Kayla Young
Infrared heating pads harness the power of far infrared light to generate heat. This heat penetrates through the skin’s surface, reaching the muscles and soft tissues beneath. The heat provides soothing, restorative healing to your aches and pains.
Sweet, sweet relief.
Heating leads to a widening of the blood vessels, allowing for faster blood flow. Increased blood flow to the injured soft tissue facilitates healing. Thus, a great way to tackle lower and overall back pain is to invest in an infrared heating pad.
These heating pads have soothing properties as they strengthen the cardiovascular system, ease joint stiffness, reduce pain, and help reduce inflammation.
After reviewing several of the top infrared heating mats available, we’ve found that the best infrared heating pad is the Thermotex FAR Infrared Heating Pad.
Contents
Best Infrared Heating Pad
Our Top Pick: Thermotex Far Infrared Heating Pad
Key Points at a Glance
- Patented Technology from an established company
- Guaranteed Pain Relief
- Platinum version includes three heat inserts for outstanding versatility
The Details
Thermotex’s heating pad is the best in the market. It is a trusted product, and is registered as a medical device with the FDA and Health Canada. It also meets the necessary manufacturing standards and ISO certifications of trademarked products. Thermotex products are produced with complete compliance and are as close to perfect as possible.
This product naturally relieves inflammation and pain with powerful heat therapy, penetrating further than conventional heating pads. The soothing infrared waves go deep into your body after only 20 minutes, leading to enhanced blood flow.
The enhanced blood flow carries oxygen, nutrients, and proteins to the region being treated. It also decreases lactic acid and inflammation. These enhanced natural properties help your body to heal.
Thermotex has nurtured and supported individuals through pain management and healing with effective scientific technology for over 23 years. There has been a lot of evidence to demonstrate that infrared light therapy is effective. It has long-term advantages for multiple kinds of pain that are often left unaffected by traditional pain management policies.
Thermotex goods provide profound heating that does not burn or dehydrate, and that targets pain and swelling where it occurs.
Due to its versatility, the Platinum model is the most compelling. Designed with 3 heat inserts, you can comfortably use it anywhere on your body. In a flat position, it can be used to tackle back pain or menstrual cramps. It can also be zigzagged in the nape of the neck, around your arm or leg, or thrown over your shoulder.
It’s ideal for treating conditions such as bursitis and arthritis, as well as sports injuries. It comes with a short and long strap to make it easy to use. In some ways, it functions similar to a cold-therapy machine, but it supplies heat instead of cold!
This product comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty. All covers are easy to clean by dry cleaning or washing in a washing machine.
The Thermotex is an outstanding choice for infrared pain relief and should be your first stop on your journey.
- PLATINUM is the most popular due to versatility....
- PATENTED TECHNOLOGY For 26 years Thermotex has...
- TRUSTED PRODUCT Thermotex products meet integral...
- MORE THAN JUST A HEATING PAD Thermotex Far...
- WARRANTY AND CARE A one year manufacturer warranty...
Our Runner-Up: GemsMat – Henri- Far Infrared Heating Pad
Key Points at a Glance
- Adjustable Timer and Temperature Control
- Temperature Display shows the current temperature.
- Automatic Safety Shut-Off Controller
The Details
The GemsMat heating pad is an excellent choice for pain relief and is our runner-up pick.
It is an FDA registered product that comes with many Jade, Amethyst, and Tourmaline Bead Heat Stones. To work the heating pad, you will need a standard electrical outlet.
You then simply set the controller to the desired level and place the heating pad in a safe environment. It has a heating protection system with a heavy-duty controller to set and maintain 86°-158°F / 30°-70°C.
The GemsMat is quite powerful, and will successfully provide potent, soothing heat wherever you need it. There is an easy-to-read display for temperature regulation.
This heating pad controller is equipped with a special safety feature designed to shut off after the alotted time. To restart the controllers, you can reset the time and temperature setting. However, do not leave a powered unit unattended.
The GemsMat heating pad comes with a 1-year warranty. If any part is defective, it will be repaired or placed without any charges as long as it is not excessively tampered with.
The charges of shipping the product back for replacement are the responsibility of the consumer. You should not dry clean, bleach, or iron your heating pad. This heating pad includes a free washable and removable top cover and carrying bag.
For all the features it has to offer, the GemsMat is our runner-up choice.
Budget Pick: SUNCOM Far Infrared Heating Pad
Key Points at a Glance
- Adjustable Strap makes it easy to attach anywhere
- Negative Ion Therapy included
- Smart Controller
The Details
The SUNCOM infrared heating pad is our budget choice. It is easy to use, inexpensive, and functions quite well. Unlike ordinary heating pads that don’t penetrate deep into the body, this carbon fiber infrared heating pad can provide deep heating.
The carbon fiber in the power cord lets far infrared rays penetrate 1.5 – 2 inches deep into the tissues, giving a deep tissue massage and increasing metabolism, blood circulation, and boosting the immune system.
This heating pad has a new design with photon, natural jade, and tourmaline heating elements. It uses new technology which is highly effective in pain relief.
With 100+ pieces of jade stones and 95pcs tourmaline stone, it emits significant levels of far-infrared rays, making it a great choice for pain relief. It also has very low EMF (Electro-Magnetic Frequency). The EMF is lower than any other home appliance emits – so it is absolutely secure. It also provides negative-ion therapy, should that be of interest to you.
To set up the SUNCOM, you’ll need to position the adjustable strap at the back of the heating pad. You can adjust straps depending on your preference. It is pretty user-friendly and has six options to choose from. Great for a variety of body shapes. This product is perfect for treating sore muscles in various body parts, such as your back, shoulders, and legs, etc.
The SUNCOM comes with a travel bag. It features a timer (1-12 hours) and temperature settings, memory function, and an auto shut-off option for additional safety.
The SUNCOM is a great budget-friendly choice for an infrared heating pad.
Best for Travel: Venture Heat Far Infrared Heating Pad
Key Points at a Glance
- Fast, Powerful Pain Relief
- Non-invasive, drug-free heat treatments
- 3 Heat Settings with auto safety shut off
- Packs away for easy travel
The Details
The VentureHeat is a large infrared heating mat, but it packs away for convenient travel use. This FDA-registered product is non-ionizing and has low voltage operation. It is a travel-friendly heating pad (although it does not come with international power adapters). The cozy soft fleece material, along with the innovative carbon fiber heating technology provides movement and flexibility.
This unit supplies non-invasive, entirely drug-free pain relief. It improves blood circulation and oxygen blood levels resulting in relief from various different aches and pains. From something as minor as lower back discomfort and sprains to something as major as arthritis and tendinitis, this will bring the hot relief!
This ultra-large pad uses infrared light which turns to heat quickly once it hits the source of discomfort. The deep heat of infrared light penetrates up to 3 inches, even into the bone matter, delivering the precise amount of heat to increase healing directly at the source and relieving pain.
The VentureHeat is ideal for travelers. It has solid, sturdy construction, and high-quality material allows for it to be a comfortable travel companion. The digital controllers are waterproof so you don’t have to worry on that front either.
You simply need to press the digital heat power button to configure between 3 different heat settings: medium, high or low. There’s also a 1-hour auto shut-off which ensures safety.
This heating pad delivers relaxing relief to different areas of the body without any scalding or burning sensations.
- 🔆 GENTLE WARMING: Not all heating pads are made...
- 👪 SAFE FOR DAILY USE | Experience pain relief...
- ⏲ 10 HOUR TIMER | Plus, a 1 hour high to low....
- ☁ SOFT FLEECE: Our innovative carbon fiber...
- ✅ SAFETY FIRST | Built-in safety chip. Designed...
Best for Back Pain: Back Rescue Far Infrared Heating Pad
Key Points at a Glance
- Effective Heat Therapy
- Far Infrared Penetrates Deep
- Particularly well-suited for back treatments
The Details
The Back Rescue Infrared Heating Pad delivers amazing results. With deeper penetration than standard heating pads, this heating pad reduces pain fast. It is a great home treatment device for sore joints and muscles, increasing circulation and reducing inflammation. It comes with the new non-EMF system and a 1-year warranty.
This heating pad provides relief from a variety of different sorts of pain. After regular use, you’ll achieve long-lasting pain relief. You can walk freely again! You can also get relief from arthritis, fibromyalgia and other serious conditions.
These mats produce negative ions that are known to relieve stress, tension, alleviate chronic depression and fatigue, improve metabolism, flexibility, boost the immune system and increase your overall well-being.
Instead of wasting time and money on massage therapists, physical therapy and chiropractors (many use these mats and charge per session), invest in one Back Rescue Heating Pad for the cost of 6 treatments.
Ordinary heating pads, ointments, and patches don’t penetrate deep into the body (8 inches deep into the tissues) and tackle the problem. Infrared light penetrates giving a deep tissue massage which encourages healing of injuries and wounds in a therapeutic and natural way. All without exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
This mat is better than alternatives – such as an LED pain reliever, light therapy lamp or an infrared sauna – as it has direct contact with your body and penetrates deeper. It is an easy solution to your backaches and pains for sure.
Infrared Heating Pad Buyer’s Guide
Who Should Buy an Infrared Heating Pad?
Infrared heat helps heal your body by increasing oxygen in your tissue, vitalizing your cells, and improving your blood circulation. Many people can benefit from buying an infrared heating pad. These include those suffering from back pain and from any of the following conditions:
- Strains
- Sprains
- Overworked muscles
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
- Inflammation and pain in joints and muscles
- Spinal problems
- All sorts of back pain
- Joint and bone injuries
- Shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Hip pain
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tennis pain
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Golfer’s elbow
Patients with many different conditions can benefit from an infrared heating pad. However, despite being useful for many, there are certain people who shouldn’t be using these heating pads.
These include those who have open wounds, pregnant women, and diabetics who are sensitive to heat.
There are also some things to consider before investing in an infrared heating pad. We’ve mentioned those in the next section.
Important Features to Consider
Heating pads are very common these days, whether it’s for a muscle pull or a pigment tear. You too have likely used one in your life, especially if you damage and injure your muscles easily.
Heating pads come in different shapes and sizes and of various different kinds such as electrical heating pads, chemical pads, microwaveable pads, infrared heating pads, etc. Below are the particular features you should look out for when buying an infrared heating pad.
Heating Adjustments
One of the first things to look for when buying an infrared heating pad is the heating adjustments and settings present on the pad. Some patients need high-intensity heat for particular medical conditions while others benefit more from low range heat intensities.
This is why you need to be aware of what will work better for you and look for it when buying your pad. It is wisest to invest in an infrared heating pad that offers numerous heat intensities because then you can use for different conditions.
Size of the Heating Pad
You need to be careful with the size of the infrared pad when you are buying one. One of the key things to keep in mind is the area that you will be treating. You would not want a very large pad if you are treating a small surface area such as your hand or foot or neck, similarly, you will need a larger pad for areas such as the back, legs, arms, etc.
You need especially spacious heating pads if you are planning to apply them on areas such as your spine and abdomen. You will also need to take into account that you are getting uniform heat and the entire area is well covered by the pad.
And if you’re looking for foot treatment, in particular, you may find that an infrared foot massager may be quite helpful to you.
Heat Up Time
Heating times are of paramount importance. This is particularly true if you need to use the pad multiple times a day, you would not want to wait for it to warm up in hours.
Opt for an infrared heating pad that can heat up quickly and cool down equally fast so that you can save both your time and on your energy bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean a heating pad?
You should wipe the heating pad clean before and after every use. Use a mild non-abrasive soap with a mildly wet towel and before using let the pad dry entirely. Before placing it back in the storage bag, let the pad dry and cool. Do not use detergents or bleach as cleaning agents. And leave it out to dry.
How many times can these heating pads be used daily?
Generally, they should be used for about half an hour per session, as needed but potentially every 2 hours.
Should you place the heating pad directly on the skin or use something between it and the back?
Many companies recommend using a thin sheet or a towel between you and the heating pad. It’s best to start with something in between, and if you decide you don’t need anything, you can remove it.
How do these Infrared Heating Pads work?
Far infrared heating pads, like standard heating pads, have slender wire components inside. When you plug in the cable, these components will heat up. Jade, tourmaline or amethyst discs or stones, or carbon fibers, based on the sort of pad, are inside, along with the heating element.
The component conveys heat to the discs, stones, or fibers.
Then, through the pad cover and your skin, they transfer that heat (called long-wave far infrared) to your soft tissue. Longwave far infrared rays penetrate approximately 4 “to 8” deep.
Jade, amethyst and tourmaline crystals emit adverse ions as well as deep-penetrating heat. Negative ions are said to have all of their own healing characteristics.
It is thought that negative ions generate biochemical responses that generate positive vibes/mood, help relieve depression and stress.
Negative ions also help purify pollutants and allergens from the air. This involves dirt, pollen, bacteria, mold spores, and viruses as well as cigarette smoke after-effects.
They not only clean the atmosphere, but they are also thought to neutralize electromagnetic radiation. This is essential because we have already discovered that small concentrations of electromagnetic radiation are emitted by infrared heating pads.
Note that many people (including me) feel that negative ion therapy is pretty much pseudoscience. There are some weak studies on it, typically no in consumer products, but you should regard all negative ion claims as questionable.
Other Products We Looked At:
UTK Far Infrared Heating Pad for Full Back
No products found.This product is a great solution to relieve muscle tension in different parts of the body. You can sit or lie on it. It has precise heat settings and memory function which adjusts heat to your comfort level. It comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty for the pad and accessories. The UTK’s 10-foot long cord makes relatively portable, allowing you to use it in bed, on your favorite chair, etc.
The 4-hour auto shut off helps conserve energy and prevents excessive heating leading to burns. Hence, it is a safe option. Tourmaline Stones have a lower specific heating capacity (SHC) as the stones heat up more quickly to reach the desired temperature.
It is a bit more expensive than other heating pads, which is why it did not make it to our top 5. But features it offers are pretty compelling!
Key Points at a Glance
- Denser Stone Layout: Increased heating area and the additional tourmaline stones emit much more negative ions than pure jade pads, dramatically enhancing therapeutic benefits.
- Smart Controller: with timer and temperature settings (103-159℉ by 1℉), and with memory function to save your desired temperature, once and always.
- Flexibility. This heating pad is more flexible as it adopts more stones in a tinier size. You now can wrap this pad on different body parts such as your hip or even your arm.
No products found.
UTK Far Infrared Natural Jade and Tourmaline Heating Pad Mats
This heating pad has a versatile size which makes it useful for all kinds of ailments. The material it’s made of is soft and non-toxic. You can sit and lie on it to help reduce pain and muscle tension in different parts of the body. It also has the added feature of a travel bag, keeping it protected between uses.
The Natural Jade and Tourmaline Heating pads allow for heating to stay for a much longer time period, emitting negative eons and provide low EMF heat therapy. Like most other pads, this one has a 4-hour auto shut off feature. Due to the Velcro body strap, the UTK heating pad stays put throughout the treatment session.
The FDA certified this heating pad as a medical device.
Key Points at a Glance
- Full Body Versatility: great for treating sore muscles in different body parts – from your shoulder to your legs, etc.
- More Effective: the effects last a lot longer than other variations.
- Smart Controller: with temperature and timer settings, a memory function and auto shut off.
HealthyLine Far Infrared Heating Pad
This is another FDA registered product that contains natural jade and tourmaline stones. Manufactured in NYC, it provides fast temporary relief from aches and pains. The far infrared rays also provide temporary relief of minor joint and muscle pain.
HealthyLine supplies a sweat mat with its pad which is useful for those who use the pad for long periods of time. Although it is a useful product, it is among the more expensive ones in the market and is not a top choice.
Key Points at a Glance
- Hot stone therapy temporarily increases your local blood circulation
- Negative Ions are beneficial for your lung function and to make your breathing more efficient.
- Made with high-quality materials such as certified gemstones and leather.
HealthyLine Far Infrared Heating Pad – TAO Mat Small 1818 Soft InfraMat Pro
This is an FDA registered product that contains natural Tourmaline, amethyst, Obsidian Jade stones. Manufactured in NYC, this heating pad provides temporary pain relief from aches in as little as half an hour.
It provides deep and soothing relief by improving oxygen levels and blood circulation and providing temporary relief from muscle stiffness and pain in joints and the back. Use on your shoulders, neck, knees, legs, and back.
Key Points at a Glance
- Far Infrared Therapy: is a form of non-visible absorbable light that penetrates the body up to 6 inches deep into the joints, muscles, and tissues.
- Hot Stone Therapy: places intense warm pressure along the stomach or back to relieve muscle tension and stiffness.
- Negative Ions Therapy: – useful for improving lung function, allowing efficient breathing, treating insomnia through serotonin production, and releasing mental stress with increased oxygen flow.
HealthyLine Heating Pad with Far Infrared Radiant Heat Technology
This FDA registered product has natural healing stones – Jade + Tourmaline. Manufactured in NYC, these stones provide deeply soothing relief which helps improve oxygen levels and blood circulation and provide temporary relief from different sorts of pain. You can use it on your shoulders, neck, knees, legs or back.
The results of using this heating pad are fast – you can experience temporary relief from aches and pains as early as in 30 minutes. Using it continuously brings better overall feelings daily. With long term use, you can subdue persistent symptoms of some chronic conditions.
This product comes with a 30 days free trial, a year’s warranty, and a lifetime trade-in and upgrade policy.
Key Points at a Glance
- Far Infrared Therapy: is a form of absorbable non-visible light that penetrates the human body up to 6 inches deep into the muscles, joints and tissues. This Infrared heating pad aims to temporarily decrease inflammation and pain.
- Hot Stone Therapy: Uses hot stones placed on the skin to help soothe stiff joints and boost local blood flow where they are applied. This is a common type of treatment in spa settings.
- Negative Ions Therapy: Beneficial for enhancing your pulmonary function for more effective breathing, decreasing symptoms of insomnia through serotonin production and improving mental health with additional oxygen flow.
Conclusion
Infrared heating pads are evidently great for providing pain relief. From Thermotex’s Heating Pad to the heating pad provided by GemsMat, all heating pads share healing properties which make them a great investment. What makes some heating pads stand out can be seen through the section titled “Important Features to Consider”. Some heating pads have better material and hence are better for travel. Others are less pricey and offer more features such as an adjustable strap.
Your top priority – price, material, size, and heating adjustments – will determine which one you want to invest in.
No products found.
