Zippo Handwarmers?
 

Anyone use this type of hand warmer and are they good for cold weather? Not interested in the chemical hand warmers because they do work for me.

I have not used the lighter fluid hand warmers since the 60s, I assume that is the type the Zippo is, back then it was the Johnny warmers everyone used. They leaked lighter fluid and they would get too hot and you had to take them out of your pocket. My dad used a warmer that looked like a wide hard glasses case, it burned charcoal sticks or at least that is what they looked like. That worked a little better and didn't leak or stink like lighter fluid. All I use now are the hot hands warmers that you just shake to get the chemical action in the iron filings to start. I pit one in each coat pocket, they last 6 or 7 hours. I always carry a few extra, they take up no room in my pack just in, case.

I use them sometimes, they do stink a lot. I prefer the old John-E hand warmers when I use one. Great for fishing in the rain and snow, I have a belt that holds one over each kidney to warm the blood as it passes through. I only use them when it's super cold and scent isn't an issue though...

Word of warning, all lighter fluids aren't the same. Took me awhile to figure out the obvious, the reason my hand warmers sometimes worked and sometimes didn't was the fluid I was using. Zippo and Ronson work, some others also. Trial and error sucks, I've used more than few brands of lighter fluid that didn't work in my hand warmers as fire starter

I'm fairly cold tolerant, comfort isn't an issue. But I do need to be able to bend my fingers and not shiver when shooting.

The wife bought me a Lava Buns seat cushion. I was skeptical, but it was one of those pleasant surprises, it actually works as advertised.

Thanks for the info. I will be trying the Zippo brand next hunting season. Also thinking about a heated vest/jacket. I dress for the cold and by 9 am i am cold.

I have 2 zippo hand warmers.. Love'em and used them throughout hunting season. They work great after a bit of learning curve. Walmart has them, it's where I bought mine. I saw some today at Walmart for $13.82 each. One tip I learned the hard way,, do not fill them the night before,, Fluid will evaporate overnight. Always fill right before use and then light immediately before your trip begins. I have been telling all my friends about mine and would buy them all over again.. Good Luck,, !!

Didn't know something like this existed. Then again we do miss out on many cool toys down under.

I use my thermalcell for a hand warmer with out the scent pad it works great and no smell when its real cold out I use to of them I put one in the front of my coat and one in my pocket and after a half an hr ill be opening up my coat and I don't buy the replacement propane cells I just refill the old ones with a can of butane

Used 'em since we fueled 'em with dried dinosaur dung. Their great. I fuel mine with white gas. You can get that at Walmart in the camping area right next to the Coleman fuel which you can use in them to if you want to spend more money but not quite as much as lighter fluid. If you just want to spend as much as possible then use Zippo Lighter fluid in it.

I've got the charcoal one to but I think it smells worse and is harder to use.

Before you ever light any of them the first time, get some aluminum foil from the kitchen. Cut enough off to wrap up the whole heater very well and wrap it around it when you aren't using it. Then fold it up and save it when the heater is in use. This allows you to wrap it up more or less air tight or at least well enough to essentially "turn it off" if you decide you don't need the heat any more.

Controlling the air controls the heat these things produce, that is what the bag is for they come in. Taking it in and out of the bag and your pocket, playing with it all the time is going to lead to one hot MF pretty quick. It's not a problem with the device, it's a problem with your own self control.

Never thought to do that with a thermacell.

Tried them today for the first time. Performance is about on par with a Hot Hands pack. A Hot Hands pack, however, lasts longer. I followed the directions for the Zippo hand warmer, and it lasted about 5 hours (6 hours advertised), so it worked fine for my morning hunt. When it went out, it went out completely. A Hot Hands pack tends to slowly burn down, and can still be warm 10 hours or so after you activate it. That said, Hot Hands are a bit expensive at almost a dollar a piece if bought in bulk, and the Zippo hand warmer uses a very small amount of lighter fluid to burn for five hours, so the Zippo may be more economical in the long run -- especially if you go through Hot Hands packets like we do in my hunting party!

I started this thread and used the Zippo heater this past hunting season. I filled it up once I got to my stand and they worked fine for 7-8 hrs. I had it in a hand muff (or whatever they are called) and held onto the warmer most of the time because I was afraid if it was on it's side that it would go out. I found that to be the case when I first filled it and ran the heater in the camper. I like it better than the disposable packets as they do not seem to get hot enough. I only have 1 right now but I will have 2 by next hunting season.