XL Hot Cold Therapy Reusable Knee Gel Ice Pack Wrap

I researched many cold packs to use after my knee surgery (ACL) in order to avoid paying $200 for the PolarCare Cold Therapy unit that my doctor had recommended. I needed something large enough to cover my whole knee, so I bought this Genie XL (WHPH) Pack along with the FlexiKold Gel Cold Pack (10.5" x 14.5" size) so I could compare and switch between them when one got warm.First, I put both of them in the Freezer for several hours and did a head-to-head test with a thermometer to see which one stayed cold the longest. This Genie XL Pack definitely stayed cold much longer than the FlexiKold Pack. After 30min, the Genie was about 10deg colder than the FlexiKold, and the difference grew to ~20deg after about 2 hours. The Genie definitely won this test and was able to stay very cold for several hours, while the FlexiKold was too warm to use after about an hour.The main downside to the Genie is that it came out of the freezer very stiff and difficult to wrap around the knee. If you knead the gel material for a minute, then it softens up enough to wrap, but it doesn't really conform to the knee until it warms up after a several minutes, meaning you have to keep repositioning the straps and pulling it tighter to keep it on securely (no elastic to keep it tight). Also, there is NO GEL along any of the long strips of velcro, so you lose a great deal of cooling area at those key locations (just above and just below the knee) where the swelling is the worst. The one way to get around this is to take the upper and lower edges that contain gel and fold them underneath so they are tucked under the velcro sections that do not contain gel. This allows for more uniform coverage, but also effectively reduces the size of the wrap.Unlike the Genie XL Pack, the FlexiKold Pack was very pliable straight out of the freezer and could easily conform to the knee with larger overall coverage. It was also very easy to push extra gel into specific locations with the most swelling that needed more cooling. The main issue with the FlexiKold Pack was that it has no straps, so it doesn't allow for much movement, and I also found that I needed to wrap it with something in order to keep it pressed against my leg. With that and the fact that I had to change it more often because it didn't stay as cold, I ended up slightly preferring the Genie XL Pack over the FlexiKold Pack, until...After using it for about 3 weeks, the Genie XL Pack STARTED LEAKING GEL, so I had to return it (barely inside Amazon's 30-day return window). Upon close inspection, I could see that the edges of it were poorly made and not sewn or reinforced in any way. Now I am left with the FlexiKold, which is much more durable, with higher quality stitching around the edges for reinforcement. It still lasts long enough for me at this stage (about an hour), and the fact that I have to wrap something around it (since it doesn't have straps) is actually no more annoying then the extra steps I had to do for the Genie XL (kneading, then folding in the edges, and constantly readjusting it as the gel warms).Even though it has some major design flaws, I still gave this Genie XL Pack 3 stars because it stays very cold for a long time, and also comes with straps for moving around that some of the better gel packs don't have.

The item came without instructions. I purchased this item for use after I have an upcoming knee operation. It appears to be large enough to cover the necessary areas. I will report back after I using it. Note to seller, instructions on how to connect the many unique tabs placements would be helpful.

This product works extremely well. So much colder longer than any other. It doesn't fit all the way around the knee but covers most of it. When you put it in the refrigerator to freeze it, you want to lay it flat as it molds to the shape you put it in so if you just throw it in, you may have to wait awhile for it to loosen to fit around your knee. Although it is for the knee, you could use it elsewhere like your back or thigh and lay it flat. It collects some frost so good to have a towel under it where you can. I'm really pleased with it.

It does get very cold and like others stated it is very rigid when so cold. However, my problem was more with the fit. I have to keep adjusting it as it thaws and it never really fits well. I am 6'1" and 275 lbs for what it's worth. It may fit a smaller person better.

This is similar to the ice packs that I used in physical therapy but smaller. I figured for an XL the thing would wrap around a good sized leg. I normally wear a XL knee brace so you would think sizing would be in the ballpark. It wraps around the top and sides of the knee but does not reach the back. The straps could be about 3 inches longer. Overall the pack needs to be wider by about 4 inches. The gel freezes solid and in a mostly solid sheet. You almost need to let it warm up for a few minutes before putting it on so it will form to your leg. On user said to freeze it around a roll of towels and that is a really good idea. I would buy this again if they adjusted the sizing.

I followed the advice of somebody else and rolled up a small beach towel into a 'cigar' shape and then wrapped this around it because it is thin and freezes hard. It comes out of the freezer and stays the shape in which it was frozen for quite awhile. This freezes very cold so I had to put a thin towel inbetween it and my husband's knee so that it wouldn't burn.... Good for after knee surgery. The velcro helps it stay in place but we didn't use it after knee replacement because of the pressure it would place on the incision.

It freezes too hard to form to leg and straps are awkward. Tried to use it as a hot pad for knee using 80 percent microwave power for one minute with turn table rotating. The pad started smoking and seem separated. I would drop my recommendation from a 2 to a zero. This product was not a usable product and is in the trash. as a verified Amazon purchaser, I would not recommend this product, Definitley do not try to use for heat pad on knee

I bought these ice packs to use following knee replacement surgery. They are working out very well. They can be frozen or left in the refrigerator. They stay cold for a long time. I have not used them hot yet.