Zippo Hand Warmer

Product Description

This Zippo hand warmer is a indispensable for spending a cold day outside. Lasts for up to 12 hours. Fill with Zippo premium lighter fluid. One year guarantee. [Read more]

Features

• Up to 12 hours of warmth with one filling
• Low odor, used for hunting, snowmobiling, skiing, ice fishing and football
• Includes hand-warmer, warmer bag and filling cup (lighter fluid not included)

Top Reviews

Very good warmer, but get two!
by Robert R. Cook (5 out of 5 stars)
January 25, 2011

This is like the third warmer I've had over the years, and I really like this model best. It has very slim lines, but is still a very effective heater. If you only have one of them, you'll be passing it from hand to hand. They're much more effective if they can stay in one spot.

Also, the instructions say that you can't stop it, once it's lit, it has to burn all the way down. WRONG! There are two ways, but this one is easiest: With the heater in its pouch, put it inside a ziplock bag and seal it. If you squeeze most of the air out of the bag before you seal it, the "flame" dies out in a couple of minutes. You don't have to refill it to go again, as long as you haven't used up all the fuel. Cool, huh? I use mine on hour long walks with the dogs, and one refill lasted almost two weeks, by putting it out after a walk.

BTW, you can do the same thing with the little dry chem heaters; just seal it in a ziploc and it will stop the reaction when it runs out of oxygen. You can start it again the next time you need it, as long as it isn't used up.

Oh, and Coleman fuel at $8.88 a GALLON is exactly the same chemical(naptha) as Zippo lighter fluid, for $5-something for 4 OUNCES!
↭ 🍁 ↭
Better than Expected
by noyoureatowel1 (5 out of 5 stars)
January 9, 2014

I kept this product in my wish list for quite some time and it stayed there for months due to my reluctance to purchase it.

I read many reviews saying the fuel was expensive, the catalytic burner was loose fitting, and it was hard to light. For these reasons I began to look elsewhere but always kept coming back to this item.

I decided to just go ahead and purchase one along with two replacement burners and a 12oz can of Zippo lighter fuel. The first thing I noticed was how large this thing is. The picture makes it look like the size of a Zippo lighter but it's probably 3 times the size.

For my first use I used the included measuring cup and filled it up to the 12 hour mark. From my experience I would suggest just filling the Hand Warmer up straight from the lighter can. It's less messy that way.

Lighting the hand warmer was also pretty easy. I held a flame to both sides of the burner for 10 seconds on each side. I turned off the lights just to make sure I could see the orange glow then put the top cover on and placed it in the felt pouch. You can put this in your pockets or under bed covers and this thing will still burn.

I have always heard of people saying this is great for cold outdoor weather but it's also great if indoor temperatures are too cold for your comfort. I appreciate it's ability to give me some added warmth in some cold auditorium classrooms I have to sit in.

Unless your face is practically touching the hand warmer you and others around you won't notice any odors from the fuel. That's an attribute of any naptha fuel. It's burns hot with low odor so don't worry about using this indoors around others.

This hand warmer also burns for hours. I never went to great lengths to measure the burn time but it easily burns for 12 hours. I noticed that the less access the hand warmer had to oxygen the longer it burned.

When using this product place it in a pocket. Don't take it out to warm your hands. Too much heat will be lost to the cold environment that you won't benefit as much. Place and keep the hand warmer in a pocket close to your body that is shielded from the wind to maximize your results. Don't worry about the hand warmer burning out, it won't and you'll be thankful for it.

If I want to turn the hand warmer off I just pull the burner off real quick and let it cool on a stone surface. I recommend you suffocate the hand warmer in tupperware because you don't want to risk a burn.

I've heard that you can buy Coleman lantern fuel very cheaply but Amazon doesn't seem to sell it for the price that others have mentioned. I'll check Walmart or Academy to see if I can find a cheaper source of fuel. Even when you take into account the fuel cost and the cost of the replacement burners this thing still cheaper than what you'll pay for disposable chemical hand warmers.

I have already placed an order for another Zippo Hand Warmer. I think people have a point when they say it's best to have a separate hand warmer for each hand in the cold.

Update 1: So I went to Academy and bought a 32oz bottle of Coleman naptha fuel for $6 which is great compared to the $8.50 I was paying for 12oz bottles of Zippo lighter fluid. This fuel seems to have less of an odor than Zippo lighter fluid. I've tried Coleman, Zippo, and Ronsonol.

I think Ronsonol has the least amount of odor while Coleman is by far the cheapest. All fuels seem to burn the same. I filled the hand warmer to the top of the cotton wadding and I have been seeing burn times over 25 hours. I understand some people new to these types of hand warmers will see the fuel cost as a turnoff but when you experience the burn time as long as these you'll see that chemical hand warmers don't come close in terms of heat output or time.

The only thing I don't like is that the felt pouch seems too thick so I find it insulates the hand warmer to much. I think I might make my own cotton pouch to reduce the insulation of the included pouch.

Update 2.) Ok so I found that you SHOULDN'T light the burner with a match and I also wouldn't lighter the burner with a Zippo Lighter. I used both of these and thought nothing of it but it seems like you need a blue flame because it doesn't dump sut on the catalytic burner. If you use matches or a Zippo the flame will be orange and cause your burner to turn black with sut buildup. You don't want this. I learned the hard way and had to replace the burner early because I ruined it this way.

I now use a cheap Bic lighter and only use the blue part of the flame to light the catalytic burner. It maintains the shiny chrome finish on the burner but more importantly keeps the catalytic mesh material clean. Please please please don't repeat my mistake. I wasted an $8.00 burner when I didn't have to. Bic lighters are cheap as hell and while a torch lighter might work as well because of the blue flame I don't own one so I can't be sure.

I also know that regular Zippo lighters have a blue flame but the wind guard obstructs it so I went with a Bic because its blue flame is exposed. I spent $2.00 on a 2 pack of Bic lighters and I am happy with them. It would be great if Zippo lighters worked but I'm not that phased by it.

When lighting the hand warmer with a blue flame you may not notice all 6 holes lighting up into an orange ember. That's fine, and normal.

Put the lighter aside with the lower half of the hand warmer in the felt pouch and just leave the chrome top of the handwarmer off and leave the burner exposed to the air.

After about 10 minutes of being exposed all 6 holes should be bright orange in the dark. At this point put the chrome top cover on and let it heat up for 5 minutes. At this point it will be very hot but it you should be able to pick it up by the bottom because the lower half is in the felt pouch. Zip up the drawstring and enjoy the warmth.

I also recommend just buying Coleman camping fuel. It won't burn as hot as Zippo or Ronsonol lighter fluid but it's cheaper. You will feel the difference in how much hotter Zippo Lighter fluid burns but I save my Zippo fuel for those especially cold days. Coleman lighter fluid also leaches the red color from it's red container and will turn the wadding in the handwarmer red. If you want the best of both worlds use Ronsonol. It's cheaper than Zippo lighter fluid but more expensive than Coleman but Ronsonol burns just as hot as Zippo Lighter Fluid and is clear as well so it won't dye the wadding.

I hope I helped anyone thinking about buying these. They're a great product but I think Zippo isn't clear about how to best use and maintain the product. Feel free to ask me any questions.
↭ 🍁 ↭
WARM & TOASTY, but not perfect
by momster (4 out of 5 stars)
January 7, 2014

I thought this was a perfect solution to keep my hands warm on long dog walks in the New England winter. They work, but I would call them an imperfect solution.

First, I caution you to make sure that these will fit in your gloves or mittens. I have slightly larger than average womens hands and they fit in my mittens, just barely... I actually bought larger mittens so that the warm air could circulate comfortably around my hands. I recommend mittens, so that your fingers will contact the pouch to keep warm. I often pull in my thumb to keep it warm.

As the prior reviews have noted, oxygen is the key to any fire, and these hand warmers work on the same principle. Fill them with lighter fluid and light them up. It's useful to do this with a lighter, since you need to hold the flame on the warmer for several seconds. If you use them immediately, they will be slightly warm in their pouch, but if you allow them to sit out in the air about 15 minutes before placing the cover and pouch over them, they'll be nice and hot. Oxygen is the key and the challenge of these handwarmers! When I start out on my walk, my fingers are really toasty! But being in the pouch, and then placed in mittens, the warmers don't have access to oxygen. By the time I get home after an hour, the warmers are slightly warm. After a longer walk, they are cool. When I pull them back out at home and let them sit out, they heat right back up. Maybe the heat would last longer in a pocket, which would have a better airflow. So, stock up on lighter fluid and enjoy these, just realize their limitations.
↭ 🍁 ↭
A pain to get filled and fit, but good after that
by Brian Morris (4 out of 5 stars)
November 24, 2012

I bought a second warmer and have been testing them as the weather has gotten colder. I've used them four times now and while I've found them to be better than the little chemical packs, they are a pain to get prepared, to the point of not grabbing them sometimes because it takes too long to make them work.

When following the instructions, I would fill the little plastic pouring device and dump it into the warmer. This is the worst part -- I couldn't figure out how to do it fast, so it would take 3-5 minutes to get it to dump in. Then it would take me multiple tries before it would actually stay burning. One time I brought one after putting three hours worth of fluid in and I couldn't get it lit.

I have now adapted my methods. I squirt fluid directly from the can into the warmer and put a few drops in the catalytic top. This gives a flame when first lighting and when that goes out I usually have to light one more time. This reduces the prep time to less than a minute per warmer.

Once it is lit, it produces a moderate amount of heat. I found that while inside the felt case it was sometimes not enough to warm my hands up much. Outside it would help more. I'm still experimenting with how to get it to heat up (the chemical packs can be shaken to warm up). There were a few times that it got hot to the touch, but I'm not sure what I did to do that.

The times I have used them have not been longer than three hours and I haven't run out of heat yet.

When I'm finished I put them in a sealed plastic bag to preserve the fluid (thanks to other reviews for that tip).

For now, I'll keep some chemical packs with me in a pinch and bring these warmers when I know I'll be outside in the cold for a time. There is just too much to carry around to make these warmers work in an unexpected situation.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Works Great.. IF you use it correctly.
by Frank (5 out of 5 stars)
November 4, 2012

This handwarmer works great and i will be buying at least two more. Dis-regard all the "It won't light" or "It leaks" feed back. They don't know what they're doing. There is no visible flame because it works by "burning" the vapors. If you're unsure, ignite it in low light and you'll see the burner glow like an ember. And if you try to light it Immeadiately after filling it for the first time... You deserve to get burned.
1: The first fill takes TWICE AS MUCH FUEL.
2: Fill it SLOWLY.
3: WAIT 10-15 min BEFORE LIGHTING.
4: Hold burner to a lighter, close to the source (blue part of the flame) flipping it every couple seconds to get both sides.
5: Place lid on, put in the cloth bag.

This type of catalyst works best with LITTLE oxygen so putting it in the cloth sack is a must. Also, if you want to stop the reaction just place it in a ziplock bag and there's no need to let it burn out.

I expected this to be made in the USA being from Zippo but it's mine now so screw it.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Real nice once you learn how to use them
by J. E. Kreft (5 out of 5 stars)
November 20, 2012

I bought two of these after reading most of the reviews and researching other methods to keep my hands warm. I had to go back and reread reviews once I got them because they are very hard to light and I avoided using them because I did not want to go to the trouble of lighting them.

Lighting them involves warming the catalyst up so be patient especially if it is cold ( I read someone used a torch not a bad idea I got a Zippo lighter for this task).

Fluffing up a bit of the cotton from the reservoir towards the catalyst helps them light faster.

Once they are lit leave them out to warm up then put them in the cloth bag. Open or close the bag as needed as a regulator for level of heat.

Because I read that filling them involves putting the small plastic, filler tube into the cotton and slowly letting the fluid be absorbed I had no problems there.

I also got Coleman fluid much cheaper but then decided to get a can of Zippo fluid for the pour spout (tossing the cheap plastic thing that came with this product) and I can refill the can of Zippo fluid with Coleman fluid for portability and ease of filling in one package.

I have yet been able to pour from the Coleman bottle to the plastic filler thing without spilling but now I have a Zippo can so I am not worried about that anymore.

To extinguish them put in a heavy zip-lock bag to snuff them out.

Store them in the plastic bag so fuel does not evaporate.

Enjoy. They are great once you get them working right.

Edited to add: It is difficult to tell when they are lit. If it is dark you can see a orange/red glow. I let them sit for awhile to make sure it catches then put the top and bag on them. Warning they do get very hot when left out of the bag.

I love these things I now use them every day, I light them up for my morning exercise routine. Not sure if I noted that getting two as another reviewer suggested is the way to go. I can put one in each pocket and stick my hands in as needed. In AZ winter temps (low 30's to 40's) they literally warm me up all around. I have Raynauds so my hands need the extra boost to stay warm. I have been to the snow this year and kept these things burning in my pockets all day. I also brought extra fluid and a lighter (duh!) one went out mid-day and i just filled it and lit it back up again.

Another note: I am not sure why they flame up sometimes I suspect I am overfilling them. I now fill them in the sunlight (or bright light) where I can see it getting moist. I try to stop before fluid spills out all over. I guess that is where the filling plastic thing comes in handy...
↭ 🍁 ↭
Great gadget for staying warm but difficult to light for first time.
by Melody L (4 out of 5 stars)
December 24, 2011

I bought this as a x'mas gift for someone but also bought one for myself since my hands are always cold. After trying it out I decided to keep one for myself but not give the other one as gift. Because it's not the most convenient thing in the world.

First off, I just found out that zippo lighter fluid is not sold in a lot of places, store stocking may be different in different region but I couldn't find it in Luckys, Big 5, or Home depot. Finally found it at Ace Hardware, I decided to buy 2 bottle since they were running out, too.

Second, it was really hard to start i almost gave up and return it. The burner is quite thin so if I squeeze a little harder sometimes the fuel spills out on the side. The instruction is just not clear enough on the "ignition" part. I had to do some research. Even then, a lot of you-tube were misleading in saying to hold the burner at an angle even upside down.

To light burner, Make sure to use a lighter not matches because it will take awhile, not just 3-5 second to get ignition. I found the easiest way is to hold burner up right and use the base ( blue flame) of the lighter on the grey catalyst material to get the gray material slightly orange. Proper ignition should result in no flame but on and off glowing orange light. Leave the lid off longer does increase the temperature a lot.

Now, I gave this 4 stars because, once started, zippo warmer is awesome! Keeping me warm and easy to put out. I don't bother with the filler cup now since the fuel bottle has a much easier nozzle. And once I figure out how to light it, the process is quite repeatable. Lastly, as other suggest, putting it in a ziplock bag can turn off the burner and not waste fuel.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Its a nice reusable hand warmer
by Robert (4 out of 5 stars)
October 3, 2013

This hand warmer works as good as the one time use hand warmers you get from CVS. Although I wish they would of make one using butane or some thing that doesn't have a continues fuel evaporating. Also the lighting process of the hand warmer could be a real hassle cause if you're using a zippo lighter, during the process of lighting the hand warmer, the lighter itself would get as equally hot as the hand warmer itself and can easily get burn by your own lighter if you're not careful. I switch to using a bic lighter with a cup of water on the side to dip the lighter in to cool it down (you can hear the sizzling sound when the hot lighter hit the cold water). So beware that your lighter will heat up in the process of getting this hand warmer started. Once the hand warmer is lit, you can stop it by just holding the hand warmer firmly on your left hand and using the palm of your right hand to bang on top of the hand warmer until you hear a rattle sound. That sound mean the burner is off of the hand warmer which mean that it will slowly stop burning cause the burner is not getting any fuel from the hand warmer once its off of the hand warmer. The hand warmer it self gives good heat through out the metal casing so its a good reusable hand warmer but its a little pricy cause you need to buy zippo lighter fluid to refuel it since the fuel constantly evaporating even if you don't have the hand warmer lit up. Also, some people say its smelly cause of the lighter fluid evaporating but I kinda like the smell of it but if you don't like the smell of zippo lighter fluid then it probably not ideal for you to carry this around with you since you will be smelling it no matter where you put it in your jacket.
↭ 🍁 ↭
Great little hand warmer by zippo, I prefer one per hand
by Robert B (4 out of 5 stars)
November 27, 2013

I'm zippo (and lighter) obsessed, and I always have been since I was a child. When I saw Zippo made other products I couldnt wait to try one out. Living in frigid Chicago and going to Bears games, my hands are always cold, so I gave this a shot. First let me clarify something I was wary about; No there is no open flame in there, you take of the guard and there is a small filter like cap on the reservoir that trasfers the fuel to heat energy as opposed to flame. You fill the reservoir under that cap with the fuel like any old zippo (they provide you with a nice filling jar/container to measure out your fuel) and put the cap on. You do light it with a lighter to get the reaction happening in the small cap, then you place the guard on. When its not sub-zero, its great for both hands, when its really cold I wish I had two, one to put in each glove because it wont warm two hands through gloves, but I would buy it again.
↭ 🍁 ↭
great product, minus one overwhelming con
by Wade Tomes (4 out of 5 stars)
January 10, 2012

This warmer works great. You fill it with lighter fluid, light the "wick", and it gives you consistent heat for 12 hours. However, it should be noted that because this warmer uses lighter fluid, and is open to the air around you, it really reeks of lighter fluid. I couldn't handle the odor (gave me a headache/made me dizzy), so I had to return it. I wanted to use it for walking around the brutally cold city streets, but the odor was too much. I imagine that using this while skiing or some other active outdoor activity, the odor may be dissipated a bit more, but for my uses, it lingered too much to bear.

Also, I should note that the warmer uses a special type of "wick" inside the unit. This wick needs replaced every 20 uses or so, so you should be aware that this warmer will require maintenance and additional purchase of products in the future (need to buy lighter fluid, wicks, etc.). With the burning wick and lighter fluid in mind, you have to also consider that this warmer uses the burning of fluid to generate warmth. As such, the warmer requires some exposure to open air in order to burn, because without oxygen, the burning wick will go out. If you decide to place the warmer deep inside your heavy duty winter coat, I wouldn't be surprised if the warmer went out. However, I would imagine that most locations you would place this warmer would have adequate access to oxygen in order to function.

It's very warm and useful, and you can't beat the price. But if you don't think you can stand the odor, I would suggest finding another alternative. I decided to still give the warmer 4/5 because my dislike for it seems more of a personal opinion than an objective quality.

Pros:

very warm

consistent warmth

very good size

easy to use

seems safe

great price

very sleek, attractive appearance

Cons:

overwhelming lighter fluid odor

need to repeatedly purchase parts

needs somewhat access to open air (in order to burn)

you have to carry a lighter with you in order to light the warmer

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

*If this is not the "Zippo Hand Warmer" product you were looking for, you can check the other results by clicking this link.  Details were last updated on Nov 21, 2024 11:22 +08.