Yahoo LifestyleThe Best Heating Pads to Soothe Your Aches and Pains
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The Best Heating Pads to Soothe Your Aches and Pains
No one likes menstrual cramps, back and neck pain or sore muscles. Fortunately, a good heating pad can help ease your suffering by relaxing your muscles and even optimizing muscle recovery. Most heating pads don’t require much more than an outlet (if even that) and take up little space. "Heating pads can be a convenient way to enhance circulation and relieve aches and muscle stiffness," says Stefani Sassos, a certified personal trainer and the Deputy Director of the Nutrition Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "Heat brings more blood flow to the area, loosens up soft tissues that may be tight and can allow for improved mobility."
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts test all kinds of products, from the best electric blankets to the best period underwear. To find the best heating pads, we narrowed down the field by researching the best models on the market, looking for ones that feature soft, high-quality materials, sizable surface areas and lengthy cords, at least three heat settings and positive customer reviews. We also took note of added features like auto-shutoff timers and unique composition materials. The picks ahead are best-sellers from top-rated brands that impressed our experts with their features.
Our top picks:
After reading about our picks, learn more about how we chose the best heating pads and what you should keep in mind while shopping for one.
amazon - 2/8
PureRelief XL King Size Heating Pad
Pure Enrichment
amazon.com
$26.99
If you’re looking for a versatile heating pad that you can use on your shoulders, back, abdomen or elsewhere on your body, this extra-large pick will get the job done. We love that it features a soft material that'll feel like a blanket on your skin. Along with an impressive five-year warranty, this heating pad includes a nine-foot cord, so you can use it on the couch or in bed without struggling to find an outlet that's close enough. While we haven't tested it in our Labs yet, this heating pad has racked up nearly 60K reviews and a 4.5-star rating on Amazon, where reviewers make note of the brand's exceptional customer service and the product's solid overall performance.
Pure Enrichment - 3/8
Standard Size Heating Pad
Sunbeam
amazon.com
$13.57
This super-affordable heating pad from Sunbeam can be used as is, or, for deeper pain relief, you can spray the cover with water and reap the benefits of moist heat, according to the brand. While it only has three heat settings (low, medium and high) our experts like that it’s offered in both standard and extra-large sizes and features a long cord for convenient use. While the price is unbeatable, the polyester exterior won’t be quite as comfortable as other heating pads. If you prefer a softer feel and can pay a bit more, the Premium King Size Heating Pad is another excellent choice from Sunbeam, featuring a softer pad along with six heat settings.
Sunbeam - 4/8
Extra Large Electric Heating Pad XL
Geniani
amazon.com
$29.97
With more than 10K reviews, this heating pad is one of the most popular on Amazon. While we haven’t tested it in our Labs yet, we like that this heating pad warms up in under 30 seconds, according to the brand, and that it’s made of a soft and fuzzy material for a comfortable, soothing experience. The extra-large size is ideal for versatile use all over the body, and you can use a moist heat therapy method if desired.
Geniani - 5/8
Natural Jade and Tourmaline Heat Pad
UTK
amazon.com
$113.98
Unlike other heating pads, this pick from UTK is composed of 52 jade and 30 tourmaline stones, which the brand claims benefit the body while heating up any sore muscles or cramps. Our experts love that this heating pad comes in a large size to cover a lot of surface area and that you can pick the exact temperature you want to heat it up to on the controller. We also like that there’s a memory function so you can save your favorite settings for future use, such as temperature and amount of time.
UTK - 6/8
Weighted Heating Pad
Comfytemp
amazon.com
$29.51
If you’re a fan of weighted blankets, this heating pad is a great 2-in-1 pick. It features nine heat levels to choose from and a memory function to remember your favorite settings. It’s also safe to bring to bed with 11 auto-off timers, ranging from 30 minutes to nine hours. While we haven’t reviewed this pick in our Labs yet, we love that this heating pad is made of soft flannel polyester that’s machine washable. We also like that the interior is composed of 2.2 pounds of glass beads to help distribute weight evenly on across your body and provide just the right amount of pressure.
Comfytemp - 7/8
Huggable Uterus Cooling + Heating Pad
Bitten
urbanoutfitters.com
$29.00
We love this cute, uterus-shaped heating pad for days when period cramps get the better of you. Filled with buckwheat and lavender, all you have to do is heat it up in your microwave and snuggle up on the couch like you would with your favorite pillow. While some consumers claim the smell of this heating pad is too strong after heating, our experts advise following instructions closely to avoid burning any of the interior fill. We also like that you can freeze the plush for times when you need cold therapy.
Bitten - 8/8
Rubber Hot Water Bottle
Attmu
amazon.com
$11.99
If you’d prefer to avoid dealing with the hassle of cords and electrical outlets, a hot water bottle is a great option for soothing pain, cramps and soreness. Offered in several bright colors along with a knit sleeve, all you have to do is add hot water, tighten the top and you’re good to go. You can also use the water bottle as a cold compress for any swelling. When handling hot water, our experts caution to be extremely careful and to ensure the lid is safely fastened before use.
Attmu
