Best waterproof hand warmers – 5 of the best options for outdoor use
If you are regularly outdoors in poor conditions then you may want to look through our list of the best waterproof hand warmers on the market right now
If you are looking to sail all year round – or if you are looking to spend any length of time outdoors in winter – then finding the best handwarmers can be a quick, easy and relatively cheap way to improve your comfort and keep your extremities warm.
Roll the clock back only a handful of years and the only hand warmers that were available were either the burning charcoal in a sealed insulated container type, or the plastic gel packs that warmed at the click of a button and were restored by heating in a pan of water.
Having a small smouldering ember in your pocket feels veritably medieval in this day and age – and waterproofing was really not an option. The plastic pouches do work well, and will stand several resettings but they do wear out eventually and usually contain a vast array or harmful chemicals making environmentally friendly disposal almost impossible – don’t even get me started on the single use type…
Electronic hand warmers have been around for a good many years now, but waterproof versions have been relatively slow to hit the market at a relatively attainable price. Now, however, there are a number of good hand warmer options that are easily recharged, waterproof, and some even double as a battery pack too.
Best waterproof hand warmers
Powerpaw IPX7 waterproof hand warmers
The Powerpaw IPX7 handwarmers claim to be the first IPX7 rated handwarmers on the market. IPX7 waterproofing certification means that they are rated to survive 30 minutes at 1m water depth. That’s certainly some impressive waterproofing in a market that usually sees water-resistant models that cannot handle full submersion.
It recharges via USB and has four different heat settings, which are easily adjustable from 100°F,110°F, 120°F, and 130°F. It takes fully 50 seconds to heat up, which is far from market leading. But when you consider it is surrounded by a silicone case, increasing durability should you drop it, this seems a small price to pay.
Ocoopa IP45 Waterproof Hand Warmers
Ocoopa produce a vast array of USB rechargeable hand warmers and are something of a market leader in the field. Most of their hand warmers do not offer any waterproofing but this does – and is consequently a little more expensive than their other offerings, but it’s still hardly going to break the bank.
These are IP45 rated which means that although they will not take being fully submerged they are water resistant for significant spray from any direction. Practically what that means is that unless you are planning on going swimming with them, these will hold up to most water you throw at them.
I have used a pair of these and found them very effective. Fully charged these will provide you with 15 hours of hand warming and they double as a power bank too, with the warmers able to charge a standard smartphone to 50% battery capacity in just 30 minutes.
Celestron FireCel Plus – Hand Warmer
The Celestron FireCel Plus is another battery bank and charger combination, but this also has the added benefit of a torch included too. Of particular note to anyone outdoors at night is the ability for the torch to emit a red light – which preserves night vision. A small note of caution here, however, as you will need to scroll through the torch settings to get to the red light option, which means you will get a moment’s use with the torch on night vision ruining white light. As one reviewer points out, this can be remedied by turning it on in a pocket and scrolling through to the red light option.
This is dust and water resistant but it does not have any certification to that effect that we can find, so we’e recommend not using it in particularly wet environments. Additionally a full charge will only provide 3 hours hand warming. All in all a nice multifunction device for someone wanting a jack-of-all-trades option.
Lifesystems Electric Hand Warmer
Like the Celestron above, this is water resistant but will not stand being fully submerged. But it will still offer some protection against spray and light rain etc. It is USB rechargeable (fully recharging in 4 hours when plugged into the mains) and offers four different heat settings, going from cold to hot in a handful of seconds.
It doubles as a power bank too, so you can put some charge into a phone if you want to. It will provide 3-6 hours of constant heat, depending on which setting you run it on – though I’ve heard reports that the very highest heat setting will not last for 3 hours.
Day Wolf Heated Gloves
If you are looking for something to provide all-round hand warmth, the you may want to look beyond the usual realm of hand warmers and consider a pair of heated gloves to keep your hands warm. These gloves from Day Wolf would be a very good option. They are not fully submersible, but they do offer a degree of waterproofing and have a water resistant neopreme pocket included in the design.
They have touch sensitive pads on the index finger and thumb, so you can still operate touch screens while you have the gloves on and will last anywhere from 2.5-6 hours on one charge depending on which of the three temperature settings you select.
As these are gloves, they obviously do not have the same extra capabilities as many on this list. But the bonus is that even when they are out of battery, they will still be doing something to keep your hands toasty.
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