Our Experts Written by James Bricknell Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Why You Can Trust CNET 16171819202122232425+ Years of Experience 14151617181920212223 Hands-on Product Reviewers 6,0007,0008,0009,00010,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,000 Sq. Feet of Lab Space How we test CNETs expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.Table of Contents Our Picks Easily washable Pure Enrichment View details $28 at Amazon (on-page coupon) View details Easy to wrap as needed Sunbeam Heating Pad View details $44 at Amazon View details Lumbar and heat support Newgam Lumbar Support Pillow View details $29 at Amazon View details Do not fear sleep Sunbeam Heating Pad for Neck and Shoulder View details $47 at Amazon View details Budget-friendly relief My Heating Pad for Pain Relief View details $23 at Amazon View details Subscribe to better fitness Apple Fitness Plus View details $80 at Apple View details Table of Contents If aches and pains are creeping up on you this winter, a heating pad could be the simple solution you didnt know you needed. Heating pads offer targeted relief for sore muscles -- especially for common trouble spots like the lower back and hips. Generally they are good for pains that come from daily activities, like the toll of a physically demanding job or from being hunched over a desk.For those of us spending our days sitting, often not in the best office chairs, a heating pad can help melt away tension and discomfort without breaking the bank. Theyre affordable, easy to use, and perfect for cozying up in the colder months. Plus, a quality heating pad is a practical gift that anyone would appreciate. Most heating pads deliver some relief for joint pain, neck pain and back pain and can even help with arthritis and cramps. To be clear, if you're experiencing back pain and you don't know why, you should consult your doctor. Trust me, you do not want to let random pain go untreated for long. That being said, let's have a look at what we can use to relieve some pain and pressure. $28 at Amazon (on-page coupon) This is a large heating pad you can wrap around problem spots. I switched to this brand for its more even heating (avoiding hot and cold spots that trouble electric heaters). The control pad lets you choose auto-shutoff or sustained heat until you're ready for a break. Plus, you can disconnect the cord and toss the soft microfiber pad into the wash to freshen it up.-- Jessica Dolcourt $44 at Amazon I suffer from an injury to my sciatic nerve that just loves to flare up when I sit down too much. Working from home, I tend to find myself getting deeply involved in a project and not standing as often as I should, which leads to some pain. When this happens, I know I need to break out my handy Sunbeam heating pad that I've had for a few years now.It's super reliable and has multiple temperature settings to control how much heat it lets off. It's available in a few different sizes, but I picked one of the middle sizes to cover more of my back at once to help relieve my back pain. It has a fabric pad cover, which has stayed clean for the years I've used it.-- Jared DiPane $29 at Amazon During lockdown, I bought one of these for myself to more comfortably work from bed. Then, I got two more to give as gifts to people who didn't know they needed them. Now I can't live without this cushy, portable support.-- Jessica Dolcourt $47 at Amazon $74 at Walmart I grabbed a Sunbeam heating pad because the most important feature of a heating pad, for me, is the ability to shut off automatically. I'm good at taking a painkiller, putting a heating pad on and falling asleep. Not the safest way to live. So it's nice to know my heating pad will turn off automatically after two hours of use. This model fits well everywhere, spreads heat out nicely and I don't have to worry about it being unsafe just because I've dozed off.-- Russell Holly