HotHands Rechargeable Hand Warmers Recalled as 77,000 Units Sold at Target and Home Depot Pose Fire Risk

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The recall, announced Oct. 1, comes just as many households pull out cold-weather gear. The warmers were sold at Bass Pro Shops, Meijer, Target, The Home Depot, and other stores nationwide, as well as online at Amazon, from July 2025 through August 2026 for $30 to $40.

No incidents or injuries have been reported. Still, hand warmers are designed to be held in palms, tucked into pockets, and used by children at games and bus stops, which puts any overheating battery close to skin and clothing.

The recalled product is model H163650, sold in packs of two white warmers with orange accents that snap together magnetically. They charge via USB-C and have adjustable heat settings, LED indicator lights, and a silicone lanyard.

“Model number ‘H163650’ and the batch number are on the hand warmer’s underside, and the white HotHands logo is on the top and on the product packaging,” the CPSC said. The warmers were made in China and imported by Kobayashi Consumer Products, LLC, of Dalton, Georgia.

The CPSC described the hazard plainly: “The lithium-ion battery and electrical components in the recalled hand warmers can overheat and ignite, posing a risk of serious injury from fire and burn hazards.”

The recall covers only this rechargeable model. It does not include HotHands single-use air-activated warmers, which do not contain lithium-ion batteries.

Shoppers who bought online can check past orders to confirm the purchase date, and Kobayashi’s claim process asks for a photo of the receipt when one is available. Because the warmers were popular gifts, it is also worth asking family members whether they received a pair last winter.

“Consumers should stop using the recalled hand warmers immediately and contact Kobayashi for a full refund,” the CPSC said. Owners can call Kobayashi at 866-534-9986 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on weekdays, email Kobayashi5236@sedgwick.com or visit the HotHands recall page.

The process works in steps. Consumers receive a claim number, write “Recalled” and that number on the product in permanent marker, then submit photos showing the marked product, the model number, and the four-digit batch number. Kobayashi’s page says, “Product safety is our top priority.”

A recall without reported injuries is a preventive step. Companies and the CPSC often act once a defect is identified, before anyone is hurt, which is why owners are told to stop using the product right away rather than wait for warning signs.

Disposal matters as much as the refund. The company warns, “Do not throw this recalled lithium-ion battery or device in the trash, the general recycling stream (e.g., street-level or curbside recycling bins), or in used battery recycling boxes found at various retail and home improvement stores.” Instead, owners should contact a municipal household hazardous waste center first to confirm it accepts lithium-ion batteries.

The EPA advises placing each battery-containing device in a separate plastic bag and covering battery terminals with nonconductive tape, such as electrical tape. “Even used batteries can have enough energy to injure or start fires,” the agency says.

Lithium-ion batteries store a lot of energy in a small space. When a cell is damaged, defective, or overheated, it can enter a chain reaction called thermal runaway, releasing heat, smoke, and sometimes flames very quickly.

The CPSC lists the battery hazards it tracks as including “overheating, fire, electrical shock from battery chargers, thermal burns” and ejected internal parts. In a June 2026 statement on a proposed battery safety standard for e-bikes and scooters, CPSC Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman said the agency is aware of “numerous catastrophic incidents involving lithium-ion batteries, including fatalities, life-threatening injuries, and devastating residential fires.”

The HotHands recall is one of several this year. OCOOPA Direct recalled about 1.5 million rechargeable hand warmers in July after reports of 15 fires, 350 burn injuries, and one death, and Gobi Heat recalled about 5,500 units on Oct. 1, according to the U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

Children, older adults, and people with reduced feeling in their hands, such as some people with diabetes, may not notice a device getting too hot until skin is already injured. Parents may want to collect any rechargeable warmers from backpacks and coat pockets and check the model number.

If a warmer becomes unusually hot, swells, smells like burning plastic, or smokes, move away from it and keep it clear of anything flammable. Unplug it only if that can be done safely. Call 911 if there is a fire.

For minor burns, MedlinePlus advises running cool, not ice-cold, water over the area for at least 5 to 30 minutes. Burns about the size of a palm or larger, or burns that look deep, need emergency care.

HotHands Rechargeable Hand Warmers, model H163650, sold from July 2025 through August 2026.

No incidents or injuries have been reported, according to the CPSC.

At Bass Pro Shops, Meijer, Target, The Home Depot, other stores and online, including Amazon, for $30 to $40.

Contact Kobayashi at 866-534-9986 or through the HotHands recall page to receive a claim number and instructions.

No. Take it to a household hazardous waste site that accepts lithium-ion batteries.

Are single-use HotHands warmers affected?

No. The recall covers only the rechargeable model H163650.