This Heated Foam Roller Is Everything I Hoped It Would Be.
When it comes to soothing sore muscles, I have two go-tos: heat and massage. However, I have always had to enjoy these things separately. For a quick and easy “massage”, a foam roller is suitable; And for heating I use a heating pad or, on the way to the gym and back, heated seats in the car. But now there’s a product that brings them all together, and it’s genius: the HotRock Heat Roller .
What is Hot Rock?
Technically, this is not a “foam” roller because it is not made of foam. It is a hard plastic cylinder, hollow inside, that fits into the wall. At one end there is a small screen (to display the temperature) and four buttons for turning on and controlling it. At the other end there is a door, inside of which you will find the power cord attached.
So yes, you will need an outlet to use this thing. (Kind of. More on that in a minute.) This is the size of a fairly standard mini foam roller, just under 13 inches long. The heating area provided by the wires that wrap around it under the cover is approximately 6 inches from the middle of the roller. If you’re hoping to heat up a larger area, like your upper back, you’ll need to do multiple passes.
The outside of the roller is covered in faux leather (“marine grade vinyl” as they call it) and is supposedly removable, although it seems to be a pretty tight fit. Dirt and debris are wiped away so you don’t have to remove the sleeve to clean.
How to use HotRock Heat Roller
HotRock sent me a video to try out. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, I opened the door, pulled out the power cord, and plugged it into an outlet. The HotRock comes with a drawstring bag that is supposed to keep you warm while it heats up, so I used it according to the instructions.
Here’s the basic procedure:
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Plug the cord (located inside the small door) into the outlet.
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Press the Power button to turn on the LCD screen.
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Select temperature (from 125 to 175 degrees in 10 degree increments).
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If you want to use it for more than 30 minutes, press the timer button and use the up and down arrows to set the time (up to 180 minutes).
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If desired, place a drawstring bag on him while he warms up.
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When the roller is hot, remove it from the bag. You can use it as long as it is connected.
How long does it take for HotRock to heat up?
The HotRock is advertised to heat up to 175 degrees in just five minutes, but I found it took a little longer—about eight minutes with a drawstring bag. (The company says that a few minutes before the internal sensor reports the same number, it will feel like the temperature has reached the desired level.)
If you need a lower temperature, it will reach it faster. I found that the temperature reached 130 degrees in about three minutes.
How hot should I set HotRock?
The top setting of 175 was great for rolling your back through layers of clothing, but it was definitely too hot to be comfortable on bare skin. I found the lowest setting of 125 to be perfect for barefoot riding.
There are other heated massage tools, such as the MojiHeat, which can be used in the microwave , but they aren’t as hot—the MojiHeat heats up to 140 degrees for 30 minutes. If you need higher settings or longer runtimes, the HotRock is a better option, but it’s almost twice the price and you’ll have to deal with a power cord.
Power cord problem?
You might think that the cord would get kinked or tangled if you use the roller while it’s plugged in, but I didn’t find that to be a problem. Typically you roll it back and forth over a small area and the cord has enough room to move to handle that. The cord is also long enough that I didn’t feel tethered to the wall; nine feet is enough.
It’s convenient that the roller inside is large enough, so you don’t have to carefully wind or fold the cord. Just insert it and everything will be fine.
But since not every location has an outlet within a nine-foot radius, I wondered if the HotRock could be used after it was turned off. Heated it to 175, then removed the cord and started the stopwatch. The roller maintained a good level of heat for several minutes, and for about five minutes it was pleasantly warm, but not what I would call “hot.” This will be enough for a quick warm-up if you don’t have access to an outlet where you’re doing the foam rolling.
Are there any health benefits from HotRock?
It’s really just another massage tool, so its benefits are that it feels “good to the touch.” The evidence for massage for healing and health is mixed; some sources believe it aids healing or aids mobility. Most experts recommend using heat and/or massage if you find them enjoyable.
My only real complaint with this type of device is that when I want to warm up a muscle (ahhh, relax it), I’m usually not in the mood to lie on the floor and move around while maintaining appropriate pressure on the muscle. the part of the body that I roll (so much work!). But I know some of you like foam rollers, so this might be a welcome addition.
There are reviews from athletes on the HotRock website, and, to be honest , what interested me most was the CrossFit trainer who comes to the gym before 5 in the morning, and it’s so cold in winter. She turns on the building’s heating, makes herself a cup of coffee, and rolls around on the heated foam roller. This sounds divine.
Pros and cons of HotRock
pros
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Combines heat and self-massage.
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The cord is easily retracted in the center of the roller.
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Adjustable heat up to 175 degrees Fahrenheit
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Auto-off timer
Minuses
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There is no beep indicating when the temperature has been reached.
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To use it, you need to be near an outlet.
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Expensive compared to microwaveable rolls.
Characteristics
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Temperature settings : 135, 145, 155, 165, 175 degrees.
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Timer settings : 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 minutes.
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Roller length : 12.75 inches.
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Roller Diameter : 5.5 inches.
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Power cord length : 9 feet