Serious UK Emergency/Survival Kit?

[Ross]

I've only ever seen red ones!

[Martyn]

I weould think these would be a better addition to a survival kit...
http://www.troutfishing.co.uk/ishop/...opscr1023.html

[Angus Og]

If I’m ordering from Cabelas.com I’ll also add a couple packs of these mini hand warmers. They are great nice and toasty plus no smell.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...equestid=23493

[Ross]

I feel a group buy coming on! Anyone want to volunteer?

[Martyn]

I feel a group buy coming on! Anyone want to volunteer?

What about this (same product as above, just MUCH bigger)...


http://twomorrowssupply.com/Merchant...egory_Code=CWE

Air Activated 9" x 13" Heat Pad

Prepare for Survival. This is your Defense against the Cold!

Keep warm in the coldest conditions! The Survival Heat Pad is lightweight and totally self-contained. It is safe and will give 140°F Maximum warmth for up to 15 hours! Just open the sealed outer package and in 15 to 30 minutes you will have hours of warmth!
Natural ingredients: iron power, water, salt, activated charcoal and wood fiber.

40 pack for $151.20 + shipping.

Thats $3.78 each or £2.20 in propper money.


9" x 13" - that's about the size of a hot water bottle innit? Less than 8 oz each too.

[Ross]

Would be good in an emergency kit. What about a group buy with all sorts of sizes though? I would do it but just can't do anything more at the moment.

[Angus Og]

This is the company who make the ones I got from cabelas. Don’t know if they ship outside of the USA.

http://www.warmers.com/Category.aspx...Ids=CategoryID

[Ross]

I've emailed to ask.

[Basemetal]

When these (chemical -iron IIRC) were introduced in the early 80's I saw quite a few burns from them while climbing in the Alps. Particularly when you use them and you're extremities are seriously cold. In the backs of mitts or on top of your feet were favourite places -especially in some of the huts at night. In the morning -voila! Textbook blisters.

I never got on with them -I found they had the odd combination of highish temperature (enough to blister skin in contact over an hour or two) with surprisingly low heat output. (For younger readers -If that doesn't make sense-think red hot pin versus 50 degree anvil: the pin has the higher temperature but the anvil has a lot more heat -it would keep you warm for longer).

Reliability was also an issue as they could go off due to pinpricks in the packaging and you opened a teabag full of rust when you needed it.

Maybe things have improved in 20 years? The ingredients didn't used to list activated charcoal or wood fibre (which suggest combustion?) so maybe they are quite different now.

I did play with the blue velvet covered charcoal thing walking the dogs this morning in a light frost. I lit it indoors - which took some time with a conventional gas lighter -then blew it till I got 1/2" going, then stuck it in a trouser cargo pocket. I was surprised by the warmth generated and it seemed to be burning steadily. I wouldn't think of it as anything other than a hand warmer, but would be glad of it if I needed dexterity sub zero.

Would the mild warm glow help in a bivvie? Without a sleeping bag yes, I'd like to have it. I wouldn't trust it in a sleeping bag, nor do I think it would heat a tent, but behind my knees in an overnight crouch in a blizzard bag? Yes please. If I could get it lit.

[Martyn]

When these (chemical -iron IIRC) were introduced in the early 80's I saw quite a few burns from them while climbing in the Alps. Particularly when you use them and you're extremities are seriously cold. In the backs of mitts or on top of your feet were favourite places -especially in some of the huts at night. In the morning -voila! Textbook blisters.

Good point, but smouldering charcoal will cause burns too. It's only the fact that it's inside something that makes it useable. Surely putting these chemical hotpads inside something would have the same reult?

[Basemetal]

What I'd like to see is the overall thermal capacity in joules and the heat output rate (power if you like) in watts. That might suggest the best ways to use them efectively.

[martin123]

Anyone tried the rechargable gel type ? Similar to these :
http://www.wildday.co.uk/ProductDeta...productID=2386

I've always found them to be quite handy...

[Martyn]

Anyone tried the rechargable gel type ? Similar to these :
http://www.wildday.co.uk/ProductDeta...productID=2386

I've always found them to be quite handy...

Was looking at the rechargeables, but they have a pittiful runtime compared to the disposables, aside from having to boil em to recharge.

[MagiKelly]

I have found the disposable ones to be pants. Did not seem to give out enough heat and did not like having to dispose of them.

I tend to use them (the charcoal ones) to pre-warm my sleeping bag on really cold nights. Also you do need to leave the lid open for a while to make sure the charcoal stick is well lit before you close it in.

[boots]

We used to get the nice RED ones to go on our trips to Norway, never had much of a problem with them going out,but the ones i have been using in UK do go out, but i think it must be me moving slower in my old age,the best thing i found was the simple Headover