VQ Rechargeable Hand Warmer And Power Bank
Pros
- Warm hands
- Can be used as a power bank
- Good value
Cons
- Charging time slower than suggested
Price as reviewed:
£29.99
VQ Rechargeable Hand Warmer And Power Bank
Any rider who suffers with Raynaud’s or similar conditions will know all too well the misery of trying to ride and look after horses at this time of year, with fingers like white icicles.
I’ve tried just about every insulated winter yard glove going, to no avail, so was delighted to try this VQ hand warmer and power bank.
First impressions
Initially, I wasn’t sure how useful these would be on the yard. The unit is bigger than I’d imagined, so I thought it might be less helpful when you’re using both hands to do the horses. The instructions said there was a velvet bag to keep it in, which wasn’t included, and weren’t particularly clear about turning the unit on.
I first took it with me to a non-horsey event, which involved hanging around outside in the cold and it definitely made a difference.
Warmth
Encouraged, I took the hand warmer with me to the yard, and found that it really did help. I only live five minutes’ drive from where my horses are so the car doesn’t have time to warm up on the journey, and once my fingers have gone white, they’re numb and painful all morning.
However, if I turn the VQ Hand Warmer on before I leave, it’s lovely and warm by the time I get there, and then I can have one hand on it in my pocket while carrying rugs and buckets and leading horses, swapping it from one to the other so both hands get the benefit. You might think that you need two hand warmers but as most of the time doing horses – or walking the dog – you’ve only got one spare hand at most, so I think one does the job.
Charge
I’d never really thought about using disposable hand warmers as I’d get through so many and it feels like a huge amount of waste, which means this rechargeable one is perfect. The battery lasts for a good six hours of continuous warmth (more than the manufacturer’s average estimate of five hours) so not all day but once my hands are fully warm, I don’t need it all day anyway.
It’s not the fastest to charge, either; the manufacturer says it takes approximately three hours but after five, mine was only 75% charged. But if it’s on overnight, it’s fine the next day, and if you only use it in the mornings and evenings, it’ll last a couple of days at least. The unit can also be used as a power bank, which to me is secondary to warmth (and you can’t have both features going at the same time) but could definitely be handy for an emergency phone charge if you needed it.
Value
The unit is available in Cath Kidston prints for £39.99, but this plain unit is £29.99, which I think is very good value, especially as it has a year’s guarantee.
Verdict
A good-value, very useful product that anyone who suffers from cold hands will appreciate.
Who tested the VQ Hand Warmer Power Bank?
Eleanor Jones is Horse & Hound’s news editor and has been riding since she was seven. Having learned at the riding school she went on to teach at, she then worked for dressage and showjumping riders, and competes in British Showjumping events. She has two warmblood mares and a home-bred filly.
Find out more about how Horse & Hound tests products
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