The heating pad is the part that can be separated from the blanket and that is also the part that will be heated once you plug in the USB. We did not consider hot-water-bottle devices or water-circulating hot/cold therapy devices for this guide. It takes only 30 seconds to feel the soothing heat, right after you’ve chosen the right heat setting for you (out of 3 settings). the bottom of the heater always stays below 65 degrees celsius, no need to worry about overheating to damage the table.

It can also vasodilate blood vessels, which increases blood flow and circulation “to reduce stiffness and pain,” according to Karena Wu, PT, DPT, physical therapist and owner of ActiveCare Physical Therapy. It's also long enough to wrap around your shoulders or leg if needed, but not overwhelmingly large,” Christina Oehler, RYT, Commerce Editor, and product tester says.

When your muscles get sore, your blood vessels may constrict—and the same thing happens when you experience menstrual cramps, says Dr. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Other testers agreed, with one saying this was a blessing in disguise since it lacks an automatic shut off timer, which could lead to burns. You don’t have to worry about it falling off, either, as there are wraps that you fasten around your body. This wearable heating pad for back pain is rechargeable, the heat lasts for 2-4 hours (depending on the temperature setting), and it uses carbon fiber to deliver far-infrared heat – which penetrates deep into your muscles and tissues.

USB charging makes this one the best travel heat pad, and you can charge it and use it in your car, on a plane, or through your computer. The company says it uses a sewing technology that ensures the micro-glass beads have even distribution throughout the wrap. This option from Sunbeam delivers most of the features of other pads on this list at a fraction of the cost. As Hawk, who has been measuring the safety levels of heating pad temperatures for nearly 30 years, explained: “We are not there to judge if what manufacturers are saying is true.If you’re looking for a versatile heating pad, we recommend Pure Enrichment’s PureRelief XL Heating Pad. Many electric pads have an automatic switch-off feature for safety reasons, and they do not heat up to dangerous temperatures. Thus, when testing heating pads, UL does not test to see if the pads reach manufacturer-stated temperatures (it only confirms the pads do not exceed safety limits). 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.