175 Carew Turn on the Heat Again
The Best Heating Pads
After many hours of inquiry and two months of testing, our recommendation for the all-time heating pad is the Thermophore – MaxHEAT. It pulls moisture from the atmosphere for a deeper penetrating rut without your needing to wet the pad before utilize. Combined with a large coverage surface area, evenly weighted pad and the power to reach loftier estrus levels, the Thermophore was the clear winner. Our runner-up is the Chattanooga – Theratherm.
Our Top Choices
Best Overall
Thermophore
MaxHEAT
Runner-up
Chattanooga
Theratherm
After many hours of research and ii months of testing, our recommendation for the all-time heating pad is the Thermophore – MaxHEAT. It pulls moisture from the atmosphere for a deeper penetrating heat without your needing to wet the pad before employ. Combined with a large coverage surface area, evenly weighted pad and the ability to reach high heat levels, the Thermophore was the clear winner. Our runner-upwardly is the Chattanooga – Theratherm.
Table of Contents
- The 8 heating pads we tested
- ane. Best overall: Thermophore – MaxHEAT
- ii. Also smashing: Chattanooga – Theratherm
- Other products we tested
- How we selected
- How we tested
- Why utilise a heating pad?
- Important features to consider
- The bottom line
The 8 heating pads we tested
| Product | Price | Fabric | Structure | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Thermophore - MaxHEAT | $$$$ | Canvas / fleece | Heating pad / encompass | Electric |
| 2. Chattanooga - Theratherm | $$$ | Cotton / polyester flannel | Heating pad / cover | Electric |
| 3. Sunbeam - XpressHeat | $$ | Polyester microplush | Integrated cover | Electrical |
| 4. Pure Enrichment - PureRelief XL | $$$ | Polyester microplush | Integrated embrace | Electric |
| 5. Carex - Bed Buddy | $ | Cotton-poly blend | Tube filled with natural grains | Microwaveable |
| half-dozen. Sunny Bay - Neck Heating Wrap | $$ | Non-pill fleece | Tube filled with natural grains | Microwaveable |
| 7. SoftHeat - MaxHeat | $$$ | Polyester | Integrated encompass | Electric |
| eight. Sunbeam - Moist/Dry Heat | $ | Polyester | Heating pad / cover | Electric |
1. Top pick: Thermophore – MaxHEAT
The Thermophore – MaxHEAT was our top choice in heating pads. This heating pad reaches intense heat levels and automatically turns off after 25 minutes of continuous use, so information technology's a meliorate choice for palliative therapy rather than for a simple condolement measure. It reaches its superlative temperature in under three minutes and reaches intense oestrus levels without getting uncomfortably warm.
Best overall: Thermophore - MaxHEAT
With features like a self-contouring design, loftier heat capabilities and moist heat technology, this is our top option.
It has a 2-piece construction, with a removable and motorcar washable cover. The comprehend features their patented Moist-Certain technology for enhanced oestrus penetration. With a six-foot string, it comfortably reached several different spots in our test living room. The slide command is easy to operate and would exist especially convenient if you have arthritis. It has three settings for flexibility.
This heating pad was also the best heating pad for back pain. The big size covers the entire back or abdomen, then yous tin can treat your whole dorsum without needing to adjust the position of the heating pad. Information technology also extends from the hip to the knee if you wish to relieve Information technology band pain. The rugged structure combined with flexibility and weight really brand this heating pad stand up out from the competition.
The Thermophire is designed with weights that are evenly distributed throughout the heating pad for the right amount of heft to contour to your body shape and maximize heat transfer. At the same time, the weights were small plenty that yous can't experience them when the heating pad is draped over your body and the fleece cover is comfortably soft.
Key takeaways:
- The Thermophore – MaxHEAT is the best option for treating painful areas with timed sessions, high temperatures, and moist heat.
- Moist-Sure engineering means enhanced rut penetration without adding water (or soaking your clothing).
- Evenly distributed weights requite yous the most amount of rut while providing uniform contact with the area you wish to care for.
2. Too dandy: Chattanooga – Theratherm
If you are looking for precise control over your heat therapy, the Chattanooga – Theratherm is the heating pad for you. You tin prepare the temperature to the exact degree that works best and the exact amount of time that you lot want oestrus within given ranges. The heat settings range from 113 degrees Fahrenheit at the lowest setting to 166 °F at the highest.
Also great: Chattanooga - Theratherm
Control is at your fingertips with a unique digital command pad and precise settings.
You can also toggle between Fahrenheit and Celsius settings. Plus, yous tin can set the amount of heating time from i to 60 minutes. Some users plant the minimum setting to nonetheless be besides hot for their needs. Nosotros disagreed, finding instead that the lower finish of the temperature range was relaxing and comforting, just the higher terminate of the range was uncomfortably hot.
In one case you've accomplished your desired settings, you can enter lock-out mode then y'all don't accidentally change anything while using the pad. Although the number of options isn't infinite, information technology certainly gave united states more flexibility and precise control than any other heating pad we tested. On the other paw, the controller was less intuitive than the others, and we plant we had to consult the manual for step-by-step instructions.
The Chattanooga automatically gathers moisture from the air, which feels similar to fabric that is clammy from the dryer. It didn't transfer to our wearing apparel or upholstery, but we're glad the cover is besides removable and washable. This model is likewise weighted, although the weights are focused mainly through the eye of the pad. While information technology does provide constructive heat transfer, it isn't contoured to your body. We tested the medium size, but information technology's besides bachelor in small and large sizes.
Key takeaways:
- The Chattanooga – Theratherm extracts moisture from the air and retains it in a soft flannel comprehend for simple and convenient moist heating therapy.
- Incredibly precise digital controls allow you lot to set the heating pad anywhere from 113 °F to 166 °F and the fourth dimension for anywhere from one to lx minutes.
- The lock-out feature of the control pad prevents you from accidentally irresolute your preferred settings during a session.
Other products we tested
3. Carex – Bed Buddy
If you're looking for a heating pad that doesn't require electricity, we recommend the Carex – Bed Buddy for its design, drape and moist heat. Weighing two pounds, the Carex was just the correct weight: heavy enough to transfer heat, just non so heavy that it became uncomfortable afterwards several minutes of use. Priced at around eight dollars (at the time of publishing), it is by far the to the lowest degree expensive of our finalists.
Over 1,000 Amazon reviewers charge per unit this model 4.4 stars on average, and we hold that it offers a lot of bang for your buck. Information technology is filled with 100% organic materials: natural grains, herbs, and flowers. The Carex provides moist heating without adding boosted h2o or getting too moisture. If you're alternating hot and cold treatments, this is a great option, considering it's both microwavable and freezable.
Nosotros weren't really certain how the rope handles added to the design; we would take preferred the extra length over the seemingly unnecessary handles. Another downside (to both our not-electric finalists) is that it has a cooked, popcorn-like odor when heated. We didn't experience it detracted likewise much from the benefits, but if you lot have sensitivity to aroma, these models may not be for yous.
iv. Sunbeam – XpressHeat
When y'all need relief fast, the Sunbeam – XpressHeat provides rut you lot tin can feel in thirty seconds. In our testing, we found that while it takes most five minutes to accomplish its height temperature, it is warm to the touch well-nigh immediately. The king-size is convenient for covering large areas like the spine or shoulders.
With half-dozen rut settings and a digital display, you tin can go a precise temperature that all-time fits your needs and condolement zone. At the same time, it'southward simple enough to figure out without consulting the user'south guide. Information technology has a heat meter that lights up the controller as the pad heats upward, so y'all know when information technology's gear up. You tin can toggle betwixt the automatic shut-off at 2 hours or the stay on option, which is a great feature.
In general, heating pads tend to be utilitarian-looking, merely the reversible olive greenish and camel colors of this heating pad are really pleasing to the heart. The microplush fabric of the integrated encompass is both comforting and gentle on sensitive areas. It'south flexible but very low-cal, so it's a better option for comfort than oestrus therapy. Overall, it looks and feels more like a miniature throw blanket than a heating pad.
v. Pure Enrichment – PureRelief XL
A comparable heating pad is the Pure Enrichment – PureRelief XL, with soft microplush textile for comfort and a big size for maximum coverage. It is fast-heating, reaching its summit temperature in just over 2 minutes (although at 112ºF, its high temperature is on the depression cease compared to our other finalists). Y'all tin can use a spray bottle to dampen the pad for moist heating therapy.
The digital LCD controller has six settings and the selection to choose whether you want it to stay on or to shut off automatically after two hours. With a nine-pes ability cord, you don't take to worry about awkwardly reaching around article of furniture. Information technology also comes with a storage pad to go on it clean and rubber in between uses.
six. SoftHeat – MaxHeat
As the maker of our top choice for an electric blanket, we were excited to try some other 1 of their products. Unfortunately, the SoftHeat – MaxHeat isn't designed with the features that make their electric blanket a winner: DC power, invisible wires, and plush fabric.
What we do like about this model is the SmartHeat technology, which provides consequent heat (rather than the typical spikes and valleys) for maximum therapeutic rut. Nosotros verified this when testing wattage with an electricity usage monitor. With the other models, the wattage would rise and autumn, but it was the aforementioned wattage across the board with the SoftHeat.
The SoftHeat is specifically designed to wrap around the lower back. A prissy feature to this model is that it secures with velcro, so information technology's the just electric heating pad finalist nosotros tested that can be worn rather than draped. It'south simple to unplug and plug dorsum in while attached around you lot, although the heat doesn't last more than than a few minutes.
7. Sunny Bay – Neck Heating Wrap
Ergonomically designed for the neck and shoulders, the Sunny Bay – Neck Heating Wrap can also exist used on the arms, legs, or other areas. Information technology's a soft, comfortable and portable option for applying heat without electricity. The Sunny Bay is made of not-pill fleece and rice, so you don't take to worry about cords or controllers. The thick fleece retains the heat, but it tin also prevent yous from feeling how hot it gets, so yous'll want to practise caution. We microwaved it at the lowest option and found it comforting but non too hot.
The Sunny Bay is slightly heavy and not wide plenty in terms of usage. Acknowledging that this model can be heavy for some, the manufacturer also makes a wider and lighter version filled with flax seeds and weighing only two pounds (as opposed to two and a one-half).
eight. Sunbeam – Moist/Dry Heat
If you're looking for a elementary, budget-friendly heating pad, the Sunbeam – Moist/Dry Heat gets the task done without a lot of extra bells and whistles. Information technology provides moist heat when you moisture the removable sponge insert and information technology features Sunbeam'due south patented UltraHeat technology for even, consistent estrus.
The heating pad comes with a unproblematic-to-utilize slide controller that's smashing for arthritis sufferers and has a user-friendly actress-long power cord . The 12 x fifteen-inch size is on the small side for treating the whole back, and the plastic heating construction is not equally flexible as all of our other finalists.
How we selected
We plant a surprising lack of heating pad reviews conducted on review sites, then we first delved into articles on heat therapy at Consumer Reports and Doc Oz. Once we felt confident in the science behind heat therapy and how to use information technology best, nosotros headed over to Reddit forums similar /r/fitness/ and /r/chronicpain/ to run into which heating pad features are virtually important to consumers.
Finally, we read through customer reviews on Amazon to get the perspective of actual users. Each of our finalists has more than than 500 reviews and some run into the thousands, so we had an abundance of input from consumers.
How we tested
Comfort/Heat transfer
I of the first things nosotros learned during our inquiry phase is that you should never sit on or against the heating pad (all these years, nosotros've been doing information technology wrong). It'due south dangerous because you could crush the pad and harm the wires. Thus, a heating pad's blueprint is extremely important.
The heating pad should have enough weight and flexibility to curtain over your body in society to provide the most hurting relief. The weight allows for more direct contact with the heating pad and therefore more effective oestrus transfer.
The Thermophore has evenly distributed weights for effective rut transfer without your sitting against the pad. The Chattanooga is as well weighted, although the weights are distributed in a thick coil that did non contour to torso shape as well equally the Thermophore.
The other electrical heating pads we tested only had the weight of a throw blanket; they were comfy but did not accept the impact of the weighted Thermophore and Chattanooga. The Sunbeam – Moist/Dry Heat was stiff and inflexible, and so the heat transfer was lower than the other models. The Carex – Bed Buddy and Sunny Bay – Neck Heating Wrap were naturally heavy since they're filled with flax seeds and/or rice, so they both draped nicely and effectively transferred rut.
A soft, plush fabric makes for the most comforting heating pad. Nosotros found the Sunbeam – XpressHeat and Pure Enrichment – PureRelief XL were the nicest to curl up with, thanks to their super soft microplush fabric.
During the form of writing this article, we reached out to someone with a recent back injury. Nosotros had him effort out the eight finalists and asked his opinion on which heating pad provided the most relief. His answer was the Thermophore, because of its moist heat, contoured pall, and just the right corporeality of weight.
Usability
Factors that decide the usability of a heating pad are size, cord length, and controller style. You also desire a controller that's simple to use and easy to set up, especially if you take hurting in your hands. String length is an important cistron considering a longer cord ways you can attain electric sockets more than hands.
Since the most usable products are like shooting fish in a barrel to clean, we looked at the intendance, construction, and washability of the other heating pads. All of the electric heating pads were piece of cake to clean. The Thermophore, Chattanooga, and Sunbeam – Moist/Dry Rut all have a removable, automobile-washable cover and heating unit that can be wiped clean if necessary. The one-piece models like the Sunbeam – XpressHeat, Pure Enrichment, and SoftHeat are also automobile washable. You merely throw the entire heating unit in the washer. The Carex – Bed Buddy and Sunny Bay – Neck Heating Wrap are wipe-clean only.
At first, we thought that the big size of the Thermophore would hateful that you could share it with a partner. Consumers practice mention sharing (often with pets, surprisingly) a heating pad in their reviews, although it's hard to tell whether they are talking about taking turns or using information technology together. We chop-chop establish that fifty-fifty 14 by 24 inches isn't large enough to share. For sharing, nosotros recommend an electric throw blanket similar the Sunbeam – Heated Throw which we tested while searching for the best electric blanket.
Heating capabilities & safety features
In club to test the heating capabilities of the pads, we first used an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of each heating pad at its highest setting. We let the heating pad warm up for 10 minutes and and so took several readings, recording the highest one. Then we let the pad cool off before the timed test, where we recorded how many seconds it took to reach its highest temperature.
For the microwavable heating pads, nosotros warmed them per the manufacturer'due south instructions and then measured the temperature immediately after removing information technology from the microwave.
The Thermophore and Chattanooga both reached the highest temperatures, just information technology took significantly longer (nearly four minutes) for the Chattanooga to heat upwardly. The Pure Enrichment was the fastest to heat up, but it as well had one of the lowest maximum-temperature thresholds.
We too checked to see how much surface expanse heats up past seeing if all four corners and the center of the pad were warm to the touch afterward reaching its high temperature. Then we used each finalist equally directed to encounter whether they felt warm enough to be comforting and to make sure they weren't uncomfortably warm. At its highest setting of 166 °F, the Chattanooga was besides hot to handle, but you could lower it incrementally by degrees until information technology reached a more reasonable level.
According to Dr. Nathan Wei, caput of the Arthritis Handling Center, "moist heat penetrates better than dry out heat." The bulk of our heating pad finalists featured moist estrus therapy, but we weren't fans until we tried the moist estrus feature on the Thermophore and Chattanooga heating pads. Both of these models pull moisture from the air and straight it toward your peel without an additional step. While we could feel the deeper heat, we were at first leery of this merits.
However, we plant the most humid spot in the business firm (the bathroom) and placed the Thermophore and Chattanooga on a porcelain surface to see if any moisture was visible on the pad or the counter. In this test, the surface under the pad was visibly wet afterwards a few minutes with a hot shower running, so nosotros knew that the pads had in fact pulled wet from the air.
Consumers have reported that the Thermophore can depict in wet even in an arid climate with humidity at five percent or less. The aforementioned is true of the Carex, which delivers moist estrus without adding water. (All of the other finalists required us to add water for moist heat therapy.)
The Sunbeam – Moist/Dry Rut has a foam pad that yous moisten and place inside the cover. The Sunbeam – XpressHeat, Pure Enrichment, Sunny Bay and SoftHeat can be sprayed with water until damp. With these types of products, we came away with damp article of clothing and piece of furniture which was less than desirable, mitigating the benefits of moist heat.
Concluding but not least, we tested the safety features to come across if each pad automatically shuts off as advertised. Nosotros plant that the Sunbeam – Moist/Dry Estrus did not turn off after two hours, although it supposedly has an automatic shut-off characteristic. All the others' prophylactic features worked as advertised and shut off at the specified time.
According to Burn down Centre Care, temperatures every bit depression as 43º C (109.4ºF) can crusade burns if exposure lasts for five or six hours. Nearly all of our models tested higher up 109.4ºF, and so the automatic close-off feature is extremely important. As always, you should follow all the instructions in the transmission to be safe.
Why use a heating pad?
A heating pad provides palliative therapy without the need for messy creams or uncomfortable patches. Palliative care is a holistic approach to managing chronic hurting, often caused past serious disease. Estrus therapy is one fashion to manage pain, chronic or otherwise.
Heating pads are recommended for aches and pains and tin can assist relieve hurting in those suffering from arthritis, a sore back, or menstrual cramps. Heat can also assistance an injury heal faster. Information technology dilates blood vessels so that tissues receive increased claret flow, oxygen, and nutrients. Heating pads tin also be used purely for comfort.
Important features to consider
Fast heating:The faster the heating pad reaches your desired temperature, the sooner you'll experience relief.
Auto washable: The last affair you want (especially if you're injured) is a complicated wash routine to intendance for your heating pad.
Number of settings: When choosing a heating pad, consider whether your purpose calls for a simple or more complicated setting. For example, if y'all are treating an injury, you may wish to set the exact corporeality of fourth dimension and level of oestrus. Some people merely need high and low settings, while others require more precise settings.
Controller style: Those suffering from arthritis may adopt a slide controller. If y'all are looking to command the exact level of heat, a digital type tin practice but that.
Moist estrus: Moist oestrus allows for deeper rut penetration to aid healing.
Comfort/soft cloth: When cozying up with a heating pad for comfort, you want a soft cloth that feels nice against your skin.
Motorcar-off/timer function/options: Heat treatments can range from 15 minutes to two hours. Heating pads with a timer function are best for those using intense heat levels. For condolement measures that include sitting with a pad for a longer catamenia of time, automatic shut-off features get important.
Ease of employ: Regardless of why you're using information technology, a heating pad should be easy to use.
The bottom line
After using moist oestrus, it was hard to go back to dry out heat only. Our recommended heating pads both feature moist oestrus therapy without adding water. The Thermophore – MaxHEAT and Chattanooga – Theratherm pull moisture from the air and direct information technology to where you need it nigh. While nosotros feel confident recommending either product, the Thermophore pulled alee with its evenly distributed weights and ability to reach its top temperature quickly.
Height Pick: Thermophore - MaxHEAT
Its flexibility and high oestrus capabilities and moist heating option makes the MaxHEAT stand up out.
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Source: https://www.yourbestdigs.com/reviews/best-heating-pad/
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