Should You Buy a Stoov Cushion? My Honest Review
If you’re anything like me and you tend to really feel the cold over the winter months, then you’ll probably have seen lots of ads for Stoov. This company sells a variety of infrared heating products including dog beds, seat cushions and bottles, but I decided to keep things simple and invest in the original Ploov cushion. As a self proclaimed ‘chilly billy’, I was wondering whether one of these cushions would help to take the edge off the cold and perhaps even reduce my heating use until it gets a bit warmer.
Here is my honest review of Stoov, how it works, and whether it’s worth the price tag.
So what Stoov product do I have exactly?
I own the original Ploov cushion, with the standard battery and knitted fabric in Old Green. It’s 45 x 45cm in size and the heat lasts for 2.5 to 5 hours, depending on the heat setting that you’re using.
There are lots of other Stoov products available, from the Woov dog beds, Homey heating bottles, Big Hug heating pads and One heated seat cushions, but I decided to stick with the Ploov to begin with. It cost £99 in total, which includes an extra £10 for the knitted fabric cover.
All of Stoov’s products make use of the same infrared technology, which means that when the heating element is pressed against your body, less heat is lost into the air and more is absorbed into your skin (as explained by Stoov on their website).
How it looks
I’m pleased to report that the Stoov Ploov looks very much like an ordinary cushion. The green cover is quite muted, which I like, and the knitted style is comfortable and good quality. It’s also the perfect size - about the same as the rest of the cushions that I have at home on my sofa. From a first glance, there’s nothing that makes it stand out from any other cushion in our home.
Functionality
Once charged, the cushion is very easy to use. The heating element tucks just inside the cushion cover, and the heat itself can be controlled using a tab attached to the side of the cushion.
Upon using the Ploov for the first time, I found that the heat from the highest setting didn’t feel as warm as I had expected. This has continued with more use, and my main piece of feedback it that it just doesn’t seem to be as warm as is advertised. The cushion cover itself doesn’t seem to warm up that much, and the heating element definitely doesn’t feel like it reaches 42 degrees C. That’s not to say that it doesn’t actually reach that heat, it just doesn’t feel as warm as is advertised. The warmth doesn’t migrate across the cushion so it’s usually just one specific spot that heats up, which is also not what I expected.
Having said that, the cushion seems to work a lot better when I have it in bed or under a blanket. It makes a very cosy addition to a cold night and heats up my ice cold feet very well.
Top left: This is the tab that you use to turn the cushion on and set the heat
Top right: This is the back of the tab which shows the charging port and the on/off switch
Top left: This is what the Stoov Ploov looks like when it’s turned on
Top right: That black layer is where the heating element is inserted
Should you buy one?
Well, it really depends on what you want to use it for. If you’re hoping to have something really warm for the cold weather, this might not be the right product for you. In my opinion a hot water bottle is much more effective, especially if you’re looking for something that is really very warm. Having said that, I don’t dislike the Stoov Ploov. It’s a nice warm cushion to have in bed at night, and it does take the edge off the cold winter nights. I also think I’m going to enjoy using it on summer evenings when the sun goes down and it starts to get chilly but I still want to sit outside reading a book.
Overall, the Stoov Ploov cushion is a mixed bag for me. It has a small impact when considering the cost, and a simple hot water bottle can be much cheaper and more effective. I do love the aesthetics and the concept behind the Stoov technology, I just wish that the heat packed more of a punch, and I don’t think it’s going to be helping me to save on my heating bill.
Take a look here if you’d like to purchase a Stoov cushion for yourself.
I’d love to know what you think so if you have a Ploov, or any of their other products please leave a comment so that I can hear your thoughts!
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