
$4.95
Item qualifies for annual
REI Member Refund (typically 10%)
Made in USA.
Item 608751
Specification | Description |
| Suggested use | Personal heater |
| Weight | 0.5 ounce |
| Dimensions | 4.5 x 3.25 x 0.5 inches |
| Material | Sodium acetate/water |
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Reviewed by 8 customers
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Comments about EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmer:
I thought this was the ideal handwarmer. Re-usable meant no trash to carry out and no chemicals being dumped anywhere.
In simple terms, this works by a chemical reaction that transforms the clear solution into solid crystals while giving out heat. The reaction is reversible, meaning instead of taking heat out of the chemical, if heat was given to it, by way of boiling, the crystal would go back to being a liquid and the hand warmer is thus reset.
It is re-usable and that's good and it can get really hot, that's good too. However, to get it back to the reusable state it requires 6-7 minutes of boiling wrapped in some cloth. Most of my cooking needs heating water for about 2-3 minutes. so using fuel to reset the handwarmer does not seem like a great idea.
Another problem is that, since this is wrapped in some cloth while boiling, its not possible to see if the de-crystalization is complete. If there is even a tiny bit of crystal undissolved after boiling, the whole crystalization process is automatically started, and all that boiling has been wasted.
The non-reusable kinds generally hold their (low) heat for about 6 hours and are ideally suited to your jacket pocket. This hold its (higher) heat for a shorter duration so i prefer to use this less as a handwarmer and more as a sleeping bag warmer.
Having said that, I like the product mainly because I like things that are re-usable and not disposable
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Comments about EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmer:
I bike commute almost daily for 11 mi each way in Colo Springs incl winter and oh boy the pack is a savior. I put them in my lobster glove and between my bike shoes and neoprene shoe cover. Works just great. To avoid accidental activation, keep it in the box it came with.
And most important, since it's reusable, it's environmentally friendly.
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Comments about EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmer:
tips on recharging:
-water doesnt have to be boiling, being close to boiling is good enough. I add the packet to the post boiling water that i make boiled-eggs with - and it uses the residual heated water to fully recharge
-you can get away with not wrapping in a towel. The towel is to protect it from possibly touching the bottom of the pot which could possibly melt the plastic, and this would only be for when the pot is heating toward boiling. Turn the burner off and the pot quickly becomes no hotter than the water.
Pros
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Comments about EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmer:
These warmers are great for cool temperatures and they're really easy to use and reuse. The only down side is that they don't last very long in extremely cold temperatures, say below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
I also wouldn't really recommend these for backpacking. They're bulkier than I would want to carry for some temporary warmth, and recharging them on a camp stove would seem like a waste of fuel.
The best use for these would be in the 20 to 50 degree temperature range when you're going to be outside for up to a few hours, such as going to work/school, an outside sporting even, day hike, etc.
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Comments about EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmer:
Great for day trips, hitting the slopes, and sledding. However, they're too heavy and unreliable for back country use. (On a few occasions I accidentaly activated the unit, inside a daypack, during a good biff on the slopes.)I've carried the air-activated units as an emergency resource for back country trips, but try to avoid the need for warmers with proper clothing.
Also, I've recharged the reusable packs without wrapping. Often dropping into boiling water and removing from the heat is sufficient.
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Comments about EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmer:
EZ Heat works really well and INSTANTLY. I use them around the house for those cold days when a warm jacket or blanket doesn't quite cut it. I use them camping when you want to take the bite out of the frosty air or a cold sleeping bag. I use them with my science students for a lively demonstration of 'energy storage' and 'endothermic and exothermic reactions'.
With reasonable care, they will last for years! Besides that, they're pretty cool.
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Comments about EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmer:
I most recently activated one of these the other day to warm the hands of a cold kayaker. Air temperature was 31, water temperature was 37, and even though the paddler was wearing neoprene gloves, her hands became cold. After warming with one of these her hands felt much warmer.
I do not carry these for regular use but as an emergency heat source that can be recharged at home and used again.
I am buying more because I have misplaced a few over the years and have only one left.
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about EZ Heat Reusable Hand Warmer:
This is really great, just have one in each pocket and it will keep your hands warm, its incredibly comfortable. You should buy at least two of these (one for each hand).
It is pretty cheap, if you live in a place where the winter is harsh, you could buy a couple. You can carry one or two with you at all times and activate it when it gets cold. You can also carry these in the pockets inside your jacket to warm all your upper body (close the zipper of your jacket).
The temperature produced is perfect: it is not burning hot, but very warm, right at the limit. The only con is that it cools down after 30 mins.
Displaying reviews 1-8
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