Guardsman Handwarmer with 12 Fuel Rods > Reviews (2)

I was given this Guardsman Handwarmer kit as a secret santa present at work which was a nice touch as at least the mystery person who bought it gave some thought to the present and knew that I would use it. The gift limit was £10 so that gives some idea of the cost of this product however having not purchased it I'm not sure of the exact price.

You do need matches to light the charcoal rods and these sit within the small metal case which has a thermal lining to it. It comes with 12 charcoal rods and you can purchase top ups when these have run out however I still have a couple left as I have used this product only on days when it was very cold and I was out hiking, it is not a product I would use in town as it does give off a smokey smell so it is not suitable to carry in confined spaces.

If you want extra heat then you can light the charcoal at both ends and then you get about 4 hours of burn time, lighting it at one end only means you get around double the time but it takes longer to heat up. The heat level is a comfortable one, enough to warm your hands and have an impact without becoming uncomfortably hot.

The box is easy to clean after use as the small amount of ash can be tipped straight out to dissipate in the wind however you should ensure that it is fully burnt out, I tend to ensure it is tipped out into damp grass or mud. The box is well made and secure and there is no risk of it coming open while in use, it also comes with a cloth pouch for storage.

Overall it is a useful little product and good to provide an extra amount of warmth especially if you have had to remove your thermal gloves or first thing in the morning when camping out in colder weather.