What do we think of hand warmers?

Redyns wrote: it's aid. 

Well, as we all know, chalk is aid. Naturally, any device meant to carry chalk is, therefore, also inherently aid.

Make sure your fingers/hands aren’t sweating prior to your fingers getting cold.  The moisture freezes usually 

I had ordered some electric warmers in preparation for ski season, mostly for my kids and just got them in the mail. I can't say anything about longevity but they do get quite warm. The only obvious complaint I have is that the USB charging ports don't come with any kind of cover, so storing them in the chalky part of the chalk bag without a ziplock cover if some kind is out of the question. I'm also not sure how well they will deal with any wetness given those exposed ports. They are light and small though. Maybe another one of the dozen brands I saw on amazon will not have this issue?

Ernest W wrote: Actually you can wear them rock climbing. Hot Hands makes a wrist band that you slip the warmer into. Keeps it against the underside of your wrist. In theory the heat dilates the vessels in the wrist supplying blood to your hands. However it works, it definitely keeps your hands warmer. 

Ummm link please, I can't seem to find it doing a google search.

Christopher Smith wrote:

Ummm link please, I can't seem to find it doing a google search.

Just buy sweat bands and slip them in, it works great.

The little heater packs...

a) The thin, small ones which go in your shoe with the tape strip - put one of those in each [fingerless] glove on your palm with the tape strip outward sticking to the palm of gloves (not your hand) and the round end pointing towards your fingers.

b) The regular hand warmer size ones, sport tape one of those fairly loosely against the underside of each wrist where the blood flow is most exposed.

c) If it's really cold (like below 32), take a hit of niacin which sends blood out to your peripheral vascular system.

Was doing a charcoal-stick hand-warmer version of this bitd in the winter in Chicago working as an arborist and roofer - works like a charm and it's what I've been doing at Beacon for a couple of decades now.

Healyje wrote: c) If it's really cold (like below 32), take a hit of niacin which sends blood out to your peripheral vascular system.

But fleeting, unless......
Read here: ​http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/techtips/niacin-treatment-improved-capillary-circulation/

That link isn't working, but I know from experience the niacin works. And really, you don't need it the entire time, more just to kickstart everything in the beginning. I'd take it about 15 minutes before heading out.

Healyje wrote: That link isn't working,...

Thanks to MP adding /%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B to the URL.

Try this: http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/techtips/niacin-treatment-improved-capillary-circulation/

Christopher Smith wrote:

Ummm link please, I can't seem to find it doing a google search.

Christopher & Curt - my bad....the wrist bands actually aren't made by Hot Hands.  The brand name is Crazy Therma Band,  here's pics of what they look like:

I've had these for several winters, but unfortunately I can't find them on a web search now.   The brand copyright is held by Crazy Creek, but they may have discontinued them.  That would be a shame, 'cause they really work well and eventually my pair is gonna wear out!

I saw those, but prefer direct skin contact with the underside of the wrist...

Ernest W- I'm definitely going to try those out!

S2k 4life wrote: Is this a serious question.
Yes i use them climbing and yes there is a downside,  you cant wear them while you climb rock.
If its cold do what it takes to be warm. Or else
Use hand warmers.
I use hot hands all the time when its real cold boarding or at work or climbing below 45 degrees.
They are clutch.
Had to bust out the toe warmers the other day at work...

Use the sticky feet ones and stick it to the inside of a tape glove or crack gloves so that it sit on the back of your hand.  Bam, rock climbing with hand warmers!