Zippo Hand Warmer

[Rallo]

Any body use one of these in an inside jacket pocket on those cooler days?  Supposedly they maintain about 100 degrees for 12 hours; that just might keep the chill off.

Rallo

[Gliderjohn]

If you are talking about the traditional one that uses lighter fluid would it get enough oxygen to burn inside a jacket?
GliderJohn

[redrider]

So, you want a self contained flame device in your pocket? Not to mention that your clothing will smell only slightly better than a home with a kerosene heater. They are hand warmers.

[LowRyter]

My dad had one when he was in the National Guard.  I never saw it working.  Brought back a memory.

[Markcarovilli]

Had one as a kid and they work great but would be a bit stinky...

They have electric rechargable ones that may work better and work as a phone backup power source as well.

Mark

[Rallo]

So, you want a self contained flame device in your pocket? Not to mention that your clothing will smell only slightly better than a home with a kerosene heater. They are hand warmers.

Just asking if anyone has used them.

If you are talking about the traditional one that uses lighter fluid would it get enough oxygen to burn inside a jacket?
GliderJohn

My understanding is that there is a catalytic burner unit that requires little oxygen.  After it's lit the warmer is placed in, what looks to be, a felt pouch.

[Guzzistajohn]

Used one on the paper route way back when. It worked and you save on zippo scented after shave.

[Wayne Orwig]

I had/have one. It is more like a catalytic reaction, not an open flame. As you note, it is placed in a cloth bag to operate from. I don't recall there being much odor from it. I also was never impressed with it.

[yogidozer]

electric jacket liner is a better way

[Mark West]

I have one in a box somewhere. Used it for skiing and other outdoor stuff in Wisconsin many years ago. As I recall it was a bit difficult to get going but once it did, it went a long time.

Can't see how it would be much use for motorcycling.

[Frulk]

Rallo, I've used them for years during ice fishing and when winter camping at temps below Zero in North Dakota. Not familiar with the Zippo brand but pretty sure they work like the Little Johnny models. They're kinda a pain to fill up and get going correctly but once you master that they function flawlessly and crank out heat like a micro furnace. 

Walls brand clothing (equivalent to CarHartt and still in business) used to have two small pockets on the inside of their cold weather gear just for these heaters. One around each kidney. Worked like a charm. There's a hint of a chemical smell while they're running but it never bothered me. I still have 3 of them, 2 large and one small version in in the red bags. Used them last year while sleeping in a Cabelas tent cot at a reservoir in Idaho late in the year. 

[Chet Rugg]

I have one. never lit it. But  think I may try that inside the sleeping bag with me??? Could it smell worst than my sleeping bag is already?
Old man creepin up on me ya know.

[cruzziguzzi]

I can't speak to the "Zippo" version but used a lotta-few "Jon-E" warmers back in the day.

Couple of bullet memories that I recall, though not all mine directly:

More than one "pocket fire" from leaking fuel. Put this down more to operator error but the effect doesn't care about the blame trail.
More an augmenter than an out right warmer.
Uses (coincidentally?) the same space as a responsible-volume pocket flask and its merits - the warmer's - by comparison were debatable.
Sometimes - and here relates directly to the OP - the warmth would grow too great in a lagging awareness fashion. Noting this while operating a motorcycle could be... problematic.


In the end, for me, they work best as a warm thing to grab while working with gloves off rather than a temperature maintenance device. Think of an exceptionally gratifying blowing on cold hands. Much more effective than one's breath. OK, I've seen some of you guys and will warrant that there is probably some very aggressive breath around these parts compared to what I might draw up on my own.

Todd.

[charlie b]

I use the little chemical packets.  Hot hands or something like that.  They last for at least 6hrs.  When really cold (low 20's) I put 4 of them in the bottom of the sleeping bag.  I've also put them inside my gloves on the back of my hands.  Get them at Costco or Walmart in boxes of 50 pair (or was it 100 pair?).