Koo-Care Flexible Gel Ice Pack & Wrap with Elastic Strap for Hot Cold Therapy - Great for Sprains, Muscle Pain, Bruises, Injuries, Etc. (Neck, Arm, Elbow, Waist, Knee, Ankle)(Medium)

So I reached in the freezer for the gel pack today, needing to put this around a very problematic venous area near the ankle. And I wondered--did I ever write a review, because this handy pack has, over the past 2 1/2+ years, given comfort to a host of painful areas? I've never used it hot--only cold, but the pack covers a lot of non-torso areas. The attached "envelope" that holds the gel pack, has a Velcro closure at one end, as well as a wide, attached strap that is ample for anchoring it around an extremity or joint. Additionally, an extra Velcro piece is provided separately for an add-on, whether needed for a larger area, or for larger or heavier individuals. This has really been a wonderful little inexpensive device that holds up well over time, ready for use in a snap.

This review is for the small-size Koo-Care Hot/Cold Pack with Wrap. It is as described, but I am disappointed with its effect and effectiveness for cold applications. I have used mine for a swollen area on my lower calf and ankle. The gel pack went straight into a freezer at 2 degree F. After several hours I pulled it out, inserted it into the wrap, and applied it. The gel pack was very pliable, so the wrap made tight contact and stayed put once I stretched the strap a lot so it was fairly tight. I had been using crushed ice in a ziploc bag before the wrap came, which began and remained much colder than the gel pack, for much longer, and was much more effective at reducing both pain and swelling. However, I had to remain in a fixed position (in bed) while using ice this way. Two cycles with gel were both pretty ineffective. Though the box suggests wetting the wrap for greater cold penetration with "severe injuries", I didn't bother to try that because I'm sure it wouldn't make much difference. The temperature of the contents reaches the target just fine with a dry wrap. I am now using ice in a standard size freezer zip-lock bag, rolled up and inserted in the wrap. Ice feels very cold at first, but I get used to it quickly and it stays colder for much longer. The gel pack seems to perform like others I had 40 years ago, which were fine for allergy shot sites, but for me, the wrap itself is more valuable than the gel pack when it comes to real injuries, because I can use it with either cooling medium and remain mobile. If you are sensitive to cold, using gel would probably suit you better than ice. Again, I did not use it for heating. Anyway, the product is of good quality and works.

I like this product... Mostly... My foot is currently in a splint and it's hard to get enough surface contact from the frozen cold pack to get the cold to transfer through the splint. The stiffness of the cold pack can be a little uncomfortable on injured areas too. They're probably great for normal aches and pains. It would also be nice if these were a little easier to orient vertically. For now I put the ice pack against my shin and a combo of the wrap and my pant leg to hold the cold pack in place. Make sure you get the version of this that includes 2 cold packs. They take several hours to get nice and cold again in the freezer so it's nice to have one chilling while you're wearing the other. Looks like Amazon ships these from the west coast. My first 1 day shipping unit never did show up. The 2nd one day shipping unit took 3 days (to get to the east coast)

I have plantar fasciitis from playing tennis which has moved to and affected my knee. This is a great product for applying hands free cooling to my knee. I suggest letting the ice pack sit for around 20 minutes after taking it out of the freezer overnight. Otherwise too cold. I’m 165 lbs and size small works well for knee. The extra strap helps keep it in place. I use it first thing in the morning while reading the news, etc. I also use a relatively soft foot splint overnight. I can see using it for other joint injuries, such as shoulder, neck and foot. Well made and designed, and I’m very particular about such things.

I'm older now, things hurt. These help. Velcro straps /elastic are pretty strong.... Wear out with time but not quickly

I purchased my second one for my mom. She hurt her knee and her old ice pack leaked. She did not know I had thrown away her old one and ordered this one. When it came in she was so happy! It wraps around her knee almost entirely and the pouch was all the rage! Lol! She kept going on and on about the pouch...oh it keeps my knee clean...oh it is so soft on my knee...I can wash it!!! On and on! Then she realized the strap and she called me crying! Happy tears mind you. The fact that she did not have to hold the two ends to get her whole knee was too much!!! Who would have thought an awesome ice pack would be such a huge hit as a gift!?!? Then she froze it. It is so much colder than her old one too! (She called again.) I love the one I got because I can strap it around my elbow, hand, ankle etc and keep going. The strap is really a w/o fearful addition!!! I can honestly say that it stays cold remarkably long too. I can ice my elbow (recent dislocation) then slide it to my wrist to get the other end of that dislocation, then onto my hand (I am a massage therapist and ice my hands often) and it is still very cold when I switch it to my second hand.

Awesome product! The gel is very flexible when frozen and still stays cold for a good 30 min. I recommend wetting it the first time you freeze it to get better cold temperature transfer (no pads transfer well enough for me when dry). I use ice for chronic plantar fasciopathy and found I can wrap this perfectly lengthways from the inside of my heel along the underside of my foot to my big toe and it puts the cold exactly where I need it. Much better than bigger bulkier packs I've used before. I've also used it to wrap my knee and found the strap effective and comfortable enough to move around with the pad in place. I can't imagine needing a different pad and have ordered another of these.

Très satisfait

I love this ice pack because I don't have to worry about holding it in place, I just wrap it around my arm and go about my business. I have tendonitis in my shoulder so I wrap my upper arm several times a day. So glad I bought this. It remains flexible even after freezing so it is easy to wrap around. I haven't tried using it heated yet.

Not large enough and a bit awkward to use