The heater element is a slightly different design from traditional heaters like this that haven't changed in thirty years. It's flat and lights easier. The burner is a friction fit like all the others and can come loose if you shake the unit hard. You must use care in handling the liquid fuel for these things. This heater is smaller than the big Jon-E and it would make more sense to have one of these in each pocket. One big Jon-E in an inner breast pocket will warm your whole body.
My tip for lighting the heater is to run hot water over the base of the heater to preheat and volatize the fuel. Once running these heaters rely on heat feedback through the case to stay lit. 4 stars

On the upside this provides considerable warmth, for a very long period of time. You start it in the morning, and turn it off (remove the catalytic cap for 2 seconds) in the evening. It only has 3 parts - the base, which holds the fuel, the catalytic cap, and the top, which slides onto the base to make a single unit you can put in a pocket.

I wasn't sure if you could actually put it in a pocket, but you sure can. It uses a catalytic reaction, not a flame, so it doesn't get so hot that you have to worry about it. When I need warmth I actually hang mine from a lanyard around my neck with the unit down the front of my shirt.

Fuel is cheap too - just lighter fluid. A 12 Oz bottle runs this thing everyday for over a week!

I also use small, fluid based, warmer for my emergency kit. It's cool, but I'd have to carry over 12 of them to have the same heating available as one of these units.

There is also a smaller version of this Hand Warmer. It's good if you don't need quite as much warmth.

No complaints with this one, and I've used it everyday for over a week.

Oh - it comes with 2 catalytic caps. They don't appear to be consumed at all while making heat - I'm sure they will last for several years of heavy use, but I'm just basing that on the advertising.


Issues - It takes some art to fill these properly. Some similar products come with a measuring cup so it's a no-brainer. With these you just fill them till you can see saturation at the top of the cotton packing in the fuel tank. I have overfilled on occasion and had to use a napkin to sop up the excess fuel. Overfilling results in a small flame in the cap when you are starting it. This is bad. Blow out the flame (as easy as blowing out a birthday candle) sop up some fuel, and try again.

Also - the catalytic reaction produces a slight odor. Out of doors it's impossible to detect, but if you use it indoors you can sometimes get a slight whiff of it.

All in all - if you need a personal heater that you can wear on your person - this will do the job.


5 stars

I bought this hand-warmer to use during the cold Kansas winter when our infantry company was out for weeks at a time training. I found that when it was in a warm setting, indoors for example, it was hot to the touch, however, as soon as it was actually needed, it was useless.

As soon as I got out in the cold, it was barely warmer than just putting my hands in my pockets, and only then, for a brief time. When I actually held it in my hands, it lost all its heat in a matter of seconds.

I used premium fluid and followed the directions to the letter, measuring the fluid carefully. I'm quite sure it is working at its full potential, but it just doesn't get very warm when you need it most. I won't be bringing this out with me in the future. Waste of money. 1 star

The hand warmer was a very poor copy of the 'Peacock hand warmer'. Almost impossible to get it to work properly as the top keeps on pinging off. The catalyst element was in parts when it arrived and needed re-assembling but didn't want to stay in place. Mine has already been consigned to the waste bin. Save your money, if you want one of these buy a Peacock Warmer, it may cost a little more but it is a world apart. 1 star

Platinum Catalyst Flameless Metal Hand Warmer It is nice and very usable in winter. 4 stars