This post provides a Handwarmer Mug review from an accessibility perspective. Neher Pottery makes the mug, which includes a “pocket” for your dominant hand. I share my thoughts and a loved one’s reaction to write this overview.
I’m still searching for and trying out mugs for accessibility. A family member who has issues with hand-swelling and soreness inspired this quest. I reviewed the CURVD wide-handled mug about a month ago.
This review is of the ceramic Handwarmer Mug from Neher Pottery. I would like to emphasize that the company was not advertising this mug as accessible. In their description on Etsy, they emphasized the “Handwarmer Mugs are designed with an ergonomic pocket so you can wrap your fingers in comforting warmth while you enjoy your favorite beverage.”
In my photos, you can see the mug’s “pocket” into which you can slide your dominant hand. (My family member and I are both left-handed. So, I bought a left-handed version.)
I thought this mug might be more comfortable than a regular mug for the issues my relative has. So, I ordered one for us to try.
Handwarmer Mug Specs
I bought the mug on Etsy. It was regularly priced $24 and on sale for $19.20 at the time I bought it in December 2025.
- Volume: If you fill it reasonably below the top, it holds 16 ounces (450 grams) of liquid.
- Size: 5″ (12.7 cm) tall, diameter about 3.75″ (9.5cm).
- Weight: 1lb. 1 ounce (480 grams) empty. Adding 16 ounces of tea or brings the total weight up to about 2 pounds (918 grams).
- Materials: Stoneware/ceramics, listed as “lead-free.” I chose the “Mystic Water” glaze. At the time I am writing this, this mug is available in 6 other glaze colors on the Neher Pottery shop on Etsy. When I found their Clay in Motion website, I saw they have this handwarmer mug available in over 20 different glazes!
- Care instructions: Listed as dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and ovenproof.
My Thoughts on This Mug
I immediately loved this mug. The vibrant glaze is fun. I also really like being able to wrap my hand around a mug like this, sliding my left hand into the “pocket.” (Again, it’s also available in a right-handed version.) As long as the mug isn’t too hot, to me it’s very cozy and comforting to hold. You’ll want to be careful though–without a handle to give you some distance from the hot liquid, it wouldn’t be safe to hold right after pouring boiling liquid in.
I also immediately suspected that this mug wouldn’t be great for the specific physical challenge that my relative has with her hands. The pocket is fun, but I could only slide my fingers in about up to the knuckle closest to my fingernails. So, if you couldn’t grip around the mug well, that pocket probably isn’t going to help keep the mug steady.
The handwarmer mug is also slightly heavier than the previous CURVD mug that I previously reviewed. I already knew that the weight was the one downside my relative reported about that CURVD mug, even she uses it often and prefers it to her other, regular mugs.
User’s Reaction and Bottom Line
As I suspected, the pocket wasn’t wide or deep enough for my relative’s swollen hands. She held it, went to put her fingers in the pocket and immediately said it wouldn’t work. I know the weight would have also been an issue since it’s heavier than the previous mug.
I’d like to conclude this mug review by declaring that for me, this mug is lovely and feels great to hold…if you don’t have swollen and weakened fingers. So, my hope that it might be accessible–even though it wasn’t advertised that way–didn’t pan out. On the other hand, I gained a beautiful new mug that I enjoy to use to warm my hands and sip tea.
So far, the CURVD mug (the white mug with the wide handle in the nearby photo) is the most accessible for my relative, but not perfect for her needs. I’ll keep searching for the perfect accessible mug for her!
If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them! Please share them in the comments.
Check out other posts on my blog about accessibility and tea: