14 Portable Heating Products That Can Help Relieve Pain
Editor's Note
We hope the products below, all recommended by our Mighty community members, help you or a loved one in your health journeys. Just so you know, The Mighty may collect a share of sales from the Amazon links on this page. Prices and product availability are accurate as of publication.
For many with chronic illnesses, heat is an extremely important part of their pain management routine. While electrical products such as heating pads are a popular go-to choice, one of the downsides is that you have to be near an outlet while using them. This generally isn’t a problem at home, but if you’re out with friends, waiting in a doctor’s office, traveling, etc., plugging in a device may not be an option.
Whether your ventures out of your home are daily or few and far between, having some portable heating products to bring with you can help soothe your pain and ensure you stay warm and comfortable while you’re out and about.
(Note: While heat helps some people with chronic pain, others find cold to be more effective. Talk to your doctor to find out what’s best for you.)
So, we asked our Mighty community to tell us which portable heating products they use to relieve pain and stay warm on the go. Here are their recommendations.
1. Rice Pack
A rice pack can be microwaved to provide heat therapy for parts of your body affected by chronic pain. The flannel casing on the rice pack above can also help keep you comfortable and warm.
“A rice sock,” said Beverly Gwin. “Sometimes heating pads are too big to target the pain I have. So I take a long tube sock, fill it with plain white rice, uncooked. And then I heat it in the microwave for two minutes.”
Buy the rice pack above for $14.99 from Amazon.
2. ThermaCare Heat Wraps
These lower back and hip heat wraps are designed to perfectly fit around your back and hips to provide direct heat therapy for chronic pain.
Capri Sprazzle told us, “I like the ThermaCare heat wraps. They have all kinds of shapes and sizes. Though a pack of two lower back wraps is over $6 at my local Walmart. It can get really expensive. I wish insurance would allow a monthly allowance for over the counter medications and supplies.”
Buy the heat patches above (pack of 6) for $24.12 from Amazon.
3. Back on Track Mini Blanket
The Back on Track Mini Blanket contains a ceramic powder that reflects your body’s warmth and creates a soothing infrared warmth for both comfort and pain relief. It can help improve blood flow and reduce inflammation.
“Back on Track Mini Blanket,” recommended Tui Willson. “No heating required. It reflects body heat into infrared rays [and] reduces inflammation.”
Buy the blanket above for $44.95 from Amazon.
4. Snap Heaters
These small and portable snap heaters get hot by simply bending them until they “snap,” providing instant warmth and pain relief when you’re out and about. They’re even reusable, and can be “re-charged” with heat by being boiled in water.
Kourteney Kennedy recommended, “Click heaters! They come with braces too, heating pads made for a knee brace, back brace, etc. They’re easy and quick to heat up (just click the metal circle), and you just boil them in water and can reuse them whenever.”
Kathy Hensley added, “I have pads that I activate by clicking a small silver button. They are great when you won’t be near an outlet.”
Buy the click heaters above (pack of 8) for $22.95 from Amazon.
5. Heated Car Seats
If your car doesn’t have heated seats, these seat cushions should do the trick! You can adjust the level of heat to accommodate your pain and symptoms on the road by plugging it into your cigarette lighter. (If you want to use it at home though, you can do that too! Just plug it in using an AC adaptor and set it up on your couch, office chair, etc.)
Karen Jean wrote, “Thankfully my car has heated seats and they don’t turn off, ever! I love them.”
“I drive a lot and heated seats are the best. Definitely good for lower back!” added Emma Hooker.
Buy the heated car seats above (pack of 2) for $43.99 from Amazon.
6. Perfectly Posh Hot Pepper Sha-Bang Muscle Stick
This muscle stick is made with capsaicin from hot peppers, softening cocoa butter and a blend of essential oils. It provides warm, deep pain relief for aching muscles.
“Perfectly Posh Hot Pepper Sha-Bang Muscle Stick,” recommended Katie Denney Martin. “It’s a skin stick that uses capsaicin from peppers. I just put it on where I need relief, and within moments there’s a warm, soothing sensation that helps relieve aches and pains!”
Buy the muscle stick above for $23 from Poshified.
7. EnergyFlux Ellipse Rechargeable Hand Warmer
This rechargeable device will stay hot for up to seven hours to keep your hands warm and help reduce pain. It also has a USB port so you can charge your electronics no matter where you are.
Tricia Lynn recommended, “EnergyFlux Ellipse Rechargeable Hand Warmer! I found it on Amazon and it goes everywhere with me. Total game changer.”
Buy the hand warmer above for $29.99 from Amazon.
8. Deep Heat Gel
The Deep Heat rub delivers both heat and pain relief when applied. Available in the UK, this helps soothe muscle aches and ease stiffness.
“Deep Heat gel! It burns like hell but it works wonders after the initial burning sensation dies down. It’s mainly my legs that get flare-ups, so I’m forever rubbing Deep Heat on my legs!” Alice Elizabeth Scott wrote.
Buy the gel above for $6.23 from Amazon.
9. Hotteeze Hand Warmers
These hand warmers from Hotteeze can be held to relieve pain and keep your hands warm for up to 10 hours. Hotteeze also carries heat pads specially designed for your feet and heat pads you can stick anywhere on your body. (Note: Don’t stick these directly on your skin – make sure you always have a layer between you and the heat pad.)
Jac Metalmama said these are the best things ever.
Buy the hand warmers above for $5 (pack of 10) from Hotteeze.
10. Thermophore Moist Heating Pad
The Thermophere heating pad provides moist heat to help soothe your aches and pains. The one featured above is 14 in. by 27 in., but there is also a petite version that measures 4 in. by 17 in.
Jennifer Etzwiler wrote, “[I use] my neck-size Thermophore moist heating pad, wrapped in a hand towel to keep it clean and keep it from getting too hot. My dentist recommended it. When I went to buy it, the man at the store told me, ‘Don’t ever loan it to anyone, you won’t get it back!” I’ve recommended them to other people, let them use it at my house, but I’ve never lent one out. Oh, and they last forever! More expensive than your drug store variety, but worth every penny!”
Vanessa Butler Bordlee recommended the Battle Creek Thermophore, full size.
Buy the heating pad above for $56.95 from Amazon.
11. Car Charger and Outlet
Not a heating product per se, but if you have a trusty heating pad or other electrical device you just can’t go without, this device allows you to plug it in while traveling in the car. It fits into the cup holder and plugs into the cigarette lighter, and can power up to four devices at once (three USB ports and one outlet).
Melissa Houck told us, “I haven’t found [a portable heating product] because I like mine really hot. I just try my best to make my non-portable ones portable with stuff like this [featured above].”
Buy the car charger above for $14.95 from Amazon.
12. HotHands Warmers
These air-activated hand warmers can be stored inside your pocket to keep your hand warm and help relieve pain if you’re out in cold weather. The warmers also come in different styles for your feet and body.
“HotHands brand hand warmers and shoe insoles,” recommended Abigail Robertson. “Walmart carries value packs of the hand warmers in the hunting and camping section.”
Stephanie Wyss said, “It’s hard to beat Hot Hands if I need true portability.”
Buy the hand warmers above (pack of 40) for $27.02 from Amazon.
13. Heated Scarf
With a small battery pack keeping it heated wherever you go, this scarf is far from ordinary. It will not only keep you warm, but could be helpful for those with neck or shoulder pain as well.
Sara Hill said, “I have a battery-powered scarf. Now to find something bigger for my legs…”
Buy the scarf above for $18.30 from Amazon.
14. Portable Electric Blanket
An electric blanket is one of the best ways to stay warm and cozy while also relieving widespread pain. But one of the downsides is that it can only be used near an outlet. A battery-operated electric blanket solves that problem and can be used to relieve pain and keep you toasty while you’re on the go.
Angelina Hart told us, “I’m currently exploring portable, battery operated, electric blankets. Unfortunately, cost is a barrier.”
Buy the blanket above for $29.99 from Amazon.
For more recommendations from our community, check out “20 Heating Products That Can Help Relieve Pain.”
Paige is passionate about helping people with chronic health issues share their stories and connect with one another.
paigewyant