UTK Far Infrared Heating Pad with Natural Jade Stones - Portable Back Pain Relief Heating Pad (19"x15") - Adjustable Temperature, Smart Controller & Travel Bag - Perfect for Home, Office & Travel Use

I own seven different jade mats purchased on Amazon.The quality is not always the same.Click on my name to see other reviews..The big differences with the UTK mat:1) The controller is better, larger and has simple digital readings which are accurate. Temp Controls are not always perfect on other mats.2) The backing material is a more expensive solid vinyl, rather than poly fabric. I actually prefer the thinner poly fabric...it is slicker and produces less smell..3) UTK has been selling on Amazon longer and more consistently the same product line. Other mats are not consistent in packaging and performance.Even when ordered from the same company, the quality varies,particularly the temp control or controller.This is the largest mat I own, nearly full body.These mats from UTK appear to be established and consistent nowthough the price has crept higher and higher.This large mat was the last mat I bought, and I paid half this price for it.The temp control has changed slightly, but this is the best temp control...push button digital. Others use a cheaper rotary dial which CAN work well.Mine has a simple digital controller and the temp is accurate.No other mat measures the temp so easily, so accurately.The temp feels perfect at 103°F, but can easily get up to 122 when other mats are placed together.One mat I own does not get very HOT and it has the cheap rotary control.It is the only DUD I own and I could have returned it but was not sure of the problem until later.After warming, IF THE MAT DOES NOT FEEL HOT WHEN YOU LAY DOWN ON IT there is something wrong.So..If you but a Jade Mat, plug it in and set it on HIGH to make sure it gets hot.Any plastic smell will flash away quickly.The mat should get too hot to be comfortable for long periods.Some mats may actually cause tiny burns if bare skin gets too close to the stones.People worrying about fire risk...the plastic would start to smell really bad if there was a problem.Generally, the complaint I hear is that the mat is not hot enough.You need to be up against the mat to get the heating.Also, some areas of the mat may be hotter than others.WAYS TO GET THE STONES HOTTER:You can either fold the mat over onto itself, stones facing, or place two mats atop one another.stones facing while warming them and all the rocks will share heat and get very warm.This does present a greater risk of overheating. If you want less chance of EMF exposure,get the mats warm before you lay on them.Some buyers will leave the mat exposed to cold air and say it is not working or heating.The stones are only going to feel really hot when they are covered or touching your body.It is not a room heater.Obviously, if I own so many mats, I must find some use for them.Some of things I am treating are, involuntary cramping, slow recovery from exercise,poor blood flow in the legs, tight muscles, pain. Generally I only use these mats in the winter,but they make it very easy to warm up on cold mornings and break a sweat without moving.I was originally using an expensive FIR sauna from Korea with jade rollers, which would have cost me$10,000 to purchase.I figured out that I could achieve better results laying on a large mat and placing two other mats on top of me,rotating the top mats to the arm or leg that was needing more heat. I use this technique in the winter and canbreak a better sweat than in a FIR sauna. the heat from the jade mat is very penetrating and stimulating toblood flow and healing.This is similar to exercising without the increased cardio pulmonary, and risk of injury.Great if you can't exercise or to warm up to start exercising.This mat works better than the hot tub, which easily opens pours and gets me sweating, but there is somethingabout the penetration of the heat from jade that is different, deeper, unique.I compare to my childhood experience of coming out of the pool, shivering cold, and laying on the bricks which hadwarmed in the sun. Anyone who has done this knows how deep the warmth penetrates. It feels good to your cold joints.The first mats I owned were the US company Therasage, Controllers broke often and the cords wore out easily.They had cornered the market, but were plagued by high cost and issues with breaking cords.Then the Chinese mats starting finding their way directly onto Amazon.The mats directly from China have always been better mats for the money.BIG STONES actually cheap, not better.The more small stones the mat has, the more it costs.Cheaper mats use larger pieces of jade to reduce cost, but large stones will not conform to the skinand get close to your body. You should get the stones right next to the skin while wearing thin clothes.After two Therasage Mtas,I bought two 24 by 36 Kendal. The First I ordered was excellent so I ordered asecond and the controller was poor and the mat does not heat well. Watch for sellers that come and go.Then I found this Full Body UTK unit, reasonably priced, and it has worked well.I still need the other mat on top to get the set up to 120°F sauna effect, which is hot enough to cause burns.Silk long underwear will help prevent burns and still allow the mats to get close to the skin.Looks like the controller has changed, but I think UTK watches the quality.The Jade pieces on this mat could be smaller and more smooth.Also the price is at the limit of high.