From traditional to microwavable, wearable to extra-fleecy, here are our favourite hot-water bottles for winter
• Winter essentials to get you through the cold snap
Call me old before my time, but I find hot-water bottles particularly comforting. I can’t be alone, either: once the relic of grandparents’ bedrooms, hot-water bottles are having a revival. Maybe it’s the effects of high energy prices, or an increasing desire to achieve cosiness.
But how different can hot-water bottles really be? Fill them, hug them – job done, right? Well, yes and no. Since hot-water bottles have been trending, manufacturers have upped the ante. Yes, there are the traditional hot-water bottles sloshing about with bellies full of hot water, but there are also rechargeable hot-water bottles, which often stay warm for far longer. And, many people prefer the comforting weight and safety of microwavable “hot-water” bottle alternatives, often filled with natural grains, such as wheat.
Best overall:
CosyPanda majestic mustard waffle hot-water bottle
Best budget:
Argos hot-water bottle with chunky knit cover
