Did You Know Your Hand Warmers Can Expire?

Did You Know Your Hand Warmers Can Expire?

Last week,  I was out hiking with my friends when I noticed my fingertips starting to get really cold in the middle of our hike. I reached into my pack and grabbed one of my hot hands. I shook it to activate it and put it in my pocket. A few minutes went by and I noticed my hot hands still weren't getting very warm at all. I had mittens with me but the temps in the canyon were much colder than I thought.

My husband had given me some extra hot hands laying around the house to keep in my pack but we never thought about them expiring or having issues since the package was never opened. Luckily, our group turned around on the hike and once we picked up momentum my hands got warm again and I was okay. It was when we stopped and were admiring the waterfall when my hands were getting really cold. 

When I got back home, I checked the packaging and sure enough...on the back of the package it says EXP Date 1/2020!! These handwarmers do have an expiration date, who knew?! These handwarmers were 5 years expired; no wonder why they didn't work anymore. I was curious to know their shelf life and did some research and I am happy to share with you what I found out...

Hand warmers typically have a shelf life of 3 to 4 years from the date of manufacture. The expiration date is usually printed on the packaging. Over time, the iron powder inside may lose its ability to oxidize properly, which reduces heat output.

If you have older hand warmers, they might still work but could produce less heat or last for a shorter duration. Storing them in a cool, dry place helps preserve their effectiveness.

So go into your hot hand/hand warmer stash and look at the expiration dates to make sure you don't pull a KIMMY (haha)! Stay safe out there and warm! Happy Winter Hiking Y'all! XOXO Kimmy