The 8 best reusable ice packs you can buy in 2022
WHEN you're down with an injury and you need quick cooling relief, put down the frozen veggies – the best reusable ice packs are specifically designed to help reduce pain and swelling.
Whether you're looking for child-friendly characters that provide instant relief to sore heads, or clever packs that can be hot or cold depending on your needs, we're here to help.
We've rounded up some of the best options to help you soothe all your aches and pains in no time.
What do ice packs do?
When it comes to easing pain, an ice pack or cold pack is often the first thing we think about to do the trick. And for good reason.
Icing an injury reduces blood flow to the area, which decreases inflammation and can even speed up recovery time. Ice also numbs the affected area, which helps with pain relief.
Whether you've turned over your ankle playing badminton, your toddler has hit their head on the coffee table, or you suffer from painful arthritis inflammation – the right reusable ice pack can provide welcome relief.
And if you have a raging fever, an ice pack on your forehead will also help to reduce your temperature.
Here are some of the best reusable ice packs available to buy right now.
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FlexiKold Ice Pack
- FlexiKold Ice Pack Reusable Gel Cold Pack 26.5cm x 36.8cm, £14.99 from Amazon -
For post-exercise aches and pains, this durable product will mould to your body to provide cooling treatment exactly where you need it most.
The standard size measures 36.8 x 26.5cm and is perfectly suited to treat most body parts including knees, thighs, calves, shoulders, feet and arms.
It also comes in a smaller size and an extra large, depending on where you need to use it.
Filled with professional-grade gel, this pack remains flexible even when frozen, so it can easily contour to your body for effective treatment.
With a heavy-duty nylon exterior and double sealed seams, it's also well-made and strong, so there's no danger it'll leak out while in use.
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Magical Gel Store Magic Gel Children's Ice Pack
- Magical Gel Store Magic Gel Children's Ice Pack, £9.99 from Amazon -
Next time your little one has a bump or a scratch, distracting them from the pain will be much easier with these colourful, friendly-looking monster ice packs by your side.
Filled with non-toxic gel, they're flexible even after they've been frozen, so they can quickly mould to your little one's sore area. In a dinky, hand-held shape, they have an elasticated band at the back, so it's easy to hold them and apply.
If it's heat you need, these monster characters can also be popped into the microwave to provide comforting warmth instead.
Lined with soft cotton, they are reusable up to 300 times and come in a pack of four, offering excellent value for money.
Koolpak Luxury Reusable Hot and Cold Pack
- Koolpak Luxury Reusable Hot and Cold Pack, £2.09 from Amazon -
Available in a range of sizes, the Koolpak Luxury Reusable Hot and Cold Pack is ideal for treating a wide range of injuries including sprains, strains, bumps and bruises.
Use it as a cold gel pack following a sports injury, or heat it up in a microwave to increase blood flow, promote healing and relaxation. A warming application is also great for lower back pain.
A very affordable option, this handy pack is the perfect size to stash away in your freezer.
NEWGO Six Gel Packs with Sleeve
- NEWGO Six Gel Packs with Sleeve, £9.99 from Amazon -
An innovative product, you get six round cold packs and an elastic sleeve in this set, so you can target a specific area and use as many or as few ice packs as you need. The stretchy wrap will also protect sensitive skin from direct contact with the cold.
To use them cold, pop them in the freezer for at least two hours, or heat them up in microwave for 10 seconds for heat therapy.
As they're quite small, they're good for providing targeted relief to injuries – use a few layered up for larger areas, or a single gel circle to soothe toothaches, bumps, bruises or puffy eyes.
Neotech Care Ice Bag
- Neotech Care Ice Bag, £5.99 from Amazon -
One of the most cost-effective options in our round-up, the Neotech Care Ice Bag can be used again and again and provides instant relief to many injuries.
Made of a thick but soft and malleable material, it's really simple to use – just open the screw-top lid, fill it with ice and you're good to go.
The squashy, flexible exterior is great for application to most body parts, and will envelope even the trickiest areas, including shoulders, elbows and knees.
It comes in an array of patterns and has a legion of fans, with many reviewers who rave about how long it stays cool for, its effectiveness at treating problem areas and its leak-free construction.
Gelpacks Direct Gel Ice Pack for Sports Injury
- Gelpacks Direct Gel Ice Pack for Sports Injury, from Amazon -
This is a worthy investment for anyone who exercises a lot and wants to speed up recovery time.
Gelpacks Direct's premium hot or cold pack is designed for durability and the soft-touch fabric cover provides comfortable, effective compression therapy.
Thanks to its standard 13 x 26cm size, you can wrap it around pretty much any part of your body, including shoulders, knees, ankles, elbows or back.
The soft flexible compression band is extra long and allows the pack to rest snugly against any body part.
The reusable ice pack is also great to relieve post-op surgery pain like knee replacements or fractures.
MYPROTEIN Hot & Cold Gel Pack
- MYPROTEIN Hot & Cold Gel Pack, £6 from MYPROTEIN -
Best known for producing cult protein powders and shakes, MYPROTEIN are behind this affordable hot and cold gel pack, which is designed specifically to alleviate pain from sports and exercise.
With an affordable price tag, this pack can be used hot or cold and it comes with a stretchy band that's big enough to wrap around your waist and back.
With a premium-looking fabric sleeve and in a cool grey hue, it looks as good as an ice pack can, plus the sleeve means it won't directly irritate or harm the skin.
NEWGO Migraine Relief Ice Pack for Head
- NEWGO Migraine Relief Ice Pack for Head, £12.90 from Amazon -
If you regularly suffer from migraines, tension headaches or sinus pain, this gel pack, which is specifically designed for the contours of the forehead, is a potential god send.
Filled with soft gel, the pack slips into a flexible neoprene wrap, which snugly wraps around the head to provide its healing powers.
It can either be frozen or heated up in the microwave, depending on whether you want cold or heat therapy.
The velcro strap is one-size-fits-all and accommodates a head circumference up to 28inches.
More Sun Selects
Enjoyed our round-up of the best reusable ice packs? Check out our guide of the most popular home gym equipment.
We've designed Sun Selects to help you to find the best products that won't break the bank.
And if you need more inspiration, there's more up for grabs in our health and fitness deals section.