US Marines gave it 9.1 out of 10. The Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs wrote to thank us.

Soldiers are merciless product testers. They carry everything they bring, and anything that doesn’t earn its place gets left behind. In 2003 US Marines put Liquid Ice through a field test. Overall mark: 9.1 out of 10.

Our military brochure from that year announced the test: Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, as part of the Marine Battle Skills Test, under simulated combat conditions.

What the Marines scored

The results in our archive cover 15 criteria, each rated on a scale of 1 to 10. A few of the numbers:

• Weight of the package: 9.79
• Size of the package: 9.44
• Directions on the package: 9.41
• Opening the package: 9.28
• Ease of use: 9.1
• Comfort: 8.9
• Cold after 20 minutes: 8.59
• Overall performance: 9.1

Weight got the best mark. When you carry your own kit, you count in grams.

A letter from the Pentagon

The same year, the US Air Force’s Personnel Recovery Division evaluated Liquid Ice for its inventory. Personnel recovery is the job of bringing back isolated or downed service members. A Chief Master Sergeant from the division wrote from the Pentagon: “Your product has several applications for us in the Personnel Recovery/Special Operations arena.” The group particularly liked that the bandage can be soaked again with refill liquid.

A letter had come from even higher up that spring. On 30 April 2003 General Peter Pace of the US Marine Corps, then Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked the makers of Liquid Ice for their letter and a free sample: “I greatly appreciate your continued support to the magnificent men and women in our Armed Forces.”

Field tests in Europe

Liquid Ice went into the field in Europe too. The Austrian and Swiss armies both tested it in the field, and both rated it “very good”. A German army major on ISAF deployment in Kabul packed a small pack of Liquid Ice. Generalmajor (ret.) Jürgen Reichardt, former commanding general of the German Army’s doctrine and training command, assessed it in June 2003: “The bandages will not limit mobility or restrict flexibility.” In August he sent samples to the commander of the Bundeswehr’s special forces command, the KSK, and an offer went to Germany’s defence procurement office. From 2003 a dedicated military line was sold in the USA, the UK and Austria. Later, a military outfitter in Singapore ordered 720 spray bottles in one go.

What was in the test

The field-test bandage came individually packed and already soaked, small enough for any pocket. It came in two sizes: mid size for ankle, wrist and elbow, large for knee, back and shoulder. Open it, wrap it, done. With the refill liquid it could be soaked again. The cooling is evaporation: the liquid of water, alcohol, menthol and camphor evaporates off the fabric and takes heat from the skin with it. No power, ice or cool box involved.

That is exactly how today’s Active Ice Bandage works: pre-soaked, individually packed, ready straight away. Teams and units that need more can get Liquid Ice by the canister, for professionals.