I have had a Polar Care Cube for many years. I used it for two Rotator Cuff repairs and its use was invaluable. Unfortunately, it was lost in a move about a year, ago. As a Judoka, I have had numerous injuries to my knees and shoulders; and, ice is always my go-to solution. Although, I still store several ice packs in my freezer, some of my injuries and surgeries require icing for a longer period of time than I can expect from ice packs. Also, ice packs may tend to occupy more room in my freezer than I am willing to tolerate. Over the years, I have come to rely on my Polar Care Cube for giving me the kind of immediate relief that I need. Several of my Judo friends also use the Polar Care Cube and we often exchange the different pads to apply to different parts of the body. I do not know of any Polar Care Cube that has failed to provide ultimate support either to me or my friends - no leaks, no failures.
I keep several 12 oz soda bottles, filled with water and frozen, in my freezer to use with my Polar Care Cube in lieu of ice. The reservoir will hold three such bottles and then I fill the reservoir with water to the recommended level - it works like a champ!
For my rotator cuff surgeries, I kept the Cube running for over 24 hours. I was alert for any potential freezing injuries, but it never got close to that. The result, I had virtually no inflammatory pain following the surgery. The relief was long-lasting.
I would not waste my money purchasing any other brand of icing machine - there are a lot of bad experiences out there by people who have bought a knock-off.