The back, neck and foot areas are the most frustrating and debilitating places to have pain as they stop you from moving, working and relaxing. Pain relievers and bed rest often just delay the pain instead of relaxing the muscles and attacking the issue at its source. Heating pads help heal sore areas and make you feel better while they do it, so we reviewed the best heating pads so you can get the pain relief you need.
Product FAQ
For those of you who don't know how a heating pad works or why it helps relax your sore muscles, we answered some frequently asked questions below so you can make an informed decision on the best heating pad for you.
1. What Is a Heating Pad?
It is a pad that either holds hot water or heats another way, such as chemically or electronically, to provide heat to a sore area.
2. What Does It Do?
The best heating pad uses heat therapy as pain relief, which is a practice that dates back to 500BC. In ancient times, hot stones, springs, thermal baths, and volcanic hot air caverns were all used to cope with pain. A heating pad allows you to experience heat therapy-style pain relief in the comfort of your own home while promoting muscle relaxation that causes the pain.
3. How Does It Work?
It works by applying heat to your muscle tissue, which increases your blood flow and causes your connective tissue to become more flexible.
4. Where Can You Buy the Best Heating Pad?
You can buy a heating pad at almost any pharmacy, supermarket or online. We provided links to all our products listed below.
5. Why Should I Buy One?
Even if you aren't experiencing pain today, having a heating pad around the house is a good idea for when you eventually strain a muscle or feel pain. Professional athletes use heat therapy daily to prevent soreness and keep their bodies healthy.
Comparison
Item | Image | Description | Price |
---|---|---|---|
We start with one of the most versatile and comfortable pads on our list. It features two sides of micro-plush fibers which feel smooth, soft and luxurious against your skin, offering maximum comfort. | |||
If you’re looking for a large heat pad to cover a wide area rather than a small, localized area of pain, then we recommend this pad as it comes with 6 different heat settings and promises to be hot within 30 seconds of powering up. | |||
This heat therapy wrap is perfect for your neck and shoulders, delivering deep, penetrating, moist heat to the neck, shoulder, and upper back areas to relieve pain, aches, tension, and stress while promoting blood flow, or just keeping you warm while you watch TV. | |||
The second Sunbeam product on our list features an adjustable heat and cold therapy pad for muscle pain relief at home and on the go. | |||
The next pad is another one designed with the upper body in mind as it is contoured to drape around your neck and shoulders comfortably. It heats quickly, providing fast pain relief to sore and aching muscles and the LED controller provides four different heat options from warm to high based on the level of comfort you require. | |||
Another heating pad from Proaller, it features a versatile design that may be applied to any part of the body. It has a dry or moist option, a 90-day return warranty and is machine washable | |||
No products found. | No products found. | If you’re looking for something with a more natural feel, this best heating pad offers infrared heat and natural jade that penetrates two to three inches deep into your body, reaching below the skin rather than just heating the surface like most electric heat pads. | No products found. |
Our next best heating pad offers a heat patch for full-body relief that is fully heated and ready to help ease your stiff neck or aching back in just seconds. | |||
This best heating pad helps you get rid of the pain by directing a stream of heat towards it, relaxing muscles and making the pain go away. It has a comfortable, micro-plush exterior and versatile design perfect for relieving pain from any area. | |||
The last product on our list is ideal for, in the car, the office or on the go as heat is provided when the pad is plugged into a USB port. If you are somewhere without a USB port, buy a portable phone charger, and you can take this heat wrap anywhere. |
How We Reviewed the Best Heating Pad
We reviewed the following products based on reliability, durability, effectiveness, cost, and comfort. All the products on our list are high quality and designed to relieve pain effectively through heat therapy. We recommend following the instructions provided with the heating pads to maximize their effectiveness and prevent further aggravation of the inflamed area.
Overall Price Range of This Product (and Similar Products)
Heating pads usually run anywhere from around $15 to $300+. Spending more money on a heating pad usually guarantees you a better, more effective, more comfortable and longer lasting product, so if you are someone who plans on using it often for frequent pain relief, then we would recommend spending more to maximize your investment.
What We Reviewed
- 90 Days Return Warranty and Lifetime Service: Please contact the seller PROALLER LLC for a full refund if you’re not...
- MULTIFUNCTION: The pads versatile design may be applied to any part of the body, although it is custom-designed to be...
- DRY / MOIST HEAT OPTION: Enjoy dry sauna like heat or moisten for deep steam room-type relief.
Features
We start with one of the most versatile and comfortable pads on our list. It features two sides of micro-plush fibers which feel smooth, soft and luxurious against your skin, offering maximum comfort. One key on the digital controller allows you to switch between three heat settings to achieve your perfect comfort level and it heats within seconds to provide quick and easy pain relief. These large pads also have a moist or dry option that mirrors the experience of either a relaxing sauna or steam room.
Pros
Cons
- Soothe aches with fast heat therapy XpressHeat heats up the pad in 30 seconds (3 times faster than standard heating...
- Easy to use with convenient features: Easy to operate digital LED controller lets you switch between 6 personalized heat...
- Soft and easy-care Easy care, machine-washable fabric pad in luxurious microplush offers maximum comfort for daily use....
Features
If you’re looking for a large heat pad to cover a wide area rather than a small, localized area of pain, then we recommend this pad as it comes with 6 different heat settings and promises to be hot within 30 seconds of powering up. It is reasonably priced and features an adjustable auto-off option which allows you to tailor the length of your therapy between two hours and up. It also has a micro-plush cover to maximize comfort, and the manufacturer is known for their customer service.
Pros
Cons
- Doctor Designed to match the contour of your body for maximum relief of headaches, neck pain, upper back pain and muscle...
- Every component and function tested, approved and Certified as passing UL Standards for both the US and Canadian...
- Reaches maximum heat output allowed by UL for safety and therapeutics. Maximum initial internal heat reaches over 170...
Features
This heat therapy wrap is perfect for your neck and shoulders, delivering deep, penetrating, moist heat to the neck, shoulder, and upper back areas to relieve pain, aches, tension, and stress while promoting blood flow, or just keeping you warm while you watch TV. It is comfortable and fast heating, featuring a unique design tailored to fit the neck and shoulder area, with slightly weighted edges and a magnetic clasp to free your hands and an easy-to-use slide controller. It also has an ETL Certification approved for safety and quality assurance, so you know it is a high-quality product.
Pros
Cons
- Digital LED controller with 4 heat-settings (Controller Appearance May Vary)
- Moist-heat option for increased heat-therapy effectiveness
- Pad is fully machine-washable
Features
The second Sunbeam product on our list features an adjustable heat and cold therapy pad for muscle pain relief at home and on the go. Velcro straps extend up to 70 inches to secure the heating pad wherever relief is needed, and a detachable control offers five heat settings. It also has a removable hot/cold gel pack to offer muscle relief while on the move, and a comfortable soft fabric pad which is fully machine washable for quick and easy cleaning.
Pros
Cons
- CONTOURED FOR NECK & SHOULDERS: Perfectly contoured to drape comfortably around your neck and shoulders
- ULTRA-SOFT MICROMINK: Smooth micromink fibers provide maximum comfort for daily use.
- FAST-HEATING: Heats in seconds to provide fast, temporary pain relief to sore, aching muscles. Heat ranges from 110℉...
Features
The next pad is another one designed with the upper body in mind as it is contoured to drape around your neck and shoulders comfortably. It heats quickly, providing fast pain relief to sore and aching muscles and the LED controller provides four different heat options from warm to high based on the level of comfort you require. Featuring a comfortable and modern exterior, it can be worn at home or the office so you can experience pain relief without stopping your daily routine.
Pros
Cons
- LIFETIME WARRANTY & LIFETIME SERVICE: Please contact the seller for a full refund if you're not completely satisfied or...
- MULTIFUNCTION: The pads versatile design may be applied to any part of the body. NOTE: Do not sit or put the pad...
- DRY / MOIST HEAT OPTION: Enjoy dry sauna like heat or moisten for deep steam room-type relief.
Features
Another heating pad from Proaller, it features a versatile design that may be applied to any part of the body. It has a dry or moist option, a 90-day return warranty and is machine washable. As with almost any Proaller product, it is made of comfortable, high-quality plush material and is fast heating so you can experience immediate relief. This pad is perfect for anyone looking to relieve pain in multiple areas without sacrificing comfort and performance.
Pros
Cons
No products found.
No products found.
Features
If you’re looking for something with a more natural feel, this best heating pad offers infrared heat and natural jade that penetrates two to three inches deep into your body, reaching below the skin rather than just heating the surface like most electric heat pads. In assisting with stress and depression, the pad delivers negative ions to the skin which are believed to increase your daytime energy levels and bring about a sense of calm and relaxation. While it is a more expensive option, it is also one of the most durable and effective, and we would recommend it to anyone who hasn't had luck with other heating pads.
Pros
Cons
- Oversized 12" x 24 "heating pad: provides maximum coverage of the back, shoulders, legs and other large muscle groups,...
- Material: both sides are made of luxurious plush fabric, very durable. Soft fiber filled center adds comfort to cushion...
- Great for Daily Use: Smooth micromink fibers provide maximum comfort daily use, heats in seconds to provide fast pain...
Features
Our next best heating pad offers a heat patch for full-body relief that is fully heated and ready to help ease your stiff neck or aching back in just seconds. The soft, wrap-like design allows you to target specific areas and has a state-of-the-art LCD controller so you can quickly switch between six different temperature settings. The heat wrap also features a two-hour auto shut-off to conserve energy and help prevent burns from excessive heating, so if you are looking for a heating pad you can fall asleep in, this is the perfect one for you.
Pros
Cons
- WORKS LIKE MAGIC ON SORE MUSCLES! Heating pad for back pain relief delivers a stream of heat to the affected area, eases...
- PLUSHIEST PIECE OF HEAVEN. Heating pad for neck and shoulders is ultra-soft, giving that awesome cozy feeling, wherever...
- MANAGE HEAT AS YOU NEED! Heating pads for cramps provide a low, medium, or high-temperature mode for you to choose after...
Features
This best heating pad helps you get rid of the pain by directing a stream of heat towards it, relaxing muscles and making the pain go away. It has a comfortable, micro-plush exterior and versatile design perfect for relieving pain from any area. It features an incredible five-year warranty, easy-to-use controls and three heat settings all at an affordable price.
Pros
Cons
- ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT - With an adjustable closure and two fit-adjusting cinch straps, the wrap can be comfortable for...
- 3 HEAT SETTINGS - Illuminated temperature control button: Green: Low Heat 95°F, Blue: Medium Heat 118°F, Red: High...
- AUTO-SHUT OFF - The Active Heat Back Wrap will automatically shut-off after 2 hours of use.
Features
The last product on our list is ideal for, in the car, the office or on the go as heat is provided when the pad is plugged into a USB port. If you are somewhere without a USB port, buy a portable phone charger, and you can take this heat wrap anywhere. It features comfortable Qfiber fabric that covers the heat pad to spread therapeutic heat all around the treatment area and expands up to a 42-inch waist with extender straps. While it is a more expensive option, it allows you to always have pain relief and is well worth it for anyone with an active and busy lifestyle.
Pros
Cons
The Verdict
The best heating pad for you depends on what you are looking to do with the pad. If you are constantly on the go or moving about, then the Qfiber USB Powered Heat Wrap is perfect for you and is well worth the higher price tag. If you are just looking for a heating pad to use while sitting around the house, then we would recommend the Moist and Dry Electric Heating Pad with Ultra Fast Heat Technology by Geniani as the five-year warranty means you are getting a long lasting guarantee.
However, if you have a specific area which is constantly in pain, or need something hotter than the pad from Geniani or Qfiber, then the other options on our list may be better for you. If you are experiencing muscle pain, then we recommend any of our best heating pads. Just follow the links provided and experience pain relief through incredible heat therapy today.
Last update on 2021-02-28 at 01:55 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API