These Hand Warmers Keep Your Fingers Toasty for Yard Work, Snow Days, and Winter Hikes

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With the winter chill setting in, it’s time to break out your cold-weather gear from the back of the closet. From coats to beanies, gloves, and boots, there are tons of ways to protect yourself in the snow and frost. That said, whether it’s 12 degrees or 40, some of us simply can’t keep our extremities warm. This is especially the case with hands, where poor circulation leads to frigid fingers even when the temperature or gear should keep that from happening. If you need a little extra help keeping toasty, hand warmers are the perfect solution.

Portable enough to fit comfortably in pockets or in your palms, hand warmers emit heat that, as the name suggests, keep your hands warm, even when it’s cold outside. The hand warmers we recommend come in all sorts of styles—some slot right into your gloves, some are disposable, and all will help you stay safe and warm this winter.

The Best Hand Warmers

• Best Overall: Ocoopa Quick Charge Hand Warmers

• Best Value: HotHands Hand Warmer Value Pack

• Most Durable: Dnaleao Hand Warmers Rechargeable

• Best Non-Battery Reusable: Hotsnapz Reusable Round & Pocket Hand Warmers

• Best Fuel-Powered Option: Zippo Hand Warmer

What to Consider

Disposable Versus Reusable Hand Warmers

Disposable hand warmers serve the same purpose as reusable ones except once the heat runs out, you simply throw them away—sort of like a first aid kit ice pack. While this leaves you with a set number of uses, disposable hand warmers have two distinct advantages: convenience and cost. The price of a pack of disposable hand warmers is notably cheaper than a single reusable one.

While that price evens out in the long run, if you don’t use hand warmers often, a disposable pack will probably cost you less—plus it’s handy to grab a whole box to pass around at an outdoor volunteer event or family ski trip. As for convenience, you’ll never have to remember to recharge your disposable hand warmer.

Reusable hand warmers are typically powered by a rechargeable battery or fuel source, and are meant to be used many times over. We recommend rechargeable hand warmers for people who work outside regularly, or anyone who uses hand warmers more than a few times, if only because they’re less wasteful. If you fill up or charge your hand warmer each night, you can use it every day without issue, almost certainly costing less than a disposable counterpart over time.

How Long Do Hand Warmers Last?

//i feel like we need to specify how long a disposable one lasts bc that’s really what people are asking when they google this. then quickly mention that battery-powered rechargeables can last anywhere from an hour to several work days//You can expect a hand warmer to last anywhere from an hour to around 15 hours depending on which type you use. Most battery or gas-powered hand warmers last 10 hours or more which should be more than enough to keep your fingers toasty all day long without an issue. The longevity of the heat for battery-powered models also changes depending on which power setting it’s on.

Comfort and Size

While most hand warmers are designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, some are compact enough to slide into a pocket or slot into your gloves. Some reusable options are slightly larger than this to accommodate longer-lasting batteries or larger fuel reservoirs.

Many hand warmers also have ergonomic designs so you can hold them in your hands without expending too much extra energy.

How We Selected

We made our final selections based on extensive research across hundreds of customer reviews, specifications, and, of course, in-house experience from members of the Popular Mechanics staff. Each hand warmer on our list was considered based on a number of key features including power source, price, longevity, max temperature, size, and ergonomics. We also made sure to offer several different type of hand warmers to best fit a wide variety of needs, whether you work outside every day or you just like to stay toasty while you run errands.

Quick Charge Hand Warmers

For heat, convenience, and longevity, there are very few options that stack up to this hand warmer from Ocoopa. Built for up to 15 hours of heat and a max temperature of 131 degrees Fahrenheit, this hand warmer is designed for maximum warmth that lasts as long as you need it.

What really sets it apart from comparable models, however, is the fast-charging feature which doubles as a power bank for charging your phone. It’s capable of charging an iPhone up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes.

Hand Warmer Value Pack

Perhaps the most popular option, this choice from HotHands is the disposable option that fits every need. Simply shake the pack to activate the chemical reaction and get up to 10 hours of use before it starts cooling off.

Once the pack cools down, it’s completely done—but that’s more of a feature than a bug. Just toss it in the nearest garbage can and forget about it. The affordable price tag makes this a perfect choice for convenience and for anyone who doesn’t expect to use hand warmers more than a few times a year.

Rechargeable Hand Warmers

Another solid rechargeable option, this hand warmer set offers comparable long-lasting heat to the Ocoopo at 12 hours, but comes in a more durable frame.

This hand warmer is dust, water, and drop resistant making it a great choice to use during activities like hiking, camping, or even sports. The three different heat settings offer variability with a max temperature of 131 degrees which is ample heat even during the coldest nights.

Reusable Round & Pocket Hand Warmers

If you want a reusable hand warmer without needing to recharge or refuel, consider these warmers from Hotsnapz. Unlike other reusable choices, these hand warmers charge up in boiling water. From there, simply snap the small activation disc whenever you’re ready and they begin heating up.

While the 40 to 60 minutes of use is certainly much less than other choices, the infinite reusability and convenience makes it a quick way to heat up both your pockets and your hands.

Hotsnapz come in four-packs, so once one runs out, just activate the next one, then boil them all when you’re home for your next adventure.

Hand Warmer

This fuel-powered hand warmer from Zippo gives steady heat for up to 12 hours without the need for batteries. Once fueled up, place a flame on the burner and you can expect 12 hours of heat without refilling.

Despite burning fuel, the heating mechanism is completely flameless, so no need to worry about anything catching fire. Each Zippo hand warmer also comes with a small carrying bag that is perfect to slip on the device if you want a little distance between your fingers and the hand.

Resealable Multiple-Use Hand Warmers

This disposable hand warmer does a little bit extra. Instead of just a one-off heating, you can reseal it into an airtight bag and preserve it. When preserved in the bag, this hand warmer can extend its life up to 72 hours, so you can use it for a few hours one day, seal it in the bag, and use it again the next day.

If not in the resealable bag, these hand warmers will last for up to 10 hours. Ignik is also an environmentally conscious choice since 98 percent of the materials are biodegradable.

Hand Warmers Rechargeable

Another snap-apart option, this hand warmer is built to keep both hands (or pockets) toasty without choosing between one or the other. The magnetic connection between both banks also ensures that when you’re done, they snap back together with ease.

As a hand warmer, it can last for up to 15 hours without needing to recharge. The three different heat settings range between 104 and 131 degrees.

As a power bank, it can charge two devices simultaneously. The power bank portion comes with both USB and USB-C input ports, and can charge a smartphone for two to three hours.

Heated Gloves for Men and Women

Forget individual devices and just combine gloves and hand warmers into one. With so many users putting hand warmers in their gloves anyways, these heated gloves combine the best of both worlds.

Alongside the three heat settings, these gloves have a water repellent layer that keeps your hands protected in the rain and snow. The fingertips are also touchscreen compatible so you never need to take your glove off to text or take a call.

Prior to purchase, make sure to check your hand size because some users report that the gloves run small.

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