82,000 Rechargeable Hand Warmers Recalled Over Fire Risk

Federal safety officials have issued an urgent warning for consumers to stop using tens of thousands of rechargeable hand warmers sold nationwide, citing internal electrical defects that can cause the devices to overheat, catch fire and cause severe burns.

The nationwide recall covers more than 82,000 units across two popular brands: Kobayashi Consumer Products’ HotHands line and outerwear maker Gobi Heat. Regulators at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission confirmed that the devices rely on internal lithium-ion power packs paired with circuitry prone to thermal runaway, creating an immediate fire hazard during use or charging.

While neither manufacturer has received verified reports of personal injury or property damage, safety regulators caution that the underlying failure mechanism can trigger spontaneous ignition.

The larger portion of the recall involves approximately 77,000 pairs of HotHands-branded rechargeable devices sold across the United States, along with dozens distributed in Canada. The units carry model number H163650 stamped on the underside alongside a factory batch number. Finished in white and orange casing, the pocket warmers were sold through major retail chains including Target, The Home Depot, Bass Pro Shops, Meijer and Amazon between July 2025 and August 2026, retailing for $30 to $40.

A separate notice applies to roughly 5,500 units marketed directly to consumers by Gobi Heat through its website between October 2024 and August 2026. The black-and-gray models carry identifying mark UT3053 on the lower housing, retailed from $20 to $40, and were also shipped in limited numbers to Canadian buyers.

Both recalled products share an identical form factor: two handheld pods equipped with integrated magnets that allow them to snap together, USB-C recharging ports, multiple temperature settings, silicone carry loops and battery-level LED lights.

Shoppers holding either model should unplug them immediately and contact the respective distributor to initiate a full purchase refund.

Disposal rules for the recalled warmers require strict adherence to hazardous materials protocols. The Consumer Product Safety Commission instructed consumers never to toss the units into standard curbside garbage, ordinary recycling bins, or used-battery drop boxes commonly found at hardware and electronics stores. Compaction equipment in sanitation trucks and standard processing facilities can crush damaged lithium cells, triggering catastrophic fires.

Instead, device owners must coordinate handling through a local municipal household hazardous waste collection site certified to manage unstable, recall-designated electronics.