I recently purchased a hand warmer from Zippo after debating with myself whether or not it was going to be worth it, obviously I decided it was so here I am telling you about it. Now I suppose a hand warmer is abit of a novelty but then again it depends on what you're doing. If you're hunting or fishing or doing something that requires really finicky finger work then it would probably be useful to have warm hands but if you're just sat in an office with 10 radiators all day then it's probably just a waste of money! This post is aimed at the people that will actually get the use out of it and are sick of being unable to carry out simple tasks due to cold hands in winter months.
The zippo hand warmer uses some kind of black magic to warm up your hands (not really black magic, I just don't know how it works) and keep them warm for 6 or 12 hours depending on which model you decide to purchase. The hand warmer looks really nice and comes in a few different colours although I decided to go for mirror chrome. It comes with a lovely little bag to keep it in and even a mini jerry can to fill it up, which helps avoids spills and prevents over filling it with lighter fuel. Now the black magic I was talking about to power the hand warmer isn't actually magic but it is very clever and quite nerdy so bare with me on this one. The hand warmer is actually flame-less although it does require a flame to light it, once it is ignited it becomes a catalytic heater relying on a catalysed chemical reaction to break down molecules and create heat. Now that the nerdy bit is over and done with we can move onto the review!
In a couple of words, it's bloody brilliant! I love the simplicity of it compared to other hand warmers available on the market. In the past I have had hand warmers with the little metal plate inside and you have to boil them for 20 minutes to get 25 minutes of warmth from them and to be quite honest, it's a ballache. With the Zippo warmer you simply fill it with fuel and hold a flame to the ignition point for about 20 seconds and then you have warmth for 12 hours, which isn't rocket science (unless you take into account the nerdy part). I know with previous models there was no way of knowing when it was full and when the fuel was going to start pouring out of the top while filling but Zippo came up with a really simple solution in the shape of a little plastic jerry can. You fill the can upto the mark on the side and then pour the gas in from the can through a little hole in the top of the warmer filling it to the perfect point for 12 hours of warmth without setting yourself on fire.
Once the hand warmer is lit, it is advisable to put it in the little fabric bag that comes with it before it goes into your pocket as the metal surface of the warmer gets very hot after a while. Even inside the bag, the warmer provides a lovely, gentle heat which warms your hands and fingers in the coldest of temperatures making it easier to carry out little tasks that normally would be impossible with those cold, numb fingers. I know that unless you buy two warmers you can only warm one hand at a time but lets face it, if you're out camping you can sit with both hands on it and stop being picky or just go and buy another one if it's really bothering you.
The only issue I have with the Zippo hand warmer is the inability to put it out once it is lit. If you put 12 hours of fuel in it, it's going to burn for 12 hours and if you don't need it lit anymore then unfortunately, it's tough! I think its a real shame that there is no way to extinguish it because most people won't use it for 12 hours straight and I really feel this could have been addressed. The simple solution to a problem that could have been eliminated altogether however? Don't put 12 hours of fuel in it. When I put gas in it I put half a tank or a quarter of a tank in depending on the task I am going to be carrying out. It's easy enough to refill so you may as well fill it two or three times instead of filling it totally and having to let it burn itself out on the kitchen counter. The good thing is that new burners are available for the warmer so when it does burn itself out, which it inevitably will over a period of years, it can be replaced which makes the Zippo hand warmer a lifetime product.
I really hope this review has been useful to you in making your decision and as always please don't hesitate to ask me any questions. Please remember to like and share this post if you found it useful and don't forget to follow the links on the right of my blog to my social media platforms.
Until next time
Thank you for reading
Liam
The warmer comes with a fabric bag and a little plastic fill can
The warmer is a really simple design making it very easy to use
Simply fill it with standard lighter fuel and away you go
Once the hand warmer is lit, it is advisable to put it in the little fabric bag that comes with it before it goes into your pocket as the metal surface of the warmer gets very hot after a while. Even inside the bag, the warmer provides a lovely, gentle heat which warms your hands and fingers in the coldest of temperatures making it easier to carry out little tasks that normally would be impossible with those cold, numb fingers. I know that unless you buy two warmers you can only warm one hand at a time but lets face it, if you're out camping you can sit with both hands on it and stop being picky or just go and buy another one if it's really bothering you.
I decided to go for the mirror chrome
I really hope this review has been useful to you in making your decision and as always please don't hesitate to ask me any questions. Please remember to like and share this post if you found it useful and don't forget to follow the links on the right of my blog to my social media platforms.
Until next time
Thank you for reading
Liam
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