Tape, Cold Packs & Kit-Bag Accessories

Rigid tape or pre-wrap?

• Rigid athletic tape is a non-stretch cotton tape with a sticky adhesive. It holds its shape, which is why trainers use it for strapping ankles and fingers. It isn't the same as stretchy kinesiology tape, which is used differently.
• Pre-wrap is a thin, light foam roll that goes on the skin first, under the tape. It isn't sticky and gives no support on its own; it keeps adhesive off the skin and hair and makes the tape easier to remove.
• Scissors or a cutter take tape off safely. Bandage scissors have a blunt, angled tip that slides under tape without catching the skin.
• Taping a joint is a skill: learn it from a qualified athletic trainer or physiotherapist rather than from a product page.

Ice bag, gel pack or instant pack?

• Refillable ice bag: you fill it with ice or ice and water, so it needs a freezer or ice machine nearby. It's reusable and shapes itself around a joint.
• Reusable gel pack: you keep it in a freezer between uses. It's ready when you need it at home or at a venue with a freezer, but it warms up during a long away day.
• Instant cold pack: single use. Squeeze or strike it to start a reaction that makes it cold. It needs no freezer, which is why it belongs in a first-aid kit for away games, but it doesn't get as cold as ice and can't be reused.
• Whatever you use, follow the maker's instructions, including keeping a cloth layer between the pack and the skin where they say so.

Our picks

Tape and pre-wrap

Ice bags and cold packs

Who can skip these

An individual player rarely needs their own tape kit: a team or club kit bag, stocked by the coach or team manager, is usually enough. Players who tape the same joint every session should ask a qualified trainer what to use. For the rest of a coach's first-aid list, see Coaching Equipment: first-aid kit, and for injuries see Common Injuries.

How we choose and prices

We compare product specifications and, for products with an Amazon link, their Amazon rating and Amazon’s summary of customer reviews to help you choose equipment. We have not personally tested these products.

Last checked: October 2026. Every pick here is a small purchase (Budget). Multi-roll and multi-pack boxes cost more up front but less per item. Prices vary a lot by country and retailer.

How we choose: we don't test products ourselves. We compare the makers' specifications, such as width, length, material, pack size and how each product is used, with the makers' instructions. No brand pays to be listed, and commissions don't decide which products we pick or their order.

Frequently asked questions