Zhu-ZhuMulti-Purpose Hot & Cold Pack Therapeutic Gel Beads - Neck, Joint, Shoulder & Back Pain Relief Wrap - Sports Injury Heat Therapy Pad

I love the other type, the soft microwaveable heat wraps for my neck and shoulders provided by this company, I found they were the best by a million miles. But after having a herniated disc for a little while, I've found that I need ice rather than heat. I don't like the cold feel of the usually warm and soft material ones, though they can apparently be used cold too. So I wanted to buy a whole new lots of ice pack for my neck, shoulders and back. I've tried many brands so far. Some great and some awful. But none perfect.This one is almost perfect. It freezes nicely into a hard pack when left in the freezer (which is what i'm after but not for everyone's tastes) The velcro is amazing quality, better than any of the competitors. The strap you get, can be used with other brands and is the most wonderful addition! As well as being great quality, it is also amazing at getting the ice pack to the places that you cannot usually get to when standing up. Because i'm in pain a lot of the time, I often wear ice packs while I am walking around my home workshop/office, or doing housework. With the strap placing the ice pack on my back, by my shoulder blades. Without the strap the neck pack itself is great too, just the right shape for necks.Some of my gel ice packs stay colder for longer, but remember, you're only mean to leave ice on your skin for 20 minutes anyway. In which case this pack is fine. I however flout those rules and lie on my ice packs for an hour, so I know exactly how long they are cold for. This does mean I have lost feeling in nerve endings in my back though so I don't recommend it at all, don't do it! Other gel packs get warm really quickly so gel doesn't mean it stays cold longer at all. Different brands just seem to be different. I don't know what's in here, gel balls in gel I guess. Not too different.The separate compartments are excellent. I have trouble with all my other ice packs, they do not have compartments and while they soften, the gel moves around inside so if you're lying on the bit you want to get cold, you gel oozes to the sides and ignores that bit of you. Not helpful. That doesn't happen with this ice pack.So with the amazing strap, great quality velcro and compartments inside. Again Zhu Zhu has produced something to help us which really is better than the rest. I'm going to be keeping a close eye on this company. I'm not working for anyone by the way, it's just that when you use ice packs as often as I do, you begin to feel quite passionately about them :)

Good pain relief for easing tension/migraines. Although doesn’t stay cold for too long even though being kept in freezer. Handy though….

It's great for cold compress, cold for up to 30 mins, very flexible so you can apply to most parts of your body! I haven't tried it for hot compress.

Works well as an ice pack

I had a slipped disc in my neck and was advised to use ice to help reduce the swelling whilst being treated. I purchased this as it can be placed in the freezer and fastened around the neck so you can sit comfortably and without having to hold an ice pack in place!It has a gel like filling so doesn't freeze solid which makes it easier to shape around the area you need to use it. It also comes with an extension strip so you can fasten it around the body if using on back/shoulders etc. I have only used it as a cold compress so can not comment on its ability when used in the microwave to provide heat relief.Fantastic little purchase and worked well for what I needed.

Would be a better product if beads were held in areas

My wife has used this pack both hot & cold (from microwave & freezer, respectively) & finds it helps her aches & pains.

Good for microwave or freezer.I prefer heat personally.If you suffer with fibromyalgia and/or rheumatoid arthritis as do my wife and I this could be just what you’ve been looking for.Obviously it is no cure but it certainly helps relax the pain.