The 5 Best Wrist Heating Pads & Wraps (for Carpal Tunnel/Arthritis)

The wrist – always on the move, constantly in action-  is one of the most vulnerable parts of our body.

It’s no wonder that athletes often face the wrath of wrist tendinitis.

But it’s not just athletes who suffer; people with conditions like arthritic hands, rheumatoid arthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome find their wrist and hand mobility restricted, limiting their daily activities.

This is where a heated wrist wrap steps in, specially designed to tackle wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis hand, among other conditions.

These wrist heating pads are like your personal heat therapists, offering a blood circulation boost, pain relief, and healing – – allowing you to regain control and get back to doing the things you love.

In this post, you’ll find the ones for the money, how we chose them, and how to use them for quick relief and long-term healing.

How Does a Heated Wrist Wrap Work?

Thermal therapy (heat therapy) is basically radiating a certain light wavelength in the infrared range, which is the same as the energy you get from the sun.

The energy delivered from a heated wrist brace boosts blood circulation in the targeted area, which brings more healing nutrients, oxygen, and pain-relieving components, and restores damaged tissues.

Heated wrist support was proven beneficial for any wrist injury, including Carpal Tunnel, arthritis, traumatic injuries, or chronic injuries.

Here’s a direct conclusion from the study linked above:

Continuous low-level heat wrap therapy was efficacious for the treatment of common conditions causing wrist pain and impairment.

Traumatic or chronic injuries often happen to athletes who engage in high-contact sports such as hockey, wrestling, football, etc., but also to bodybuilders and people who overuse the wrist area at work.

Thermal therapy is a natural treatment, with no side effects, and with proper use can reduce symptoms, relieve pain and contribute to long-term healing.

How to Choose a Heated Wrist Band

To make the right choice, let’s explore some important factors:

1. Size and Fit – it’s crucial to select a wrap that fits your hand and wrist comfortably.

You want a wrist wrap that provides a snug yet gentle fit. Look for adjustable straps or wraps with different size options to ensure a good fit.

2. Material and Comfort – soft, breathable, and flexible materials like neoprene or fleece are often recommended.

A wrist wrap made with comfortable material can provide soothing warmth and relief.

3. Heating Options: different heated wrist wraps offer varying levels of heat intensity and adjustable settings (electric).

Some may have multiple heat levels, while others provide constant low-level heat (microwaveable and gel packs).

Look for wrist wraps with customizable heat settings that allow you to find the right level of warmth for your pain relief needs.

4. Ease of Use – consider how easy it is to operate and use the wrist wrap.

Look for features like one-touch controls or simple buttons, as you don’t want to struggle with complicated settings when you’re already dealing with discomfort.

5. Safety Features –  look for wrist wraps with built-in safety mechanisms like automatic shut-off timers, which turn off the heat after a certain period.

👉 In a Hurry?

see our short comparison table below, or jump to our heated wrist wrap reviews below.

Heated Wrist Wrap	Type/Features	Treatment Area	Price
CHEROO Heated Wrist Wrap	Electric Carbon fiber 6 heat settings 4 time settings	Full wrist and palm	✅ $35 on Amazon
dpl Wrist Wrap	Electric LED Light Therapy 20-minute auto shut off	Full wrist and palm Forearm	✅ $99 at Revive Light Therapy
TheraPAQ Wrist Wrap	Gel pack Microwaveable	One side of wrist and palm	✅ $18 on Amazon
ActiveWrap	2 gel packs Microwaveable	Full wrist and palms	✅ $30 on Amazon
Luguiic Thumb-Wrist Brace	2 gel packs microwaveable	Wrist Palms Thumb	✅ $21 on Amazon

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Electric vs. Microwaveable vs. LED Wrist Wraps

There are 3 Types of heated wrist Wraps you can choose from, all have their advantages and disadvantages:

1. Microwaveable gel packs – microwaveable and reusable gel packs, inserted in a Neoprene wrap and strapped around the wrist with Velcro straps. They are less expensive than electric wrist pads, and you can move around with them, but the heat doesn’t last for more than 15 minutes, and they are heavier and bulkier.

2. Electric wrist warmers – deliver infrared heat via heated carbon fiber, and allow for temperature and treatment time control, but most ones require you to stay near a plug, and they are more expensive than gel packs.

3. LED light therapy wrist wraps – deliver near-infrared and red light therapy wavelengths via LED bulbs, do not heat as much as electric ones (no danger of burns), and some are battery-powered – which means 100% portable.

We will show you the best option in the market for each type, and the pros and cons to help you decide.

The 5 Best Wrist Heating Pads (2023 Reviews)

Through our research and after analyzing hundreds of consumer testimonials, here are top picks:

1. CHEROO Hand and Wrist Heated Wrap – Best Electric

The CHEROO wrist wrap emits infrared heat therapy via carbon fiber to the entire wrist and almost the entire hand – except for the thumb. It fits both hands and is made from a Neoprene exterior and comfy fleece interior.

This makes it helpful for arthritis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, and any hand/wrist injury.

It’s simple to operate with its remote control, which allows you to choose from 6 heat settings and 4 time settings.

It is essentially a plug-in heating pad for the hand and wrist, so you can’t really move around with it and do house chores while you are using it, but It heats up almost instantly.

It is EMF-free and has an overheating safety feature.

According to users, you can treat your thumb even though it is not covered by the wrap – by turning the wrap around to get heat on the thumb as well. Also, you need to be careful not to misplace the small remote control, because there is no other way to operate the wrap.

Pros

• EMF free
• Auto shut off and overheating safety feature
• Can relieve pain and increase circulation
• Adjustable wrap

Cons

• It may be easy to turn off the heating pad by accident

✅ Available on Amazon ($35)

2. Dpl Wrist Wrap – Best LED Wrap

The dpl wrist wrap delivers near-infrared rays (at 880 nm) and red light wavelengths (660 nm) through professional-grade LEDs and is battery-operated, which means you can use it on the go, without needing to be tethered to a plug.

LED therapy does not produce as much heat as carbon fiber technology, but the infrared wavelength penetrates deeper under the skin to relieve pain and treat any injury, while you will only feel an enjoyable, low-level heat.

However, it takes 2-4 hours to fully charge before you can use it.

It is a well-designed flexible hand and wrist wrap that you can use up to 3 times a day, for no more than 15-20 minutes each time.

The FDA-cleared dpl wrist wrap covers the entire wrist and all of the palm, and almost the entire forearm as well – and fits both hands.

Pros

• Doesn’t heat up, good for heat-sensitive people and diabetics
• High quality
• Easy to slip on and off
• Cordless and portable

Cons

• May be too small for muscular arms

✅ Available at Revive Light Therapy ($99) 

3. TheraPAQ Wrist Wrap – Best Microwaveable

For a lower price, you can find microwaveable gel packs such as the TheraPAQ, which holds a 10″x 3.5″ gel pack (made from leakproof plastic) and can be adjusted via Velcro straps.

The straps also allow for some compression therapy.

All you have to do is heat the gel pack for 20 seconds in the microwave, place it inside the wrap, and enjoy the pain-relieving heat on the go.

According to consumers, the heat lasts for about 15 minutes, which is also the recommended treatment time.

However, some buyers said that it gets quite bulky if you are trying to work with it, and the heat only reaches the area directly covered by the gel pack, compared with the full hand and wrist coverage you get with an electric wrist wrap.

Pros

• Provides enough stability to protect the wrist from overextension, exertion, or pressure while doing less physical tasks
• Easy to use
• Heat lasts at least 15 minutes

Cons

• May be too short for some people

✅ Available on Amazon ($18)

4. ActiveWrap Wrist Pack – Best for Carpal Tunnel 

The ActiveWrap is another microwaveable gel pack heated wrist brace, but this one comes with 2 gel packs instead of one, which means the treatment area is doubled and includes both sides of the wrist and palm.

While this is more efficient, it does make the wrap bulkier and heavier, which is why many consumers say they prefer to use it when sleeping, or resting.

Again, the Velcro straps allow you to do some compression therapy as well, to boost your treatment.

According to consumer reviews, this double gel pack may not fit people with a wrist size over 8 inches, so make sure to measure your wrist.

Pros

• Covers the entire hand and wrist
• 100% Portable
• Doesn’t hurt to put on for people after surgery

Cons

• No thumb coverage

✅ Available on Amazon ($30)

5. Luguiic Heated Wrist Band – Best for Arthritis

The Luguiic thumb-wrist brace is a low-cost, cordless (nonelectric) one that is fully portable.

You can move around freely with it, as long as you heat it up in the microwave first (10-15 seconds).

It contains two gel pads (a separate one for the thumb) that you can use for hot and cold therapy, and it fits both the left and the right hand.

The heat or cold will last for 15-20 minutes, just enough to avoid possible burns or overheating.

 Pros

• Reasonable price
• 100% portable
• lightweight and comfortable fabric
• heat reaches the entire hand including the thumb
• Comes in 2 sizes

Cons

• No temperature control
• Quite tight on the hand, not good for post-surgery

✅ Available on Amazon ($21)

Is Heat Good for Carpal Tunnel/Arthritis/Tendonitis?

Thermal therapy has been proven for decades to promote cell regeneration, induce biological stimulation, improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and regulate immune functions.

This makes heat therapy possibly very helpful for CTS, which is a common entrapment neuropathy involving the median nerve of the wrist, arthritis, tendonitis, wrist strains, or any type of inflammation.

Generally, continuous low-level laser therapy (infrared light therapy) was found effective for any condition causing wrist pain and injury.

Most doctors agree that using heat is better than using ice to treat carpal tunnel, and is much better at promoting healing – which brings about pain relief.

Is Heat Good for a Sprained/Injured Wrist?

If you have an acute wrist injury, we recommend waiting a couple of days until the inflammation is slightly reduced – before using heat therapy.

We do not recommend cold packs at all since it interferes with the natural inflammatory first response of the body – which is a good thing.

Note: a heated hand massager is especially helpful for hand and wrist injuries!

Is a Heated Wrist Wrap Safe?

The safety of heated wrist braces depends solely on the manufacturer’s quality, and the user, who has to resist the urge to overuse the wrap. High-quality electric wrist warmers have safety features inside (such as auto shut-off and thermostat), and the best gel packs will be leakproof and flexible.

To avoid skin burns and blisters, make sure to only use it for the recommended time, and make sure the auto shut off works well, in case you fall asleep with it.

LED light therapy wraps do not get as hot as regular ones and have a zero risk of skin burns.

👉 For full hand and finger treatment check out the best heated gloves of 2023!

To your health and happiness,

Meital