HOT water bottles are a must-have during the colder months especially if you want to save a few quid on bills.
These days the handy winter warmer comes in all shapes and sizes and have even moved on with wearable styles
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Hot water bottles have come a long way in the past few years, and there are so many options to choose from.
Whether it is a traditional one with a fluffy cover that you fill with hot water, or a “hottie” you can pop in the microwave the choices are endless.
Keeping yourself rather than your whole home warm is a money saving trick that Martin Lewis has highlighted, and means you can avoid switching the heating on to save cash.
I put them to the test to see if they are a gimmick or worth investing in.
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I tried out four from Amazon, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer and Argos, and here are the results.
Owozoi from Amazon
The Owozoi hot water bottle is 72cm long and has a soft faux fur cover with a strap for fastening around your waist and hand pocket section.
It comes in three colour choices, blue, cream, and grey, and according to the description on the Amazon website, it is suitable to be worn around the waist, neck, or as a bed warmer.
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My first impression of the hot water bottle was that it looked cosy with the faux fur covering, but I was concerned that it felt a little rigid given that it needed to wrap around the waist.
However, the instructions said that if you are looking to wear the hot water bottle just half-fill it to allow for flexibility.
So, I did this and proceeded to tie it around my waist and it fitted comfortably.
The ties were made out of ribbon which I thought might not give a great hold when the bottle was full, but it seemed to hold.
I tied the hot water bottle at the front so that the heat was directed on my back, but you can wear it either way.
In the evening I went out for a walk and kept the hot water bottle on, it wasn’t too cumbersome and fitted nicely underneath my coat.
I was pleased with how the bottle felt and it certainly did hold the heat well.
However, the best test is if it stands the test of time, and sadly this one didn’t.
I continued to wear the bottle for the next couple of days and on the third day as went to tie it around my waist, it came crashing to the floor.
The ribbons snapped off almost immediately as I pulled it to tie it.
Therefore after two days, my wearable hot water bottle from Amazon is no longer wearable, well not around my waist at least.
Score 5/10
Sainsbury’s
- Was £12 now £9
The Sainsbury’s at home neck and back hot water bottle is a traditional size and shape hot water bottle inside a furry pouch.
It has a cream velour cover that is removable and also washable.
The cover feels lovely and soft and it also has a pouch where you can place your hands to warm them up too.
One thing I immediately noticed when wearing this hot water bottle was that it felt very hot against my tummy.
It fastens around the waist with velcro and feels very secure, but I did need to loosen it after a minute because the heat became a bit too much.
Once it had cooled down a little this was less of an issue, and I wore it comfortably around the house for a few hours and it felt really cosy.
Overall I think this is a great, cheap wearable hot water bottle and a good option if you want something to wear around the house, or while sitting watching TV.
This one was a little too bulky to wear underneath my coat, so I didn’t take this one out for a walk with me.
Score 7/10
Argos – YuYu Body Bottle
The YuYu Body Bottle from Argos is the most expensive of the hot water bottles I tried.
It claims to offer up to six hours of heat therapy and can be worn around the body, and neck, or used as a bed warmer.
On the instruction leaflet inside it says “how did I ever exist without it” and I wholeheartedly agree.
This hot water bottle is a game-changer and I have worn it every day since it arrived.
The bottle is 75cm in length and available in different colours and designs from grey polka dots to leopard print.
The material is very soft to the touch and is also washable.
It feels instantly more flexible than the Amazon one and more importantly the ties feel more secure.
Rather than being made out of ribbon the ties are cotton, which don’t slip and feel stronger.
There is a little pocket at the front which is quite useful to put your mobile phone in if you like to carry it around.
The instructions also state that you can infuse your BB with drops of essential oils.
It is very discreet and feels so cosy and comfortable to wear, so much so I have sometimes found myself forgetting I am wearing it.
It holds the heat exceptionally well, and on the whole, I would say this is absolutely worth the extra cash if you can afford it.
Score 10/10
Marks and Spencer Fur pocket hottie
While it is not strictly a hot water bottle, the Marks and Spencer fur hottie is still designed to keep you warm.
Filling up a water bottle with hot water can be potentially hazardous, so I wanted to give this a go as it can be a safer option for elderly people or those with mobility issues.
To heat the hottie you just need to remove the microwavable inner pouch from the furry cover and heat it in the microwave.
There are instructions on the pouch as to how long you should heat it depending on your microwave, but it is no longer than 80 seconds.
Before removing from the microwave you need to allow 30 seconds of cooling time and then insert back into the furry pouch.
The hottie is small and light enough to pop inside your jumper, or you could just hold it in your lap.
I am very prone to the cold, and for me, this just did not give off enough heat, or hold the heat it did have for very long.
I wore mine inside my gilet, and while I initially felt the benefit, it lasted no longer than half an hour or so.
I was hoping that this would offer a good alternative to a more traditional hot water bottle, but it just didn’t do it for me.
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This is more of a gimmick than a game-changer.
Score 3/10
