I think we can all agree that cold hands are the worst. Point. Blank. Period. Getting up for that cold morning commute, desperately rubbing your hands together whilst waiting for the bus or train. It's no way to live. Well, did you know that rechargeable hand warmers are a thing and that they will almost certainly change your life forever? This is no exaggeration, friends. Welcome to Closer's guide to the best rechargeable hand warmers, and where to shop them online for affordable prices.
When you were younger, your parents may have shoved you out the front door with a simple gel hand warmer, but what was the fun in having a quick burst of heat and then not being able to use it again? Nowadays, with a rechargeable hand warmer, that burst of heat, created by a safe electrical charge, can last for up to six hours, and you can easily charge it again for even more. Better for the environment too, as you're not throwing away a gel one after a couple of uses.
Closer's best rechargeable hand warmers list at a glance:
Editor's Choice: OCOOPA HotPal Hand Warmer Rechargeable 1 Pack, £25.99 on Amazon
Best rechargeable hand warmer for both hands: Lifesystems Rechargeable Twin-Pack Dual-Palm Hand Warmers, £32 on Amazon
Best rechargeable hand warmer for Raynaud's Syndrome: HotRox Double-Sided Electronic Hand Warmer with Power Bank, £29.99 on Lakeland
Even when the weather is warmer (who are we kidding, in the UK, that's one month out of the year), hand warmers can help with medical conditions with symptoms of poor circulation such as Raynaud's or arthritis, the heat helping blood flow and stiffness. It also can be used in surprising ways - for example, in a review for the HotRox Hand Warmer, one reviewer suggested an ingenious hack. "A great little hand warmer that can sit in my swim bag until I’m ready to swim. Today I turned it on and left it heating in my towel, and I went for a swim. When I came out, my towel was warm, and I was able to hold it to warm up my hands afterwards. It kept hot for several hours afterwards." AKA, with a rechargeable hand warmer, the possibilities are endless.
What's more, almost all of the rechargeable hand warmers below have also been designed to function as a power bank, meaning surviving on 10% battery for the whole day will become a distant memory. If we haven't convinced you yet that these hand warmers are the best thing since sliced bread, have a browse below and get ready to revolutionise your pockets.
(P.S. Want even more modern heated gadget goodness? We've got a guide to the best heated foot warmers, as well as the best electric blankets for those of you snuggle bugs out there.)
SHOP: The best rechargeable hand warmers that'll save your cold hands this winter
Editor's Choice
amazonFor our number one pick, the OCOOPA HotPal is the obvious pick. A popular choice with Amazon shoppers, this product is hot on the market (literally). Shop various colours and patterns and choose the one that suits you best. Get ready for instant double-sided heating with a single click in just 3 seconds. The aerospace aluminium surface ensures excellent heat conductivity and dissipation.
Pros
- Heated in under three seconds, three different levels
- Crafted from aerospace-grade aluminium and ABS materials
- The 5200mAh battery doubles as a portable power bank
Cons
- The lowest heat setting just means the device turns off and on, AKA not a consistent heat
| Battery | 5200mAh, 4-8 hours |
| Heat | from 35°C to 55°C |
- Amazon review: "We went to Norway with -12C temperatures and I used these hand warmers for the first time. Being someone who suffers from cold hands even with mittens on these were fantastic and my hands were kept beautifully warm - so much so that I did turn them off at one time. They are rechargeable. You can use just one and change over hands but I did enjoy having one in each hand. Recommend for anyone who suffers from cold hands."
Best rechargeable hand warmer for Raynaud's Syndrome
lakelandwww.lakeland.co.uk
This portable hand warmer is suitable for use by people of all ages who suffer from Raynaud's Syndrome, being comfortable in the hand, and can heat up to around 45°C in 15 seconds flat. It's also available to buy on Amazon.
Pros
- Ideal for those with Raynaud's Syndrome
- Dual-purpose hand warmer and power bank
- Lakeland 3-year guarantee included
Cons
- Lasts up to 6 hours, which is less than our other options
| Battery | Unknown, 6 hours |
| Heat |
- Amazon review: "A great little hand warmer that can sit in my swim bag until I’m ready to swim. Today I turned it on and left it heating in my towel and I went for a swim. When I came out my towel was warm and I was able to hold it to warm up my hands afterwards. It kept hot for several hours afterwards."
Best powerful rechargeable handwarmer
amazonFor £16.99, you can get this TIEMA Hand Warmer, which shows you on its digital screen exactly what temperature you are heating your hands to, as well as the battery percentage. It also has the largest heating time of the bunch, with up to 15 hours available, and the biggest battery at 10000mAh.
Pros
- The digital screen shows the temperature and battery
- Dual-purpose hand warmer and power bank
- Up to 15 hours of heat
Cons
- Some reviews state it can get too hot
| Battery | 10000mAh, up to 15 hours |
| Heat | 45 - 55 ℃ |
- Amazon review: "I love the design, it fits well in the hand, has a strong charging ability that seems to last longer than my previous power bank, and the handy pouch helps you find it easily at the bottom of a backpack. At the 55-degree max temp, it feels comfortably warm and safe. I thought 55 degrees would feel warmer but in a coat pocket it spreads warmth very well. This is my third because I give them as gifts, they are very durable and more stylish than competing brands, I keep one in both my backpacks. Highly recommended."
Best rechargeable hand warmer for both hands
Lifesystems/AmazonThis compact option from Lifesystems comes apart to form two separate hand warmers, meaning you can easily pop one in each pocket to keep your hands toasty. With three heating levels to choose from, this pick will heat up in around 10 seconds.
Pros
- Can come apart and make two hand warmers
- Heats up in around 10 seconds
- Can also be used as a power bank
Cons
- One reviewer felt they were a little big
Best small rechargeable hand warmer
cotswold outdoorwww.cotswoldoutdoor.com
If you want something that won't bulk up your pockets, or have small hands and don't want to struggle holding the device, the THAW Handwarmer is for you. With double-sided heat, your hands will stay toasty no matter what the elements throw at you.
Pros
- Dual-purpose hand warmer and power bank
- Odour resistant
- 10.5 x 6 x 3.8 cm size
- Comes with a wrist strap
Cons
- On high heat, it only lasts 5 hours
| Battery | 5200mAh, 5-10 hours |
| Heat | 46 - 60°C |
- Costwold Outdoor review: "It's small enough to fit into the hand and it gets nice and warm plus it has a wrist strap so you don't drop it."
Best rechargeable hand warmer gift
the rangewww.therange.co.uk
A rechargeable hand warmer can be the perfect gift for someone - something they'll actually use and won't shove to the bottom of a drawer never to see again. But, to give it as a gift, means you want it to look cute, and not like a big chunk of plastic. Enter - the Hand Warmer Power Bank from The Range. In an ultra-cute cat design, it comes in green, pink or white.
Pros
- Cute, memorable design, with three colours
- Dual-purpose hand warmer and power bank
Cons
- No reviews available on the site
| Battery | Unknown, 4 - 6 hours |
| Heat | Unknown |
- No reviews available
Best simplistic rechargeable hand warmer
the rangewww.therange.co.uk
If you don't want all the bells and whistles of a complicated hand warmer, and want to go back to basics, let me introduce you to another of The Range's hand warmers. Available in gold or silver, it features just one simple button to heat and also functions as a power bank.
Pros
- Dual-purpose hand warmer and power bank
- Simple and sweet
- Compact
Cons
- No reviews on the site
| Battery | 5000 mA, 2 - 6 hours |
| Heat | Unknown |
- No reviews available
Best rechargeable heated gloves
amazonUp your game with a rechargeable hand warmer that you can actually wear - with these ABXMAS Rechargeable Electric Heated Gloves from Amazon. Designed for skiers and motorbike riders, these gloves feature premium carbon fibre heating elements to warm up your hands, fingers, and fingertips in seconds, providing ultimate comfort in the cold.
Pros
- Wearable heating gloves
- 3 heat setting controller, highest heat 65°C
- Touch sensors allow you to use your phone without removing the glove
Cons
- Chunkier than normal fabric gloves
| Battery | 3200 mAh for each glove, up to 6 hours |
| Heat | 45 - 65°C |
- Amazon review: "Gloves heated my hands perfectly as I suffer from extremely cold fingers during the autumn and winter months. In the last week of using these gloves, the problem I had of painful fingers through coldness has gone away. The batteries that heat these gloves lasted around 3-4 hours on maximum heat setting before charging and so far they have lasted about this time on the middle setting so they are perfect for the job."
Best rechargeable hand warmer bag/pouch
amazonA more convenient option for those who are at home, and don't have any pockets, the Handwarmer Bag from EliveSpm is perfect. Using graphene heating, it heats up fast with the punch of a button and has three heat settings with the highest up to 65°C.
Pros
- Dual-purpose hand warmer and power bank
- Bag design for those without pockets
- Super soft-touch plush finish
Cons
- Reviewers unsure of how this would function in the rain
| Battery | 10000mAh, 4 - 8 hours |
| Heat | 45 - 65°C |
- Amazon review: "I purchased this for a friend of mine who spends much time working with children outdoors. She gets chilblains on her hands because of the extreme cold at times. This has definitely been a real game-changer. All the children gather around to warm their hands, the parents and teachers are all asking about this item. They are all thrilled. Great idea!"
How do rechargeable hand warmers work?
The battery inside your rechargeable hand warmer converts electricity into heat, which is then circulated through the device through an electrical circuit board. Your hands absorb the heat via heat conduction.
OCOOPA, the makers of our Editor's Choice HotPal Hand Warmer, explain it in more detail. "A rechargeable battery sends power to an onboard electrically resistive heating device, which converts that energy into heat, and the level of heat is fixed."
Are rechargeable hand warmers safe?
Most hand warmers are perfectly safe if used correctly. Anything working at a high temperature with a battery can be dangerous, but well-made hand warmers have gone through lots of testing to ensure maximum safety for the user.
Are rechargeable hand warmers allowed on planes?
According to flight site Justtravo, "Most electric hand warmers are allowed on planes, but there are restrictions on the battery size & quantity that can be carried onboard. Typically, lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly found in electronic devices, are subject to specific regulations. It’s crucial to check with the airline regarding their policies on battery-powered devices to ensure compliance."
Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Closer Online, specialising in fashion and beauty. The team has nicknamed her “dupe queen”, as there’s not a product in the world she can’t find a cheaper alternative for.