Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs

Subject: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: GUEST,Sharyn
Date: 12 Feb 18 - 07:02 PM

Hello all. I busk outdoors during the morning commute (two-hour shifts). I play guitar and sing. If it is cold (say, below fifty degrees), I find that my hands get cold after an hour. Then I add knitted fingerless gauntlets and a cashmere poncho for added body warmth. Even so, sometimes my left hand gets cold and stiff in the last twenty minutes of my shift and it can be difficult then to change chords or get decent sounds. Has anybody used therapeutic pads or other warming devices? I'm thinking I could put something small in the palm of my hand underneath the gauntlet or even stick things to the backs of my fingernails. I know some of you, being geniuses, have probably already figured this out. Thanks for your help. Sharyn

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 12 Feb 18 - 09:04 PM

Fill six total 1/2 liter bottles with "hot," and "Very Hot," water.
Then wrap each bottle in newspaper, and place in a grocery bag, or box filled with crumpled paper.

Use as required, and they will keep your feet warm as they wait-off-stage.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

If your feet are cold...cover-up your head.

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 12:12 AM

Thanks for trying, Gargoyle. I guess I should have mentioned that I don't drive. I carry my guitar case in my hand and everything else I need in a backpack, so adding six half liter bottles is not feasible. And it is my left fingers that I need to keep warm.

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 03:16 AM

You can get handwarmers from most fishing tackle/outdoor shops, kept in your pocket and used when needed.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 04:31 AM

The handwarmers that Dave mentions are bigger than what you are imagining. Read the instructions before using, some may get hot enough to give you a mild burn if worn against the skin.

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: JHW
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 05:39 AM

I'll be checking this for tips. Played at a garden party 9-30pm in July and couldn't feel strings or frets.
Yet others can do it. All day mid January (UK) multiple musicians play for the Plough Stots sword dancers.

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 09:58 AM

Dunno whether you can still buy such things, but I used to use rechargeable handwarmers that had a little metal disc inside a gel pouch. To trigger the heat you just flexed the little disc, and the gel started to solidify and give out heat. They'd keep going for maybe an hour and a bit at least. They came in their own fluffy little sleeve and you bought them in pairs. When you got home you recharged them by boiling them briefly in a pan of water until the gel liquefied again. You could do it dozens and dozens of times. They were three or four quid a pair, so two pairs used in succession would keep you going for a few hours. I used mine to put in a bag with my chromatic harmonicas, which wouldn't play well unless they were warm. Before that I'd just put the harmonicas down the front of my trousers. Funny thing is that once I'd bought the gel hand warmers instead the girls at the session started to lose interest...

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 10:02 AM

Then there's always your girl friend/wife!!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 10:13 AM

I used the handwarmers that utilised solid fuel sticks for many years and came to no harm whatsoever, when I match fished for my local club team, everybody had at least one, no-one ever got burnt or caught fire.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 11:13 AM

There's electronic hand warmer gadgets on Amazon (and elsewhere, no doubt) that charge via USB and have two levels of heat. You can also use them to charge your mobile phone if need be.

LFF

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 03:06 PM

google hothands. these devices are amazing, they look like large teabags and are activated when you take them out of their wrapper and even more amazing they stay very warm for up to eight or nine hours.

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 13 Feb 18 - 07:37 PM

I just wear fingerless gloves which are fleece-lined and go up to the PIP joint (first joint beyond your knuckle), ......and keep moving. I know moving about is not ideal if you're stuck behind a mike, but we are not, just play acoustically. If we get too cold, anyone in the group can drop out to go get a hot drink and warm their hands that way.

Subject: RE: Tech: Hand-Warming Devices for Outdoor Gigs
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 09:43 AM

I bought a pair of gloves in the UK that had a pocket on the back for a battery, or you could fit crystal sachets. Not fingerless though.

Never used them.

Same company sell lithium ion powered insoles.