As they say here in Canberra, once it hits ANZAC Day, Winter has come. Come it has this year, with a couple of sub-zero temps and we’re now in our winter woolies and reaching for things like Stoov’s new Huddle³ heated cushion.
There’s a range of applications for the Stoov Huddle³ , from replacing a hot water bottle, or heated wheat bag for sore and aching muscles, to helping make watching Winter sports in the great outdoors on cold concrete or stadium seating a little more comfortable.
Priced at $199, the Stoov Huddle³ heated cushion comes in two options, Canvas or Wooly, with four colour options – Midnight Blue, Ocher Yellow, Soft Pink and Moss Green, while the Woolly option comes in two colour options: Soft Beige or Grey.
Stoov have sent over the Soft Beige Woolly model over for me to test out and of course I jumped in with both cheeks as it were.
The Huddle³ comes in two parts, the machine washable woolly cover, and the soft foam cushion. The cover is made from 100% recycled polyester and is machine washable at 30°C. The cushion slips inside the cover from the zipperf at the base, and it’s easy to slip in and out, filling the cover fully without any awkward bunch ups.
The soft, fleece cover is warm, soft and combined with the cushion it’s very comfortable to sit on. Even after a wash the wool retains the softness that it came with out of the box.
The battery connects to a cable in the top. Unzipping the top reveals the cable, as well as the storage pocket at the top.
On the side is the controller, which has the on/off switch, a battery indicator on the rear – and the power level controller on the front.
Controls are simple, and it’s refreshing that for once – ‘There’s no app for that!’. It’s all manual controls, flick the switch on the side and pump it to top heat by hitting that logo on the other side until all three red LEDs are lit and you’re off and racing.
The Stoov Huddle³ comes with the 33Wh Flex battery, a USB charging cable and a Quick Start Guide and Manual – although you can also find the manual online.
A quick note which is going to get super nerdy, but I love this cable. Soft-touch fabric and good solid USB connectors. Nice.
There’s no charger included with the Huddle³ though it supports up to 30W PD charging on the Flex battery.
You can purchase a charger through Stoov for $45 ($34 on-sale at the moment), or charge with your own. You can buy an extended 50W ‘Pro’ battery option for $139 ($105 on-sale at the moment as well) if you want longer time.
The battery had some residual charge in it, so while I was tempted to jump in the manual does recommend charging before first use. Charging from flat to full using the 30W Stoov charger takes just under 90 minutes on the Stoov 30W PD Charger and then you’re back and ready to go.
The Quick Start Guide included in the box lists the battery usage times and well, in practical use it lasts quite nicely through an hour and a half of game time on a Saturday and the same during the cold night training sessions during the week. The “Base’ battery appears to have been superseded by the Flex battery which is now included, so 4 hours on high is fantastic – and a slightly warmer option for an upcoming gala day to get me through a 6.5 hour session will be even better.
| Battery Type | Level 1 (Low) ~ 40°C | Level 2 (Medium) ~ 45°C | Level 3 (High) ~ 58°C |
| Base Battery | 4 hours | 3 hours | 2 hours |
| Flex Battery | 6.5 hours | 5 hours | 4 hours |
| Pro Battery | 10 hours | 8 hours | 6 hours |
How did I use it?
While I planned to use it on game days and training for soccer, I also found it works supremely well for a sore back and also in a cold theatre to keep your butt or back warm.
It’s compact enough to carry fairly unobtrusively – or fit quite neatly into my backpack with minimal folding over and actually sat in my car for a week or two as I found new places that having a warm spot to sit on – or against was a bonus. I’m also fairly keen to take it camping where it will replace a hot water bottle.
Final Thoughts
This thing rocks. If you face a cold winter of sitting on cold, hard surfaces the Stoov Huddle³ heated cushion is a must buy.
The fleece cover is warm and soft, as well as being removable for cleaning which is a big plus. The cushion inside is decently padded giving you some respite from hard surfaces.
The controls are simple to use, and charging is easy, with Battery life is spot on to get you through a full game on a weekend or just warm up your favourite chair at home. The heat levels offer some versatility, varying from a gentle warmth through to a real butt saver on a freezing cold day.
Frankly, if you’re facing some cold steps or grandstands in your future this winter, or even just a couple of dinners outdoors on a cold seat then you need the Stoov Huddle³ in your life.
Daniel has been talking about, learning about and using tech since he was able to toggle switches and push buttons. If it flashes, turns on or off or connects he wants to use it, talk about it and learn more about it. Like this article? Buy me a coffee!
