"Effective and durable product" star star star star star I bought this a few years ago, despite reviews saying that it did not transmit heat well. I discovered that the heat level developed within a few days, as the covering material softened. I have continued to use it nearly every day since then. The "collar" around the neck and the wide shoulders distribute heat broadly. The snaps keep it in place, which no other heating pad has done for me. Easy to open snaps or to unplug the cable attachment in order to interrupt a session and move around. Also, it switches off automatically after some period, which is useful in case one falls asleep.