The best hot water bottle is a cosy essential. As well as hand-warmers and electric blankets, they form part of our warming arsenal for the colder months, offering a simple and affordable way to stay warm when the thermostat drops.
Hot water bottles have been keeping Brits warm for centuries, originally as ceramic containers, then later in the form we recognise today - rubber bottles with screw-top lids. Today you can even get hot water bottles that can target certain areas of your body featuring covers you can slip your hands and feet into.
Best hot water bottles at a glance:
• Best traditional-style hot water bottle: Samply Hot Water Bottle with Knitted Cover - View on Amazon
• Best on a budget: Ram Large Hot Water Bottle with Soft Cover - View on Amazon
• Best wearable: Xuntuo Hot Water Bottle with Waist Cover - View on Amazon
Heat treatments can also be massively beneficial for a range of everyday pain-related complaints from cramps to arthritis, so if you're feeling discomfort or simply want to enjoy the snug feeling a hot water bottle can bring, get that kettle on…
Best hot water bottles
Best traditional-style hot water bottle
Samply/AmazonThis classic choice gives you a durable PVC hot water bottle encased in a soft, knitted cover. The cover is available in a range of colours so you can choose a hue to suit you from pretty pink to cool khaki. The bottle itself has a generous two-litre capacity and a wide-mouth design, making it easier and safer to fill.
Customer review: "This item is nice and snuggly, easy to fill and keeps its warmth, very pleased. Not too big just the right size."
Pros
- Available in over 10 colours
- Wide mouth
Cons
- Only stays warm for three to four hours
Best on a budget
Ram/AmazonRam offers another two-litre capacity choice but at a very affordable price. Ideal for anyone who wants to stay warm on a budget, this hot water bottle is made of rubber and comes with a lightweight fabric cover. The cover designs, which vary from Nordic to plaid to tartan, are chosen randomly, so be prepared for a surprise.
Customer review: "I saw a lot of reviews saying how the pattern wasn't the best… you pay for the surprise I'd say. If you want something specific buy a different product. These keep the heat for ages and a nice little addition for those bad tummy days or if you wanna keep a little extra heat this winter! I'd recommend."
Pros
- Two-litre capacity
- Soft cover
Cons
- Can't choose the cover design
Best fleecy hot water bottle
Bicaree/AmazonAccording to one reviewer, cuddling up to this fluffy hot water bottle from BICAREE feels like snuggling up with a well-brushed pet. If that's your thing, this fleecy bottle has a two-litre capacity and comes in a limited palette of sophisticated, muted tones; cream, grey, green, and to spice things up - greyish green.
Customer review: "When this first arrived, first impressions were that it was not very flexible and smaller than I expected. However, once filled with hot water, it becomes soft like a rubber hot water bottle. The cover is luxurious. It's like snuggling up with a well brushed pet!"
Pros
- BPA-free
- Can stay warm for six hours
Cons
- Limited colour choices
Best long hot water bottle
Urbzue/AmazonA hot water bottle with a long, or 'strip-style' design has the advantage of being able to be manipulated to whereabouts you want the heat. Whether that's for a particular area of your body or simply around your neck, this is a popular choice for many. Urbzue's version has a practical polyester cover and comes in three colours.
Customer review: "Plush cover, robust rubber bottle. Soothing warmth. Stays warm for a long time."
Pros
- Can be angled to suit your needs
- Anti-leak design
Cons
- Can only be filled to two-thirds capacity
Best for keeping your hands warm
Things2KeepUWarm/AmazonInspired by the design of an old-fashioned hand muff, this hot water bottle is specially designed for you to slip your hands into. This can offer warming relief for anyone with Raynaud's syndrome, anaemia, arthritis, autoimmune disease, or simply frosty fingers. This bottle is a great solution to warm your mitts and makes a great gift for anyone else who needs to do so.
Customer review: "Lovely handwarmer. Very easy to use, very soft, and very cosy. Bought as a gift for a friend for Christmas, but am tempted to buy one for myself."
Pros
- Hand muff functionality
- Super-soft cover
Cons
- Only available in grey
Best for feet-warming
Warmtuyo/AmazonHaving cold feet can be a miserable condition that affects anyone with circulation issues, especially those with limited mobility who don't get to enjoy the option of getting up and taking a brisk walk. A foot-focussed hot water bottle can really offer help. This Warmtuyo option will suit anyone with smaller feet, giving you two cosy pockets to slip your feet into and a handy heel cover to keep in the warmth.
Customer review: "Great quality product for a great price. My mum loves this and uses it every night."
Pros
- Anti-slip base
- Heel warmer design
Cons
- Not suitable for larger feet
Best wearable hot water bottle
Xuntuo/AmazonThis multi-tasking option from Xuntuo can be used as an ordinary, standalone hot water bottle or as a wearable choice for hands-free warmth. This is thanks to the fleecy waist cover you pop the hot water bottle into. This cover has a Velcro-style closure and can be placed anywhere you want a dose of heat.
Customer review: "Good quality. Used when had a bad back and also strapped around front when cold in the winter. It is very practical, can put it on and go about the house wearing it feeling the benefits of the heat. Definitely recommend."
Pros
- Bottle is made from thermoplastic PVC
- Dual-use
Cons
- Only one-litre capacity
Best U-shaped hot water bottle
Bauer/AmazonMany of us suffer from tension and discomfort in our neck and shoulders. This is the ideal area to turn to heat treatment to help. This Bauer Professional U-shaped bottle is designed to be placed around your neck, providing a gentle, soothing heat to melt away those tensions. This bottle is available in a range of differently coloured covers, all of which can be conveniently machine-washed.
Customer review: "Love this hot water bottle. It provides great warmth and effective pain relief, and for me has definitely cut down on headaches and use of painkillers for said headaches."
Pros
- Ergonomically-shaped
- Machine-washable cover
Cons
- Can be tricky to fill
Hot or not? When to use a heat treatment
Hot water bottles are fabulous to enjoy as an everyday source of warmth and cosiness. If you're thinking of using one if you are feeling pain or discomfort, do consider the following:
• Applying heat to an area of your body basically loosens muscles and can stimulate blood flow to that area.
• If you have circulation issues, blood flow stimulation is crucial to get your veins pumping blood to all the right places.
• Warmth can also help with muscle flexibility meaning you're less likely to experience strains and sprains.
• If you are using a hot water bottle for pain relief reasons, experts advise only doing so for 20-minute periods at a time.
What is the lifespan of a hot water bottle?
This really depends on how much you use your bottle. The rule of thumb is to replace it every two years, but this might not be necessary if you only use yours occasionally. The best advice is to check your bottle for leaks as you're filling it, and ensure the top is still watertight at every use.
Should you put boiling water in a hot water bottle?
Not according to manufacturers. The common guidance given is don't fill your bottle with water over 80 degrees Celsius, and add some cold water if you're not sure of the temperature. The other safety aspect to consider is to ensure you gently squeeze out any air before you seal the bottle to avoid bottle bursts.
Can I use a hot water bottle every day?
If you follow the safety guidelines, there's no reason you can't use a hot water bottle every day. Just be aware that if you have your bottle close to your skin on a regular basis you could develop "erythema ab igne," a skin reaction rash which is caused by prolonged exposure to heat. If you are concerned you're using your hot water bottle close to your skin too often consider an alternative, such as a heated gilet.
Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.