Flashlight vs. hand warmers in a frozen paper mill, no contest

Last month I hit an old paper mill outside Duluth that's been sitting since 2009. I brought both my cheap LED flashlight and those disposable hand warmers, thinking I'd need the light more. Turns out the hand warmers did WAY more work because every metal railing and doorknob felt like straight ice. The flashlight only mattered for a few dark corners, but the warmth kept my fingers working for the 4 hours I crawled through that place. If you're wandering somewhere cold, skip the fancy gear and pack a bulk box of warmers, they're like $12 for 40. Has anyone else found a simple item that saved an entire trip in a cold building?

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1 Comment

sage_perry29d ago

I mean, I see your point about the hand warmers, but I gotta disagree. The flashlight is what kept me from stepping through a rotted floor in a place like that. I did a similar mill in northern Maine once, and the dark hallways had these random pits where machinery used to be, no railings at all. Warm hands dont help you if you break an ankle. Maybe it's just me, but id rather shiver a bit and see where Im going than stay toasty and blind.