There are different categories of hand warmers that are available for purchase so one of thing that you will need to decide when you are purchasing a hand warmer is the type of hand warmer that you want. The different kinds of hand warmers will determine how long they last and which conditions they work best under. Most hand warmers fall in one of five different categories so it helps to be aware of what is available prior to purchase a hand warmer. Each of the different kinds of hand warmer uses a different heat source and some of them are reusable while other kinds of hand warmers are intended for one-time use only.

The first type of hand warmer is the gas type. These type of hand warmers operate off of lighter fuel and are therefore considered to be a reusable type of hand warmer. Zippo is the most well-known brand of this kind of hand warmer and they can last for as long as 24 hours at a time on a single tank of gas. One of the advantages of this kind of hand warmer is that it has a much longer lifespan and it is refillable. However, some people are nervous about putting a combustible item in their pocket and this type of hand warmer may have a gas smell as well.

Charcoal hand warmers are another kind of hand warmer that is also combustible. The difference between this kind of hand warmer and the lighter fluid based one is the type of fuel that is used to power the hand warmer. One of the main advantages of this style of hand warmer is that it is inexpensive and they remain warm for a long time. The downsides are still similar to that of the gas-powered hand warmers in that these hand warmers can produce a smell and you still have something burning in your pocket.

If you do not want something combusting in your pocket, then you have two different categories of chemical hand warmers. These hand warmers work by producing heat from a chemical reaction. The first type of chemical hand warmer is one that is made from a supersaturated solution. This type of chemical hand warmer is fully reusable and works by activating an exothermic chemical reaction. The downside of this kind of hand warmer is that it usually only heats for 20 minutes to 2 hours at the most. The other kind of chemical hand warmer uses iron shavings and works by exposing the iron to oxygen. The process of causing the iron to rust is what produces heat. This type of hand warmer can last anywhere from 1 to 10 hours and are one-time use only.

The most feature-rich kind of hand warmer is the battery powered type. The battery-powered hand warmer works on running electricity through resistive electrical elements which produce heat. Most of these chargers run on rechargeable batteries but it is still possible to see electric hand warmers that run on disposable batteries. Generally speaking, this style of hand warmer will run for around six hours on a single charge, but some of them run longer as battery technology continues to progress. One of the downsides of this style of hand warmer is that they tend to cost more and can be large and bulky. However, this type of hand warmer does not produce any smells and can be longer lasting than the other kinds of hand warmers.

Each kind of hand warmer has advantages and disadvantages so it is important for you to know about the different kinds of hand warmers that are available on the market prior to purchasing a hand warmer. Knowing about how each kind of hand warmer works will make a difference in what you can expect from a hand warmer. For example, you would be disappointed if you were to purchase a supersaturated style hand warmer and expected it to last all day. On the other hand, if you were only expecting it to warm your hands for 20 minutes and got an hour out of it, then you would be highly satisfied. Some hand warmers are only meant for certain applications. For example, it would be difficult to tuck an electric hand warmer in your gloves, but it is easy for you to do so with an iron style hand warmer. It is always best that you match the type of hand warmer to your specific needs. Some hand warmers are better for some purposes than others and all of them have different duration times. The better you understand each kind of hand warmer and how it works, the happier you will be with your purchase. When you are happier with your purchase, you will be much more likely to enjoy your hand warmer when you need it.

You should do your best to pick a hand warmer that will last long enough for your needs. Different hand warmers are meant to last for different lengths of time and you will either want to have enough short lasting hand warmers to last you while you are in the cold or a long-lasting hand warmer that will last for the entire time you are in the cold weather. For this reason, you should consider how long a hand warmer will last you prior to purchasing it. Some hand warmers do not last as long as advertised and other hand warmers can be reused as well. There are also hand warmers that you can make last longer if turn them down to a lower heat setting. You should consider all of these differences so that you are fully prepared for when you are outside.

Different kinds of hand warmers have different durations. If you only need a hand warmer that has a short duration, then you can usually get away with the supersaturated solution style hand warmers. These hand warmers will typically last you about twenty minutes to an hour so they are not the proper kind of hand warmer for when you are going to be spending long periods of time outdoors. The other kinds of hand warmers are meant to last at least six hours at a time and are a better choice if you plan on spending a full day in winter weather.

You will need to pay attention to the packaging on iron warming style hand warmers. This kind of hand warmer has the largest spread of time range as some of them are only meant to last for an hour while other ones are meant to last all day. You should keep in mind that this kind of hand warmer will burn out faster when it is exposed to higher amounts of oxygen. That means if these hand warmers are exposed to outside air or high amounts of humidity then they will not last as long as what they would if they are properly placed in your pockets. For this reason, you will want to check the packaging on your iron shaving hand warmers to make sure they will last as long as you need them too and also use them according to the instructions so that they last as long as they are advertised to last. Iron shaving hand warmers are a one time use only kind of hand warmer so you will need to make sure that you have enough for your day and that they are rated to last long enough.

Charcoal hand warmers typically last for around six hours on a single stick of coal. This makes them suitable for spending long periods of time outdoors. If you plan on spending more than six hours at a time outdoors then you can simply bring additional sticks of coal along with you to make the hand warmer last longer. A gas hand warmer can last for much longer than six hours and some of them will even last as long as twenty-four hours on a tank of gas. Most gas hand warmers are adjustable and you can turn the fuel down to make them last longer on a single tank of gas. Both styles of hand warmers are an excellent choice if you are going to be spending time in the wilderness provided that you bring enough fuel to keep using them.

The battery-powered hand warmers normally last around six hours on a single battery charge. However, it is important to understand what affects the length of the battery. If you are using your battery powered hardware while charging a smartphone at the same time, it will not last as long as it would otherwise. Likewise, many battery powered hand warmers allow you to pick different temperature settings and a higher setting will cause the battery to deplete faster than a lower heat setting. If you are near power, you can make a battery powered hand warmer last longer by charging it while you are not using it. These hand warmers may take a few hours charge so you can't readily reuse them if the battery runs out. For this reason, you should try and either turn these warmers down or turn them off when you do not need them while you are away from a power source.

Each style of hand warmer has a different duration with some hand warmers lasting longer than other hand warmers. You should always try and plan ahead when you are going to be spending time in the cold and try and get the correct hand warmer for your needs. Some hand warmers only last a short amount of time while other ones can last all day. Many of the reusable hand warmers can be used as long as there is a source of fuel for them. Regardless of what style of hand warmer, you choose to use, you should read the directions for an estimate for about how long the hand warmer will last.

You may want to take a look at the size of your hand warmer when you are purchasing it. Everyone has different size hands and at a minimum, you will want to make sure that the hand warmer will fit properly in your hands so that you can warm your hands easily. You may have other concerns as it relates to the size of the hand warmer. Some people have gloves that have special hand warming pockets where you can insert a hand warmer. Other people need the hand warmer to fit well inside of a coat pocket or in a gear bag. Every kind of hand warmer comes in a different shape and size so you will want to take the size of the hand warmer into consideration when you are looking for a hand warmer.

When it comes to shape and size, many kinds of hand warmers have a fixed shape. You will not be able to mold a battery powered hand warmer into a special pocket, nor will it conform exactly to the size and shape of your hands. If you need a hand warmer that can mold to a certain pocket or the contours of your hand, you will need to use a chemical reaction style hand warmer. This style of hand warmer (either the iron kind or the supersaturated solution kind) is sold in a malleable packet. This will allow you to stuff this kind of hand warmer into a special glove pocket or coat pocket. They also come in the largest variety of size can range all of the ways from extra small up to extra large. Since these hand warmers are also lightweight, it is easy for you to carry plenty of them if you are going to be in the wilderness for a few days.

Gas, charcoal, and battery powered hand warmers have a fixed shape. When you are purchasing these hand warmers, you will need to make sure that the shape and size of the hand warmer are appropriate for your needs. You should start by checking if it fits in your hands properly. Many hand warmers are sized to fit in the average person's hands, but you will not be able to form a fist around them. In most cases, this is desirable, but it also means that you may not be able to insert such a hand warmer into a special glove pocket or other small pockets. If you need a smaller size hand warmer, many of the battery style hand warmers are sold in cobblestone shaped hand warmers that are meant to fit in the palm of your hand. This allows you to form a fist around the hand warmer.

You will also need to check if the hand warmer will fit in your pockets. For most people, this will mean pants or a jacket pocket since these are pockets that allow the hand warmer to be accessible. However, some people like to put hand warmers directly into their gloves or mittens, and if this is something that you plan on doing with your hand warmer, you will need to look for a size of hand warmer that is correct for this purpose. If you plan on spending time outdoors with your hand warmer and need to pack gear, then you should also consider not only the size and shape of the hand warmer but also its fuel source if its applicable to the hand warmer.

The size and shape of electric hand warmers need particular attention. Older electric hand warmers used to be large and bulky but newer electric hand warmers have started to get smaller and sleeker. If you are looking at an electric hand warmer, there are plenty of choices when it comes to the size and the shape of the hand warmer. You may find electric hand warmers that are large but there are some electric hand warmers that are made to be cobblestone sized as well. Many electric hand warmers are made to be about the size of your hand and are similar in size and shape to the gas powered and charcoal powered hand warmers, however, you should keep in mind that advances in technology have to lead to a wider variety of electric hand warmers in terms of shape and size.

For many people, regular sized and shaped hand warmers will work just fine. However, some people have special considerations and those people will want to pay attention to the dimensions of the hand warmer. Chemical based hand warmers come in the largest variety of size and are, therefore, the most versatile. The other styles of hand warmers come in fixed sizes and shapes so you will want to pay attention to how large they are. It is important for the hand warmer to be large enough to fit in your hand. You may also want to make sure that it fits in your pockets properly as well.

Some hand warmers have a variety of features that you may find to be useful when you are purchasing a hand warmer. Some of the features have to do with how you light and start a hand warmer while other features are more advanced and include a flashlight, mobile device charging, or multiple heat settings. When you are picking out a hand warmer, you may want to consider the features found in the hand warmer in order to make sure that you have a feature set that is right for you. When your hand warmer has the proper features, you will find that your purchase is much more enjoyable than a hand warmer that doesn't have all of the features that you wish it had.

Hand warmers that are not battery powered tend to be basic, but there are a few features that you may want to look for when you are purchasing such hand warmers. For example, you may want to look at the outside of the hand warmer and make sure that it feels good against your skin. Some of these hand warmers may have a way to control the temperature of the hand warmer so that it doesn't tend to get to warm or too cool when you are using it. Gas and charcoal hand warmers may have features that make it easier to light them in cold temperatures. You may also want to look at how easy or difficult it is to recharger your hand warmer. Gas hand warmers may be difficult to reload or they might reload easy depending on the make and model of the hand warmer.

You may also want to check and see if you can turn the hand warmer on and off as needed. Some hand warmers heat until their fuel source has been exhausted. This is generally the case in chemical style hand warmers as well as charcoal hand warmers. However, some hand warmers can be turned on and off as needed which allows you to extend the life of the hand warmer. Many gas powered hand warmers and battery powered hand warmers can be turned on and off. If this is a feature that is important to you, then you should make sure that you can easily turn the hand warmer off and turn it on against easily. Battery powered hand warmers can be turned on and off with a switch, but gas hand warmers may need to be relit in order to start them again.

Battery powered hand warmers tend to be much more feature rich. Most of the battery powered hand warmers also double as a charging bank and will have a USB-A port. This allows you to charge your mobile devices such as your smartphone, tablet, or camera by using your hand warmer. Many people tend to find this feature to be useful because there are times where you do not need to warm your hands but you do need to charge your phone. This allows your hand warmer to be useful in more situations because you can take your hand warmer with you in the summer and charge your phone when you are away from a regular power source. If this is a feature that is useful to you then you should check and see how many times it can charge your phone. Most hand warmers are capable of charging a smartphone two or even three times on a single battery charge.

Another feature that you will want to look for in a battery powered hand warmer is double sided warming. Double-sided warming is a given for the other styles of hand warmers, but you should not take it for granted on a battery powered hand warmer since there are many such hand warmers that only heat on one side. Single sided hand warming may be a limitation since you can't press your hands together around the hand warmer and heat both of your hands at the same time. If this is a concern for you, then you will want to make certain that your electric hand warmer is able to produce heat on both sides of the hand warmer.

Hand warmers have different features and you may want to consider the type of features that you need when you are purchasing a hand warmer. Some of the more popular features found in hand warmers are features such as USB charging, on and off switching, and temperature adjustments. Of course, there are other features that have not been discussed that could come in handy such as LED flashlights. For these reasons, you should take the time to consider any and all features that may be present on the hand warmer. The right feature set could make the difference between a nice hand warmer and a great hand warmer which can make you more satisfied with your purchase.

Cost is always an issue whenever you are purchasing anything and hand warmers can come in a wide range of cost. Some of the hand warmers available are inexpensive and do not cost much but they are also lacking in terms of their features. Other hand warmers cost more upfront but can also save you money if you tend to use hand warmers on a regular basis. Of course, there are plenty of medium cost hand warmers that you can find as well, depending on what you need from a hand warmer. Since the upfront cost and the lifetime cost of hand warmers can vary, you should take the time to understand why hand warmers are priced the way they are so that you can make the best decision about your hand warmer purchase.

The iron shaving hand warmers tend to have the lowest initial cost. You can either purchase this style of hand warmer individually or in a bulk package. Naturally, the larger package of iron shaving hand warmers that you purchase, the more you will save per hand warmer so you may want to buy in bulk if you are planning on using these hand warmers on a regular basis. The downside of the iron shaving style of hand warmer is that they are one-time use only. That means that this style of hand warmer has the highest lifetime cost since you can not recharge or reuse the hand warmer once you have finished with it. If you are looking to use hand warmers on a regular basis, then this style of hand warmer may not be the most cost-effective option. It is good if you are only going to use the hand warmer on an irregular basis.

Charcoal, gas, and supersaturated solution hand warmers are typically sold in a similar price range. These hand warmers have a higher upfront cost than the iron shaving style of hand warmers, but they have a much lower lifetime cost over the life of the hand warmer since they can be reused. Supersaturated solution hand warmers do not need replacement fuel and can be recharged by boiling it in water. Charcoal and gas-powered hand warmers will need replacement gas or fuel sticks over the life of the hand warmer, but most of the time this is inexpensive and does not have a noticeable cost. If you are looking for a hand warmer that has a mid-range price in terms of upfront and lifetime costs, then any of these three hand warmers will work well for that purpose.

The highest cost hand warmer is the battery style hand warmer. This style of hand warmer almost always has the most amount of features which is the reason for the higher price point. For example, many battery powered hand warmers have large capacity batteries that will power the hand warmer for hours at a time. They may also have features such as USB ports, multiple heat settings, or flashlights. There is no fuel sourced used in a battery powered hand warmer and you only need to plug it in to charge it. For these and many more reasons, battery powered hand warmers have the highest value and therefore the highest cost of all of the available kinds of hand warmers.

However, as advances in battery technology continue to progress, the cost of some battery powered hand warmers has continued to decline. For example, if you are only interested in a double-sided battery hand warmer that doesn't have a flashlight or a USB charging port, then it is possible to find a battery powered hand warmer for a price that is similar to a charcoal, gas, or supersaturated hand warmer. Even battery hand warmers that are more feature rich have continued to fall in price. Therefore, it is worthwhile to spend time shopping around for a battery powered hand warmer since you can find them at lower prices if you look hard enough.

You will most likely want to consider the cost of a hand warmer prior to purchasing it. Since the cost can vary between different styles of hand warmers, it can be difficult to figure out the value of a hand warmer. In order to do this, you will need to first consider the style of hand warmer that you are considering purchasing and then compare prices based on the type of hand warmer. Iron shaving hand warmer has the lowest upfront cost but has the highest lifetime cost due to their one-time use. Charcoal, gas, and supersaturated solution hand warmers have a medium price and a low lifetime cost. Battery powered hand warmers usually have the highest cost for hand warmers, but this is due to them offering more features than other kinds of hand warmers. When you are picking a hand warmer, you should go for the one that works best for you at a price that you are comfortable with spending.