When you’ve gone for a winter adventure, the cold can really get to your fingers. During such times, hand warmers can actually save the day! They’ll keep your body warm and toasty regardless of how chilly the weather gets. Have you ever wondered how these tiny pouches can keep you warm? We have a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about hand warmers. Let’s get started!
So, What Are Hand Warmers Made Of ?
During those freezing winter nights, when you feel that your gloves aren’t really helping to keep you warm, you can use hand warmers. People who love to go on treks, hikes, and other sports in mountainous regions will need much more than warm winter gloves. Pocket-sized hand warmers can actually be a lifesaver, especially for indulging in activities in cold areas.
The science behind what hand warmers are made of will probably remind you of your 10th-grade chemistry class. In case you slept through that, we’ll explain to you exactly what’s in those tiny hot packs!
Iron Powder
The iron powder in the hand warmers reacts with the oxygen in the air. This chemical reaction turns iron into rust and produces heat.
Microporous Pouch
Once you open the packaging of a hand warmer, the air comes into contact with the fabric pouch. A microporous pouch is one that has several holes in it so that the air can enter through them. There are other chemicals in the pouch that get activated when the air reacts with them. It’s advisable to wait a couple of minutes after you’ve opened the packaging so that the pouch gets warmed up.
Water
When you expose hand warmers to air, they release energy because of the contact between iron and oxygen ions. The hand warmer pouch always has a small amount of water inside it for this process to take place.
Salt
Along with water, the microporous pouch also has salt inside it. The process of air coming into contact with oxygen becomes faster because of the presence of salt in the pouch. The end result is that the pouch gets warmed up when you shake it for a few minutes.
Activated Charcoal
The activated charcoal spreads the heat evenly throughout the pouch as it’s thermally conductive. It does one more job of holding the water, which is required for the chemical reaction of oxidation to occur.
Vermiculite
So, what’s the magic behind your warmers staying heated for over 8 hours? The answer is simple: vermiculite! This mineral is present in the pouch along with activated charcoal. It helps diffuse the iron powder and keeps the iron filings from burning too quickly. Since vermiculite is responsible for retaining moisture and for insulation, your hand warmers will be effective for hours on end!
How To Use Hand Warmers?
Most hand warmers are air-activated, just like the Warmee self-heating warmer, without needing any external source of heating. After you remove them from their packaging, the first thing you need to do is give them a quick shake. This helps activate the ingredients inside the pouch. It’ll take a couple of minutes for the warmer to heat up. They can be placed under your gloves or inside your jacket, and rest assured that you’ll get the warmth and comfort you seek for up to 8 hours.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Hand Warmers?
Soothes Muscle Pain
Self-heating warmers are better than warm clothes because they provide targeted heat to specific areas of the body, such as the hands or feet. Additionally, self-heating warmers are typically more compact and portable than warm clothing, making them a great option for outdoor activities or travel. Hand warmers can help people struggling with muscle pain. It’s a known fact that heat therapy can increase blood circulation in your body. Hand warmers can act like heating pads and soothe the pain in your muscles by targeting a specific area that is caused mainly by exertion.
Helps Heat Your Drinks
Yes, vacuum flasks are great for storing hot drinks like tea or coffee. Imagine you’re out for a winter camp and you pour a drink into a cup. The weather is freezing cold, and your hot drink eventually turns cold. At such times, hand warmers come in handy. You can hold them beneath your cup, and they’ll keep your drink warm for a long time.
Prevents Headaches
Whether you’re out on a trek or a camping trip, you never know when you’ll experience headaches in the winter. When a headache strikes at the most inconvenient time, a hand warmer can save the day. You just have to hold it on your forehead, and it’ll act as a heating pad and ease the pain.
Keeps Your Electronics From Losing Their Charge
When the temperature drops, your electronic devices are more likely to lose their charge at a faster rate. So, if you want the devices to be at their optimum, you can use hand warmers. Take a case or bag with your electronics and place a hand warmer near their batteries. It’ll help maintain their charge for a long time, and you don’t have to worry about not getting to photograph the places you discover and stay in touch with the world.
Summing Up
We’ve taken you through everything you need to know about hand warmers. They’re an affordable and comfortable winter essential that you must have. Apart from keeping yourself warm, there are many ways to reap the benefits of the heat these little hot pouches offer!
FAQs
What Are The 5 Things That People Use Hand Warmers For?
The 5 things people use hand warmers for are keeping the body warm, soothing muscle pain, heating drinks, preventing headaches, and keeping electronics from losing their charge.
What Are The 3 Different Types Of Hand Warmers?
The three different types of hand warmers are air-activated, supersaturated solution, and battery-powered warmers. Air-activated warmers cannot be reused like supersaturated solutions but are more user-friendly. Battery-powered warmers, on the other hand, produce heat by utilizing an electric charge.
How Long Do Hand Warmers Actually Last?
It depends on the type of product you purchase. The Warmee self-heating warmer, for instance, can last up to 8 hours, after which it can be disposed of.
How Do Hand Warmers Actually Work?
Disposable hand warmers have a microporous pouch that contains iron powder, water, salt, activated charcoal, and vermiculite. The warmer releases heat after the iron is oxidized when exposed to air.
What Temperature Do Hand Warmers Heat Up To?
The average temperature that hand warmers can heat up to is 135 °F (57 °C).
Do Hand Warmers Help Arthritis?
Many healthcare professionals recommend heat therapy for problems like pain in the joints and muscles and arthritis in the hands. Hand warmers can be used to soothe the pain in your hands caused by arthritis.
What Chemicals Are Used In Hand Warmers?
Hand warmers are usually composed of chemicals and materials including sodium acetate, activated charcoal, salt, iron powder, and vermiculite.
Does Heat Speed Up Healing?
Heat therapy can be used to treat injuries like stiff muscles, arthritis in the hands, joint pain, etc. A hand warmer can help apply heat to the body part that’s in pain. It’ll help increase blood circulation and ensure that the nutrients in your body are reaching the affected region. Do consult your doctor to get a professional opinion.
