Last two winters I used one of those Zippo hand warmer but whilst they can get really hot and last a long time, they’re not very reliable, smell a little of lighter fluid and the burner on mine doesn’t last very long. There are more expensive Peacock brand but I was wondering about electronic heaters given the battery tech we have now.
I have been sort of interested in a handwarmer for my friend. For myself I’d be tempted to create a diy one with nichrome ribbon, 18650 and a controller. Tho maybe some inexpensive electric heated gloves instead.
Wow $30? Use a cheap SRK or for faster/hotter hand warming a Kung, same price range plus you get a light!
*edit: Seriously I’m surprised at the $46 price reduced to $31 on that, with the SRK/Kung you also can warm both hands at the same time, one hand with the light/directed beam, while holding the light with the other hand/warming the other hand, and probably faster/hotter than that thing could get! (of course, especially with Kung you can burn yourself)
Are you only interested in off-the-shelf products or is building also an option?
With modern flashlights, we usually have a reasonable power source, a more or less good thermal conducting housing that fits the hand and a constant current regulator.
That’s almost all one needs.
If you have something like one of those cheapo P60 hosts sitting around, I’d say figure out a way to couple a nice resistor (like that ) to the host (maybe just bolt or even glue it on with a fitting shaped piece of copper diectly onto the inner head wall.) and toss in a multi-mode driver and your have your prototype.
If you want something more like those nice pebble-ish shaped hand warmers, things might be a little more complicated.
It is hard to see why a heater should be called electronic. It is just a resistor, even if electronic components are used.
With the exception of heat pumps, all electric heaters have the same efficiency, regardless of whether they are designed as heaters or for something else such as making light. If the light actually gets out of your pocket that energy does not heat it, of course, but that is a small fraction even with leds. So the simplest thing is to carry an extra flashlight.
Although not looking for flashlight for warmer, but why not if can use it
Just an idea, if not have to last for long time, may be stainless steel flashlight like Convoy S7 can be an option.
Using 4 or 5 x AMC7135, you can use high mode for start heating then mostly use medium mode.
I realize you asked for no flashlight warmers, but, since its a flashlight forum, and any good 18650 light with a good output driver gets nice and warm fast (hold a small discreet Convoy S (x) with a 2.8mAh driver in your hand), I think its impossible to expect non-flashlight suggestions: how could we think of some other extra accessory gadget when you could use a flashlight?!?
I seriously do run my lights on higher in cold weather while walking the dogs: even when snowing I switched to SRK purposefully and moved it from hand to hand instead of gloves
Ooh, I saw these on Ebay. Good to know they’re not fakes. The one from AliExpress uses a lithium cell (not sure what kind, maybe it’s flat like in a mobile phone?).
This one looks nice ” EnergyFlux Double-Sided Hand Warmer / USB Battery Pack 4400mAh £29.50”:http://www.amazon.co.uk/EnergyFlux-4400mAh-Rechargeable-Double-Sided-External/dp/B00A6ZPNSI/
Its not as puck shaped as others but it is rounded off. Double sided is what I’d go for so it could be held between two hand or have your fingers curved around it in a pocket. Plus backup mobile phone charger. Love multi function. If only they added a flashlight. :bigsmile:
A lot more reviews on amazon.com (100) vs .co.uk.
I still have a couple I got………18 years ago they DO get hot, as in cant hold them without the cloth sleeve hot.
I just tried the one I got mrs gords and it is to put it politely, piss poor in comparison, I wonder why they are no longer as good as the old ones?
have you tried one of the charcoal warmers?
I get your aiming at high tech but I tend to find the old gear is more reliable in some cases.
that said, I work outside mostly, and its rare I wear more than fingerless gloves on my hands,so maybe I’m not the most help, what I do wear is a set of thermal underwear, or in walking jargon, a base layer, this helps more than anything else because its keeping your core temperature up.
I may get a Peacock as they don’t seem to be too much on Ebay from Korea. The catalytic heater get really hot, they will burn you if you don’t use the sleeve.
What kind of charcoal do you mean? I don’t think I’ve come across those, unless you mean these?
I did try layering a fleece under my wool coat last winter and that helped, and I have these great mittens too.
no, these were a case like a glasses case lined with glass wool. you lit a charcoal stick set it in the case and closed up and it smouldered for hours.
it sounds like you should hunt down a base layer. toni uses hers as pyjamas in the winter, its like a thin fleese set of leggings and top, they are figure hugging as they are meant for wearing under your clothes.
I just wear the traditional thermal underwear but as I say, 90% of my working life is outdoors, or in fridges, I’m kind of acclimatised to cold weather, anything over 15ºc is uncomfortably warm to me.
Nooo, no thermals!! I bought some merino wool tights from M&S last winter and they were so itchy! >.< But the fleece I bought fits over a cardigan without feeling like I’m wearing too much.
I haven’t ever heard of those charcoal/glass wool but it sounds like it gets really warm.
MattSPL, thanks for the suggestion! It looks like the same tech as Peacock but uses batteries to light, maybe piezo ignition?
they DO get hot, as in cant hold them without the cloth sleeve hot.