So, I read all the negative reviews of this FIVE POUNDS hand warmer so went and bought 1 of these AND one of the Whitby warmers too just in case this was as bad as reported.

I should say at this point, I’ve had one of these for over 30yrs and only recently lost it in a house move.

So, the thing about this style of hand warmer is you need to get the fuel going to give it a chance. With a jet lighter the fuel rod is lit in seconds, but then you need to blow gently on the red embers until it is AT LEAST 1/2” burnt. Then gently close the case, slip it in your pocket and forget about it for several hours.

I took it out of the packet and had a VERY warm pocket in less than 3 minutes flat!! If you light it properly in the 1st place it will provide reliable, long lasting heat for several hours.

As I speak I have both this and the Whitby warmer lit and this is most definitely the hotter of the 2, and by quite a margin!!

Ignore the nay-sayers and save yourself £13, just make sure you give it a chance to work by lighting sufficient of the fuel rod in the first place ????

Don't waste your money ,can't light the fuel rod and even if you get a glow it goes out in the case. You'll be warmer keeping your hands in your pockets!

Don’t try n light it with matches as it will use the box of them lol. I used the turbo flame lighter to light rods, once they are glowing put them into case and leave for 2mins and then check again,blow on it to glow orange again and then close case again should be good then for about 8 hrs. U might have to repeat 2 or 3 times. After about 1/2 an hr they get hot .

Bought it for the better half, as she constantly has cold hands. She thought it was excellent and it l

Just simply doesn't work

Used to have this style of warmer in the 80's and it worked very well. This doesn't work at all though,takes forever to get the fuel stick to burning even with a Zippo(forget matches with this) you don't really want to be blowing on it for ages either,which you have to.Once the fuel stick is nicely glowing (after an age) close it inside the warmer and.... It warms ever so slightly then goes cold because the fuels stopped burning again. Must be a design fault. Not fit for purpose. Shame!

DO NOT BE TEMPTED.
Smoulders after a fashion when you use 4 or 5 matches to trya nd get it going. Blowing on the end for a monute or two helps. Then it just goes out in the tin. Relighting does not help. Acrid stench of smouldering stick. DO NOT BUY THIS RUBBISH.

Brought one as went camping recently and was very cold so thought might help kids keep their hands warm. Firstly it took ages to light! U can't light with a match as u need to hold the fuel stick in a constant flame for at least a minute or two. Then you need to leave it in the open case and keep blowing it to get the embers burning. Then you close the case and the heat comes through. That does work-however after about half and hour I found it started to go colder... So had to open case slowly and blow again to get embers going again. And secondly you really need to burn at both ends to get any decent heat from it. I am very disappointed with the item and have spent £5 for nothing. It would have be cheaper to buy 5 £1 snap to activate packs for a constant hand heat for 2 hrs or so. I wouldn't recommend at all.

Due to post-heart procedure medication, I tend to lose circulation in my fingertips easily, especially when walking up hills. I thought this warmer might help and tested it this October during a week in The Lake District.

I didn't find it as easy to get it started as I expected; It certainly warms; it doesn't last long enough for me to get up Scafell Pike and still operate.

If you just need a bit of extra warmth, fine; if you really need some heat or need heat for more than 4 hours, look elsewqhere.

It does what it does but isn't for folk with needs beyond the average.