The NICE1 story
The cold therapy machine that ended the ice run
Built by a skier who was tired of recovering at whatever temperature the melting ice chose.
Born from a ski crash
In 2012, after a ski crash and multiple knee surgeries, Michael Ross founded NICE Recovery Systems in Boulder, Colorado. He'd lived the standard recovery routine, bags of ice, soggy towels, machines that were only as cold as the ice you kept feeding them, and thought a recovery device should behave more like a lab instrument.
Three years of development with orthopaedic surgeons followed. The NICE1 received FDA clearance in December 2014 and entered production in 2015. Since then it has supported more than 250,000 procedures.
Control, not just cold
Any machine can get cold. The NICE1's argument is control: you pick one of five levels between 42°F and 58°F on the touchscreen, and the unit holds it, first minute, last minute, overnight. Ice-based systems (a cryo cuff fed from a cooler, or an ice-reservoir unit like Game Ready at its published 35–50°F) trend toward whatever the melting ice dictates. Consistency is the difference you feel.
Compression is measured too: 13, 26 or 39 mmHg, applied intermittently through a wrap shaped for your body area, one of 19 wraps across eight areas.
Small enough to live with
The whole system is 8 × 8.6 inches and 9 lbs, and it runs on a single cup of water for your entire recovery. That matters most for the people who use it most: someone days out of a knee replacement who can't drive to buy ice, and shouldn't have to.
Ready to try it? Rental starts at $43/day, or see the full specifications and pricing.
NICE1 vs the alternatives
Is the NICE1 a cryotherapy machine?
It’s a cold and compression therapy system. Unlike ice-based cryotherapy units, it doesn’t use an ice reservoir, it chills a single cup of water and holds one of five selectable temperatures between 42°F and 58°F.
How is it different from a cryo cuff?
A cryo cuff is a passive sleeve fed by gravity from an ice cooler, its temperature depends on the ice. The NICE1 is an active unit: it circulates chilled water at the level you select and adds intermittent compression at 13, 26 or 39 mmHg.
How does it compare to a Game Ready machine?
Game Ready’s published specifications describe an ice-reservoir design operating at 35–50°F, with the actual temperature depending on the ice. The NICE1 is iceless: you select one of five levels between 42°F and 58°F, and it holds that level for the whole session.
Can I rent it instead of buying?
Yes, rental is how most people use it: $43/day or $300/week (CAD), billed in 2-week increments, delivered Canada-wide. Purchase is also available at $15,000.
Ready before your surgery date
Tell us about your procedure and we'll call you back, you're dealing with the Canadian distributor directly, not a middleman.
Or call 647-502-7444