As with any product, there are a few standard things to watch out for when looking for the best ice pack for your injuries.
Size
Before thinking about the size of the ice pack, consider its intended usage.
If you’re likely to be using it on your hands or knees, there’s obviously no need to buy a huge pack. For relief on larger body parts, the arms and shoulders for example, you’ll want something beefier.
Make sure the ice pack you have in mind will fit around the body part completely.
Err on the side of a larger pack rather than getting something that’s not fit for purpose. That said, don’t go for something unnecessarily heavy.
You’ll be keeping it in the freezer so think about storage logistics as well.
If you take these factors into account, it’ll be self-evident which size ice pack would work best for your needs.
Material
You need to look for ice packs that are rugged and very flexible.
Seams are obvious weak points. Look for build quality that won’t let you down.
If there is any gel inside, check user reviews to make sure there’s no feedback about this leaking onto clothing.
How Long Will It Work?
The most common complaint with ice packs is that they don’t stay cold for long enough. This is another area where it pays to scour some user reviews and do some research online to make sure you don’t buy something that will run out of steam.
You’ll want an ice pack that will stay nice and cold for at least 20 minutes, ideally for half an hour.
Does It Work as a Hot Pack As Well?
If you think you’ll also make use of a hot pack, some of these ice packs serve double duty…
Simply toss it in the microwave and you’ll be good to go.
Think about this. Only you know if this is something you’d find useful. Look at here for more benefits of it.
Frequency of Use and User
Is this an ice pack for a single use or do you plan to press it into action on a regular basis?
Ask yourself who in the family will use the ice pack and buy accordingly.
Budget
Price is always a factor in any buying decision. The important thing is that it should not be the only factor.
Ice packs are not expensive. You’re much better to invest in a decent pack that will deliver results.
Rather than being motivated purely by the bottom line, remember this old saying…
Buy cheap, buy twice…
OK…
Now you have a good idea about the basics of ice pack therapy, we’ll quickly walk you through 5 of the best ice packs for injuries so you can get back to full fitness in no time without breaking the bank.
Since these are such basic products, we’re not going to waste your time with needlessly long reviews. We’ll simply outline the benefits of each ice pack to save you the time of hunting high and low for the market-leading products.
Time for the reviews…
