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I tried the adorable Multitasky power-bank-hand-warmer gizmo, and it's awesome

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This cute little power bank is also a hand-warmer, making it the perfect carry-on. (See what I did there?) (Photo: Multitasky)
This cute little power bank is also a hand-warmer, making it the perfect carry-on. (See what I did there?) (Photo: Multitasky)

I'm a sucker for things that look like other things, which is why when I spotted the Multitasky Traveler Power Bank and Hand Warmer, I knew I had to give it a try.

Because is it not adorable? While most power banks are boring black bricks and most hand warmers are simple plastic slabs, this thing looks like someone put a roller suitcase into the Shrink-O-Matic.

It normally sells for $50, but for a limited time, and while supplies last, you can get the Multitasky Traveler for $40 with promo code YAHOO20. It's available in your choice of green, pink or black.

$40 with promo code

First things first: The Traveler is a 5,200-mAh mobile charger with a 2.1-amp USB port. That means it can power just about anything: phone, earbuds, e-reader, and so on. Just plug your device into the port and it starts charging immediately.

As a hand warmer, it can toggle between 113 degrees and 131 degrees. It heats very quickly and makes an excellent stand-in for, say, a mug of hot tea. Actually, it's way better than that, because it stays at a consistent temperature for long stretches of time. (With tea, you've got a hand-warming window of, what, five minutes?)

As someone who sits at a desk and frequently suffers from icy-hands-itis, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the Traveler. It's great for long walks on cold days, too, but for that, you really need one for each coat pocket.

I do have a couple of quibbles with it. First, to recharge the Traveler itself, you need a USB AC adapter (Multitasky doesn't supply one) or powered USB port. And that charging happens via micro-USB, not USB-C. That's not a deal-breaker, just a letdown.

There's a single control button on the device: one press turns on the heater, a second bumps it to the higher temperature, a third turns it off. But the lone LED doesn't change colors when you adjust the temp, so there's no way to tell which mode it's in. However, it does change colors depending on how much charge is left in the battery, which makes things even more confusing.

I should also note that there are less-expensive power-bank-hand-warmers out there — but none as cute as this one. Quibbles aside, I think the Traveler is a neat, practical little item, and one that would make a great gift.

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