This article reviews several of the hot water bottles currently available on the market today. Hot water bottles still serve the same purpose as they always have. Some forty-odd years ago, I remember my mother using a rubber hot water bottle to ease aches and pains. When it was filled with hot water, it gave off an odd odor. It was slippery when wet, and sometimes it would leak at the opening, especially when the stopper was not placed exactly right. And finally, when we would want to empty the bottle out, we would have to stand over the sink or tub holding the bottle until it would completely drain. Fortunately, designers of hot water bottles have actually managed to improve upon the original design.
The “Goodhealth Water Bottle” is available at quite a few stores, both online (even Ebay) and bricks-and-mortar and combination stores, such as www.CVS.com. There are two versions of this bottle; one is the basic hot/cold therapy bottle holding a maximum of two quarts of water; the other is essentially the same hot water bottle with attachments to use it as a douching system as well as a hot water bottle. Both versions feature the traditional hot water bottle shape that has been in vogue for decades. For a rather standard item, the price still surprisingly varies several dollars from store to store. MedShopExpress.com offers the basic Goodhealth Water Bottle for $7.91 before shipping, while CVS.com offers it for $10.49. This classic-styled water bottle, latex-free, comes in red, and can be used by nearly any teen or adult. Care should be taken when using any hot water bottle with the very young, as well as the elderly.
The “Homedics Massaging Hot Water Bottle” offers a new twist on hot water bottles by offering a massage option (2 AA batteries are required). This slightly-smaller, 1.5 quart hot water bottle can be used with or without the massage option, and comes with a removable, plush terrycloth cover that is washable. This item might best be appreciated for individuals using heat therapy to soothe injuries; conversely, the massage feature might be quite annoying to someone trying to settle an upset stomach. It comes with a one-year limited warranty. The hot water bottle is priced in the mid to upper $20 range; I found it at CVS.com for $24.99, and at Sears.com for $29.99. The massage unit is attached to the screw cap, which can make opening and closing the bottle slightly more difficult to use.
While most stores offered only one or two hot water bottle options, www.FashionHot.com by far offered the most choices in bottles, as well as a variety of coverings, depending on the type of hot water bottle purchased. The next five options all were found at www.FashionHot.com.
The “Classic Single-Ribbed” hot water bottle from FashionHot.com is designed very similar to the traditional rubber hot water bottle, but incorporates some nice updates. This hot water bottle is made from a thermoplastic compound, so there is no old rubber smell. The bottle is pliable and can be folded over for storage. Manufactured with no seams that might split and permit leakage, the Classic Single-Ribbed hot water bottle appears to be quite durable. Rather than leaving the two sides smooth, this water bottle has a ribbed pattern on one side, and a cross-hatch pattern on the other side. The ribbed pattern is designed to spread the heat evenly across the contact points, whereas the ribbed side provides more intense heat contact points. Another nice feature is that at the bottom of the bottle there is a small hole for use in hanging the bottle upside down, to allow for easy drainage. This hot water bottle comes in a choice of three colors: Red, White or Blue. Other than the mouth area, the bottle is roughly rectangular, being 7.75 inches wide and 14 inches in length. This bottle is good for nearly any adult who might have need of a hot water bottle, and the ribbed side is especially useful for those who might be sensitive to heat, such as the elderly. I would hesitate to recommend the Classic Single-Ribbed hot water bottle on a child, since it covers a whopping 108 square inches and children typically have more delicate skin than adults. Priced at $19.97, the total cost for the Classic Single-Ribbed hot water bottle rises to $28.32 when including shipping by U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail.
FashionHot.com offers a nearly identical “Classic Cross-Hatched” hot water bottle where both sides have the cross-hatch pattern, for $19.47 plus shipping, for a total of $27.82. This hot water bottle should not be used by anyone who has a difficulty feeling the level of heat on their skin, such as the elderly, since the cross-hatch pattern provides more intense heat contact points. FashionHot.com offers a variety of plush coverings to fit their Classic water bottles, both the Classic Single-Ribbed version as well as the Classic Cross-Hatched version.
A “Children’s Classic” version, nearly identical to the adult Classic Single-Ribbed hot water bottle is smaller (10 inches by 6 inches for a total coverage of 60 inches), is available in a choice of pink or blue for $14.47 plus shipping of $4.90, for a total cost of $19.37. The “Children’s Classic” version is also suitable for adults who might want a smaller hot water bottle for special uses, such as when traveling.
FashionHot.com offers several unique water bottles embedded in plush coverings designed to simulate typical children’s plush animal toys. For example, “Danny Dog” embeds a smaller hot water bottle inside the “pillow stomach” of the dog. This is a great way to add psychological comfort to a young child who may not be feeling well, as they can cuddle their new “Danny Dog” friend, which is definitely friendlier in appearance than any other typical hot water bottle. Of course, friendliness comes at a price; the Danny Dog hot water bottles are priced at $34.95 before shipping costs. There is also a “Cuddly Bear” version for $39.97. In both cases, the water bottle is slightly smaller than the Children’s Classic, but all of the bottles are well-made and appear to be reasonably durable. Access to the water bottles is through a Velcro panel placed in the back of the plush animal covering.
Clearly, there are water bottles to suit nearly anyone’s needs, from child-friendly to elderly-friendly, from mild contact points to more intense contact points, or with or without massage. It simply is a matter of determining what the consumer wants, and then completing the purchase of the hot water bottle.
