Bottom Line tries some newest, trendiest items to see if it’s a deal or dud

So you’ve got your eye on a new cleaning product that promises to rid your home of all things gross or a new nail polish that pledges to make your fingernails as tough as, well, nails. The pitch is perfect. The price is in your budget. But does it work? Consumers always want to know, so let us tell you: We’ll try it before you buy it. The Bottom Line will highlight some of the newest and trendiest items and tell you whether it’s a deal or dud. Got a product in mind? Contact Blade reporter RoNeisha Mullen at rmullen@theblade.com or 419-724-6133.

The hand warmers proved to be a deal while the gloves proved to be a dud in the latest Bottom Line test.

The Product: Isotoner Women’s SmarTouch 3 Finger Tech Stretch Gloves

The Pitch: Not even the bite of Old Man Winter is enough to keep us from our cell phones. We’d rather risk frost bite than to let a call or text go unanswered. These fleece-lined gloves promise to keep you warm and connected, even when it’s cold outside. The silver tips allow you to operate handheld touchscreen devices while wearing gloves.

The Price: $40 regular price. We found ours on clearance at JCPenney. These gloves can also be purchased online from a number of retailers.

The Bottom Line: Dud. Yes, these gloves are touchscreen friendly, but they don’t offer much in the way of warmth. The silver tips don’t have as much insulation and are thinner than those with nonsilver tips. We found that some of the cheaper smart touch gloves are just as smart and offer the same amount of protection. Our suggestion would be to buy a cheap pair and slide them over a warm pair.

The Product: Grabber Warmers Hand Warmers

The Pitch: These air-activated warmers claim to deliver portable heat in the palm of your hand for more than seven hours.

The Price: 99 cents at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Also available at a number of other sporting goods and big box stores and online.

The Bottom Line: Deal. The small pouches started to heat up immediately after they were removed from the packaging. The warmers provided enjoyable heat while we shoveled snow in below-zero temperatures and continued to get warmer over time. They’re best used in mittens, as the heat can’t circulate to the fingers when used with gloves.