This Portable Charger Is Also a Hand Warmer, and Now It's Under $20
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Even if you’re bundled up in layers, staying warm can be difficult when your hands or feet are cold. Gloves make a difference, but they can only do so much if your hands are already ice cubes. That’s why a hand warmer, like the Zippo Heatbank 3, is a convenient, affordable way to thaw out your extremities and stave off the cold.
Many hand warmers are either disposable single-use packets or use lighter fluid to generate warmth. A more eco-friendly alternative is an electronic hand warmer, which uses a rechargeable lithium battery. Zippo, best known for its pocket lighters, makes the Heatbank 3—a rechargeable hand warmer that also doubles as a power bank. Right now, REI is offering the Zippo Heatbank 3 for just $19—32% off the regular $28 price tag.
Zippo Heatbank 3 Hand Warmer and Power Bank, $19 (was $28) at REI
Cold weather can significantly reduce the efficiency of a battery, shortening the time it takes to run out. That’s why it can be worth carrying a power bank when trekking outside in the winter. The Zippo Heatbank 3 has a 2,600 mAh lithium polymer rechargeable battery. While the small battery of the Zippo Heatbank is unlikely to fully charge a phone, it can still be a handy option when you need to top off or use it as a backup. The battery recharges using a micro-USB port and it has a USB-A output for charging devices
The unit has a single button for power and changing settings, and it's pretty easy to read, too. There are multiple LED indicators for battery life and heat level. Three blue dots indicate the remaining charge. A blinking red light indicates the two warmth settings, with a fast blink indicating the higher heat setting and a slow blink representing the lower heat setting. The Heatbank 3 generates warmth on each side of the unit, allowing you to soothe both hands at the same time.
Shoppers appreciated the compact size of the Zippo Heatbank 3, with one writing that it was “very easy to use,” appreciating that it was “small enough to fit in gloves.” Another wrote that it was “as great as the big ones but smaller and lighter.”
Multiple shoppers noted that the charger was useful for winter travel as well, though one felt that it was inconvenient that the charger uses micro-USB, rather than USB-C. In terms of warmth and battery life, one shopper wrote that it had “pretty good heat output and lasts longer than expected.”
Warm hands and a charged phone are essential to winter travel survival, and the Zippo Heatbank 3, now just $19, can handle both tasks. If you’ve been searching for the perfect hand warmer and want to give Zippo’s option a try, grab one soon—when it sells out, it’s gone for good.
