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- Effective, portable heat
- Can be turned into a wearable blanket
- A little unwieldy and bulky
- Expensive
This isn’t my first time with a Stoov heating product. In fact, I’m a big fan of the brand, having tested its Big Hug heating pad some time ago. The company uses infrared technology to, as it puts it, ‘heat people not the planet’. I already own several of the brand’s products, so how does this newest iteration of the Huge Hug compare?
It’s not the cheapest to buy but, being battery powered, the Huge Hug is a portable option and is safe to use both inside and out (apart from in rain and snow of course). Think it might be for you? I’ve tested it to find out whether you should invest.
Stoov Huge Hug3: What do you get for the money?
As I mentioned above, the Huge Hug is battery powered. You’ve got a choice of battery types here: the Base level battery (24Wh) will last for up to two hours, the Flex (33Wh) up to three hours and the Pro (50Wh) up to five hours. My sample came with the Base battery. According to Stoov, charging via its 30W USB-C adapter takes one hour, 1.5 hours and two hours respectively. Take note that, while you get a USB-C cable in the box, the adapter is not included, but will cost an extra £17.49.
Stoov heating products work by IR-C infrared technology. Rather than heating the air around you (as, for example, a radiator or fan heater would), electromagnetic radiation penetrates the body for targeted warmth. As Stoov illustrates it on its website, “it warms you from the inside out when it comes into close contact with your body”. It’s similar to microwave tech or the warmth you get from the sun, but without the UV.
After fitting the battery, the Huge Hug is operated via a small control panel (located on a tab Stoov refers to as the ‘Smart Label’). This has a small on/off switch at one end, and a power button on the front to select your preferred heating level (high, medium or low). At the other end of the control panel is its USB-C charging port, which can also be used for charging your phone – should you ever want to do that. Safety wise, the Huge Hug is a low voltage appliance, with an auto-off function and overheat protection.
Measuring 135x180cm, it’s a little larger than many heated throws, such as the Lakeland StaySnug Velvety Navy heated throw that I tested last year. And via the toggles at the edges, you’re also able to adjust the blanket into a sort of poncho or cape with sleeves that can be secured round the neck. It comes in a choice of two fabrics, both with their own colour options: the brand’s original soft fabric is available in terracotta orange or pink, while the woolly version comes in beige or green.
What you’ll pay for the Huge Hug depends on your choice of battery and fabric, with prices starting at £180 (original fabric with Base 24Wh battery) and maxing out at £220 for the Woolly version with Pro 50Wh battery. The Huge Hug is considerably more expensive than even the priciest heated throws I’ve tested, costing nearly £100 more than both the Beurer XXL HD 150 and Dreamland Hygge Days Faux Fur heated throws, which come in at £85 and £90 respectively. However, these options are mains powered, so you’ll need to weigh up your budget with your desire for portability if you’re thinking of buying the Huge Hug.
Comfort, performance and test results
I tested the wooly beige variant of the Huge Hug, with the base level battery. It took me a few minutes to work out how to fasten the blanket together, but once I’d aligned the toggles, I really loved its wearable design. It’s a big piece of material, so being able to wear it like this helps to distribute the weight across the body. And thanks to the toggle fastening around the neck, it feels secure.
I tested it on both a soft, squidgy backed sofa and my firmer office chair and noticed there was a slight discrepancy in results between them, with the Huge Hug definitely feeling slightly hotter on the office chair. I also found that, to get the best results, the trick is to ensure you’ve got the blanket’s heating pad positioned directly underneath you.
Because the Huge Hug warms your body via infrared radiation, I had to make some tweaks to my usual testing methodology. Instead of taking measurements independent of body contact, I used a thermocouple probe and a temperature gun to measure the temperature of the blanket while I was using it. It’s worth bearing in mind that body heat will have an impact here, but these tests are still indicative of the blanket’s effectiveness.
Stoov says that the High setting will warm up to between 50°C and 58°C, with the Medium level reaching 40-50°C and the Low 35-40°C. I measured a temperature of 37.3°C after three minutes of use (on its highest setting), increasing to 47.5°C after 10 minutes.
After around 15 minutes, the temperature was up to 52°C, with the same result born out with the temperature gun across the whole heating pad. These are impressive results that back up Stoov’s claims. I also experimented by wandering off from the Huge Hug for 10 minutes and then retaking the temperature. The temperature had dropped but still maintained some heat, with a reading of 29°C. Upon sitting down again, it didn’t take long for the blanket to warm back up.
One of my other favourite features of Stoov products is that you can use them while they’re charging, although this will, of course, slow down the charging process a little. Charging the base battery uses just 0.005kWh, making this a cost-effective item when it comes to ongoing running costs.
How can it be improved?
The Huge Hug is aptly named, and its size does mean that it can be a bit unwieldy and bulky. Although, as I said above, in its wearable configuration, its weight is more evenly distributed. Another irritation is that the weight of the battery can drag the blanket down, adding to that unwieldy bulk. It’s not a major issue, as you can position it at the bottom of the blanket when you’re sitting down, but it’s worth noting.
I do wish that the heating pad was larger as well. I didn’t have any issues positioning it but I felt that, for the money, it would be nice if it covered more of the blanket itself.
Should you buy the Stoov Huge Hug3?
If you’ve got the money and you want something that’s totally portable, the Huge Hug is a fantastic buy. You can wear it inside and out and the fact that it turns into a wearable ‘outfit’ thanks to its makeshift arms means you don’t need to worry about it sliding off your shoulders. The heat is also incredibly effective and even I, a natural reptile, needed to turn it down to the medium setting as it was simply becoming too warm. It’s economical to run too and, with a choice of batteries, is suitable for short or long periods of warming. In short, it’s a worthwhile investment if you feel the cold.
