Feeling chilly? Here’s our hot water bottle test
19.2.2024
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Hot water bottles can be a lifesaver. But which one’s the best? I tried out four of them, and one model really stood out.
When it’s really cold and miserable outside, your feet feel like blocks of ice and your whole body’s chilled to the bone, there’s only one thing for it. A good old hot water bottle. But which one’s the best? The range spans classic hot water bottles, electric models, feet warmers and warming soft toys with or without a lavender scent. Prices also differ quite a bit. While some of them will cost you just a few euros or francs, others are quite expensive.
I wanted to find out which model warms you up the best, fastest and longest? Also, how easy are the models to use? Which factors would encourage or stop me from buying any of the hot water bottles? To answer these questions, I put four of them to the test. The result surprised me.
The electric model: my unexpected favourite
The rechargeable hot water bottle by Unold was the first model I tested. I must admit, I only included an electric warmer in the test to add a bit of variety. Unlike conventional models you fill with boiling water, this one heats up in just a few minutes after you’ve switched it on. And that’s exactly what won me over. After all, I’m usually already tucked up in bed when I feel I could do with a hot water bottle. And then I mostly can’t be bothered getting up and going to the kitchen to boil water. That’s the reason I used the model by Unold more often than all the others I tested. With the charger close to my bed, I was able to keep my feet nice and toasty without having to get up again. This made it a delight to use.
Source: Anna Sandner
I gave the electric warmer extra points for its soft cover and belt. The latter allows you to tie it around your belly or back, so you can apply heat exactly where it’s needed, even when you’re moving.
Source: Anna Sandner
My verdict on the Unold model
- easy charging
- comfy and handy belt
- high-quality finish
The foot warmer: fluffy special feature
I was particularly excited about testing the Vog Protect foot warmer. After all, feet are prone to feeling cold quite quickly. At least mine do. The foot warmer’s designed to warm them up again in no time. However, it turns out that this relatively pricey product is, in fact, a very ordinary hot water bottle. To make matters worse, it also gives off a very artificial smell. The only thing that’s different from conventional models is that its cover has two pouches on the top to slip your feet in.
I was expecting the walls of the foot compartments to be filled with hot water, too. But that’s not the case. On the plus side, the material’s super fluffy, which somewhat makes up for the bottle’s weak points. What’s frustrating is that I constantly have to wriggle my feet for the ridge of them to get a bit of warmth, too. It’s basically the same effect you’d get with a bog-standard hot water bottle. Nevertheless, the basic idea is good. For example, when you’re sitting at your desk and the fluffy warmer acts as a mixture between slippers and a hot water bottle.
Source: Anna Sandner
My verdict on the Vog Protect foot warmer
- great idea, not fully implemented
- amazingly fluffy cover
- gives off a nasty synthetic smell
Microwaveable plush toys: toy meets lavender
Stuffed animals
EUR26,62
Warmies Warmth stuffed animal chimpanzee lavender filling removable pack
30 cm
I like pragmatic solutions and that definitely includes a cuddly toy that’s also a hot water bottle, or a hot water bottle that’s also a cuddly toy. Warmies are just that and are also available with a lavender bag.
Meanwhile there’s a huge range of toasty animals out there – from bears to sloths in all shapes and sizes. Some animals feature a removable cushion filled with lavender-scented millet seeds in their belly. The cute Warmies heat up quickly in the microwave and retain warmth very well. There’s no boiling water involved, so there’s no risk of getting the plush toys wet.
Source: Anna Sandner
But even the cutest animals would be impractical if you couldn’t wash them. Fortunately, Warmies are machine washable. If you’ve got a model with a millet seed cushion, simply remove it before washing. The lavender scent is still quite strong, even after several weeks of use. Having said that, it’s likely to lose its smell over time.
Source: Anna Sandner
My verdict on the Warmies
- handy and cute
- quick heating in the microwave
- available with lavender filling
The classic model:cheap and cheerful
Last but not least, your ordinary, water-heated hot water bottle. I tested a model by Relaxdays. It’s by far the most inexpensive model I used for my test. Unfortunately, when I unpacked it, I was hit by a very unpleasant chemical smell. Even worse than with the foot warmer, which was already pretty bad. After a few weeks of use, however, the hot water bottle has been aired out to some extent and no longer smells as bad as it did at first. Other than that, the Relaxdays model does everything you’d expect from a hot water bottle.
Source: Anna Sandner
My verdict on the Relaxdays bottle
- inexpensive
- tricky to fill with water
- unpleasant smell
Overall verdict
All four warming devices do their job. But I was really impressed with the Warmies and the Unold bottle. The latter I used the most because of its easy charging that doesn’t involve (wasting) water. It was closely followed by a Warmies soft toy because it’s easy to heat up and scores extra points for its cute and cuddly factor. I had expected a little more from the Vog Protect foot warmer, but it works quite well as warm slippers when I’m working at my desk. The Relaxdays hot water bottle is inexpensive and does its job.
Source: Anna Sandner
Header image: Anna Sandner
Science editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always outside - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.
