Dynarex Instant Hot Packs, Single-Use Heat Packs for Immediate Relief, Easy Activation, Instant Heat Therapy for Muscle Cramps, Stiff Joints and Other Injuries, 5"x 9", 1 Case of 24 Hot Packs

These work very well as instant heat packs, much more reliable than the dry packs and these are more inline with medical use that just handwarmers. However the instructions say to squeeze gently to break the inner bag, NOPE you want to squeeze it like it's a poisonous snake and only your grip can save your life! Like many other instant items they make them to handle a lot of handling and not activate on their own, as such you need to apply a lot more pressure than you think to pop the inner bag. Also note that for medical use they have an expiration date, if you are buying them for personal use, you can treat that just like the expiration date on band aids or salt! (yes both have expiration dates)

Gives you 15 min heat , I like them

These state they have a one year shelf life but there is no date or expiration anywhere, so you don't know if you received fresh stock or not. Manufacturer does not respond to inquiry so it is just a guess as to how old this product is when you receive it. Consider this for long term storage.My wife was given this exact product in the hospital and it got very hot and lasted about an hour. These get only luke warm and that only lasts about 15 minutes. I can only assume that they were long outdated when I received them, so beware.July 19, 2013 update. I have gone round and round with the manufacturer Dynarex (888-335-7500) about determining the expiration date and they tell me that there is no practical means of telling the manufacture or expiration date of this product even though it has a 1 year shelf life. They said I would have to work backwards through the seller (Amazon) to the distributor to Dynarex and identify the actual purchase invoice and then they would have to get warehouse records to determine if they are expired. REDICULOUS! And I told them so. Those of you who got bad ones should tell Dynarex so too. How can you sell a product which has a 1 year shelf life but with no means of knowing when it expires. From all the bad reviews I see recently I suspect that Amazon has an expired lot. Working through Amazon they are sending me a replacement for the quantity I purchased to see if they are any better. Amazon is trying, Dynarex is not.

I was given these several times over a long hospital stay and they were a god-send when I had the chills, etc. I immediately thought of my daughter who very frequently uses a hot water bottle, etc., so I did a google search for them and was happy to find them on Amazon.She likes them, but they do not last anywhere near the advertised length and I don't know, maybe in my "hospital brain" I don't really remember as clearly, but it seemed like they lasted me longer there. She complains that they are "dead" in >20 minutes.I'm torn between the three and four star rating as I think they are slightly better than just ok...but, not sure I rate them four stars for the value. I'm seriously torn on my opinion of this product and still working out whether I will purchase again given the mixed feelings about their value.

I bought a case of these previously from Staples, but they're presently out of stock (pandemic) so I ordered here on Amazon. I see a lot of customers here who are having a bad experience with them. I can only speak from my own experience - I've never had a defective one. I use them for migraines, putting it on the back of my neck. I have arthritis in my hands, but I found them easy enough to pop and they don't require much kneading. They get HOT so don't use it if you're going to fall asleep, if you have nerve problems in the area, etc. The packs have a little bit of a sharp edge. Because of this and the heat, I always wrap it in a cloth napkin or tea towel before putting it on. I get really good pain relief, and they are cheap enough (under $1 each) that I don't hesitate to use one when I need to. Hope this helps!

These are absolutely wonderful! I am in the hospital a lot and they won't allow me to have a heating pad that I use throughout the day at home. I bought these and throw a few in my bag before I go. They barely make a noise when you pop them. A roommate wouldn't even ask what that is because it's so quiet. It covers a good part of my back and does get very hot. The first 5 minutes or so I keep it over my shirt and then once it cools a little I put it directly on my skin.Years ago the hospital had these and after about 30 minutes they would cool off and turn hard as a rock. What I really like about this newer version is they stay warm long past their 30 minute "life". They keep my body heat and stay soft so they actually work for about an hour. The price is great for the amount you get and I would recommend these to anyone!

These hot packs definitely don't "last for hours" as I read in another review. Each pack stays fairly hot for about 20-25 minutes MAX before the heat fades fast. It's pretty disappointing, but while it's hot, it does feel good on my various areas of chronic pain and tension.Although the instructions tell you to pop then knead the bag for up to 30 seconds, there's not much kneading to be done. I prefer to mostly shake it, since the plastic bag is very inflated and half full of liquid. The plastic edges are stiff and can cut into your skin a bit when the temp is coming down. When it's at its hottest, make sure there is fabric between your skin and the hot pack.If you deal with a lot of chronic pain, you may be disappointed with these hot packs. It feels like you're tossing your money away. But they're useful for on-the-go pain/tension relief when you can't plug in a heat pad. Also, if you're less than impressed like I am, they cannot be returned. This should be stated on the product page in the first place.

I don't have the strength to bust the packet inside, so I have to put it on the floor and step on it. Works great! Heats up really fast and can be used for so many things. Well worth the money!