Heated Gloves vs. Hand Warmers: How to Choose

Cold hands can cut a good afternoon outside short, whether it is a football game in the bleachers, a dog walk after dark or raking leaves on a late-October Saturday. There are three common ways to keep them warm: USB heated gloves, disposable hand warmers and rechargeable hand warmers. Each one suits a different kind of day.

Here is a plain look at how each one works and where each falls short. We sell heated gloves, so we will say up front that they are not the right choice for every situation.

How each one works

Disposable hand warmers

These are small packets filled with a powder mix that warms up when it meets air. You take the packet out of its outer wrapper, give it a shake, and it warms up over a few minutes. Once it is going, it keeps going until the mix is used up, and then you throw it away.

Rechargeable hand warmers

A rechargeable warmer is a small device with a built-in lithium battery and a heating element. You charge it over USB, switch it on when you need it, and hold it or keep it in a pocket. Many have more than one heat setting, and some can also charge a phone.

USB heated gloves

Heated gloves have the heating built into the glove itself and draw their power from a power bank through a cable. Our USB Heated Gloves, for example, are winter gloves with USB heating: you connect your own power bank, which is not included. They come in two styles.

Disposable hand warmers: pros and cons

What is good about them

• No charging and nothing to plug in. Open one and it starts warming.
• Light and small enough to slip into a pocket or inside a pair of ordinary gloves.
• Easy to share. A packet each for the kids at a game is simple.
• A sensible backup for the car or a winter emergency kit, since they need no charge. Check the date printed on the pack.

What to weigh up

• They are single use, so you keep buying them and you throw each one away.
• You cannot switch one off. Once it is open, it warms until it is done, whether you still need it or not.
• They take a few minutes to warm up after you open them.
• Read and follow the directions on the packet. They commonly say not to place the warmer directly against bare skin.

Rechargeable hand warmers: pros and cons

What is good about them

• Reusable. Charge it, use it, charge it again.
• You can switch it on and off, and often choose a heat setting.
• Some double as a small power bank for a phone.

What to weigh up

• It only helps if you remembered to charge it.
• The battery inside limits how long it runs, and that varies a lot from one model to the next.
• It warms the hand that is holding it, or the pocket it sits in. Once you need both hands for something, your fingers are on their own.
• It is heavier than a packet.
• It has a lithium battery built in, so battery travel rules apply. Check with your airline before you fly with one.

USB heated gloves: pros and cons

What is good about them

• The warmth is in the glove, so your hands stay covered and warm while you use them: holding a leash, a coffee or a rake.
• Both hands are warmed at the same time.
• Reusable. Nothing gets thrown away after each outing.
• One power bank can also run other USB gear on other days, such as a heated vest or heated insoles.
• You decide when they are on. Unplug them when your hands are warm enough.

What to weigh up

• You need a power bank, and it needs charging. If you do not already own one, include it in your plans.
• There is a cable between the gloves and the power bank. The usual way is to run it up the sleeve to a pocket. It works, but it is one more thing to sort out when you put your coat on.
• Washing takes more care than with ordinary gloves: disconnect the power first and follow the care label.
• Gloves differ in thickness, grip and how well they handle wet weather. Check that a pair suits what you will be doing. A knit glove for everyday wear is not the same thing as a waterproof ski glove.
• They are not easy to pass around the way a packet is.

Which one fits your day?

Sitting outdoors: games, parades, watching practice

Long stretches of sitting in the cold are where any of the three can help. Disposable packets in your pockets are the easy option for a one-off event. If you are in the stands every week of the season, heated gloves or a rechargeable warmer spare you the steady pile of used packets.

Walks, commutes and errands

If your hands need to be free, heated gloves have the edge, because the warmth stays on while you hold a leash or carry bags. A rechargeable warmer in a coat pocket works well on a walk where your hands can spend time in your pockets anyway.

Yard work and outdoor chores

Here, gloves you can work in are the point. Heated gloves keep the warmth where you are gripping things. Just check that the pair is right for the job; wet work needs a glove made for wet weather, or a waterproof shell over the top.

Travel

Disposable warmers are the simplest to pack. Under FAA rules, power banks go in your carry-on, not your checked bag, and anything with a built-in lithium battery comes with rules of its own. Check with your airline before you fly with a power bank or a rechargeable warmer.

The car and the emergency kit

A few disposable packets make a sensible backup because they need no charge. A rechargeable device can run down quietly if it sits for months without being used.

You can use more than one

You do not have to pick only one. Heated gloves for the walk with a couple of disposable packets in your bag as a spare is a reasonable setup. So is a rechargeable warmer in one pocket for a quick warm-up while ordinary gloves do the rest.

If your feet get cold too, heated insoles work the same way as heated gloves, from a power bank through a cable. Our USB Heated Insoles are carbon fiber, about 4 mm thick, and come in sizes M (EU 35-39) and L (EU 40-44). A power bank with two ports can run gloves and insoles together, though both then share its stored energy.

A few safety habits for all three

• If anything feels too hot, take it off or switch it off.
• Follow the directions that came with the product or that are printed on the packet.
• Keep USB connectors and power banks dry.
• Stop using any glove, warmer or power bank that looks damaged, swells or gets unusually hot.

If heated gloves sound like the right fit for your winter, have a look at our USB Heated Gloves, or browse the full Heated Gear collection.