Nothing puts a damper on a winter outing more than cold and frozen fingertips — that’s where hand warmers can come in handy. They’re great for outdoor activities like skiingcamping and hikingas well as everyday activities like running, taking a walk or running errands.
Read ahead for everything you need to know about choosing the best hand warmers, including recommendations and shopping advice from Ashleigh McClary, an avid outdoor enthusiast and Backcountry Gearhead product expert and Ken Bernard, an outdoor enthusiast and owner of Outlandishan outdoor gear and apparel store in Brooklyn, NY.
SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best hand warmers | The best hand warmers in 2024 | How to shop for hand warmers | Why trust NBC Select?
How I picked the best hand warmers
Following expert advice, I kept the following in mind while rounding up the best hand warmers:
- Types: According to Bernard, there are several types of hand warmers, each of which I’ve included in the list below.
- Air-activated hand warmers generate heat once they’re exposed to air, and are usually single-use and disposable. Bernard says they use iron powder, salt and activated charcoal to create an exothermic reaction inside the hand warmer — which means that they react together to release heat for several hours.
- Reusable hand warmers are usually filled with a sodium acetate gel solution that crystallizes and releases heat at the push of a button. “You can boil them to reset them for future use,” says Bernard.
- Catalytic hand warmers are fueled by lighter fluid to produce “steady, long-lasting heat,” says Bernard. After filling the warmer with fluid and sealing the fuel cap, you apply a flame to the burner, which activates heat without any flames from the warmer itself. They’re also refillable, but Bernard warns that they need ventilation (plenty of space and air) to operate safely.
- Electric and USB hand warmers are rechargeable and powered by a battery, according to Bernard. They provide adjustable heat “at the touch of a button,” and often have USB ports that allow them to double as phone chargers.
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The best hand warmers in 2024
This list includes expert picks and the personal recommendations of shopping experts on the NBC Select team.
Best overall: HotHands Air-Activated Warmers
What we like
- Long lasting
- Easy to carry, easy to use
- Affordable
Something to note
- May take a while to fully heat
Bernard calls these hand warmers from Hot Hands “ideal for single-use.” To use them, you open the package to expose the warmers to the air, and from there they take 15-30 minutes to heat up fully, although you’ll feel the warming effects much sooner. They’re small enough to fit into pockets or bags, making them conveniently portable, and McCClary adds that since they’re widely available, they can be found “almost anywhere.” NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin and NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson, who are both avid runnersuse these on their cold weather runs — Malin “buys them by the thousand” at Costco. She likes to hold them in her hands while running, or keeps them in her pockets to warm up her hands during her warm up and cool down walks. She also says that the warmers are long-lasting and can warm her hands for at least ten hours.
Type: air activated | Duration: up to 18 hours
Best rechargeable hand warmer: Ocoopa Rechargeable Hand Warmer
What we like
- Reusable
- Can charge other devices
- Adjustable heat settings
Something to note
- Charging may take 2-3 hours
This is both Bernard and Malin’s favorite rechargeable hand warmer — it has three heating temperature levels (low, medium, and high) and is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, according to the brand. Malin says that even on the lowest setting, this hand warmer gets hot enough to keep her hands toasty while she’s walking around the city. “They also warm up super fast, which I appreciate,” she says. It has a lithium rechargeable battery and a USB-C charging port that not only allows the warmer to charge, but can charge your devices on the go as well. This warmer is lightweight with a compact, palm-sized design, and has a red light indicator to show the level of heat being used. It also comes in a range of colors, including pink, blue, orange and more.
Type: USB/rechargeable | Duration: up to six hours on a single charge
Best catalytic hand warmer: Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer
What we like
- Long lasting
- Reusable
- Sleek design
This refillable hand warmer has a sleek, compact design and gives you flameless warmth for up to 12 hours, according to the brand. Bernard says they have “catalytic warmth that lasts a long time”, and that they’re perfect for serious outdoor adventurers. The hand warmer uses lighter fluid, which is kept inside of an interior fill cup to help reduce spills, according to the brand. However, lighter fluid isn’t included and must be purchased separately.
Type: catalytic | Duration: up to 12 hours
Editor’s pick: Yaktrax Hand Warmer
NBC Select page Ella Morrissey is an avid skier, and says she likes to stick these hand warmers into her gloves when she’s looking for extra warmth on the slopes. These hand warmers are disposable, odorless and begin working as soon as they’re exposed to air, according to the brand. “While they can take a little while to heat up, they last me all day long when I’m on the mountain or doing anything else outside,” she says.
Type: air activated | Duration: up to 8 hours
Best air-activated hand warmers: Ignik Outdoors Hand Warmers
What we like
- Reusable
- Sustainable materials
- Long lasting
Something to note
- Nothing to note at this time
McClary says her favorite disposable hand warmers are these Ignik Hand Warmers, which are biodegradable and can be composted after using, according to the brand. They’re easily activated via exposure to air, making them great for everyday outdoor activities like running, walking, dog walking and more.These hand warmers are also reusable for multiple days — by resealing the warmers in their pouch, you can use the 10 hours of heat over the course of up to three days, says Ignik.
Type: air activated | Duration: up to 10 hours
Best heated gloves: Seirus Heat Touch Hellfire Mittens
What we like
- Adjustable heat settings
- Finger slots
- Rechargeable
These are McClary’s favorite electric hand warmers, which she says produces the most heat and lasts the longest of any heated glove or mitten that she’s tried. The gloves have three heat settings, along with a waterproof zipper pocket and a rechargeable battery, according to the brand. She also likes that they have finger slots inside that give you a true glove, rather than fingerless mitten, feel.
Type: electric | Duration: Up to 12 hours
How to shop for hand warmers
When shopping for hand warmers, experts recommend keeping a few things in mind, including the duration of use and the type of hand warmer, and the warmers’ safety considerations.
- Duration and type: According to the experts, the type of hand warmer you choose should depend on how long you need warmth and how many times you plan to use them. For example, McClary says that if you’re just going on a ski trip for a few days, you may only need a few packs of disposable hand warmers. However, if you’re someone with a skiing season pass, she says you may want to upgrade to a rechargeable type, like heated gloves. If you’re looking for adjustable, long-lasting heat, Bernard says a USB model would be ideal.
- Safety: When choosing a hand warmer, it’s important to consider the risks of each child. The most common safety concerns with hand warmers include burns and risk of fire, however both experts say that following each warmers’ included safety instructions will help you to get the best and safest use out of your hand warmers.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Ken Bernard is an outdoor enthusiast and expert, and owner of Outlandishan outdoor gear and apparel store in Brooklyn, NY.
- Ashleigh McClary is an avid outdoor enthusiast and Backcountry Gearhead expert.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am on associate SEO reporter for NBC Select who regularly covers skin care and lifestyle, including stories on the best low maintenance plants and the best pet-safe plants. For this article, I interviewed four gardening experts and researched dozens of systems on the market that aligned with their guidance.
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