Ice Vibe and Cryochaps – Ice boots for horses

When you are looking for the right ice boot for your horse two well known brands are Cryochaps and Ice vibe from Horseware. In this blog we explore the differences between Ice Vibe and Cryochaps and which have a better cooling effect;

Cryochaps: The Ultimate in Cold Therapy

Cryochaps are a more straightforward approach to cold therapy. These boots are designed to provide immediate cold compression to the horse’s legs, which is crucial after intense exercise or in the case of an injury. The key features of Cryochaps include:

• Rapid Cooling: Cryochaps are known for their ability to bring down the temperature of the horse’s legs quickly. The boots are typically stored in the freezer and can be applied directly to the leg, ensuring an almost instant reduction in temperature.

• Compression: These boots not only cool the leg but also offer compression, which helps reduce swelling. The snug fit ensures that the cold is evenly distributed across the leg, making it more effective at driving the cold in deeper to the tissues

• Convenience: Cryochaps are relatively easy to use. After a ride or exercise, you can quickly apply them, and they do their job with minimal hassle. No inserts just wrap and strap and leave for 10 mins

Pros of Cryochaps:

• Effective and immediate cooling and compression

• Simple and easy to use

• Can be used multiple times a day

• Less expensive than Ice Vibe

Cons of Cryochaps Ice boots for Horses

• Limited to cold therapy only

• No additional therapeutic benefits such as vibration or massage

• Must be frozen beforehand, and if using Cryochaps ice wraps, at an event, you will need a Cool Bag or Box to transport in if you have not got a freezer in the lorry

Ice-Vibe Boots: Cold Therapy Meets Vibration

Ice-Vibe Boots combine cold therapy with vibration to stimulate circulation

• Dual Functionality: The Ice-Vibe Boots combine two therapies in one. Cold therapy, to restrict blood flow and vibration to stimulate blood flow

• Versatility: These boots can be used in different ways depending on the horse’s needs. For instance, you can use the cold packs without vibration for straightforward cold therapy, or use the vibration feature alone before exercise.

• Battery Operated: The vibration element is powered by a rechargeable battery, making them convenient for multiple uses throughout the day. The boots also have different settings, allowing you to adjust the intensity and duration of the vibration.

Pros of Ice-Vibe Boots:

• Combines cold therapy with vibration
• Versatile with multiple settings and uses
• Effective for both pre-exercise warm-up and post-exercise recovery

Cons of Ice-Vibe Boots:

• More expensive than Cryochaps
• Requires remembering to charge and freeze, plus a bit more setup with inserts
• The vibration function may not be necessary for all horses or conditions. Vibration in some circumstances may exacerbate inflammation

Which is Better for Your Horse?

Choosing between Cryochaps and Ice-Vibe Boots depends on your specific needs and the condition. In conclusion, both products are excellent in their own right, but their effectiveness depends on your specific requirements. Horseware recommend the use of Ice-Vibe® boots with the vibration and cold packs after exercise. Cryochaps are cold and compression for use after exercise or injury.

In an Evaluation study of the cooling efficacy of different equine leg cooling products it was shown that when using the vibration and cold packs together there was less of a cooling effect than when using the cold packs alone. Cryochaps also came up as more effective at cooling against Ice Vibe. This could be due to the better coverage of the ice pack, or the compression driving the cold in.