Balancing an ice pack or getting it to conform to deliver the cold therapy you need for your ankle or Achilles is a pain in the neck. While the cryo cuff and the polar care cub offers the longest lasting cold therapy, it does have a ball and chain in that there is tubing and a cooler. It rocks for cryotherapy but sometimes you simply want something more portable or discreet. You can walk with it on. Not a race walk but minimal walking and standing are possible.

The elasto gel is what you will find in most physical therapy offices and PTs often use it after exercising an ankle after injury or surgery. What most like about it is that it delivers cold or hot therapy to the whole ankle and foot. And the ice packs are flexible. Cold therapy does numb the pain and when more of your foot and ankle come in contact with the cold the better.

Soft. Not bumpy, stiff or hard

The last thing you want in an ice pack is the ice feeling. Ice is hard and many bikers and runners like that this one is nice and soft. Most users like that it’s comfortable. Well, as comfortable as an injured ankle in an ice wrap can be.

How to wrap it

Think figure 8. It actually has a number of configurations that allow you to apply compression cold to what hurts.

How long does it last?

It says 20-40 minutes but it does depend on whether you are using it outside on a warm day or inside. Twenty minutes is probably closer to what is typical and if you need more cold for longer, you might need one attached to the cooler such as the Polar Care cub with universal pad, which works for the ankle.

This is a man-size wrap and will swallow a small foot.

The Foot & Ankle Ice Wrap by ActiveWrap is more suitable for smaller foot sizes for women and kids. This model is a wrap and you place the ice packs where you need it.

Many feet less than women’s 8.5 or women’s 9 will need to Velcro it to get the fit and another ankle icing option might be better for those patients. However, if you are looking for one that will suit several members of your family, this is the more practical choice other than an polar care cub.

Store this in the freezer inside a ziplock bag.