When shopping for effective hand warmers, heat output is most people’s top priority. If a hand warmer isn’t warm enough, it’s rendered useless. However, it’s important to understand the relationship between heat output and other factors including run time, reliability, and price.

Under current energy prices, the electric heaters we've tested can cost anything from 9p to 87p per hour to run on full blast. Via the Climate app, you get all of the same options that the remote control gives, plus you can set a timer and schedule when you want the fan to become active. That’s very useful if you want to regularly heat a space and need smart thermostat-like controls. There are a few mismatches between what’s on the fan and what’s replicated in the app, but these are minor annoyances at worst.Editor’s Note: For our November 13, 2023, update we reassessed the handwarmer market and found our new best overall choice, the Ignik hand warmers. We also tested the Zippo Heat Bank 9, an effective, rechargeable warmer that can also charge your phone. The Best Handwarmers of 2023-2024 We also spoke to experts about rechargeable hand warmers and their important features. Experts we spoke to included: NavYash Gupta, MD, FACS,associate professor of surgery and clinical chief of vascular surgery at Cedars Sinai Some folks are just looking for added comfort, but for people dealing with Raynaud’s syndrome or poor circulation, keeping your hands warm is critical in daily life during colder months. Maintaining dexterity is key for many outdoor activities, from tying on a fishing lure to general vehicle maintenance. So consider this when you’re looking at what you need and how much you’re looking to spend. Electric Infrared heaters also prevent the air in a room from getting dried out, creating an unpleasant smell or producing unwanted noise.

Some modern options also have smart features so you can program them via companion apps and smart speakers. Type: There are a few types of foot warmers to choose from, including mains-powered and USB-powered options, as well as those heated in the microwave or heated via a hot water bottle. Think about the potential running costs of an electric foot warmer and how long you need it to stay hot for. But other than that, this hand warmer accomplished what it was designed to do. It kept our hands warm for a reasonable amount of time.We love the large LED panel and touch controls on the front, which make it easy to see the current temperature and set a target temperature. When the target is reached, the heater turns off automatically, saving power. Want to change the heat from across the room? There’s a remote in the box. At 44.9dB, the fan is a touch noisy on maximum power. So if you’re after a quieter unit, a convector heater might be a better choice. If you are looking for toasty products to help alleviate muscle pain, we’ve also researched the best heated gilets and hand warmers Mumsnet users recommend. How we chose the best foot warmers and heated slippers

On the downside, this type can be quite noisy and they don't have some of the more advanced features you can get with convector heaters. A convection heater, we tested the 1500W model, which is suitable for rooms of up to 20m², but there’s also a 2000W version for rooms up to 25m² and a 1000W model for rooms up to 15m². Aside from the power requirements, all of the heaters operate in a similar way. I love the hand warmers from Ocoopa for many reasons,” says Lynn Wunderman, who not only has Raynaud’s but is also the founder and chairman of the Raynaud’s Association. “First, they are a reputable brand, so I trust their products to perform well and be safe. Also, they offer several different models that vary in size, shape, colors, features, weight, and more, so you can select the one (or ones) that are best suited to your needs.” Pinning down an exact comparison of how much central heating and electric heaters cost to run is nigh-on impossible, as the factors below are just some of the variables that play a part:We use a force meter to record how much is needed to topple each heater over and a decibel meter to measure how much noise each one makes while running. Here, we’ve rounded up the best electric heaters, having reviewed all types of models: fan heaters, convection heaters and oil radiators.