1958 X-Caliber Solid FUel Hand Warmer

Serving in the military often requires sacrifices.  For infantry, that sometimes means sacrificing personal comfort in extreme conditions.   This small hand warming device burned a solid stick of fuel and was carried in a pocket by a soldier serving in the Alpine region of Germany.   

The metal case and velvet outer lining distributed the heat from the smoldering fuel stick inside without burning the user’s hands.  The warmers were also tucked into boots to keep feet warm.   Keeping a person’s hands and feet warm were essential to combating hypothermia and frostbite during prolonged exposure to the region’s freezing temperatures.   

If you worked in a job that required you to be in extreme environments, what small items would you carry to help make you more comfortable?