Costco's Budget-Friendly Cold Weather Item Is Great For Chilly Outdoor Activities

Costco is famous as a great place to purchase all sorts of budget-friendly things. From home appliances and luxury electronics to amazing value wine, huge packs of delicious food, and great domestic essentials, this iconic big-box store is an amazing resource, and it is no surprise that it has such a loyal following amongst its members.

One area where Costco is often overlooked, or at least seriously underrated, is its outdoor section. Costco offers a wide selection of backcountry essentials, from camping tents and backpacks to kayaks and electric coolers. Plenty of these products are on the pricier side, but there are several that are gloriously budget-friendly and will still make a huge difference to your outdoor activities. One of the most popular is the Little Hotties hand warmers, which offer warmth and comfort for cold-weather adventures and are travel items that make perfect Christmas stocking stuffers.

If you are planning a wintertime getaway to a snowy mountain town, looking for your next ski resort vacation, or heading off for a cold-weather hiking trip, these hand warmers are one of the best ways to improve your experience without breaking the bank.

Costco's Little Hotties hand warmers are designed to keep your hands toasty-warm for up to 8 hours. Small enough to carry in a jacket pocket, they are ideal for hikes, treks, mountain biking, skiing, or paddling adventures. Not only are they convenient and portable, they are also incredibly easy to use. Activating the heat is as simple as opening the plastic wrapping and shaking the cloth pouch for a couple of seconds. The hand warmers will then begin to heat up, reaching maximum heat after about 20 minutes. It is a good idea to keep them somewhere enclosed like a pocket or stuffed into your gloves to maximize heat efficiency.

The hand warmers reach temperatures of about 135°F, so they provide serious warmth and are great at staving off frostbite, chillblains, or general pain or aches caused by cold hands. They are an excellent addition to any outdoor adventure kit and provide enormous benefits for such unassuming little items.

Costco's Little Hotties are odorless and environmentally safe and come in a pack of 80 pairs for just $36.99, meaning you get warm hands for less than 50 cents a go! Members clearly approve, as reviews of these excellent little hand warmers are glowing with an overall rating of 4.6 out of 5 from over 1,000 reviews. 

LoriB says, "I make it my policy to never head into the colder months without a pantry full of hand warmers. They work up to 8 hours. These will keep our hands warm at football games, soccer games, trick or treating and snow removal! You will not be disappointed." Another reviewer by the name Rippedlinen says, "I've bought these for when I'm camping to pre-heat the sleeping bag or keep in pockets during foggy beach hikes, or comfort when my neck or back is tense. Keep some in the car. They go through the wash well when you forget them in a pocket."

Some reviews do mention that relying on them for eight hours is probably unrealistic. In his overall extremely positive review, YouTuber Colin Reviews Stuff says that in his experience, "it's more like one hour of actual true heat." Redditor u/SUPpup7 says, "I use them when I am walking my dog in -25C to -30C for 30 minutes. Or when I take her to the dog park and am standing still. Or when I go cross country skiing for an hour or two – then the foot warmers are in my mitts and in my ski boots." So if you are packing for a cold-weather trip, it is worth considering this and slinging a few extras into your backpack. Luckily, they are small enough for this not to be a problem!