7 Unique Cold Plunges That Gets The Work Done (2023)

Just the thought of immersing yourself in cold water can send shivers down your spine. People would rather take a warm/hot shower than a cold one to feel comfortable. But they neglect the fact that with just a few minutes of cold plunge can bring in a range of health benefits.

Heath benefits can range from increased muscle recovery, increased energy levels, putting you in a better mood, and lots more, this is only the tip of the ice burg.

The cold plunge has been used in the fitness world for a long time. The reason is with water below 59° Fahrenheit will shock your body and constrict your blood vessels flushing away waste products. Once you get out, your body will increase your blood circulation to warm your body up. This increased blood flow will help reduce inflammation, soreness, and pains after a tough workout~ it can be a great paring tool with the gym.

I have researched and come up with the best cold plunges for different criteria down below.

Best Cold Plunge

Here are my top picks for cold plunges

• Best Affordable Cold Plunge- CO-Z Inflatable Portable Bath Tub
• Best Overall Cold Plunge- The Cold Plunge
• Best for tight spaces- Ice Barrel
• Best Outdoors Cold Plunge- The Odin Ice Bath
• Best Portable Cold Plunge- The Edge Tub
• Best Premium Cold Plunge- Renu Therapy
• Best Design Cold Plunge- Polar Monkeys

Co-Z Inflatable Portable Bath Tub

Cold plunge can be expensive and out of budget for most people. This is why to get started you can purchase something at a more reasonable price.

Even without all the fancy technologies like the other cold plunge, this is still good enough to get an amazing cold plunge session.

It is an inflatable bath, which is designed to provide high comfort. It comes with a backrest, head pillow, and armrest. The armrest also includes a cup holder to put either your phone or beverages. So you can sit back and enjoy the cold water.

It is made out of high-quality PVC material that can hold up to 100 kg, making it durable.

If you wanted to switch up and have a hot plunge instead then there is also a zipper at the side of the bath. Once zipped up, it will help retain the heat inside the tub.

The Cold Plunge

If you watch the show shark tank, then you might have seen this product.

With its spacious design, tall people can fully immerse in the water without feeling cramped up. For the normal plunge, the length is 67 inches long and the width is 43 inches wide. If that’s not enough then you can upgrade to an XL where the length is 76 inches and the width is 47 inches long.

With its unique sanitizing system, the water can stay fresh for up to 6 months, taking away the hassle of you having to constantly change the water.

You can also go pro or get hot & cold style. What you get from a pro is a faster cooling of the water (3x quicker) and will retain the cold water temperature much longer. With the cold & hot style not only will you be able to cool the water down to 39° but will also heat the water to 105°.

The cold plunge is made out of durable material that can withstand all of the weather, so it can be put outdoors if you wanted. There is no need to be worried about the temperature of the water being affected if put out, the tub is fully insulated keeping the temperature of the water just the way you want it.

Ice Barrel

This is great if you’re looking for a simple and compact cold plunge tool to use. Without any requirement of building or putting things together, you just have to fill it up with ice and water then you are ready to go. Then once you are out, just drain the water with its easy drainage system.

The weight of the barrel is only 55 lbs without any water, making it easy to move it around when required.

It comes with a stand for the barrel, a step ladder to help you get inside the barrel, a lid, and a protective UV cover.

The length of the barrel is 42 inches long and the width is 31 inches wide. So if you are a tall person this can feel a little cramped for you.

The Odin ice bath

Odin bath is on the more expensive side but you definitely get what you pay for.

The outside is made out of red cedar wood and the inside of the bath is made out of stainless steel that has copper coils warped around it. This ensures that no cold is lost from the bath. The temperature can be cooled until 32°F if you are feeling brave.

When plugged in, it takes little power same as your fridge at home and It is meant to be left plugged in 24/7. This ensures that your water stays at the right temperature you desire allowing you to jump in whenever you want. It also has its own filtration system, so you won’t have to worry about changing your water for a long period of time.

The bath comes in different sizes depending on what types of Odin bath you buy. Below I have screenshotted the dimensions which I got straight from the website:

The Edge Tub

It is an inflatable tub only weighing 25lb, so it can easily be carried in a backpack around wherever you need it. Even though it is an inflatable type tub it is made out of the same material as paddle boards making it super sturdy.

What’s great about this tub compared to other ones is that is:

• Hot & cold functionality- You won’t have to pay any extra money to get this, it comes in a 2in1 at the normal price. Cool temperature to 37°F and hot temperature to 105°F

• 1 horsepower cooling compression- this cools the water down extremely fast. It has a much stronger power than most of the other tubs.

It also includes 2 step filtration process where you will need to add oxidizer liquid weekly. The filters should be changed every month to ensure your filter cleans your water properly.

All systems for the functionality of the tub can be controlled by your smartphone. You would just need to download the Tuya smart app.

Renu Therapy

This one is the most expensive one on the list. You don’t need to spend this much to have an effective cold plunge. But if you want to invest one of that is of the highest quality then this would be your pick.

With its high price, as some sort of safety net it includes 5 years of limited warranty. It is only limited, so if you got any enquires to what is included in it, you can contact their team before purchasing.

It includes a deck top (for breathing exercises) which is made out of wood. You get 4 options to pick from- California Redwood, Pacific Cedar, Shou Sugi Ban (dark burn), Shou Sugi Ban (tiger stripe). With a matching design also comes a stepping stool, helping you get in and out of the tub.

Renu uses a 4 filtration process, making absolutely sure the water stays extra clean. It needs to be changed every month, and the process of changing the filter is super easy.

Polar Monkeys

Its black colour and the graphic of a monkey, make it stand out in its appearance. But you can choose one without the artwork, this will save you some money.

It comes with a filtration pump, but does not come with a ozone generator, this you would need to purchase as extra. To change the water safely you can just plug your hose to the drainage.

The tub is made out of stainless steel, this means that the cold water can condensate to the exterior. If your putting it outdoors then its aright, but if your plan is indoors then you would need a suitable water proof area just in case.

By paying extra $400 you can add a heating system, getting at a cheaper deal than most of the other products. Cold temperature goes down 36°F and hot temperature goes up to 101°F.

What Is Cold plunge?

Cold plunge simply mean when you fully submerge your body in water that is below 60°F for at least 2 minutes. Doing cold plunge is totally different than having a cold shower. Whilst cold shower is still good, but fully submerging your body will have a much bigger shock/impact on your body.

Benefits Of Cold Plunge

Increased Energy

Soon as you fully get inside the cold water, it will shock your entire body. This will make your nervous system release norepinephrine waking your body wide awake. Doing this right after waking up can give you more energy than your regular cup of coffee.

Lowers stress/anxiety levels

It is shown that cold water can help reduce cortisol which is a stress hormone. Regulation of cortisol at a long term can help build your resilience to stress. Also the release of norepinephrine will put you in a better mood, stripping you away from your stress.

Helps muscle recovery / reduce inflation

Once submerged in the cold water constriction of your blood vessels will occur, thus reducing your blood flow. This helps flush away waste products from your muscles and from any of your swellings. But soon as you get out your body will increase your blood circulation rapidly to warm your body up. This increase will help provide nutrients back to your muscles helping them recover.

Boosts immune system

Being in cold water can also increase your white blood cells. After getting out the water your body will naturally warm itself up, during this your metabolic will rise, thus activating your immune system. Having the activation of your immune system even before you get sick means your body will be on full alert before it gets infected/invaded.

Final words

Choosing the correct cold plunge is extremely important as nearly all of them are over $1,000. I have listed and laid their features, pros/cons and their prices to make it easy for you to decide.

There are a variety of products that ranges with different prices and specs. So no matter type of product you have in mind, it will be on the list.

No matter which product you go with, they all will help provide great cold plunge session. But things to consider are:

• Size- Do you have space for the product?
• Price- Is it in your budget?
• Portability- Are you looking for one that can be carried around easily?
• Design- Is the type of design a factor for you?
• Features- What type of additional feature you want?

The first few days will be the hardest, the body will not cooperate with you. But keep at it and you will see week by week it gets easier and easier. So don’t quit and good luck on your cold plunging journey!