Thrive Hot & Cold Therapy Body Wrap – FSA HSA Approved Cold Compress w/Natural Clay Beads – Ice Pack Wrap Provides Moist Heat Pack or Soothing Cool Stress & Pain Relief

Wow, wow, wow! Or maybe I should just say "Aaaaaaah......." because Iʻm melting.Pros: Very soft fabric, feels lovely against the skin. The weight of the clay beads adds another dimension to a hot pack, it feels like the heat enters your body deeper because of it. It is sewn in baffles so the beads donʻt bunch up with gravity. This is a generous size: long enough to lay on and entire spine gets heat, it also can easily wrap around a shoulder and across the pectoral muscles, or wrap all the way around the face and neck, it is just great, does the work of may hot packs.This pack has no chemical smell like with plastic gel packs or odors from grain bags, this product has no scent at all, perfect for allergic or sensitive people.The cover is easy to remove.Cons: The fabric cover is polyester, although it is a high quality fabric, very soft and plush on one side, and the opposite side is like a pliable cotton duck. I would prefer a cotton cover, but I guess I canʻt have everything. I may eventually make a cotton cover for it.Grain bags stay hot for about 30 min which is longer than clay beads (about 15 min), but the grain gets rancid from repeated heating and ultimately they smell bad. Gel packs lose heat fastest of all, usually under 10 minutes, plus the plastic off-gasses when you heat them, and they are more likely to burn you. The heat from a clay pack does not last as long as a grain bag, but putting a towel over it slows heat loss and rectifies this problem.I was in a bad car accident a few years ago and I have tried every hot and cold pack I could find since then. This Thrive brand clay bead hot/cold pack is the best one I have found. I plan to get another so I can use two at once.

I actually do not use it on my neck as I find it a bit heavy. I ordered another one (extra long) thats a better weight for that. But I love to use it for relaxing. Its like a weighted blanked, and you can move it to the right spot. Neck, head, stomach. Its super relaxing and sometime I wake up with it still in place. For heating always remove it from the sleeve. Cotton doesn't burn easily and the polyester can melt in the microwave. The heat is great and lasts long enough. I did end up sewing closed the pockets (easy job!) as It did bother me that the beads will end up at the two ends eventually. With closed pockets its much better and stays in the same spot as well.

I injured my back a few months ago and am going through physical therapy. My physio recommended I get a moist-heat pack to help with my healing, and I chose this one because it was longer than others (so it could spread across my whole back, or down my spine). I do wish it was wider, but I know the cost would increase then too.The inside part (with the beads) is stitched in a stepped formation, so the beads will all pool at one end if you wriggle too much - I almost wish they'd sewn each pocket fully closed, but it hasn't stopped me from using it.The first use I did the minimum time for heating (I think it was 35 seconds in the microwave) and it stayed hot for a good 10 minutes, with a low warmth after that too. But over the next few days it needed a bit longer in the microwave each time, until I figured out the best way to heat it (for me - others might want it warmer/cooler). I fold it in half (blue side out) and heat for 35 seconds, then fold it in half the other way (blue side in) and heat for 20 seconds, then fold in half the original way (blue side out) and heat for a final 20 seconds. This stays nice a hot for a good 15 minutes, with a good warmth for an additional 10-15minutes.I have to use it while sitting up, because the narrow width makes it uncomfortable to lie on, but it definitely heats the lower back where I need it.

The clay beads in these help them be able to mold to the shape you need them. The fabric is soft and sturdy, for comfort with no leaking.

Extremely poorly designed. For some baffling reason they choose not to sew the baffles fully across each section so the clay beads or whatever easily slide from one side to the other making it very hard to apply heat evenly. You end up with a pile of beads on one spot, rather than even heat. This is compounded by how much of a pain it is to get the microwavable section into the non-microwavable fabric cover.

The size of this wrap is adequate for shoulder and neck pain relief and after placing in the microwave, the heat is retained for at least 20 minutes. However, I wish there were a lot more of the beads inside the wrap. With not enough beads, it creates empty spaces when the wrap is applied to the body. The beads shift so much that it is frustrating.

Clay beads hold the heat well, without deteriorating like flax or lavender when heating repeatedly. Also nicely weighted.I am coming back to edit this review:I love the clay beads in this heat wrap, but unfortunately, after about two months of daily use, the wrap has started “leaking” clay beads. I have tried to find an opening where they are coming from, and have not found any tears in the seams—I’m so sorry I can no longer use it, as a handful of clay beads fall out whenever I try to use it.It seems a bit expensive if it’s only going to last for two months!!

This is a great size. Works well to warm it up in the winter and drape across your legs. Solid stitching as well.