Koo-CareFlexible Gel Ice Pack & Wrap with Elastic Strap for Hot Cold Therapy - Great for Migraine Relief, Sprains, Muscle Pain, Bruises, Injuries (Head, Neck, Arm, Elbow, Knee, Ankle)

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 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.

I have mixed reviews because of a few things. First and most importantly let me say this, I have had migraines all my life and this is the ONLY ice pack that has EVER helped me. I am 43 years old so that is saying a lot. Nothing ever seems to help my migraines except for some reason this. This is very flexible and I can use it with or without the cover (depending on how bad my pain is) It also seems to last for quite a while. My problem is this: it seems to take a LONG TIME to refreeze again. I guess it might get cold enough but it doesn't seem to freeze. I am so elated at the relief it provides I am more than happy to buy more, but I feel that anyone who is looking at this product should be aware of my experience. I hope that is as amazing and helpful for you as it has been for me. My rating is 4 because as far as the pain relief goes it is WAY BEYOND 5 STARS, however since it takes so long to refreeze, I had to cut it down to 4.

After bunion correction surgery, I had a hard time finding an ice pack that would be large enough and cold enough for what I needed. This totally fits the bill!!This ice pack as can be seen from the pic covers from the top of my big toe to the base of my ankle (I’m a women’s size 6) And boy does the ice pack stay cold!!!! Penetrates my bandages, and after icing for 20 min there is VERY LITTLE temperature difference than when first applied out the freezer. Which is perfect if your trying to re-ice in another hour.DO NOT get the smaller version (9.8”x 4.7” clear pack with visible blue gel). I first bought that ice pack based on someone’s review, but it didn’t quite fit around the whole length or width of my foot. An issue I could’ve dealt with if it had got cold enough and stayed as cold as this larger one. It needed a few hours in the freezer before it was cold enough to reuse. So I decided to give this larger ice pack to try and it’s all you’ll need...No back up ice pack. Now I’m ready for my left foot surgery.

Great for icing or heat therapy. I have to ice my right knee as much as possible because it's almost always slightly swollen and sometimes even warm from friction due to the cartilage behind my kneecap being rigid caused by a small kneecap fracture a few years ago. Point here is I got the medium one and I use it about every day and I can say that this gel pack does exactly what you need it to and has no issues. I always hated using Ziploc bags with ice because that wastes plastic and gets everything wet from condensation. The other option was one of those hard ice packs used for keeping lunches cold, but that is just annoying to try to keep balanced on your knee, and it condensates too. I've also heated this up in the microwave for my back muscles sometimes, and I very much appreciate that it can be nuked directly from being frozen because I always keep this in my freezer. I honestly think everyone needs one of these because you never know what body part you may need iced or warmed up one day and the Velcro strap and extender strap are extremely helpful.