Beurer’s Cosy Weight heat pad’s not such a hotshot after all

In the cold months, there’s not much nicer than snuggling up under a cosy blanket and enjoying the warmth. But a nice heat pad has also served me well. And they’re pretty versatile, whether you use them for cold legs, stomach aches or tense shoulders. I’m currently testing the HK 145 Cosy Weight from Beurer. In this article, I’ll examine the properties, functions and practical applications of the heat pad in more detail.

On unboxing, the weight of the 1.5-kilogramme heat pad is immediately noticeable. That’s significantly more than conventional heat pads and seems unusual to me at first. According to the manufacturer, this is supposed to help the pad sit better on the body and release heat more precisely. I’m particularly curious to see what this means for me.

Design and finish

The Beurer heat pad’s synthetic fibres feel fluffy yet high-quality. It feels nice on the skin while staying breathable, and it’s comfortable even when used for longer periods. There’s no textile cover, but, according to the manufacturer, it’s machine-washable at 30 degrees Celsius on a gentle cycle. I haven’t tried this yet.

The pad’s well made too. All the seams are clean and strong. One annoying thing, however, is the huge, scratchy information label. Apart from that, I have no complaints.

The design’s simple and functional, focusing on the essentials without any unnecessary decorations. The top of the pad’s flat and smooth, while the bottom has a honeycomb-like structure, with the grey main section surrounded by a teal border. It’s 60 centimetres long, 30 centimetres wide and four centimetres high.

What it does and how to use it

The HK 145 Cosy Weight offers six different temperature levels that you can set on the control panel. During my test, it became apparent that the differences between the temperature levels are barely noticeable, ranging from one to a maximum of three degrees Celsius.

In my test, the temperature ranged from about 24.5 degrees Celsius on the lowest setting to a maximum of 37 degrees Celsius on the highest setting. That’s okay, but there’s room for improvement. For me, it could easily be even warmer.

The heat pad’s quick heating function is a practical feature that worked well in my test. The pad reaches the desired temperature within a minute, which is particularly beneficial on cold days.

Illuminated LED switches make the display easier to read

The display on the control panel with illuminated LED buttons is clear and easy to read, making it easier to use. In general, using it is self-explanatory. However, the control panel may seem a bit large and unwieldy for some. It’s on the cable, about 70 centimetres from the heat pad. I much prefer this to the controls being attached to the pad itself. I’ve experienced this several times with comparable products. The control panel allows me to adjust the settings at any time and I don’t have to do any weird contortions.

The cable is about 2.5 metres long. This means you can reach sockets that are a little further away. During my test, however, I found the long cable annoying when it wasn’t stored properly. It can easily tangle up or get in the way, which makes using it a little more difficult. The heat pad is equipped with several safety features, including automatic switch-off after 90 minutes and overheating protection. These features prevent the pad from overheating, minimising the risk of fire. In my test, these safety mechanisms worked reliably. I find this reassuring – especially when I use it before going to sleep.

Even heat distribution with glass beads in 23 honeycombs

For me, an important aspect of a heat pad is even heat distribution. The HK 145 Cosy Weight does this with filled glass beads in 23 different honeycombs. This ensures that no unpleasant hotspots are created and that the heat is released consistently. The only honeycomb not filled with glass beads is the one with the power connection, so it doesn’t emit any heat.

When tested with a temperature gauge, the differences were marginal. I only measured temperature deviations on the small edges of the honeycombs. But I didn’t notice this in practice.

The heat pad in use

First of all, the manufacturer claims the heat pad adapts well to different areas of the body such as the stomach, back, neck or shoulders due to the (heavy) glass bead filling. I obviously want to test this out, because I can’t really imagine it.

From my own experience, heat is always helpful when I have stomach cramps or rumbling. It calms and relaxes my stomach. The heat pad is ideal for this as a hot water bottle replacement. I can place the pad perfectly on my stomach when I’m lying down and it’s a snug fit. When I’m sitting, the pad is more reliable if I lean back or wedge it between my stomach and my desk. I also like the way it warms my legs and thighs when I’m working on cold January days.

However, my problem areas are my back, shoulders and neck. The heat pad is just too heavy to stay in place due to the glass bead filling. It’s fine for the lower back, where it feels very comfortable due to the even heat distribution. However, it’s no use at all for my upper back, and it’s impractical for my neck and shoulders. It’s heavy, pulling the back of my T-shirt down, and it doesn’t properly cover the areas that I’m particularly trying to target.