No matter how much we wrap up in thick coats and jumpers, our hands and fingers are often left exposed to the chilly conditions at this time of year, which is why the best hand warmers can come in handy. Most are designed to be discreet to fit right into the palm of your hand to keep the cold away.
The best hand warmers are nifty little gadgets that can be popped into your pocket or stuffed inside your gloves to ensure your hands stay super cosy. You can get single-use and rechargeable hand warmers that can be reused when you're out and about, but you can also get ones that are made for use around the house, too.
You may simply think that a pair of gloves will be sufficient enough to keep your hands warm, but if you're someone who really feels the cold you'll benefit from a hand warmer. It's just like if you're someone who always has cold feet, you'd invest in a good pair of thermal socks to keep your toes warm, so hand warmers are just the same for your fingers. It's like having a tiny little hand heater with you at all times.
Best hand warmers at a glance:
• Best overall: OCOOPA Hand Warmer – View on Amazon UK
• Best single-use hand warmers: HOTHANDS 372-3970 Hand Warmers – View on Amazon UK
• Best microwaveable hand warmer: Supersoft Faux Fur Pocket Hottie - View on M&S
From air and gel-activated warmers that you can use on the go to more eco-friendly battery-powered ones that last for hours, there are many different types on our list of the best. Discover the best hand warmers for you by taking a look below.
Best hand warmers to help you keep warm this winter
Best overall
With over 5,000 reviews on Amazon, this OCOOPA Hand Warmer is a popular choice. With its three heat settings, up to fifteen hours of running time and sleek design, it's easy to see why! After it's run out, you simply pop it on charge again and you can reuse it again and again.
Customer review: "I've tried them all because you're reading this you probably have too this is in my humble opinion the best way to go also is a portable charger too so more versatile and it has 3 settings that are spot on and on the highest setting it gets really hot had it a few weeks been great thank God so far peace"
Pros
- Doubles as a portable phone charger
- Reusable
Cons
- Some people thought it was a little on the heavy side
Best single-use hand warmers
These HOTHANDS 372-3970 Hand Warmers are super discreet. They're small enough to fit in your pocket or subtly sit inside your gloves, but give off enough heat to keep your hands at a comfortable temperature for up to 10 hours. Great for dog walking, commuting, days out and more.
Customer review: "Pleasantly surprised by how good these are! I've previously used a different brand with absolutely no success but these ones have been consistently excellent. They take a little while to get going - maybe 10-20 mins to get to the maximum heat output but they really do get extremely toasty and last for hours. We used these on an outdoor shift on the coldest night of the year. In icy conditions we put them inside gloves and intermittently decided that our hands had become too warm and took them out! I once put a pair inside some thin-soled shoes and watched the ice melting where I was stood. They can genuinely last an entire 10 hour shift, weigh barely anything, and are incredibly convenient. I went back and ordered 40 more packets!"
Pros
- You get five pairs or 10 individuals for the price
- Warms quickly
Cons
- Single-use only
Best microwaveable hand warmer
www.marksandspencer.com
All you have to do with this hand warmer is pop it in the microwave and you'll feel the warmth back in your hands in no time at all. This Supersoft Faux Fur Pocket Hottie from M&S is made from a super soft faux fur that will feel great against your skin and can be used to provide warmth around your stomach, too.
Pros
- Cosy material
- Easy to heat up
Cons
- Not really portable for taking out of the house
Best lighter fluid hand warmer
The Zippo 12 Hour Refillable Hand Warmer is a bit more of a traditional option. It uses lighter fluid to keep your hands and fingers nice and warm whether you're heading out for a day of wandering around the shops or going on a frosty countryside walk. We love the funky orange colour of this hand warmer.
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Customer review:** "There are dozens of electrical hand warmers available to buy which are no doubt easier to use, but there’s something old school and Bear Grylls about this one. Heat output is great with the controllable temperature dependent on how much oxygen you allow to get to the burner. This is achieved by exposing more of ventilation holes to air as opposed to being inside the cover. There is a faint characteristic Zippo odour caused by the fuel burning but is unnoticeable when outdoors. I’m really happy with mine, so much so that after the first use, I bought another for my father-in-law for Christmas!"
Pros
- Keeps warm for up to 12 hours without needing to relight
- Can be topped up and instantly relit again once it's empty
Cons
- You'll need to purchase lighter fluid for it to work
Best 2-in-1 hand warmer
You can use this INNOPAW Hand Warmer as one big one or pull it apart in the middle to use it as two separate ones, just plug it into a USB outlet to charge. Handily, it can be used as a portable phone charger too so it's ideal for using while you're out and about in the cold.
Customer review: "I highly recommend this hand warmer. It is an excellent multi-functional electronic that warms my hands and is comfortable to hold. Good product and well packaged."
Pros
- Two ways to use it
- Three heat settings
Cons
- Some people found they take a while to heat up
Best handmade hand warmers
www.etsy.com
A great gift for you or a friend, these Reusable Hand Warmers from Etsy seller MyFriendHarry are lovingly handmade to order. They come in a choice of styles, with prints including dogs and flowers. They're filled with wheat so all you need to do is put them in the microwave for 20-second intervals until they're nice and toasty.
Customer review: "Bought for a friend who works in a cold art studio - they look lovely and I'm sure they'll do the trick very nicely! Thank you for sending them so quickly and for a great product!"
Pros
- Handmade to order
- Microwavable so reusable
Cons
- Delivery time may be longer compared to others on the list but only by a couple of days
Best Christmas hand warmer
www.boots.com
For a loved one who always has cold hands, you can't go wrong with this twin pack of Barley Lane by Totes Hand Warmers as a gift. Each hand warmer has a cute polar bear design which is sure to get you or the recipient in the festive mood.
Pros
- Right size for your pocket
- Cute design
Cons
- You may not feel like using hand warmers with a Christmas design throughout winter
Our verdict: Which is the best hand warmer?
In our opinion, the best hand warmer is the OCOOPA Hand Warmer. We like it because you can control the heat to your preference. If you're feeling freezing, you can crack the heat up all the way but if you're just wanting to take the chill off your fingers, you can choose the gentle warmth setting. The heat lasts for up to 15 hours so you'll be covered for the majority of the day and when it does run out of charge, you can just boost it back up again by charging it with a USB cable.
If that wasn't enough, you can also use it to charge your phone and it comes in a choice of colours.
Best hand warmers FAQs
Why do I need a hand warmer?
There are a number of reasons why you need a hand warmer. If you're someone who needs to have an electric blanketon most of the time because you feel the cold more easily, the best hand warmers will make sure your fingers and palms are as toasty as the rest of your body.
You could also have a medical condition such as Raynud's or arthritis, which can cause coldness in the hands or the cold makes symptoms worse. A hand warmer will help to keep your joints nice and warm and take the coldness out of your fingertips.
You may also be someone who enjoys being in the great outdoors and doesn't want the cold weather to put a stop to their adventures. The best hand warmers will ensure you can carry on your outdoor pursuits when it's chilly outside.
What are the different types of hand warmers?
The four main types of hand warmers are as follows:
Air-activated hand warmers: These are the most common type of hand warmers. They work by using a metal disk that, when exposed to air, starts a chemical reaction. Most are single-use.
Gel hand warmers: These work in a similar way to air-activated ones but they use a gel-like substance as the heat source and they're generally slower to heat up but stay warmer for longer. These can often be reused by 'resetting' them in boiling water.
Battery-powered hand warmers: The most convenient way to keep your hands warm on the go. They usually use batteries or can be rechargeable and feature changeable heat settings and timers.
Disposable hand warmers: These are typically small and designed for single use but can fit nicely in your pocket.
You can also get ones that use lighter fluid to stay warm and wheat-bag style ones, but these are less common.
How do hand warmers work?
How each individual hand warmer works all depends on the type of hand warmer you have. Rechargeable ones have a battery inside to keep them warm but the gel or air-activated ones work a little differently. BBC Science Focus helps us explain how they get warm.
A hand warmer contains sodium acetate, dissolved in water. The solution is ‘super-saturated’, which means it has been heated to dissolve more sodium acetate. The solution crystallises readily. When the internal metal strip is bent, tiny bits of metal are released, which offer ‘nucleation sites’ for crystals to form. As the crystals spread, the stored heat energy of the solution is released, heating the hand warmer up to 54°C – an exothermic reaction. When it comes to reusing your hand warmer again, it can be reset by boiling it in a pan of water to liquefy the crystals.
Rosie Floyd is a Pets, Homes and Garden Product Writer for Yours, specialising in home appliances, décor and furnishings, as well as all things dogs. After completing her Journalism & Media degree from Coventry University back in 2015, she started her career writing about must-visit holiday destinations, moving on to creating content around outdoor living and garden buildings, before joining the team at Bauer.