Polar Products

What Polar Products does

Polar Products Inc is a family-owned US manufacturer of body cooling and hot/cold therapy products, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Stow, Ohio. The company operates from a single domestic facility with 11-50 employees, distributing through its own e-commerce site, a GSA contract for federal procurement, a distributor and affiliate network with claimed reach across 100+ countries, partnerships with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America and Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, and a Private Label program for medical professionals.

The product platform is built on four distinct cooling technologies — Kool Max® frozen water-based packs, Cool58® phase change (activates at 58°F), Cool Flow® circulating water, and Cool Comfort® evaporative — combined with two therapy platforms: Active Ice® circulating cold water therapy systems and Soft Ice®/Thera-Temp® reusable hot and cold packs. The catalog spans cooling vests, neck/wrist/ankle wraps, hats, seat cushions, fire-resistant industrial vests, an operating room cooling system (CoolOR®), a pediatric line (Cool Kids™), and the patented Polar Life Pod® portable cold water immersion unit. Patented intellectual property includes the Polar Life Pod® system and the Soft Ice® water-based, biodegradable, 99% post-consumer recycled formula.

The business model is predominantly B2C hardware sales, augmented by B2B/gov't channels. Direct unit pricing ranges from approximately $17 to $220, with free shipping over $50 to the contiguous US and FSA/HSA eligibility on select SKUs. Revenue streams include (1) product sales to consumers, medical professionals, hospitals, and industrial buyers; (2) federal/government supply via GSA Contract #36F79723D0207 to the US Military and VA Hospitals; (3) non-profit channel sales through MSAA/MSF cooling programs; (4) distributor and affiliate commission programs; and (5) private-label/B2B custom branding with a 144-unit minimum order. Primary use cases cover heat-sensitivity management (particularly Multiple Sclerosis), occupational heat stress (industrial, construction, fire/EMS, military), athletic performance and recovery, and drug-free post-surgical and chronic pain management.

Name

Polar Products

Legal name

Polar Products Inc

Website

https://polarproducts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Polar Products is a family-owned US manufacturer (founded 1984, Stow, Ohio) of body cooling vests, cold water immersion systems, and reusable hot/cold therapy products, serving MS patients, industrial workers, athletes, military/VA hospitals, and medical facilities via DTC e-commerce, GSA supply, and MS non-profit partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stow

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of cooling vests, hot/cold therapy products, and accessories to consumers, medical professionals, and organizations. One-time purchase model for individual products.
2. Private Label Program: Custom branded Soft Ice® packs for medical professionals and organizations. Minimum order quantity of 144 packs with one-time setup charge. Provides targeted advertising opportunity for healthcare providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Polar Products manufactures and supplies body cooling vests and hot/cold therapy products, including cooling vests (Kool Max frozen water, Cool58 phase change, Cool Flow circulating water, Cool Comfort evaporative), the Active Ice circulating cold water therapy system, Soft Ice reusable cold/hot therapy packs, Thera-Temp microwaveable moist heat wraps, and the patented Polar Life Pod portable cold water immersion system, sold to consumers, medical facilities, military/government, and industrial customers.

Product overview

Polar Products is a family-owned US manufacturer since 1984 offering a comprehensive portfolio of body cooling and hot/cold therapy products. The product line centers on three core categories: (1) Cooling Vests and Accessories using Kool Max frozen water-based packs, Cool58 phase change technology, and Cool Flow circulating water systems; (2) Active Ice 3.0 cold therapy systems for post-surgery and pain relief; and (3) Soft Ice and Thera-Temp hot/cold therapy packs and wraps. Supporting products include the Polar Life Pod cold water immersion system, Cool Kids cooling vests for children, specialty fire-resistant and medical-grade cooling products, and a private label program for medical professionals. The company serves diverse markets including Multiple Sclerosis patients, industrial workers, athletes, military/government, and medical facilities, with products distributed through GSA contract and non-profit cooling programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kool Max®: Frozen water-based cooling pack vests and accessories
• Cool58®
• Cool Flow®
• Active Ice®
• Soft Ice®
• Thera-Temp®
• Cool Comfort®
• Polar Life Pod®
• Cool Kids™
• CoolOR®

Products and services

• Cooling Vests Body cooling vests using multiple technologies (Kool Max frozen water-based, Cool58 phase change, Cool Flow circulating water) for individuals with heat intolerance, industrial workers, athletes, and medical needs.
• Active Ice 3.0 Cold Therapy Systems Circulating cold water therapy systems with programmable timer and 9-quart cooling reservoir for drug-free pain relief post-surgery, chronic pain, and acute injury management.
• Soft Ice Cold/Hot Therapy Packs Reusable cold and hot therapy packs with proprietary water-based, biodegradable formula that stays flexible when frozen; made with 99% post-consumer recycled content.
• Thera-Temp Microwaveable Moist Heat Wraps Drug-free moist heat wraps for targeted relief of chronic pain, arthritis, and muscle tension, microwaveable for convenient at-home or clinical use.
• Polar Life Pod Cold Water Immersion System Patented portable and collapsible cold water immersion system for rapid cooling of individuals and athletes, designed by a licensed athletic trainer, paramedic, and former certified ER RN.
• Cool Flow Circulating Water Cooling Systems Active cooling systems that circulate cool water through tubing in fitted vests, providing adjustable temperature control for medical, industrial, and operating room applications.
• Cool Kids Cooling Vests Cooling vests designed for children and teenagers with heat-sensitive medical conditions such as POTS and epilepsy, with child-friendly designs and adjustable sizing.
• Fire-Resistant Cooling Vests Cooling vests for industrial and military use that meet fire-resistant standards while providing body cooling.
• CoolOR Operating Room Cooling Systems Cooling systems designed for surgeons and medical staff in operating room environments with 13-quart capacity and high-performance coolers.
• Cooling Accessories (Neck Wraps, Wrist/Ankle Wraps, Hats, Seats, Blankets) Supplementary cooling products including neck wraps, wrist and ankle wraps, cooling hats and headgear, seat cushions, and blankets that complement core vest products.
• Drug-Free Pain Management Kits Pre-configured kits combining cooling and hot/cold therapy products for comprehensive pain management, including migraine relief and trigger point massage options.
• Custom Cooling Solutions Bespoke cooling systems designed and manufactured to meet specific customer requirements for unique applications including military, industrial, and medical uses (e.g., US Navy Cool Flow cooling blanket for robot submarines and electronics).
• Soft Ice Private Label Program Custom branding program allowing medical professionals and businesses to add their logo and contact information to Soft Ice therapy packs for marketing purposes, with minimum order of 144 packs and one-time setup charge.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products used worldwide across industrial safety, construction, emergency services, athletics, military, and medical applications
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPolar Products is a proud supplier for MSAA's Cooling Programs, which provide cooling vests and accessories to individuals with Multiple Sclerosis who experience heat sensitivity. MS patients can receive products through this non-profit program.
• Multiple Sclerosis FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPolar Products supplies the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation's Cooling Program, distributing cooling products to MS patients who qualify for assistance. The program helps MS patients manage heat sensitivity that exacerbates their condition.
• US Military and VA HospitalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPolar Products holds GSA Contract #36F79723D0207 to supply cooling products and therapy systems to the US Military and VA Hospitals nationwide. This government contract establishes Polar as an approved vendor for federal healthcare facilities.
• Medical Professionals (Private Label)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical professionals and healthcare organizations use Polar's Private Label Program to custom-brand Soft Ice packs with their practice name and logo. These serve as marketing tools that patients keep and use long-term, providing ongoing brand exposure. Chiropractors, physical therapists, and other providers use these as patient acquisition and retention tools.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Ice Barrel: Ice Barrel sells upright cold plunge barrels targeted at the home wellness and athletic recovery segment, providing a lower-cost, non-installation alternative that competes with Polar Life Pod for cold water immersion demand.
• Plunge: Plunge is a direct-to-consumer cold plunge brand selling installed cold plunge tubs and chillers to the at-home wellness and biohacking segment, competing with Polar's Polar Life Pod in the cold water immersion category.

Direct peers

• ThermoTek: ThermoTek manufactures precisely controlled thermal therapy and compression systems used in clinical and post-surgical recovery, directly competing with Polar's Active Ice circulating cold therapy line in the medical and orthopedic recovery market.
• Glacier Tek: Glacier Tek specializes in personal cooling vests and accessories for MS patients, industrial workers, and outdoor enthusiasts, making it one of Polar's closest direct competitors in the body cooling vest category.
• Breg: Breg is a US-based orthopedic medical device company that manufactures cold therapy, bracing, and recovery products, including the Polar Care line of circulating cold water therapy systems that directly compete with Polar's Active Ice systems in the post-surgery and pain management channel.
• Pain Management Technologies (PMT): PMT manufactures a range of hot and cold therapy products, including reusable gel packs and motorized cold therapy units, that compete head-to-head with Polar's Soft Ice packs and Active Ice systems in the pain management and post-surgery channels.
• Mueller Sports Medicine: Mueller Sports Medicine produces a broad line of sports medicine and recovery products, including reusable hot/cold packs and wraps, that overlap directly with Polar's Soft Ice, Thera-Temp, and compression wrap SKUs in retail and athletic channels.
• StaCool: StaCool designs and sells evaporative and phase-change cooling vests primarily for MS, industrial, and military use, overlapping with Polar's Cool Comfort, Cool58, and Kool Max product lines in the personal cooling vest market.

Broad incumbents

• DJO / Enovis: Enovis (formerly DJO Global) is a large diversified orthopedic and recovery medical device company whose Aircast, DonJoy, and Chattanooga brands compete with Polar in cold therapy, bracing, and pain management across clinical, sports medicine, and consumer channels.

Peers

• Ossur:

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PolarProducts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCI1rMEt5nj41PQEgPOGV0ZA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PolarProducts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/35429487
• Instagraminstagram.com/polarproducts
• Pinterestpinterest.com/polarproducts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Polar Products