There are two types of people in this world: those who are always cold (me), and those who are apparently human radiators (Damian), so when Lifesystems gave me their Dual Magnetic Hand Warmers to test, it’s fair to say I was rubbing my cold hands together with glee.

What Are They?

In simple terms, these are two rechargeable hand warmers that clip together magnetically to form a single warmer or pull them apart and you’ve got one for each hand.

They’re rechargeable, offer 4 adjustable heat settings, promise 6-9 hours of warmth (dependent on setting choice), have a rapid heat start and a powerbank function as a bonus.

For campers, walkers, overlanders, dog owners, or anyone who spends time standing around in British weather wondering why they didn’t move to Spain. They’re an excellent bit of kit, ideal for:

Campsite mornings when the kettle hasn’t boiled yet
Spectating at outdoor events
Wild camping
Keeping fingers moving during winter photography sessions
Anyone with poor circulation

Build Quality

First impressions are reassuring. Built by 🇬🇧 British brand Lifesystems, who provide a huge range of quality expedition gear for the toughest of adventures, these feel like proper equipment, not a novelty gadget.

They are nicely sized - small enough to not take over your whole pocket, but large enough to actually warm your hands effectively.

They have a solid, durable feel, important when they’re destined to be shoved in coat pockets, rucksacks and the glovebox.

Heat Performance

There are 4 heat settings - Low, Mid, High & Max, easily cycled via a single button on the top of each warmer. Unlike some cheap electric warmers, these give a consistent, penetrating warmth that genuinely takes the sting out of cold fingers - imagine holding a mug of tea that never goes cold.

The units have a very welcome 10 second rapid heat start. Press the button for 4 seconds to turn on (and again for off) and the first LED indicator turns on which is its Low setting. I found Low to be a nice constant warm heat when holding it directly in my hand. Keep pressing and each setting whacks out more heat than the last.

Even at the Mid setting I found it a bit too toasty to hold all the time, but great for warming the pocket space and brief holds. For me the High and Max (a whopping 50°) settings are only for use in two ways - great if you have gloves on and want the warmth to penetrate through, or secondly to use as a shoe or sleeping bag warmer when the unit is not against skin.

In these days of overcomplicated tech, I found these warmers quite refreshing - No apps. No Bluetooth. No firmware updates. Just press the button and get warmth.

The Magnetic Design

The magnetic connection means they snap together with a reassuring click, and easily separate when you want them to. At first, the magnetic function seems like an unnecessary party trick, then you realise…

Clipped together, they:

store neatly without rattling about
are perfect for large front kangaroo pockets where both hands get contact
are harder to lose than if you keep them individually (a genuine bonus here at Muddy Towers)

Separated, they become:

2 independent warmers, or 2 independent power banks, or 1 of each
shareable, if you’re feeling generous (I am not!)
the perfect hand-grab size

It’s one of those ideas that seems obvious, only after someone else has thought of it.

Battery Life

Powered by two 5000mAh batteries, Lifesystems claims 6-9 hours of run time depending on the setting. During my test, using it on mixed settings, I found that holds true, which is more than ample for a long winter day out with the dog or a long evening sat around a fire pit.

They charge via an included USB to double-ended USB-C lead that connects to each warmer. Charge until all four charge indicator lights are lit (approximately 2-4 hours) and you are good to go.

Power Bank Function

To stay connected when it matters each hand warmer includes an integrated USB-C cable so you can charge your phone, GPS or other small devices while on the move.

Better For The World

Warmth without the faff, and harm, of using ‘disposable’ chemical warmers - that’s a big win:

No shaking bags that only get warm 15 minutes after you need them
No binning single-use packets which create significant, non-biodegradable waste with their plastic packaging and non-recyclable components which end up in landfills for years - less waste, less cost over time
No discovering a half-used warmer welded to the bottom of your glovebox in April

Any Downsides

I had to dig hard to find any downsides to these little gems, but I found a couple of little ones…

If you have a newer car with only USB-C charge points then you will need to get a USB to USB-C adapter to charge them on the go via the included cable, or just use your own USB-C to USB-C cable and charge one at a time. I’m going to guess that in the near future when USB-C is the standard everywhere that they will probably change the cable to USB-C to USB-C.
Like all rechargeable gear, you do have to remember to charge them periodically to maintain optimum battery condition.

Our Verdict

The Lifesystems Dual Magnetic Hand Warmers fall squarely into the category of ‘gear I didn’t realise I needed until I tried it’, and now they live in my coat pockets ready to warm my cold fingers and, although not designed for this purpose, I have also used them to warm up my slippers and boots (nothing beats toasty toes!).

Overall they are well made, cleverly designed, properly warm, and far more practical than throwaway alternatives. Most importantly, they’ve made cold-weather outings noticeably more comfortable.

Simple, effective, and genuinely useful.

Weight (each): 109g

Dimensions (each): 3.2 x 10 x 2.8cm

Price: £34.99

more at » https://www.lifesystems.co.uk/products/dual-magnetic-rechargeable-hand-warmers

Lifesystems Dual-Magnetic Hand Warmers with Powerbank Function