Sadly, we’ve created and now live in a disposable world. Use it up, break it and throw it away. Disposable razors, disposable diapers, disposable camera, disposable lighters, water bottles, etc. Fortunately, there are still a few manufacturers that pride themselves with not going down the “disposable” road. Zippo is one such company. Founded in 1932 by George G. Blaisdell, Zippo produced its first refillable lighter based on an existing Austrian design. Since then, the company hasn’t strayed too far from its roots building well-crafted reusable lighters. Utilizing 85 years of experience, the company recently created the reusable Zippo Hand Warmer.
Februarys Pro and Standard Crates both include the 12 Hour Zippo Hand Warmer in addition to some other handy items. A pocket sized furnace using a catalyst rather than an open flame to maintain even and safe heat. The 12 hour Zippo Hand Warmer includes a chrome hand warmer, soft pouch, fuel filler and instructions. The instructions are very important for proper operation but are printed on a tiny piece of paper in microscopic font. So be sure to watch the video below to fully understand the filling and safe operation of your new Zippo Hand Warmer.
Zippo Hand Warmer Instructional Video:
Cheap, disposable hand warmers are readily available, inexpensive and work pretty well. I’ve used them skiing and have nothing bad to say about the performance of the product. Only that they add to our rapidly growing landfills. On the other hand, Zippo has always created products that will last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. Living in a pretty cold environment, I have the opportunity to test the Zippo Hand Warmer daily. So far, it lives up to the Zippo standard providing a comfortable, reliable heat. Let’s make a concerted effort to break the disposable mold and start using more reusable products like the Zippo Hand Warmer.
Final thoughts: Durability, classic design and functionality are all attributes that come to mind when describing the Zippo Hand Warmer. However, this reusable design does include a few minor compromises. Once the measured fuel has been added and the catalyst started, there is no way to stop it other than let it run it’s course. So make sure you plan ahead when measuring the fuel needed. Also, the addition of a flat bottom would be nice since keeping it upright for 2 minutes after filling is a requirement. All in all, a well built product but I’d consider a second hand warmer for each pocket. And if you’re not already part of the Crate Club, get off your ass and sign up!
