I've been a heavy heating pad user for probably a decade now, and I've gone through many which either died or failed to meet my needs for one reason or another. I use the pad for my bad back (or now sometimes my hip or knee), for my cramps (sorry! but it is true) and for my ridiculously cold feet (because oftentimes *just* my feet are cold - unbearably cold - and the pad is the most efficient fix). Like I said, I've gone through a ton of these guys, but so far - a month into ownership and usage - I very much like this one. Here are some reasons why:
1. This one is fairly large. There are larger, but this combines other desirable features and this one is good enough for my needs. It gets nearly my whole back when needed, or can wrap a decent amount around my back, side and tummy when I need cramps relief. It's also big enough to make a nice tent for my feet when they are cold.
2. It's got a lovely, soft cover! Both sides are great, extremely soft to the touch and I like that the fuzzy green side gives less heat and the thinner tan side gives more. When my feet are ice cubes I put them under the tan side and they thaw out. Then I can set my feet on top of the green to keep them warm without being too hot. Likewise with pain and my back (or whatever). To describe the fabric further, the top is but like a soft terry microfiber and the bottom is like a typical blue heating pad cover fabric.
3. The cover is integrated INTO the pad. I've had a few like these now. You can't always find them in stores but they are so vastly superior that I've come to prefer them exclusively. The integrated cover doesn't shift about. The integrated pad cover doesn't slip off while in use and ruin the shape of the plastic pad as the cover is being held on by a plastic snap pulled tight to end of the pad as the cover slips off the other side. The integrated pad cover doesn't slip off, exposing the super hot plastic which can burn the skin. Since I sometimes sleep with my pad (I know it's supposed to be bad, but you tell my cramps or slipped disc that!) the integrated cover system is especially important for my comfort. This may mean washing is more of a hassle, and a risk for losing the pad sooner, but for me the softness and worry-free USE of the integrated pad cover greatly out-weighs the con of losing a pad sooner due to machine washing wear and tear.
4. This guy heats up FAST and has an array of heating options. It has 6 heat settings and it can be put on a two hour timer, or a no-time-limit heat setting. The latter option is something I have never had in a pad before and I like it as it lets me put the pad on "1" and set it at the end of my bed for keeping my toes warm all night. Or likewise, on "1" and set up in the middle of my back for cramp relief.
5. It's got a good, long cord. I haven't measured it but it has to be at least around 8 feet. It is plugged in at the head of my queen bed and it flops up to set across my feet at the very end of the bed, and there is quite a bit of loose cord under the bed to spare. Long cords eliminate hassle, allowing you to easily use this pad almost anywhere in a typical room.
Cons or things to consider?
1. It's a pricey pad. Though I've paid $25-30 for cruddy pads with the flimsy blue cover held on with a snap from Wal-Mart, so $36 for this awesome pad doesn't seem too shabby a deal.
2. When you put the pad on unlimited timer it seems to waver, and not stay super hot, so people that want endless searing heat may not be happy with this. Though a remedy could be to keep it on 2hr and keep turning it back on again. This has not been a problem for me whatsoever, but seemed worth a mention.
3. Both washability (in machine) and the no-limit timer on this pad may reduce it's lifespan. Time will have to tell, but I've not had any pad last more than a few years of regular use anyway.
Bottom line: This is one of the better pads you can get your hands on with it's lovely integrated cover, good size and long cord. Since "cheap" pads aren't a heck of a lot less expensive, if you use your pad on any sort of regular basis I recommend this as a good upgrade. I've added some photos to show general size and how the fabric looks up close. (Here is hoping Amazon posts them as lately it's been hit or miss with photo adds!) (Update 03/25/2016 - Trying to add the photos again since they didn't post when I initially wrote the review.)
As usual, if anything goes wrong I will update my review immediately. Otherwise I will probably be back in a year or so just to say "she's still kickin'!". Hope this review is helpful and that you find comfort in your heating pad! Best of luck!
UPDATE 01/01/2017: So I have had this pad for about a year and wanted to say it still works GREAT! Best pad I have ever had - hands down. It's soft, comfy, heats really warm or low and slow. I love the "always on" feature as sometimes I use it as my "electric blanket" at night to keep my core warm, or my feet. Or when I am sick, or have an injury I want to warm for longer and not have to lean over to get the dial and heat it up again. Also, I have washed it a number of times. It washes great. I dry it in the dryer, too - on low even though it says to use medium, cause I just want it to stay nice. It still heats evenly and the fuzzy cover is nice looking for an oft-used and washed pad. I look forward to this product lasting a long time and when it goes the way of the other pads in the world - I hope to get another just like it. In fact... maybe I might get one to hold on hand for "just in case" so I don't have to worry about them discontinuing or altering the product. I do very much like it, and I have had a ton of pads. I hope this helps and hope the pad helps you, too! Happy New Year!
UPDATE 02/04/2017: When another shopper left a comment on my review I saw that the burgundy pad was up for about $10 off the normal price and since I use this pad so much, and prefer it so much over any other that I have used in the past - I snapped it up for a spare. When someone in the household needed a pad we gave the new one a try and they liked it the same as I love mine, as it is just as functional and comfortable as the first pad, with fast hot heat, 2hr/stay on shut-off options and the big soft washable fabric cover. I expect it to last as the other has, but will update if that changes. Very glad to get the second at such a good price, but again, these are absolutely worth it at the normal ~$35-40 range when compared to the other pads you will see at the store for $20-30.
UPDATE 11/28/2017: It's been awhile since I updated, but since it's finally getting cold - after a long, hot summer and early/mid autumn - and I've begun to use these pads again to warm my feet and core, instead of just for pain. They are in perfect condition - even my older, well-loved green one that I got about 2 years ago and use constantly. Toasty as ever and looks and feel comfy. Washes well. No cold zones or too hot zones. No smells. No cover slippage. It's just all perfect and I hope they never stop making these cause I assume someday they will have to eventually go bad - but crossing my fingers that is a long, long time from now! Hope yours treat you as well as my two have and provide years of comfort! Happy holidays! :-)
UPDATE 02/05/2019: Well, I have had these two pads for what seems practically forever now! Still work great. Have the original green one at the foot of my bed as I write this update. Keep the red one tucked away most of the time for just in case or if someone needs to borrow one, but mostly as a backup. They have washed well and are still at 100% capacity. Super investment. Love them!
Originally bought this for myself, but turns out my sweet little kitten loves it too! It's just the right size for him and the lowest setting is perfect for keeping him cozy on those chilly fall nights. He can't get enough of this thing!!!
I purchased the Sunbeam Xpressheat Heating Pad (in Burgundy) to replace a thought-to-be lost, but tried and true, smaller Sunbeam heating pad that my family had, I believe 15 years. The original saw us through muscle aches, ear aches, recoveries from surgery, etc. We knew we had to get another Sunbeam, given the “lost” one lasted so long. We purchased the Xpressheat, only to find the original heating pad (a Z-1228-001, with removable cover) after opening and using the new one. C’est la vie. Who can’t use two heating pads in a family of four with a wife who is seemingly continually cold? The following review (which, in some sections will compare my old Sunbeam to my new) offers our experiences with the Xpressheat after a week of owning it.
Pros:
***Cord: Long, 9’. Made of a seemingly-durable rubbery plastic, providing more than enough length to reach from a wall to a reasonably-placed couch, bed, etc. 3’ longer than my old Sunbeam’s cord
***Controller, Offers more customized heating experience compared to the old pad -- 6 levels of heat, auto-off after 2 hours (my old pad doesn’t have this)… or remain on. LCD, in large, easy-to-read numbers, shows selected heat level. Buttons are well executed, with tactile click when pressed. Offers built-in heat meter -- an LED that starts dim and grows brighter as the pad reaches full heat. Pad has lighting indicating the selected mode (i.e., 2-Hour Auto-Off/Stay On).
***Pad: Xpressheat is twice as large as my old pad, providing more heating area on your back, or as a wrap around legs, etc. Heats much faster than the old pad (almost immediately, compared to five minutes to reach full heat on the old pad). Shell offers two surfaces: soft plush side, which gives you a more diffused, radiating-heat experience, and a side similar to typical heating pads, which provides a direct-heat experience. With the material used, hand-washing should be a snap -- a big pro when your pad is being used with someone who is sick. Instructions note the pad is machine washable (while a pro, I’m not entirely sure I’ll take that route). Supports, damp-heat therapy (i.e., spritz, don’t douse or soak, the pad with water) -- nice compared to some pads that use a cheap foam insert for damp heat. Damp-heat therapy is great on dry skin with aching muscles underneath.
***General: Cord disconnects from the pad. You won’t have to worry about kinking the cord when storing it (which is a worry with my old pad). Sunbeam offers a five-year warranty, per the instructions included with the pad.
Cons:
***Controller: Compared to my older pad, controller housing is a lighter-duty plastic. This worries me a little… especially with other reviewers showing pics of their controllers having melted. Still, this was the highest rated pad in its class. With the five-year warranty, I figured I’d give it a shot.
***Pad: Product page specs measure in at 12”x24”. Pad truly measures in at 11.5”x23.5”. That’s a combined full inch of heated goodness lost. Why? Pad heating elements seem substantially thinner than my old pad. Maybe the Xpressheat’s are simply more efficient; but, I see thinner as something that can break or stop working easier. Time will tell.
***Washing: Usually you need heating pads when you’re sick or aching. If sick, you want to be able to wash your pad after use (or if a little one vomits on it, which happened a few times with our old pad). With the old pad, we can simply remove and machine wash the pillow cases my wife custom makes and puts on it. Also, using a mild bleach solution, we can clean the plastic shell. With the Xpressheat, cleaning seems like it will be more complicated. If not hand-washing, I’m slightly confused by what the instructions tell you to do to machine wash the pad. The safety instructions portion of the insert tell you not to “bunch,... or crush pad-avoid sharp folds.” Makes sense. You don’t want to damage the elements. The washing Instructions inform you how to machine wash the pad. Still, the whole submerge and machine wash electrical components thing seems like a bad idea to me. Beyond that, washing machines have tendencies to bunch, crush, and fold things sharply during washing cycles. I think I’ll stick to hand washing, which will make cleaning the pad a little more difficult but will likely ensure longevity.
General Comments (Neither pro or con, just-is): The controller, like the one on my older pad, does get warm. It didn’t get too hot to hold, but it did get warm. I’d expect this, given it’s handling an electrical load and has lighting built into it. Time will tell how well it performs and holds up. So far, so good; but, I will definitely use the auto-off when using the pad at night, in case I fall asleep with it on.
Recommended Purchase?: So far, yes. I think it’s a four-star experience. It loses one star for the lighter-duty controller housing and the thinner heating elements. But, it’s easily a four-star in that the Xpressheat gets just as hot as my old pad, and much, much faster to boot. Also, I love the larger heating area and the customizable heating experience the Xpressheat provides, compared to my old pad, which only offers mildly hot, hotter, and “are you kidding me!?” settings. While I have certain reservations about how easy it will be to clean the Xpressheat’s plush pad, it is truly very soft compared to our old pad. So far, it’s become the go-to heating pad in our household. Give it a shot. You likely find it’ll become your go-to also. If I have a reason to change my review, for better or worse, I’ll do so ASAP. ‘Til then, happy heating.
This is perfect if you:
1. Have back problems (I have two chronic slipped disks)
2. Have arthritic cats (I have two geriatric felines)
One of the first "warnings" on this product is do not use on animals. In saying that - it has an auto shut-off feature and the lowest setting is not too warm. I was just slightly surprised - it was smaller than I thought but that's my fault for not reading the dimensions. Overall, I am very happy with this purchase!
I've been using for two years and it really helps me go to sleep. I put it on the highest setting #6 when I first go to bed and then lower it to 3 or 4 before I fall asleep. You can also set it to turn off after 2 hours. My cat loves it and I turn it on the lowest setting #1 for her to sleep on it after I get out of bed in the morning.
Feature Product
- SOOTHE ACHES WITH FAST HEAT THERAPY: XpressHeat heats up the pad in 30 seconds (3 times faster than standard heating pads) so you get relief fast. Power: 180 Watts
- EASY TO USE WITH CONVENIENT FEATURES: Easy-to-operate digital LED controller lets you switch between 6 personalized heat settings; select-hour auto-shutoff feature helps you conserve energy and prevents excessive heating
- SOFT AND EASY-CARE: Easy-care, machine-washable fabric pad in luxurious microplush offers maximum comfort for daily use. Make sure pad is not foldedor bunched up in any area
- PLENTY OF COVERAGE: King-size pad measures 12" x 24" to cover larger areas that need relief, including spine, legs, and across the shoulders; also features an extra-long 9-foot power cord
- DURABLE FOR YEARS OF USE: 5-year limited warranty
Description
Help arthritic pain and everyday muscle aches fade away with this Sunbeam King-Size Heating Pad with Digital LED Controller. The pad heats up in 30 seconds for super-fast heat therapy. The 6 heat settings let you customize the level of intensity you need to begin feeling better. The pad also features a convenient select-hour auto-off setting for peace of mind, and an extra-long power cord so you can relax in your favorite spot. This ultra-soft pad delivers extra comfort.
I am updating my review to a 5. I messaged sunbeam and they explained it has to plug directly in to the wall. Not a surge protector or extension cord etc. They replaced it for free. Now I plug it directly into the wall. Have had it over a year and it works great!
If the cord detaches from the pad, I just unplug it from the wall and plug it back in to reset it. So absolutely no complaints. It's definitely a 5 now that I understand how to use it.
Old review:
Loved it but it didn't even last a year. I read other people's reviews and they have had the same problem. There is a flaw in the cord. Mine worked absolutely fine and then it got unplugged from the main cord and never worked again. No matter how hard we try to get it to connect or clean the connection point. Made sure its all perfect but still doesn't work.
What a drag. My old one lasted like 10 years. This one 10 months.
I am extremely happy with this Sunbeam king-size heating pad. I love that it has an over ride button so it will stay on until I turn it off this is a feature I haven't found in many heating pads. The controller is quite large with an easy to read screen and buttons. You adjust the heat with the up and down buttons on the controller the setting ranges from 1 to 6. I find that my unit heats up quickly and I usually have it on heat level 1 or 2 for longer period of time use but I have used 5 & 6 when I didn't have long to use or was having a lot of pain and wanted to heat up my back quickly. Another feature I absolutely love is that the cover is part of the pad I was so tired of the other style that would bunch up and not stay flat. The size is wide enough to cover most of my back. I wish I had found this one sooner ( I have 3 I bought and don't like for different reasons but this one has everything better than what I wanted different from these) I am extremely happy with this purchase.
I waited over 6 months to review this pad. I have now purchased 3 for my home use and 2 for family members, all of them work perfectly!
PRO's:
Consistent heat output: I have not experienced any issues with over or under heating, performs exactly as it should.
Timer / Continuous run feature: I use both of these features on a regular basis. Heating is consistent on the continuous run, as with the timer.
King Size: The size is very nice! This one should accommodate people of all shapes & sizes.
Soft: This pad is nice and soft, even without a cover. It doesn't feel like you're lying on a stiff piece of plastic like some of the pads do.
CON's: None yet:)
**if the cord becomes detached from the pad an error will show up on the heat display. All you have to do is plug the connector back in then remove the plug from the wall and reinsert it.
Avoid this pad at all costs...it is a piece of crap!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00474Z0Q4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My mother-in-law teaches therapeutic yoga, and one of her students (an 87 yo woman) said, "I have such difficulty getting out of bed in the morning ... I have aches and pains, and also, I listen to the news on the radio, and it is all very depressing!" My MIL can't do anything about the news, but she asked me to find a large heating pad for her student. (Side note: another yoga student, who had suffered severe injuries in an unfortunate surfing accident, told MIL that every morning she switches on the heating pad for 10-15 minutes, to loosen her muscles and cut down on the aching stiffness. That's where MIL got the idea for the old lady.) I read reviews on the NYT Wirecutter blog (Pure Relief for $35, Sunbeam for $25) and opted for the Sunbeam since price was a factor. My MIL took some convincing that "King size" meant in fact 24" x 12", but once I finally got the okay, I placed the order for a burgundy heating pad (87 yo favors a heavily pink wardrobe). After a couple weeks of use, I am able to report back from the 87 yo: "I still can't get out of bed in the mornings ... because I don't want to! It is SO NICE to lie on top of this pad ... it makes me feel SO GOOD". Thanks, Sunbeam. This has been a total hit. - AM SIL
I've used this heating pad for 3 to 4 years. It heats well and evenly. Like all other heating pads, it's got that awful (but necessary) connector. I'm a small person. I frequently need heat from my SI joint (very lower back to just inside my right shoulder blade. While this heating pad is big enough, that connector makes it uncomfortable. It isn't a problem if I use it perpendicular to my body.
My other problem with the heating pad is the entire control panel glows orange when it is on. If I have a headache as I am trying to fall asleep, I'll put this up to my neck. The light is too bright in the dark bedroom. The flashing orange light when the auto-off function kicks in is pretty obnoxious, too.
Although it is $5 more, I recommend buying Pure Enrichment PureRelief XXL Ultra-Wide Microplush Heating Pad ( https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B075K1GMJ6/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) instead. It is a lot larger and the touch pad doesn't glow.
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