Back recovery
Back cooling you don't have to lie on
Recoolvery+ is not an ice pack. It is a cooling recovery wrap: freezable RCPad pads made with HypoCarbon® are held on the upper or lower back by three adjustable straps, so you can sit, stand or move around instead of lying on an ice pack. HypoCarbon® conducts heat 15× better than ice and doesn't melt or drip. A session runs 15–60 minutes, and the pads refreeze in 2–4 hours.
Shop the wrap, from US$119 Which size?
Why ice packs struggle on the back
You can't hold an ice pack on your own back. The usual answer is to lie on it, which means lying still, pressing the pack flat and dealing with melting water. Work and effort also build heat across the back: a thermal view of an athlete shows it brightest across the back, shoulders and core. The Recoolvery+ Wrap holds the cold where that heat builds, without you lying on it.
- You don't lie on it. Three adjustable straps hold the pads in place, so you can sit, stand or move.
- It stays flexible. RCPads firm up in the freezer without going solid, so they follow the curve of the back.
- Upper or lower back. Position the holder where you want it and adjust the straps to keep it there.
- It doesn't drip. No melting ice down your back, no wet sheets.
What makes the cold different: HypoCarbon®
How well a cooling pack works depends on how quickly it can pull heat away from the skin. That is measured as thermal conductivity, in watts per metre-kelvin (W/m·K).
Water is 0.6 W/m·K and ice is 2.3. HypoCarbon®, the carbon-based medium inside every RCPad, measured 35.0 W/m·K in in-house testing of the proprietary formulation.
HypoCarbon® wasn't made for the gym first. It is the cooling formulation behind CarbonCool® and EMCOOLS®, cooling products from Global Healthcare SG with more than 20 years of clinical and field use.
Recoolvery+ vs ice packs and machines for the back
| Bag of ice | Gel ice pack | Cold therapy machine | Recoolvery+ Wrap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hands-free | No | Only with a separate strap | Yes | Yes, three adjustable straps |
| Shapes to the back | Partly | Depends on the pack | With a back-specific pad | Flexible pads in a cross-shaped holder |
| Needs ice, water or power | Ice | Freezer only | Ice and water; motorised units need power | Freezer only |
| Drips as it warms | Yes | No | No | No |
| Fits other joints | Yes | Depends on shape | Needs a pad per joint | Knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, calf, thigh, arm, back |
| Fits in a gym bag | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Typical price | Pennies | Low | About US$150–300+ | From US$119 |
A machine makes sense if you need long, continuous cooling for hours at a time. For everyday recovery, a wrap is simpler. Read the full machine vs wrap comparison →
How to put it on your back
- Freeze. Keep the RCPads flat in their sleeve in the freezer for 2–4 hours.
- Wrap. Slot the pads into the holder and place it over the area of the back you want to cool.
- Adjust. Use the three straps to hold it in place, snug but comfortable. Someone else can help position it the first time.
- Recover. Cool hands-free for 15–60 minutes, then wipe the pads and put them back in the freezer.
Prefer it gentler? Wear it over a thin layer of clothing instead of bare skin. Take it off if the skin becomes numb or painful. Keep a spare pad set in the freezer if you want a second session.
Which size for the back?
Standard · US$119
Standard: 30 cm wrap span with 5 × RCPad 3×3 pads (76 × 76 mm). A good fit for cooling a smaller area of the back.
XL · US$139
XL: 40 cm wrap span with 4 × RCPad 3×6 pads (76 × 152 mm). The longer pads and straps (1.0 m, 1.2 m, 1.0 m) cover a larger area of the back.
Not sure? Choose Standard.
When athletes reach for it
- After lifting: deadlift, squat and rowing days that load the back.
- Rotational sports: after golf, tennis, cricket or paddling.
- After a long drive or flight: cool the back while you sit.
- Desk days: after hours in a chair, without lying down on the floor.
Questions about back cooling
How long should I cool my back with Recoolvery+?
A typical session runs 15 to 60 minutes, depending on room temperature and how snugly the wrap is fitted. Start at the shorter end, wear it over a thin layer if you prefer it gentler, and take it off if the skin becomes numb or painful.
Can I sit or move while wearing it?
Yes. The straps hold the pads in place, so you don't have to lie on an ice pack. You can sit in a chair, stand or move around the house.
Does it work on the upper and lower back?
Yes. Position the holder over the area you want to cool and adjust the three straps to hold it there.
Which size is better for the back?
XL has longer pads (76 × 152 mm) and longer straps, so it covers a larger area of the back. Standard has five smaller pads and suits a smaller area.
Can I use it for back pain or after a back injury?
Recoolvery+ is a recovery and comfort product, not a medical device. If you have back pain, an injury or have had surgery, follow the plan from your surgeon or physiotherapist.
Does the same wrap work on other joints?
Yes. One wrap fits the back, shoulder, knee, elbow and ankle, and also the calf, thigh and arm.
Freeze · Wrap · Recover
One wrap for the back, and every other joint
Standard US$119 · XL US$139 · Ships worldwide · 30-day returns
Shop the Recoolvery+ Wrap