Competitive gaming has been a big thing for the game industry for a long time now. It hasn’t been until the last few years that it’s received the recognition it has deserved. With ESports taking off through main-stream media and being named an official sport, we’re now starting to see more gear and licensing opportunities like with any other sport. What Zippo is doing with their NRG Chicago Huntsman: HeatBank 9s Rechargeable Hand Warmers is an incredible idea that has a real place in ESports to keep players in the game even between matches.

Zippo has kind of hit a market where there isn’t already an established company. Most rechargeable hand warmers you’ll find online are generic or off-brand models. Besides being a tool for gamers, this is something anyone can use on a daily basis. While $59.99 may sound like a steep price to some, this device definitely proves its worth in quality and usefulness.

What's in the Box

When opening the box, it’s a simple and straight-forward experience. You get the hand warmer, a micro-USB charging cable, and a lanyard that is in a plastic housing. The USB cable is nice and short. It’s good for plugging into your console or computer while still having a slight amount of slack to its length. The lanyard’s end is detachable so that the hand warmer can be used between matches. There’s also a sliding fastener to tighten it so that it stays around your neck. There should also be an instruction booklet inside. I use the word “should” because while the box says one is included, I did not get one. Not having one isn’t an end of the world issue as the product is extremely easy to use and I figured out how it worked just on common sense alone. Most of the details can be found on Zippo’s website as well.

Aesthetics and Build Quality

The overall look of the device has a nice ergonomic shape to it. The NRG globe logo with all of the Chicago Huntsmen players’ names surrounding it is a nice design. It’s a modest design choice and doesn’t go too crazy with its colors or shapes. My one complaint about the art-work on the warmer is that it can actually chip off. It doesn’t just fall off on its own but with my fingernail and a small amount of pressure, I was able to chisel some of it away. What’s interesting though is that the Zippo logo on the front did not scratch off at all. They seem to be printed on in different ways and I think that doing the art in the same material would’ve been a plus.

The actual shell of it is comprised of two different plastics. Each end has a nice glossy finish while the middle has a textured matte finish. I’m glad that this isn’t completely glossy as when it comes to scratches it always makes them stand out. Even though its housing is completely plastic it does have a good amount of weight to it due to the internals. It feels very premium when you get to actually feel it in your hands. The controls for the user to operate it are boiled down to a power button, micro-USB charging port, and a standard USB port.

There are 2 sets of lights that indicate the warmer’s temperature level, its dual-sided heat level (blue lights), and its single-sided heat level (green lights). Holding the power button down for a couple of seconds turns the unit on and from there it’s heating both sides. You get 3 different heat levels and pressing the button raises it up higher. Once you cycle through the dual-sided heat settings, it’ll allow you to cycle through the single-sided settings. If you press the button when the unit is off it’ll allow you to see what level its power is at. Again there are 3 levels of power percentage. With all 3 lights being a full battery and it draining from there.

The great thing about this hand warmer is its incredible build quality. When it comes to gaming peripherals and accessories, I feel like there is room for a lot of them to grow in the construction and quality that we as the players are offered. Even first-party controllers can have a cheap feel to them at times. This thing though is one of the most sturdy gaming accessories I have ever seen. Zippo has delivered a product that feels extremely sturdy. You won’t have to worry about dropping this thing because it’s a tank. I even tried twisting it a bit to see if the plastic would creak or give way but it didn’t do a thing.

Specs

Here are some details on the specs of this rechargeable hand warmer.

• 9 hours of heat with 6 levels of heat intensity

• Charges USB compatible devices including; mobile phones, Mp3 players, tablets, cameras, etc.

• Dual-sided heat up to 120°F / 50°C operating temperature with six (6) heat settings for adjustable and comfortable warmth

• Battery and heat indicator lights

• Rechargeable 5200 mah lithium-ion battery (included) for lasting reliable warmth - up to 9 hour run time

Gameplay

ESports competitors have been using disposal hand warmers for years to keep their hand’s blood flow streaming so that they have cat-like reflexes. By using a rechargeable hand warmer it gives you the ability to have one ready for you at all times. I primarily play Call of Duty as my competitive game so this is how I tested it. Being that the Huntsmen team also play CoD, I felt that this was a perfect choice.

I would start by playing a game or two cold. This would allow me to see how the warmer would continue my flow going from game to game. I noticed immediately that it was keeping me hot on my K/D and leaderboard placement. I continuously would top the board for my team. I did the same thing again, but this time I wanted to start my session having already warmed up my hands with the device. This worked just as good for me and I blew through the competition immediately.

My reaction time was tight and I always felt in control even when going into a new match. I’m the type of person that likes to play a few matches to get into my flow. When I’m using this it actually made me feel confident that I was warmed up enough to go into any match and do some real work for my team.

The heat they’ve packed into this thing at times can be really fantastic. Once you turn it on, it starts to get warm almost instantaneously. Getting it to the hottest temperature does take a couple of moments but you can feel the constant raising of heat permeating from it. This thing can get extremely hot so I would exercise caution when using the highest setting. The battery lasts up to 9 hours but on its highest setting, this is cut down of course.

Because of the lanyard, I’m able to hold in when I need to and let it go so that it’s ready for my next pickup. I really liked being able to drop it really quickly and not having to constantly pick it up a put it down. It has a nice concave design that really fits into my hand perfectly. It doesn’t really matter which way you hold it because it felt comfortable in any direction. I have hands that are probably on the medium-large size and mine fit like a glove in the shape of this thing.

Another cool thing this does is act as a power-bank. You can charge your phone, camera, or even your controller. While the objective for this warmer is to impact your gaming experience, it doesn’t stop there. I used this thing a lot of the time when I wasn’t gaming too. It’s a really strong warmer and when the house is cold, came in handy very often.

I believe that this could also be a great device for musicians to use as well. I play guitar and by it warming up my hands I had fewer issues when initially playing. My hand would be less stiff and rigid when I’d get going. It made it easier to get me going at 100% from the start.

What It Could Have Done Better

The paints that they’ve used for the art isn’t very strong and could’ve been improved upon. While you can’t just rub it off, it does chip. You can pick up plain versions of these hand warmers from Zippo and they’ll save you $10 bucks. Being that the paint for the design chips away, it really comes down to whether a fan of the team is willing to pay that extra money for a design that may start to come off after usage. It’s something to consider when making a final purchase.

Verdict 

This is a device that is extremely worth its premium price tag. It’s sturdy, comfortable, and a device that you can use way beyond your competitive gaming sessions. Zippo has cornered a piece of the market and has done so with an extremely high-quality product that competitors would have a very hard time trying to match. The price point may deter some buyers but I think that there’s enough here to justify its cost. This is something that will continue to be in-use for me as I tear up the leaderboards. Not only is it useful for keeping my hands warm and game-ready but it also helps to cut down on the usage of disposable hand warmers. This in turn helps the environment and saves us money in the long-run.