Imagine having to put on two pairs of socks, multiple sweatshirts and several blankets — without any intention of ever stepping foot outside. You’re looking at a day in the life inside my poorly insulated apartment.
The built-in heater works fine. In fact, it warms up the shared living space and my roommate’s room in a matter of minutes. But once that heater is turned off (I have to watch that electricity bill), my room — and only my room — almost immediately turns back into an arctic tundra.
After ordering a pair of fingerless gloves to help me type at my desk comfortably (and then realizing that I actually had to buy a pair of gloves to get through a workday in my own home), I knew I had to find a better solution. I looked up Amazon’s top space heaters and ordered the first one I saw at the top of the retailer's bestsellers list. I didn’t even bother to read the details or reviews. A risk? Sure. But worth it? Absolutely. The GiveBest Portable Electric Space Heater has become my new wintertime lifesaver.
Why I like it
It's so easy to use
Unlike my apartment's heating system, which is hard to regulate (I'll set it to 69 degrees and five minutes later, the room is somehow at a sweltering 76 degrees), this portable space heater's thermostat works with the simple turn of two dials that set the temperature and heat level.
All I have to do is turn the first arrow somewhere between Low and High (up to 158 degrees F), and I actually feel relief the second it turns on. Plus, I can rely on the device to turn off when my selected temperature is reached and back on again when it dips below my chosen setting. There are also two speed settings to choose from: 750W (fast heat) and 1500W (faster heat). Unsurprisingly, I went with "faster heat" right off the bat. With so much hot air immediately blasting out of the device, I expected something to go wrong, or at least, a strange burning smell to emit from it. But it just did what it promised — warm up my chilled bones quickly.
And while it might be the one thing saving me from hypothermia this season, this thing will also come in handy once summer comes around. The temperature dial also includes a fan option, so I can keep cool when the time comes.
I feel safe while using it
I'm the type of person who will drive 15 minutes back to my place if I think I left the straightener still plugged in. I inherited the habit of thinking about worst-case scenarios from my mother, so the more I can do to avoid them, the better off I am. Needless to say, I'm thrilled with the built-in safety features.
As TODAY previously reported, to reduce the risk of a space heater fire, you should look for a device that has an automated timer. Thankfully, the GiveBest Electric Space Heater is designed to shut off automatically when it starts to overheat. It also features a "tip over" protection function, which will immediately turn off the machine if it's not in an upright position.
It’s lightweight and portable
Portability is one of this device’s best features. The handle makes it easy to move throughout my house any time — and anywhere — I need an extra blast of heat. And it’s not a sight for sore eyes like other space heaters, thanks to its size and silver coloring, which happens to match the aesthetics of my bedroom and living room. If your home features a darker color scheme, it also comes in a sleek black shade.
While I can’t compete with the temperature outside, this warming device has me taking my gloves off to fight the chill — literally. I’ve packed up my typing gloves for good. Now that I have my GiveBest space heater, my fingers — and the rest of my body — stay toasty all day long.
What to consider
Even given those features, it’s important to take additional safety precautions when using the heater. I spoke with Joel Hawk, Principal Engineer Manager of Small Appliances for UL Solutions, to get a better understanding of the best way to use my device, specifically where to use it and the environment surrounding it. He advised following the very simple and easy-to-follow “3-foot rule.”
“Manufacturers do have to contain a limited amount of content for safe practices,” Hawk says. “It says not to use near combustible materials within a 3-foot distance. That can include things like drapery, furniture, newspapers [and] even clothes. It’s basically saying keep a clear path or 3-foot perimeter around where you use this.”
Although Hawk and his team do testing on appliances like this to show resistance to combustible materials, he still recommends following this step as an extra precaution. That said, I’ll stop keeping my heater close to my bed(!).
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, you should also always turn the devices off before you leave the room or go to bed. You should keep it on a stable, level surface. Additionally, you want to make sure that it is plugged directly into the wall — the machines draw a lot of electricity, which may be too much for certain power strips and extension cords to handle.
Lastly, Hawk indicates that users should do three things before buying and using a space heater:
- Look for a third-party certification mark.
- Review and understand all the markings on the product.
- Read and understand the user instruction manual, particularly the important safeguard section, which is required to be printed at the beginning of the manual.
More winter essentials to shop
These pocket-sized handwarmers heat up within seconds, and are perfect for outdoor winter activities and sports games.
Associate editor Shannon Garlin says this heated blanket was "a lifesaver" for her frigid apartment. "I've had this blanket for three years, and it's one of my favorite things about winter," she says. "It gets pretty warm, and I use it so much, I want a Queen size for my bed."
I recently tried these fleece-lined jeans, and I wish all of my denim felt this soft. I've been deeply thankful for them during my commutes this winter.
Meet our expert
- Joel Hawk is the Principal Engineer Manager of Small Appliances for UL Solutions.
Why trust Shop TODAY
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Danielle Murphy is the audience development writer for Shop TODAY. She’s been writing for the team since 2021, covering everything from fashion and beauty to product reviews and sales content.
