We tested the most popular Ice Bath Plunges of 2024 (Expert-Tested & Rated)
Which brand provides the ultimate value for your money? Read below to find out what our experts say.
All plunges we tested are sold & available in the United States.
By Naomi Robertson
Last updated on September 15, 2024
Summary: In this review, we dive into the most popular ice bath plunges of 2024 from reputable brands, to find out which ones give you the best bang for your buck.
- All the plunges we tested are available in the USA, and our experts evaluated them extensively based on 15+ factors, to see how they stack up in terms of features like build quality, ease of setup, cooling performance, filtration/sanitation, warranty and much more. Plus, we gave each one a rating based on overall value for money, and conclude a winner at the end.
- Cold therapy has become very popular recently, for it's many science-backed health benefits. Whether you're an athlete seeking faster and better recovery, or just a regular person wanting to reap all the health benefits, cold plunging is for you!
- Benefits include muscle recovery, mood & energy enhancement, improved sleep, stress relief, support weight loss, Reduce chronic pain, among many other benefits.
We paid full price for all the ice baths below, and do not receive a kickback from any of them.
THE ICE POD
THE ICE POD
IcePod + Pod Chiller
IcePod + Pod Chiller
Comfortable Ice Bath & Water Chiller (cools to 39F) featuring 20-micron filtration.
Highlights: Free US shipping. 24 months warranty. Financing from $89/month. Try it risk free for 100 days. Easy returns
Value for money score
4.8/5
Our Top Pick: The IcePod + Pod Chiller ($899)
When we first came across The Pod Company, we were impressed with their simple yet complete product range, and attention to detail+quality to say the least. They offer both a round and long ice bath (for extra comfort), a high performance chiller and a wide range of accessories. From just $899 you are sorted with an ice bath + chiller, which is completely unheard of in the ice bath industry.
They do also offer their tubs as standalone (from $79-$249), and sells these 3 lb. ice brick which you simply fill with water, and freeze in your home freezer. 6-9 of those and you don't have to purchase ice cubes to keep it cold. We do recommend the chiller though, as it's just so convenient, sanitary & easy.
The chiller
The chiller ensures that your water is always exactly the temperature you desire (down to 39°F), and your water will remain sparkling clean too with it's continuous flow and 20-micron filtration. (no more hassle with buying ice).
It's rated both for indoor and outdoor use, highly energy-efficient and quiet (same energy and noice level as a fridge).
But you're probably thinking;
This sounds too good to be true, what's the catch? We thought the same, and was actually hesitant to order this one, but after seeing their ads everywhere, researching them a bit more, being assured with their 24 month warranty, and seeing their 1200+ 5-star reviews on Trustpilot, we took the chance.
3 months of testing later
After 3 months of testing this plunge daily, we can confidently say that this ice bath set up is the perfect rig for 99% of americans. It delivers the same ice cold and clean water consistently, as the comparable $4500+ ice baths. The build quality is impressive and their warranty + satisfaction guarantee seems to hold up based on our own experience and from online reviews. The Chiller we received had a small scratch/dent in the paint that it likely got during transport (no even their fault), so we called their support phone and immediately got a sincere apology, and they promptly sent us a new chiller unit - This is how any company should treat their customers.
Pros
- The tubs feature thick 5-layer insulation with sub zero technology
- Fits people up to 6ft9 (or 400lbs) comfortably
- 8700+ 5-star rewiews
- High strength UV-resistant nylon fabric
- Free from BPA, phthalates & any other harmful chemical traces
- Up to 24 month warranty, 100 days return policy, 30 days test trial
- Best Priced Chiller & Ice Bath Combo starting at less than $1,000 (or $89/month)
- 20-micron filtration and cooling down to 39°F (3°C)
- Fully Portable & easy to set-up
- 40+ accessories such as extra insulated covers, water maintenance packs, ice blocks and much more.
Cons
- Only available for customers in the USA (for now)
- Might not look as aesthetic as the top range $10.000 ice bath below, but ask yourself if the $9000 extra price tag is worth it for you.
The Bottom Line
This is by far the best value option out there, as other plunges with the same features are at least 5x the price of this setup. Our experts would recommend all beginners and seasoned plungers this setup, even if you have $5000+ to spend, we actually don't believe the huge markup of other competing plunges are worth it.
THE PLUNGE
THE PLUNGE
The Plunge
The Plunge
Included: Plunge Tub + Chiller (cools down to 39F) Cover + Cell Phone Holder
Rating
4.1/5
The Plunge does exactly what it's supposed to, delivering a solid ice bath experience, with cold and clean water. This would be an excellent choice, but the $5000+ price point is hard for our experts to justify. After testing another ice bath priced around $1000 that offer similar cooling performance and features (our #1 pick in this article specifically), it’s tough to see a reasonable explanation why anyone would splurge on this one for the same cold water and performance.
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Sure, the design is indeed sleek, and it may have a few extra bells and whistles, but in terms of value for money, there’s really no reason to spend five times more for a plunge that doesn’t stand out enough to warrant the hefty price tag. At the end of the day you get the same clean and cold water here as you do with our $999 option we tested.
Pros
- Free curbside delivery
- Includes a phone holder
- Sleek design
- Free from BPA, phthalates & any other harmful chemical traces
Cons
- Extremely expensive starting at $4,990, this is out of most peoples price range
- Long and complicated setup time, heavy and not moveable, arrive by truck and need 3-4 people to move it
- Includes delivery at home, but does not include the set-up itself
- Limited warranty, not all defects and issues covered
- Small selection of accessories & lots of maintenance required
The Bottom Line
If you have the space and are willing to spend almost $5,000 this is an option. You need to be willing to invest financially and commit a larger space for this ice bath. It does count with a high quality tub and good cooling system so you won’t need to wait for the water to reach the desired temperature. However, we did not love this option as it requires some serious space, care and is challenging to move if needed. The price point was the main drawdown of this option, comparing it to our first pick, we do not see the justification to spend 5 times more money for this option.
ICE BARREL 400
ICE BARREL 400
Ice Barrel 400
Ice Barrel 400
Included: Ice Barrel + Lid (no chiller)
Value for money score
2.3/5
The Ice barrel has been around for years, and so we had to test this one too. This barrel shaped ice bath looks very cool, but it does lack in almost all areas of performance that we are comparing all ice baths on. It doesn't have any insulation, and so with no insulation and it's black color, it's next to impossible to keep it cold and we needed an incredible amount of ice to get it cold enough for a real plunge at 50F.
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Coming in at $1199 for this, when it doesn't even include a chiller, you're much better off just getting any $99 ice bath tub or a stock tank from a hardware store. In our experts opinion - this is just an extremely overpriced plastic bucket.
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They do offer a chiller too, which just launched, but it is coming in at $2500, so for a full barrel+chiller setup you're still looking at $4000+ which we do not believe is a competitive price and value compared to our #1 top pick in this article.
Pros
- Effective upright design
- Free from BPA, phthalates & any other harmful chemical traces
Cons
- Doesn’t include a Chiller
- Extremely expensive, even without a chiller
- Not easily portable as it’s not compact, expensive to ship
- Lacks professional insulation, will not stay cold over time
- Bulky and not comfortable to use for some, you need to stand while plunging
The Bottom Line
If you are specifically looking for a barrel design, this might be your best option. It does not come with a chiller and is one of the most expensive ice bath without a chiller on the list. Bare in mind you will still need to buy ice or a chiller on top of the listed $1199 price. However, at nearly $1,200, we were disappointed that this option is actually not fully insulated, since it’s just plastic that, while thick, does not insulate the water like some of the other options. The value provided does not justify the extremely high price point in our opinion. For the same price of this barrel, other companies offer the full setup with tub+chiller, which would be our recommendation if your budget is around $1000
Edge Theory Labs
Edge Theory Labs
The Edge Tub
The Edge Tub
Included: inflatable tub, water chiller
Value for money score
2.6/5
The Edge Tub from Edge Theory Labs is well-built but feels overpriced for its functionality, especially when compared to more affordable alternatives like the IcePod we also reviewed, which offers a similar cooling experience for around $1,000. While the Edge Tub has some premium features, it's hard to justify the significant price difference, and from a value standpoint our experts would not pick or recommend this tub. That is why it comes in at the last place.
Pros
- Portable tub design (chiller excluded due to very heavy weight).
- Durable, designed for outdoor use
- Comfortable long design
Cons
- Very overpriced in our expert's opinion. A very similar portable setup from another company is just $1000.
- Heavy chiller, weighs 60+ pounds and is next to impossible to move/travel with.
- Inflatable tub could be prone to puncture or air leaks.
- the tub alone without chiller is still $1000+ which isn't good value compared to others on the market.
DIY Ice Bath
DIY Ice Bath
DIY Ice Bath
DIY Ice Bath
Do it yourself plunge such as a DIY chest freezer ice bath.
Value/ease score
1.8/5
You might have seen a lot of videos on youtube about the DIY cold plunges, converting a chest freezer or hooking a hardware store chiller to a stock tank. This could be a fun project, but there are major safety concerns around electrocution here. chest freezers and aquarium chillers are not made for this purpose, and therefore when using them you are putting yourself at a big risk of electric shock. Aditionally, it quickly runs up in cost when converting a chest freezer for example, and it easily costs $1000 + a lot of man hours before you're done. Our experts therefore believe you're better off spending the same and getting a $1000 setup (our top pick) where you also have a warranty and company standing behind the product should you ever have issues.
Pros
- Cheaper than the $5000 ice baths
- fun DIY project
Cons
- Extreme safety hazard, electric shock from freezer and external water pumps are a serious risk.
- Requires professional plumbing and electrical skills, + many hours required to build.
- doesn't look aesthetic or presentable at your home.
- lot's of maintenance needed and no filtration.
TOP CHOICE 2024
TOP CHOICE 2024
Our experts awards the best value ice bath: The IcePod
The IcePod
The IcePod
Comfortable Ice Bath & Water Chiller (cools to 39F) featuring 20-micron filtration.
Highlights: Free US shipping. 24 months warranty. Financing from $89/month. Try it risk free for 100 days. Easy returns
Value for money score
4.8/5
Our Top Pick: The IcePod from Podcompany.com
When we first came across The Pod Company, we were impressed with their simple yet complete product range, and attention to detail+quality to say the least. They offer both a round and long ice bath (for extra comfort), a high performance chiller and a wide range of accessories. From just $899 you are sorted with an ice bath + chiller, which is completely unheard of in the ice bath industry.
They do also offer their tubs as standalone (from $79-$249), and sells these 3 lb. ice brick which you simply fill with water, and freeze in your home freezer. 6-9 of those and you don't have to purchase ice cubes to keep it cold. We do recommend the chiller though, as it's just so convenient, sanitary & easy.
The chiller
The chiller ensures that your water is always exactly the temperature you desire (down to 39°F), and your water will remain sparkling clean too with it's continuous flow and 20-micron filtration. (no more hassle with buying ice).
It's rated both for indoor and outdoor use, highly energy-efficient and quiet (same energy and noice level as a fridge).
But you're probably thinking;
This sounds too good to be true, what's the catch? We thought the same, and was actually hesitant to order this one, but after seeing their ads everywhere, researching them a bit more, being assured with their 24 month warranty, and seeing their 1200+ 5-star reviews on Trustpilot, we took the chance.
3 months of testing later
After 3 months of testing this plunge daily, we can confidently say that this ice bath set up is the perfect rig for 99% of Americans. It delivers the same ice cold and clean water consistently, as the comparable $4500+ ice baths. The build quality is impressive and their warranty + satisfaction guarantee seems to hold up based on our own experience and from online reviews. The Chiller we received had a small scratch/dent in the paint that it likely got during transport (no even their fault), so we called their support phone and immediately got a sincere apology, and they promptly sent us a new chiller unit - This is how any company should treat their customers.
Pros
- The tubs feature thick 5-layer insulation with sub zero technology
- Fits people up to 6ft9 (or 400lbs) comfortably
- 8700+ 5-star rewiews
- High strength UV-resistant nylon fabric
- Free from BPA, phthalates & any other harmful chemical traces
- Up to 24 month warranty, 100 days return policy, 30 days test trial
- Best Priced Chiller & Ice Bath Combo starting at less than $1,000 (or $89/month)
- 20-micron filtration and cooling down to 39°F (3°C)
- Fully Portable & easy to set-up
- 40+ accessories such as extra insulated covers, water maintenance packs, ice blocks and much more.
Cons
- Only available for customers in the USA (for now)
- Might not look as aesthetic as the top range $10.000 ice bath below, but ask yourself if the $9000 extra price tag is worth it for you.
The Bottom Line
This is by far the best value option out there, as other plunges with the same features are at least 5x the price of this setup. Our experts would recommend all beginners and seasoned plungers this setup, even if you have $5000+ to spend, we actually don't believe the huge markup of other competing plunges are worth it.
