8 Best Portable Heating Pads

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If you have frequent aches and pains, a heating pad is a useful item to have handy.

This is a form of heat therapy that uses heat to increase the blood flow to the affected area. You can experience similar relief when taking a hot, soothing bath.

“Heat often soothes muscles in pain by increasing circulation and helping muscles stretch,” explains Clearing chief medical officer and pain specialist, Dr. Jacob Hascalovici. Clearing is a digital healthcare platform for those with chronic pain.

A heating pad can be used to treat backaches, chronic neck and shoulder pain, and even period cramps.

One major perk is how portable they are. You can take your heating pad with you almost anywhere — to the bedroom, the couch, when traveling, and even in the car. Chiropractor Dr. Blessen Abraham likes that most heating pads are flexible, giving you the ability to wrap them around a joint.

But with so many heating pads on the market — all varying in size, shape, and heat generation method — it can be hard to choose one. Well, worry no more. This article will explore the best portable heating pads available to bring you one step closer to relief.

When looking for the best portable heating pads, we considered the following factors:

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This top-rated heating pad is backed by a lot of praise.

Customers love that it comes with six heating temperatures (most pads only contain up to three) and that it heats up quickly. It can be used for backaches, sore muscles, and cramps. “Purchased this after being in agony for 5 days. Relief was instant on my lower back strained muscles,” one wrote. Another wrote that it helped them with their pain from fibromyalgia.

It comes loaded with features built for comfort and functionality. This includes an extra-long cord, so you’re not restricted to sitting near an outlet, microplush material, and a 2-hour auto-shutoff feature.

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With over 19,000 reviews, this is one of Amazon’s bestselling heating pads. It’s king-size, which makes it big enough to cover various areas of the body, such as the back. There are six heat settings to choose from and the option of moist heat since it comes with a sponge. The controller is designed for easy use by those with arthritis.

It’s an affordable buy that doesn’t skimp on results.

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Sore back? You’ll be in good hands with this heating pad that has over 81,922 reviews on Amazon. It heats up quickly and lets you choose from low, medium, and high heat settings from its control panel. Out of these reviews, 79 percent of users gave it 5 stars, with one writing, “This Mighty Bliss heating pad really has improved my neck and shoulder pain significantly, as I’ve been able to go much longer between chiropractor appointments!”

The pad is made with high quality microplush fibers that are machine washable and built to last. It also comes with a lifetime warranty, so you can rest easy knowing that pain relief is guaranteed for years to come.

Price: $$During your search, you might come across heating pads with dry heat versus moist heat. Moist heat is when you add some type of moisture to your heating pad, usually with a sponge. This helps the heat penetrate the skin and tissue better. It’s also less likely to dehydrate the skin, says Abraham.

Many experts prefer moist heat to dry heat, which is why this Sunbeam heating pad is one of Abraham’s top choices. It has four heat settings. It also has an auto-shutoff feature after 2 hours. The sponge and the cover are machine washable. One major downside is some say that it takes a while to heat up.

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When you’re looking to target specific areas of your body, these portable patches from Sunbeam can help. You attach the patches to the skin, choose one of three heat settings, and enjoy the heat for up to 8 hours.

Unlike other heating patches on the market, these patches are rechargeable, so you can enjoy them again and again. Although, some customers have expressed concern about the patches taking a while to charge.

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Pain relief is essential when it’s that time of the month. This heating pad by GENIANI aims to end unbearable cramps — fast — with three levels of heat therapy. This includes the option of moist heat. There’s also an auto-shutoff after 2 hours in case you fall asleep.

The reviews are mostly positive, with some customers calling it the best heating pad they’ve ever had. They also love the extra-long extension cord.

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Don’t want to bother with cords? Try this microwavable heating pad from Soothing Company. The heat lasts up to 20 minutes (although some customers say that it lasted longer, upwards of 45 minutes).

The soft fleece material makes it feel like a warm hug engulfing your body and the curved shape of the pad fits snugly around your neck, shoulders, and mid-to-lower back. You don’t have to worry about it falling off, either, as there are wraps that you fasten around your body. Just be sure to follow directions, as some customers noticed a burning smell when they left it for too long in the microwave.

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Unlike traditional heating pads, this Sunbeam pad offers a flexible design. This provides targeted heat therapy to the joint, such as on the arm, elbow, ankle, and lower leg. Everything stays in place, thanks to the elastic ends that fasten. Meanwhile, the 9-inch cord makes it easy to move the heating pad around with you.

One reviewer with tennis elbow said they purchased it after basic heating pads weren’t cutting it. “So far, I’m loving it and super happy with my purchase. Heats up really well and wraps nice and tight.” But since the heating pad is targeted for joint pain, you will likely still require a traditional pad for other aches.

While heating pads are an effective pain management tool, they can turn dangerous when used improperly. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to avoid injury.

Do

Don’t

Heating pads come in a wide variety of forms, each with its unique selling point. Place your specific needs first when you choose a heating pad.

You might ask yourself:

If you’re treating local aches or pains, targeted heat pads allow you to place the heat on a specific part of the body for maximum ease of use.

Some heat blankets can make it difficult to isolate and treat joint pain. But with flexible heat wraps, you can fasten the wrap to areas like the arm, elbow, ankle, and lower leg. If your pain or stiffness is more widespread — like back pain — an extra-large heating pad covers more area.

Talk with a doctor if you have frequent or chronic pain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a healthcare professional can help you:

They may recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever like acetaminophen. Other non-opioid relief options might include acupuncture, exercise, or massage therapy.

Remember, while at-home care is an option, you don’t have to self-treat your pain. Talk with a healthcare professional about pain relief options.

Do not apply a heating pad to an acute injury, swelling, an open wound, or use it with pain cream. If you are pregnant, do not apply a heating pad to your abdomen.

Notably, some people with preexisting conditions — like diabetes, dermatitis, deep vein thrombosis, and multiple sclerosis (MS) — may be at higher risk of burns and should avoid heat therapies like heating pads.

Yes. Placing a heating pad directly on your skin for anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes at a high setting may result in a burn.

No. Sleeping with a heating pad on can increase your risk of burns. The Electrical Safety Foundation International does not recommend using heating pads during sleep because it is a fire hazard.

A heating pad can be a good way to manage back and neck pain, as well as cramps. Do not use a heating pad on bare skin, and do not use overnight. Portable heating pads, whether a blanket or wrap, may assist with pain reduction in addition to taking pain reliever, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.