Hand Warmers

[mschuman88]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Matthew Schuman and I am a senior at Carthage College in Wisconsin. I am currently working on a final senior project using a patented heat storage material. The goal is to write an entire business plan and present the results to a variety of people from the community.

I love the outdoors, and I have decided to use the heat storage medium as a hand warmer material. It would last significantly longer than both reusable and non-reusable products. It is also reusable.

I was just wondering if you could answer some simple questions. Do you like hand warmers? Why do you like them or hate them? What kind do you use? How often do you use them? If you could change one thing, what would it be?

Thanks again

Matthew

 

[billski]

Do you like hand warmers?
yes

Why do you like them or hate them?
portable, economical, malable.

What kind do you use?
chemical one-time use. Any brand.

How often do you use them?
They are with me anytime I'm outside in temperatures below about 20 degrees.
They are in use only as needed.

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Longer shelf life.

I'm surprised you don't ask me what applications I use them for or what I think about length of service.

 

[Glenn]

Do you like hand warmers?
Yes, love them.

Why do you like them or hate them?
They work well most of the time and they're fairly cost effective.

What kind do you use?
I'm not brand loyal; they all seem to work about the same.

How often do you use them?
Pretty much all the time I'm skiing. My hands and feet get cold pretty easily.

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Ability to regulate heat output.

 

[wa-loaf]

Don't really use them. Partially because I don't like anything foreign in my boots or gloves. Make something thin as a piece of paper and I might use it more often.

I'll prob be getting some for the kids at any rate.

 

[deadheadskier]

Do you like hand warmers?
No

Why do you like them or hate them?
do not care for how they feel inside the glove

What kind do you use?
don't use

How often do you use them?
never

If you could change one thing, what would it be?

they would need to beyond notice for me to consider. In general I don't get cold hands or feet often.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Do you like hand warmers?
No

Why do you like them or hate them?
I am a warm person who is fine without them. But I do not like them in my gloves, and defiantly don't have room in my boots.

What kind do you use?
Basic ones from a ski shop

How often do you use them?
never

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Smaller in size to not be noticed.

 

[RootDKJ]

Do you like hand warmers?
No

Why do you like them or hate them?
I do not like the feel of the extra "stuff" in my gloves.

What kind do you use?
Any

How often do you use them?
Hopefully never, but the forecast is <20*F I keep them in my pack.

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Smaller in size to not be noticed.

 

[severine]

Do you like hand warmers?
No

Why do you like them or hate them?
Uncomfortable. Don't need them anyway; rarely am I that cold.

What kind do you use?
Don't

How often do you use them?
Nearly never

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Smaller/thinner so less noticeable?

 

[billski]

Matthew, you may need to adjust your survey methodology....

 

[Trekchick]

I use toe warmers more than hand warmers, for every application:
Reason.....

• Thinner
• Adhesive
• Practical
• Long lasting

Places I use toe warmers

• stick to the inside of my gloves on top to keep hands warm on the coldest days(has to be pretty cold because I have warm mittens)
• put inside my jacket pocket to keep my camera battery from doing dead, and to keep my core warm on cold cold cold days
• stick to the back of my cell phone to keep the battery from going dead

Is this the info you're looking for?

 

[tjf67]

Some sort of warmer with a pocket in would be great. You could store your lighter, GPS and Cell phone in it.

 

[tjf67]

I use toe warmers more than hand warmers, for every application:
Reason.....

• Thinner
• Adhesive
• Practical
• Long lasting

Places I use toe warmers

• stick to the inside of my gloves on top to keep hands warm on the coldest days(has to be pretty cold because I have warm mittens)
• put inside my jacket pocket to keep my camera battery from doing dead, and to keep my core warm on cold cold cold days
• stick to the back of my cell phone to keep the battery from going dead

Is this the info you're looking for?

Hey thats a good idea. I will tape the toe warmers like you do to extend the life of the batteries. That why you make the big bucks chicky.

 

[gmcunni]

Do you like hand warmers?
Yes

Why do you like them or hate them?
They keep my hands from freezing when it is cold

What kind do you use?
the ones i get at Costco

How often do you use them?
i only use when it is very cold but my kids use them all the time except in spring skiing

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
they didnt' fall out of my gloves when i'm walking thru the lodge

 

[mschuman88]

Thanks for the responses

Thanks for all the help.

I love to snowboard and have used handwarmers before. The wonderful thing about this material is it can be shaped into anything, and its ability to capture heat and maintain temperature is much better than what is currently available.

I can see some people do not use hand warmers because they are bulky and take up too much space. What would it take for you to start using them? If this heating material was incorporated into a clothing item such as gloves or hats, would you be willing to use them then? I am really looking for any ideas, and I know you guys and girls go out in the cold, so let me know if you have anything.

Thanks so much!

 

[mschuman88]

Do you like hand warmers?
yes

Why do you like them or hate them?
portable, economical, malable.

What kind do you use?
chemical one-time use. Any brand.

How often do you use them?
They are with me anytime I'm outside in temperatures below about 20 degrees.
They are in use only as needed.

If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Longer shelf life.

I'm surprised you don't ask me what applications I use them for or what I think about length of service.

Well Billski, What applications do you use handwarmers for and what do you think about the length of service?

 

[severine]

I can see some people do not use hand warmers because they are bulky and take up too much space. What would it take for you to start using them? If this heating material was incorporated into a clothing item such as gloves or hats, would you be willing to use them then? I am really looking for any ideas, and I know you guys and girls go out in the cold, so let me know if you have anything.

Thanks so much!

The fact is, I have some really awesome mittens that hold warmth so well that I've never once sat there and thought "Damn, I could really use some handwarmers right now." I also ski with minimal layers and non-insulated pants down into single digits so maybe it's just me. :shrug:

 

[Glenn]

My mittens have a spot for hand warmers in the liners. They actually go on top of my hands. I honestly hardly notice them.

 

[billski]

Well Billski, What applications do you use handwarmers for and what do you think about the length of service?

Applications
- Keeping my kids happy - gloves, boots. Smaller sized ones for kids would be good.
- Holding the charge in my portable electronics batteries
- The sticky ones are the only ones that work in boots.
- On sub-zero (teens a lower) days, I usually engage a couple and stuff them in pockets or positions on/near my chest
- It seems I need them more for my toes than my hands, which can move around more and have less conductive contact with the ground.
- Hiking - they are in the medical kit. Would have come in handy during a bout with hypothermia.
- Melting chocolate bars in my pockets

Length of Service
- I am entirely happy with 4-6 hours for kids, and generally for me, that's about my length of service on a ski day too.
- PITA to change out in boots, would rather have longer life there

p.s., You can buy them right now by the boxful at COSTCO.

 

[billski]

They actually go on top of my hands.

IMO, that's the best and only place on the hands.

 

[Glenn]

IMO, that's the best and only place on the hands.

From what I've read, it's supposed to keep hands warmer. The logic there is it will not only heat your hand, but the blood going to your fingers; since your viens are on top of your hands. In makes sense to me. But then again. I'm not a doctor.