The Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer meets
the HotHands Hand Warmers
The only warmer all six publications in our research recommend, and still giving off heat at hour 16 in Bob Vila's test. We tested it head-to-head against the HotHands Hand Warmers across 6 key dimensions.
Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer
“The only warmer all six publications in our research recommend, and still giving off heat at hour 16 in Bob Vila's test”
HotHands Hand Warmers
“NBC Select's Best Overall and the budget pick at GearJunkie and Family Handyman: open a packet and get up to 10 hours of heat”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer
- Recommended by all six publications in our research, including Outdoor Life's Best for Extreme Conditions and Bob Vila's Best Refillable
- Runs longer than any other pick: 14 hours per fill for Outdoor Life, and still warm at 16 hours for Bob Vila
- No battery to charge and no packets to throw out, plus a 2-year warranty and replacement burners from Zippo
- Filling is messy: Outdoor Life spilled lighter fluid twice, and the fluid is sold separately
- No off switch or heat setting, so each fill burns until it's gone
- Outdoor Life and Live For The Outdoors both noticed the smell of the burning fuel
HotHands Hand Warmers
- NBC Select's Best Overall, plus the Best Budget pick at both GearJunkie and Family Handyman
- About 1.6 ounces a pair, light and thin enough to slip inside gloves, mittens or boots
- Open the wrapper and it starts warming, with no charger or fuel involved, for up to 10 hours
- Single use, so daily use through a long winter means buying pack after pack
- GearJunkie found the heat tapers off before the 10-hour mark
- NBC Select's expert says a packet can take 15 to 30 minutes to reach full heat
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The Zippo 12-Hour Refillable is the one hand warmer every publication in our research recommends. Outdoor Life named it Best for Extreme Conditions, Bob Vila made it Best Refillable, and Family Handyman and NBC Select's experts both chose it as the best catalytic warmer. GearJunkie and Live For The Outdoors kept it on their lists too. The next most-recommended warmers turn up in three of the six.
Zippo 12-Hour Refillable Hand Warmer
The Zippo 12-Hour Refillable is the one hand warmer every publication in our research recommends. Outdoor Life named it Best for Extreme Conditions, Bob Vila made it Best Refillable, and Family Handyman and NBC Select's experts both chose it as the best catalytic warmer. GearJunkie and Live For The Outdoors kept it on their lists too. The next most-recommended warmers turn up in three of the six.
- You sit still in the cold for long stretches: hunting, ice fishing, sideline duty
- You want one warmer that lasts a full day on a single fill
- You'd rather not carry a lithium-ion battery in your pocket
- You don't mind a careful fill and the smell of lighter fluid
- You want a metal warmer with a 2-year warranty and spare burners
HotHands Hand Warmers
HotHands shows up in half of our six publications. NBC Select named it Best Overall after interviewing outdoor gear experts, including Brooklyn shop owner Ken Bernard. GearJunkie and Family Handyman both picked it as their budget choice.
- You need hand warmers only a handful of days each winter
- You want heat inside your gloves, mittens or boots
- You're buying for a group at a game, ski trip or tailgate
- You want zero setup: open the wrapper and go
- You're flying and want warmers in your carry-on