The 5 Best Reusable Ice Packs To Keep Things Chilly [2021]

Single-use products are becoming a thing of the past. Now, more and more people are trying to find the most environmentally friendly version of a product they can.

This is why so many people are moving away from regular ice packs and towards the more sustainable reusable packs. But, what’s the liquid inside made of? And are they better than ice?

What To Look For When Buying Reusable Ice Packs

Before purchasing your reusable ice packs, there are a few things I’d like you to think about. It will save you from making the wrong decision.

And finally the cooling-Time:

Again it’s the same deal; different gels can stay cooler for varying amounts of time. If you need prolonged use, choose a pack with the longest cooling time.

What Are The Best Reusable Ice Packs

If you’re struggling to find your perfect cold pack, don’t worry. I understand how hard it to find suitable products; there are just too many options out there.

Which is why put together a list of the best reusable ice packs.

Take a look:

NatraCure

This reusable ice pack comes in for different sizes to pick from, a couple of the sizes even come with a multi-buy option.

But, that’s not the only choice you get; you can also choose if you’d like the ice pack to come in a strapped or unstrapped version.

Their proprietary gel stays colder and frozen for longer than most brands. It takes around 2-3 hours to fully freeze the packs.

Once frozen the cold pack can last anywhere between 30 minutes and 2 hours depending on the size. NatraCure provides more flexibility than other brands.

Key Features

One customer brought it for their husband, who has had over five shoulder surgeries. He was thrilled with the product, they stayed cold for ages, and didn’t look like it would ever leak. But, that doesn’t always seem to be the case, I noticed complaints about the bags leaking over time.

NatraCure provides you with excellent pain relief options. They have a vast range of sizes, one of them is big enough to cover your back completely. The extra thick nylon provides fantastic durability and leak resistance. I imagine the customer review about it leaking was a faulty product.

ICEWRAPS

ICEWRAPS are perfect for small injuries, and they’re flexible even when frozen. The packs can freeze within 2-hours of entering the freezer.

Their cold therapy bags are made with a medical-grade plastic lining to help prevent leaking/punctures.

The company uses all-natural and safe materials when manufacturing their products, which is why it’s FDA approved.

They come in a pack of 6, and each one can be used as a hot or cold compress; it’s up to you what you decide. They come in a small size of 3″ x 5″ inches, perfect for traveling.

Key Features

One customer mentioned it was great for the smaller areas of the body due to its small size. The packs also stayed cold for around 45 minutes, which kept people happy. They also liked that you could heat the pads for a different style of pain relief.

Overall they’re a nice little hot/cold compress; they freeze quickly and heat up even quicker. You get six in a pack, which is plenty to keep them rolling in the freezer. Even after freezing, they remained pliable, although freeze them too long, and this can change.

Snappy Heat

You have all the cold therapy options with Snappy Heat, add that to there heating ability, and you have an all-round pain relief pack.

They come in a box of seven with four different sizes available. Inside the soothing gel can heat up quickly while freezing easily.

They feature a soft cloth backing made with a PVC material, so you don’t need a towel.

Even when frozen, the reusable pack is flexible, giving you more significant contact with the skin.

They last for about 20 minutes after coming out of the freezer. And about the same amount of time from the microwave.

Key Features

People loved the fact they came with cloth backing; it made it more convenient due to them not needing a towel. One customer’s child tried to chew through the bag, and it didn’t break, but it’s something to think about. The main concern was they didn’t last long enough.

It isn’t the first time I’ve featured a Snappy Heat product, and for a good reason, they work excellently. They come in various sizes so you can add them to different areas. They’re also very durable compared to other brands I’ve seen while searching online.

WORLD-BIO

The manufacturer has 18 years’ experience in producing ice packs, so it’s no wonder they’ve made it on to the list.

Once in the freezer, it takes 30 minutes to freeze, but for best result should be left in the freezer for 2 hours.

The ice pack is 4″ inches in diameter and has a soft cloth back.

Their packs can be placed on any part of the body you choose, to help stop inflammation.

The product comes in a pack of 12 and includes a free smooth bag to add comfort. Each pack is made with a PE outer shell so it won’t split or puncture.

Key Features

People loved how well they worked, and that the small size made it easy to transport. They also loved the soft pocket it came with was perfect for beauty regimes. One concern was that the edges became sharp once the reusable ice packs were frozen.

These are great ice packs for personal care, such as health problems and beauty care. The soft pouch is perfect, removing the feeling of tired eyes. They worked a lot better than your regular packs at cooling and heating. I also liked the fact they offer a refund policy.

PAINCAKES

PAINCAKES use a stat of art re-stickable back on their ice packs. They can be placed where ever you choose and can be restuck over 100 times before it starts to fail.

That means no tape and no straps are needed to hold it in place. And the best bit is, it doesn’t leave any sticky residue behind.

Their ice pack is five inches in diameter and can hoover just above the skin to surround the infected area.

It takes 60 minutes to chill and should be frozen in the resealable pouch. You also get the option of four different colors, including green and purple.

Key Features

One customer brought them to help with their migraines. It was plenty big enough to cover the whole forehead, unlike the other brands they tried. People were also shocked with how well the sticky pad worked. One complaint was it was so cold it caused freeze burns.

It’s impressive how well the sticky pad worked, it doesn’t leave a residue, and it holds perfectly. I was concerned about the person that got freeze burn until I read the instructions. Make sure you read the directions beforehand to avoid this problem.

How Long Do Ice Packs Last?

It can vary between manufacturers, but here’s the average cooling time you can expect.

If you’re using the packs for health benefits, then you can expect them to last around 30 minutes to 2 hours.

It might not seem very long, but compare it to ice, and it’s a lifetime of difference.

If you’re using them as cooler packs, then once left in an insulated container, it could last well up to 24-hours.

Just to reiterate, these times are estimations and can change depending on the outside temperature and the product itself.

What Is The Liquid In Ice Packs?

Inside the ice pack isn’t as toxic as some people think… although I wouldn’t drink it!

Here are a few things you can expect to find inside:

If you want a more in-depth look inside ice packs, check out this post by Kinetic Labs, they talk you through what each chemical is used for.

Summary

Remember guys; there are a few things you need to think about before purchasing your reusable ice pack. Always try to find out how long it lasts for and how long it takes to freeze.

If the packs don’t last a very long time, then make sure it comes as a multi-pack, this way, you can rotate them quickly without the fear of running out.

And finally, make sure you choose the right size, it will help when the time comes to use the ice packs.

If you have any questions or feel like I need to add something else, please comment below. And if you liked the article, show some love and share the post on social media.

Did you like this article? If you did you might want to check out my article about the best reusable hand warmers