A couple weeks back when a snow storm rolled through my neck of the woods, I was outside shoveling the aftermath only to realize my gloves weren’t well-equipped to handle the frigid conditions. That led me to stop what I was doing and stuff my hands into my coat pockets to warm them up. After repeating this exact process a few more times, I was fed up and decided to explore alternatives.
I ended up learning about rechargeable hand warmers that offer instant heat when they’re activated. Unlike the disposable hand warmers I’ve used in the past that work off chemical reactions, rechargeable hand warmers are battery powered and reusable — so I didn’t hesitate to buy them, especially since they cost $20. Seriously, they’re the smartest thing I’ve bought so far this year. Here’s why.
Instant warmth
When I first turned on the Ocoopa UT4 Rechargeable Hand Warmers, I was immediately taken by surprise with the amount of heat they generated. That’s because I didn’t realize I set them to high, which felt extra hot to the touch.
You can see from the images above how it starts off cooler than my iPhone when it's off, which is a good reference because my phone's usually toasty out of my pocket. At the highest setting, I recorded a maximum temperature of almost 125-degrees Fahrenheit I captured with my thermal camera.
I recommend starting off at low to get a good feel for how they feed in your hands, seeing that it’s more bearable at 105-degrees.
Compact, weather resistant design
Their compact sizes also make them handy when I’m commuting to work. In fact, each one weighs about 2.29 ounces — which makes the 5.82-ounce weight of the iPhone Air feel heavy by comparison. Even though I could easily stow them in my backpack, I’ve actually been keeping them in each of my coat pockets.
I also like that they have a bit of water resistance with their IP34 ratings, which is more than enough to endure snowflakes coming down or even some rain. There’s also a loop on each that I’ve used to slip through the included lanyards to easily keep them attached to me, even when I let them go.
Way cheaper than heated gloves
Another option I explored to keep my hands warm this winter is heated gloves. They make perfect sense when I’m outside for an extended period of time, but you’ll end up spending way more money on them—with prices averaging around $80. Even though I’ve found heated gloves for as low as $32, they seem too flimsy for my liking. On top of that, it’s not like I can make good use of the heat outside of wearing gloves.
That’s why I’ve actually tucked my hand warmers inside my gloves, which effectively functions the same as heated gloves. Sure, there’s a bit of a bulge caused by this — but I don’t mind at all because of the extra utility of using them in all sorts of ways.
With impending inclement weather in the forecast this weekend, I won’t have to worry about being out in the cold freezing my fingers off while shoveling.
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