Best Cooling Socks. Cold Therapy Socks Reviews

Swollen, tired feet, sprained ankles, and other foot pains respond well to the application of something cool and soothing. Ice packs tend to be lumpy and hard. Gel packs are nice, but they often slide off. Cooling socks, which can be slipped on over the feet or strapped in place, use gel packs for cooling, and provide structure to keep the packs in place.

But which cold sock is the right one for you? Do you want the kind that slips on like a house shoe and that has pockets for the gel packs? Or would you rather have one that straps on so that you don’t have as much fabric on your foot? Which company makes the best cold socks?

In this article, we’ll review three of our favorite types of cold socks, and consider the pros and cons of each setup. We also have a short buyer’s guide that gives additional insight into how to find the right cooling socks for your sore feet.

Before you get cold feet, check out the best cooling socks, the Natracure Cold Therapy Socks!

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Best Cooling Socks

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Our Top Pick: Natracure Cold Therapy Socks

Key Points at a Glance

• Booty style sock
• Top and bottom pockets for cold packs
• Comes with one set of cold packs
• Extra packs sold separately
• Not easy to return

The Details

The Natracure Cold Therapy Socks come as a pair in small (blue), medium(green), or large (black) sizes. They also have an alternative style with a cinch strap to hold the cold packs in place. They are shaped like a booty, and have pockets where the gel packs can be slipped into the pockets. One pack goes on the bottom of the foot, and one on top.

Extra gel packs are sold separately.

These are excellent for people who have over-all foot swelling, for chemo-therapy patients, for problems with plantar fascia or even just for tired feet. They cool your feet down, relieve inflammation, and are great for summer cooldowns. They are also good for tired feet in the winter after wearing heavy boots or other overly warm shoes during the day. They are a mini version of cold therapy machines for your feet.

With that said, there are one or two small issues with the Natracure Socks. They are a wearable, and are not easily returnable. So, be sure to purchase the correct size for the wearer’s feet. They are not intended as a substitute for a house shoe or normal sock, and will probably not hold up when worn as such. They should be used for therapy only.

If you run into a problem with these socks, you may be able to reach out to the company directly for relief.

The cold packs stay chilled for approximately 30 to 45 minutes, so if you need a longer cold time, it is a good idea to purchase extra gel packs (sold separately.)

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Our Runner Up: iGuerburn Cold Therapy Socks

Key Points at a Glance

• Sizes medium and large
• 2 sets chill packs
• Straps to hold packs in place
• Decorative smiley faces on toes
• Bottom pocket does not run full length of foot
• Has ankle pocket

The Details

These are very similar to the NatraCure socks. One big difference is that they only come in medium and large sizes. A nice perk with a pair of these is that they also have a place to put a cold pack on your ankle, so if you have a sprain or extensive swelling, you can count on that added bit of chilling and relief.

The kit includes 1 pair socks, 2 sets of chill packs, plus velcro strapping tapes to increase the efficiency of the chill pack placement. In addition, just for fun, the black socks have cute smiley faces picked out in white on each toe.

Additional chill packs are sold separately.

Because it is likely that your feet are going to be smiling with application of the soothing cold. The socks are supposed to be good for fasciitis, cooling feet during chemotherapy sessions, sprains, and general swelling and foot pain.

The only downside is that the bottom pocket for the cold pack does not run the length of the entire foot. The straps are essential for keeping the bottom pack in place. As with all cold socks, do not use as house slippers. These are not intended to be work while walking around.

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Best Budget: HiFineCare Cold Therapy Socks

Key Points at a Glance

• Lower initial cost than Best Pick or Runner Up
• Option for hot or cold therapy
• Come in one size only
• Straps for better fit and holding packs secure
• Warning not to walk around in them

The Details

These cooling socks by HiFineCare are similar to our two top picks in that they have a pull-on sock that has pockets for gel packs. Like the runner up, they use straps to help keep the packs in place.

Unlike the other two, however, they also have a heat mode. These gel packs can be BRIEFLY heated in a microwave for heat therapy as well as cold. The socks come with a warning not to walk on the gel packs in either hot or cold mode.

The cost on these is slightly less than the other two products, and they are something of an unknown quantity as they are a newish product. They currently have only one size, though they seem to fit a wide variety of foot sizes. This is likely due to the adjustable straps.

Regardless, these offer the option of being a two-in-one therapy for tired, aching feet and a slightly lower cost option. Hot or cold, pick your treatment!

Added savings are an option when bundled with other HiFineCare products, such as hot/cold neck pillows.

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Cooling Socks Buyer’s Guide

Who Should Buy Cold Socks

Cold socks are great for anyone who has foot pain, swelling feet, sprains, strains, tired feet at the end of the day, are participating in chemotherapy, or have hot feet at night. The Budget runner up has the added ability to allow the application of hot packs for feet that are perpetually cold or need heated relief.

Sizing

Cooling socks are not designed to be worn as typical socks or as house slippers. Consequently, it’s not super important that they fit perfectly. You won’t be moving around in them much. They are essentially designed to hold the gel packs in place, and as long as they compress and are comfortable, you’re all set!

That said, there are some size differences. Natracure offers the best choice for those looking for a precise fit.

Chemotherapy and Cooling Socks

There is a phase in chemotherapy where feet need to be chilled to help avoid adverse effects from the treatment. All three socks provide a means to apply chill packs rather than ice. Since chemo is a difficult therapy at best, any added comfort is a plus.

All three are reported to be efficacious in holding the gel packs in place for the necessary cooling effect.

Important Features to Consider

None of the socks are intended for wear while standing up and moving around, especially with the gel packs in place.

Standing on the gel packs could cause them to burst or develop leaks. Leaking gel packs should be discarded and replaced. Size can matter, so pay attention to this when purchasing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these products be returned?

As a general rule, not after being opened. They are a wearable product, so returning them through Amazon is difficult. If you run into a major issue with one of these cooling socks, reach out to the company directly and explain the situation. Hopefully, they will help you out directly.

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Conclusion

Cool socks are a wonderful solution for those who need to apply cold therapy to feet. They provide a means for holding the chilled (or heated!) gel packs on feet. They are especially effective when used to assist foot cooling during chemotherapy, but are also useful for tired, swollen, or distressed feet for any reason.

Properly sized, they can facilitate the application of cooling therapy for a number of foot problems. Those items that also can be used for heat, are useful where heat for comfort or circulation is indicated.

They are wonderful gifts or utility items for anyone who needs soothing foot relief.

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