SunnyBay Hands-Free Heating Pad, Neck and Shoulder Wrap, 26 inch, Navy

I very rarely review what I buy. When I do, it's either because something is really great - 5 stars - or really bad - 1 star; and then usually only after I have had something for a while to make sure it hasn't broken or fallen apart within the first 6 months. I'm making an exception here because I love this thing. I have other hot/cold packs; they're usually filled with some kind of gel. They all generally do the job, but are variously easy/difficult to keep in place where you want it. I like this one best because it's filled with seeds and because it stays in place without my needing to wrap an uncomfortable elastic strap to keep it there. There are three things that are nice about the seeds: one, they are not liquid so the material that holds them doesn't have to be plasticky and impermeable. It's breathable and soft instead, fleecy but thin. This means that the moisture in the seeds can come through, which helps to distribute the heat. Two, the seeds get warm evenly and don't seem to ever get too hot, which is a downside of the gel stuff. Three - and this was a nice surprise - when you warm this up, it gives off a lovely earthy smell - like oatmeal. It reminds me of of my grandma, and it is soothing - just what you want when you're trying to reduce pain. The shape and size make it so that you can wrap it around your neck and it'll stay there. You can also drape it over one shoulder and it'll stay there. You don't even need to engage the elastic. So I can go about my business around the house and it stays in place. This is important because the last thing you want is to be unconsciously using your muscles in order to keep it in place. I've gone to sleep with it wrapped around my neck. It was wonderful. I'd buy it again.

Love this product!

Perfect

Really long review for an item that is seemingly very "simple"... but I hope this helps someone like me. My Story: I've been having terrible neck pain (unknown cause), which has been keeping me from sleeping well for weeks and causing headaches that last for many days. Nothing has really cured my neck pain. But I found that HEAT does help ease my neck pain, and relaxes it enough for me to sleep. Heating pads (electric) are awesome, in theory, because they heat up quickly, and get super hot and stay hot. Unfortunately, I have tried multiple types, even the neck-shaped ones, and none of them are able to get the heat to my actual NECK/base of skull without me folding it or contorting it all sorts of directions. Folding an electric heating pad is not advisable and can cause the heating pad to melt, fail, and/or start a fire. So I was looking for another way... a safer way. I had been looking all over amazon to decide which microwavable neck wrap to get, and I found this one, and I was wary because it only had 2 reviews at the time. I took a chance and I do like it. My only problem with it is that it seems to take a LOTTTT longer than the recommended microwave time to get it to a heat that's hot enough to be, um, HOT! otherwise, it's just kinda warm, and what's the point?! So i'm finding myself spending a lot of time in front of the microwave, at least 5 minutes total, to heat this thing; microwave 1 minute, stop & check, not done, microwave another minute, stop & check, not done, flip, microwave another minute.... and on for about 5 minutes. I don't want it to catch fire like other people's wraps (on amazon) have done, so I must only do it for 1 minute, then stop and check it. DO NOT LEAVE IT UNATTENDED in the microwave! I assume this process is the same for ANY neck wrap that you buy, because they all seem to take freakin forever to heat up, regardless of its quality. I've done one filled with rice, and it took just as long. Note: my microwave is >1100 watts; so, it's not weak! So, I actually ended up using my little neck buddy for a non-advertised purpose, not its primary purpose. I love that it's solid on the inside and soft on the outside. I find myself using it in bed to rest my head in all sorts of positions; sideways, behind my neck for extra support, between my knees, behind my back, etc. I have problems with pillows being too "soft" or giving... Like, you put your head on it, and all the air lets out and you are basically just laying on the bed! what's the point!? Even the extra firm pillows are that way. I also have a memory foam pillow, but that is TOOO HARD! gahhh, is there no middle-ground!? So that's where my little neck buddy comes into play. I like putting my head on it, it's so soft, and i can mold it to whatever orientation that will make me comfortable in the moment. I'm a side-sleeper, so this helps me be able to sleep on my side without hurting my neck worse. I'm not saying this thing is the best thing in the world, but it definitely has become part of my nightly "bedding accessories" haha. Pros: -Once it's hot, it STAYS hot for a while. -Smells like fresh cookies are in the oven when you heat it up! mmmm -Super soft -HEAVY! -Solid! -Loop helps keep it on your neck, freeing your hands. Cons: - Takes way longer than it says to heat the wrap up to a temperature that's hot enough for me to call "hot" and/or helpful for my neck pain.

This thing is a lifesaver. I get horrible neck stiffness and migraines from tech neck and a medical condition I have. All I have to do is pop it in the microwave. 1 star off because it does smell funky and I was sneezing alot. Come to find out I am mildly allergic to whatever grain or stuff is used. Might want to have a disclaimer on the packaging that there's a possibility of that and that it's not odor-free so allergies can occur or if you're sensitive to smell this might be an issue. Not a huge deal, though. It's worth it