business from lawsuits if they were dangerous. Also, I fish from the bank, I'm not around gasoline.

 

I've used the chemical $1 warmers and they work pretty good, but seem kind of wasteful. I fish almost everyday, so that would add up. Also, I only fish a few hours and those things work for like 12 hours, if I remember right.

 

8 hours ago, FishTank said:

It's about $40.  One the best investments I have made.  Kept my hands and body warm when I needed it on my last trip (25 degrees and 20mph winds) and it will recharge my phone.

 

That's a lot more than the fuel one. Also, I watched a video that said the rechargeable don't work as well, but thanks for your opinion - that's why I'm asking.

[NYWayfarer]

I use a rechargeable hand warmer. Mine lasts 3 hours which is about the length of time I want to stay out in conditions I would need a hand warmer anyway. I have the disposable hot hands as a back up if the rechargeable unit dies early.

 

I was waiting on the Zippo rechargeable to go on sale. It lasts 9 hours and costs around $40

[GreenPig]

I'm not sure on the factory burner life as I upgraded the burner shortly after getting it.

[GaryH]

I use rechargeable ones that last all day hunting. They say 15 hrs and that’s probably spot on. Different heat settings and also a low powered flashlight. I believe there approx. $35 to $40 I’ll have to check. I’ve been using them for 5 years with no issues.

[fin]

3 hours ago, GaryH said:

I’ve been using them for 5 years with no issues.

 

You've been using the same ones for 5 years, or do you mean you've been using that kind for 5 years? I'd like to know which ones you've been using.

 

One of the reasons I'm skeptical of a rechargeable is past experience where replacement batteries cost almost as much as replacing the whole unit, making it basically disposable.

 

It sounds to me like the rechargeable are less trouble and more versatile, and you pay for that. I guess I could get by with a refillable, but it seems like I would pay with aggravation. And it sounds like the burners are similar to batteries - both types are going to have to be replaced.

[king fisher]

Drive south until you get to where nobody has ever heard of hand warmers.  Problem solved.

[@reelChris]

Two things - 

 

First, if you haven't used a zippo hand warmer in a hand muff like this one you're missing out. 

 

Second, the trick to lighting a Zippo hand warmer is disregarding the directions.  You have to fill it with fluid, let it rest upright for about 5 minutes, then turn it sideways and, using a lighter, put the flame directly to the top of the wick for about 20 or 30 seconds.  Sometimes a visible flame will erupt from the top of the wick.  That's OK, and you can shut the lighter off and let it burn for the 20 to 30 seconds, then just blow it out.

 

In the dark, you can see a faint glow in the wick that will let you know that it's lit.  If it's not dark, you can feel the top of the zippo where the wick meets the body of the warmer.  It should get hot fairly quickly.  After it's lit, leave it upright for another 5 minutes for the flame to spread through the catalytic burner inside the body of the warmer and then add the metal cap.  Once it gets too hot to handle comfortably, put it in the felt bag and cinch it just enough to keep it from falling out.  

 

You can  extinguish the warmer by putting it in the felt bag and sealing it in a plastic bag.  It will exhaust the available oxygen fairly quickly and flame out without melting the bag.  

[fin]

8 hours ago, king fisher said:

Drive south until you get to where nobody has ever heard of hand warmers.  Problem solved.

 

Ha. I'm in the south, just not near as far south as you. I actually fish more hours in the winter. I like the cold weather, it doesn't drain me like the heat does. But the older I get, the less my fingers can take of the cold. Gloves work for an hour or so, but then I've got to get them warmed up somehow. Rubbing them together or sticking them inside my clothes warms them up enough to keep me going for another 30 minutes or so, but that gets old.

 

7 hours ago, @reelChris said:

First, if you haven't used a zippo hand warmer in a hand muff like this one you're missing out. 

 

Wow. I would never have thought of something like that. That's pretty awesome.

 

7 hours ago, @reelChris said:

let it rest upright

 

I get the impression that it kind of needs to stay upright all the time if possible, like that may be the reason they sometimes go out is getting turned upside down or turned sideways? I mean, just turning it sideways or upside down is not enough to always extinguish it, but it helps extinguish it.

[@reelChris]

3 hours ago, fin said:

I get the impression that it kind of needs to stay upright all the time if possible, like that may be the reason they sometimes go out is getting turned upside down or turned sideways? I mean, just turning it sideways or upside down is not enough to always extinguish it, but it helps extinguish it.

 

I leave mine sideways in the hand muff all of the time and have no issues with them going out with 2 caveats:

 

1) I rarely use them in the felt bags because I keep them in a muff and I think that moderates the oxygen flow enough.

 

2)  I have two warmers and one is more sensitive to oxygen deprivation than the other.  When it starts showing signs of cooling off, I take it out of the felt bag and/or muff and let it sit exposed to the air until it warms back up, then back in the hand warmer it goes.  

 

FYI - I can typically get 12 hours of heat out of one complete fill of fuel, to the top (I don't use the little filler cup).  Ive been tempted to replace the whole muff/warmer system with a battery powered muff, but I'm on the fence because the zippos are so reliably warm and battery powered stuff is always iffy.

[fin]

Since I got good advice on the refillable hand warmer, I thought I’d reply with my opinion now that I’ve used one for a couple months.

 

I’m a little cold-blooded in my old age, and my hands now get cold easily, plus I have arthritis. I didn’t have an issue when I was younger, so your opinion might be different on whether a hand warmer in general is even needed. I wish I had bought one years ago now.

 

I’ve often heard this saying that if you keep your core body warm, your extremities will stay warm. While true to an extent for most people, I’ve found that the opposite is true as well - if you keep your hands warm, the rest of your body feels warmer. I’ve been surprised by how much longer I stay out in the cold with the hand warmer. It’s just much more pleasant to be out there.

 

I got the Zippo refillable. The short version is, it’s worth the $15, for sure.

 

It’s not as hot as I expected. It’s like holding a cup of hot coffee. I eventually quit using the little cloth bag it comes with. Without the bag, it’s much hotter to the touch, and I haven’t gotten burned yet. If it’s not in a bag or pocket or something, it won’t necessarily build up as much heat though - the heat dissipates. That depends on outside factors, like sitting in the sun, but in general, it’s true.

 

I use it up into the 40’s. When it gets to 50 degrees and above, or when getting enough exercise to get the blood really flowing, I turn it off by tapping to dislodge the burner. Sometimes it seems like it keeps burning, even when it’s not connected, so you have to turn it upside down. I use the ziploc bag method to smother it if I have a bag around.

 

The odor hasn’t been an issue to me, except when in the car, and then cracking the window solves that issue.

 

I thought I might need one for each pocket at first, but one is all I’ve ever needed. I guess if you were doing the type of fishing where you’re just sitting there watching a bobber, and you’re not holding your rod, you might could use two, but that’s not me.

 

Lighting it is a pain. I have an old Zippo refillable lighter that I use, and it takes at least 30 seconds of holding the lighter to the burner to get it going, and I have to do it in the dark to be able to see if it’s lit, otherwise it’s by touch. I haven’t had any issues with it going out, other than when I let it run out of fuel. I never fill it all the way, I just put in enough for my trip. I also keep it in a ziploc bag when not in use, because the fuel evaporates. It goes through fuel a little faster than I expected, but still, I haven’t used $5 worth of fuel in two months, using it for a couple hours most days.

 

I would have designed the thing a little differently. It’s hard to get your hand around it, unless you have really big hands. My hands are extra large, and they still don’t wrap around it well. It should be shaped more like a pistol grip, in my opinion. It will stand on its own, but will tip over really easy. It’s also hard to tell one end from the other by feel when it’s in your pocket. Changing those few things would make it perfect. Maybe there are other brands that are more ergonomically designed?

 

I can’t say whether it’s better or worse than a rechargeable, but at this point, I have no interest in a rechargeable. This serves my needs just fine.

[The Maestro]

[fin]

2 hours ago, The Maestro said:

 

It's bullet-proof too? Is that what it's showing? ?

[fin]

On 12/1/2021 at 12:22 AM, GreenPig said:

You can find replacement burners online that burn hotter and last longer than the factory burners. 

 

Any particular one you would recommend?

 

It looks like my hand warmer needs a replacement burner after a little less than a year. Zippo wants $7.44 for one on Amazon. That plus shipping would come pretty close to the cost of a whole new hand warmer from Walmart.

[GreenPig]

1 hour ago, fin said:

 

Any particular one you would recommend?

 

It looks like my hand warmer needs a replacement burner after a little less than a year. Zippo wants $7.44 for one on Amazon. That plus shipping would come pretty close to the cost of a whole new hand warmer from Walmart.

I'm not sure where I purchased the materials to rebuild the burners, but it wasn't Zippo branded. My RAM is weak.

[fin]

11 hours ago, GreenPig said:

My RAM is weak.

lol. I have the same problem. If it comes to you, please let me know. From what I could tell, Zippo only sells the whole burner. I was expecting to buy just the catalyst material, not the metal frame. I gather that is some kind of treated fiberglass.

[NYWayfarer]

On 11/30/2021 at 10:58 PM, FishTank said:

The ones mentioned I think are just for camping.  I wouldn't put anything like that on a boat or near me while I am fishing.  It's an accident waiting to happen.  The $1 pocket wormers work well or if you want to go all out.....

 

 

 

It's about $40.  One the best investments I have made.  Kept my hands and body warm when I needed it on my last trip (25 degrees and 20mph winds) and it will recharge my phone. 

 

 

I finally got one of these zippo rechargeable hand warmers on sale. Worth every penny. Lasts a long time, has adjustable heat settings and fits in your hand perfectly.

[padlin]

 For non fishing use... do these fit in a glove/mitten or do you have to hold them? 

[fin]

4 hours ago, padlin said:

 For non fishing use... do these fit in a glove/mitten or do you have to hold them? 

The refillable ones will fit in a glove, or at least it fits in mine (X large). I don't know about the rechargeable. I've even tried to fish with mine in my glove, but it doesn't work well at all. Some air-tight fabrics might smother out the refillable.