Jack Pyke Charcoal Hand Hot

This product SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH CARE as it is not entirely safe! I have used one of these traditional charcoal pocket/hand warmers for about 20 years which I bought from an army and navy surplus store and have never had a problem with it. During the recent cold snap I was so glad of it that I thought I'd get another to lend to friends and family, assuming that they were all pretty much the same. This is not the case. There are a number on the market that look exactly like this one but I suppose I went for the name and apparent reputation associated with this particular version in the end. The charcoal sticks that are supplied with this hand warmer (on the right of the first image) are brittle and conceal air pockets which makes them liable to pop and fragment in the process of lighting. BE VERY CAREFUL, especially if you are getting close to gently blow on them which is often necessary to ensure that they are properly lit, as this frequently means that pieces of molten charcoal fly off. In the past, I have used the charcoal fuel rods on the left of the image (not supplied with this product) which are covered in a slight sliver film which appears to hold the charcoal together and prevent it from acting in the unpredictable way described above. I suspect these are more expensive but are certainly safer and more reliable; they may also prevent the charcoal from getting hazardously hot, I'm not sure. Indeed, perhaps of still more concern, is that the warmer itself gets EXTREMELY HOT and my assessment is that there is INSUFFICIENT PADDING AND PROTECTION AROUND THE BODY OF THE WARMER making it COMPARABLE TO CARRYING A HOT COAL unless you frequently withdraw it and let it cool down. The hinges and corners of the warmer get particularly hot and the small felt bag is inadequate to offset mounting temperatures. Be particularly careful if, like me, you carry it close to your person in a trouser pocket; as you can see from the other attached photo it singed/burnt me slightly but significantly. Since then I have wrapped it in a thick sock and put it in the breast pocket of a jacket so that it is separated from the body by a number of layers of clothing and material which unfortunately undermines the intended effect somewhat though is obviously preferable to sustaining minor injury!

This is great for golf - get it lit up and it lasts almost exactly the time it takes to play 18 holes. Used it today in 2 degrees / frozen fairways, and didn't have very cold hands at any time and didn't need to wear gloves either. That is a first for me.I found the first time I tried to light up the charcoal stick wouldn't stay alight - I see others have had this problem. However, I guessed I had left the stick out of its pack for a couple of months and thought it might just be a little damp - well absorbedd some humidity - you know what I mean. Put a couple of charcoal sticks on the oven shelf at 100 degrees for ten minutes. Let them cool down. Problem solved - they now light up just fine and stay alight - although you do have to getbthe whole end alight with keeping the lighter flame on it for twenty seconds then quite a lot of blowing on it to fire it up.Perhaps not all charcoal sticks are created equal?Don't do this next to your favourite sofa - blowing on the charcoal causes it to spark and spit a little. Be sensible and make sure its truly extinguished when you have finished.

As expected. I wanted one of these as my grandfather had one when I was a child. They light easy enough. Box keeps nice and warm in pocket.I did find leaving the box in kitchen when it was still lit stank kitchen out with charcoal burning smell - which should be obvious, but it's not - it doesn't smell when lit really - but leave it in an enclosed room and the smell slowly builds up until noticeable.However just an aside, clearly you are gonna be using this outside.

Not really had much opportunity to use this. Bought for hiking and mountaineering - possibly a bad choice by myself as in the high wind conditions often experienced with such activities, lighting the charcoal sticks is quite tricky, often requiring gloves to be removed, resulting in even colder hands! I've relegated this one to the car glovebox and hope to get the opportunity to try it out in slightly kinder conditions.

Took longer than I expected to heat fully but then the heat lasted longer than I'd read in reviews.

I bought this for my husband after he kept coming home complaining of cold hands, when he opened this he was so happy. Apparently he had one exactly the same as a child when he went fishing. This is now a glove box stable and even I have used this, even though I am not keen on the smell.The box is neat and smart and very good value for money compared to ugly cheap looking ones in camping shops.

Great idea, does take a while to light it, the only thing I didn't like was the smell, but I suppose this is only to be expectd

Bought for a xmas pressie the person I bought it for was delighted