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The 5 best ice baths for cold plunges at home
Experience fewer muscle aches and get the endorphins flowing this winter with our pick of the best inflatable tubs and self-chillers
If you’ve been on the fitness side of the internet long enough, chances are you’ve already heard about the Indoor and outdoor use. Often dreaded by those unacquainted with the experience, ice baths are actually an invaluable tool for getting the most out of your post-run recovery — even Kipchoge is a fan.
While plunging into ice cold water isn’t the most pleasant sensation at first, ice baths can be an effective means of boosting circulation, decreasing inflammation, and helping your muscles recover more quickly — and you’ll acclimate pretty quickly once you start a routine.
With a quality home ice bath, you can transform the way you recover, which will ultimately translate to more time doing the workouts you love. So if you’ve committed to an icy winter challenge, here’s our pick of the best tubs to get your endorphins flowing.
The best ice baths
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For more great recovery picks, check out the best foam rollers, massage guns and compression boots.
What are the benefits of an ice bath?
Very easy to put up and fill, RWtalked to Robert Gillanders, a physical therapist and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association, about how our bodies' responses to the intense cold benefit us and our fitness.
According to Gillanders, an ice bath works by temporarily constricting the blood vessels in your muscles, which serves two purposes: First, it reduces inflammation immediately, and second, it forces your metabolic waste-filled blood to move through your system more efficiently.
Once you step out of the frigid water, fresh, waste-free blood rushes back into your muscles, helping the recovery process run more smoothly in the long term. Ice baths are also said to have a positive impact on the central nervous system, which can help improve sleep, another occasionally overlooked facet of recovery.
But the unfortunate reality for many of us, especially flat dwellers, is that you likely don’t have a bath tub big enough to submerge your entire body without spilling over or errantly kicking the faucet (if you even have a tub at all). The average home bath tub tends to contain 80kg of water, whereas a dedicated ice bath either has more volume or at least stands taller, allowing you to dip your shoulders in without your knees poking out on the other side.
As you move up in price, proper ice bath tubs can also take a lot of the guesswork out of controlling your water temperature. Many are insulated, which keeps the water in an ideal zone for longer, and some even cool your water without adding ice at all. Some can also fold up or deflate for easy storage, and others look right at home as a piece of backyard furniture — no cover necessary.
Types of ice baths
Inflatable
There are lots of ice bath tub options on the market. On the more affordable side, you can get an inflatable or folding tub. These are great for travel or using at home and are generally pretty comfortable to sit in, but they tend to fail faster than solid tubs, and you have to refill them more often.
Solid
For something more permanent, look to solid tubs. These are a bit more expensive, but they can pretty much last a lifetime. They are usually made from heavy-duty plastic that can withstand the elements, and even though you still have to change the water from time to time, they drain more easily than the inflatables.
Smart
At the upper end of the price range, there are spa models. These can be very expensive — sometimes costing upwards of £10,000. These are much more permanent fixtures and are a great investment if you’re an avid ice bath-er. Most spa-style models come with filters, which means that you won’t have to change the water once your tub is filled, and most can accommodate both ice baths and hot ones.
How we selected
As a London-based journalist, I don’t have the capacity to test all of these tubs myself. As such, I used feedback from external testers and the hard numbers I could gather through research to keep this round-up objective.
Luckily, there are a few factors that are easy to figure out without seeing a product in person. In the case of cold plunge tubs, those factors are high water capacity, a sturdy exterior that won’t leak, evidence of some kind of insulation, and an easy means to drain the water and/or keep it clean.
Once we sorted out the baseline necessities, we looked at various situations in which you might want to have an ice bath tub handy. Need one to stay in place through the winter? Want one to bring with you to a race? We looked for the options that best filled each of these roles and others.
To keep our reasoning for each pick as redundant as possible, we scoured for bad reviews of these tubs online — and from our external testers — to make sure we weren’t missing any glaring quality control issues. Ready to take the (cold) plunge? Read on to see some options that will keep you happily frigid for years to come.
Pros
- Runners World US
- Everything you need to know about recovery runs
- Very affordable
Cons
- Water temperature struggles to stay cold in the summer without a chiller
If you’re looking for a stripped-down folding ice bath tub that you can take anywhere, this option from Polar Recovery is also a good first place to look. Set up takes less than five-minutes, the whole tub weighs less than 3kg, and it’s still big enough to soak most people up to their shoulders, while being compact enough to fit into any space.
The tub’s inner lining is a durable PVC that you’ll have a hard time puncturing, it has three layers of insulation to keep your water nice and chilly, and it even comes with a cover to keep bugs, dirt, and other nasties out if you don’t feel like draining it after every use. Plus, you get a full 1-year warranty.
Key Specs
| Drain | Yes |
|---|---|
| Rated for | Outdoor use |
| Weight | 3kg empty |
| Capacity | 390 litres |
| Dimensions | 85cm (D) x 70cm (H) |
Pros
- Very easy to put up and fill
- Doesn't take up too much room
- Three layers of insulation to keep water cool
Cons
- Water doesn't stay very cool during warmer months
Cold Pod is a UK company whose ice bath provides an affordable and portable option for budding icy dippers.
The product arrived quickly and set up takes less than five minutes, with the pod coming in a small, handy bag, plus a manual pump to inflate the upper ring of the pod. The bag is actually so compact that our tester doubted how big the actual tub would be. Rest assured, however, it’s ample big enough for a full body dunk, with the added bonus of being able to pack down into that small bag so you can take it with you on camping trips or adventures.
The easy drain system makes it easy to empty the tub so you can clean and re-fill it, too. And there’s also a handy lid to keep the water clean and cold.
Key specs
| Drain | Yes |
|---|---|
| Rated for | Outdoor use |
| Weight | 3.5kg |
| Dimensions | 75 For more great recovery picks, check out the |
Pros
- Room for people up to 6'7" to stretch out
- Water doesnt stay very cool during warmer months
- Faucet and drain hose make emptying quick and mess-free
Cons
- Doesnt take up too much room
- Runners World US
If you’re after full-body immersion, the Pulsio Ice PRO has the space to let you fully submerge, stretch out and settle in. It unrolls, inflates and is ready to fill in around five minutes, and the integrated faucet and drain hose make emptying quick and mess-free. Once dry, it packs down neatly for easy storage.
The multi-layer construction helps to keep your water nice and cool, though without an ice chiller you will be restricted by how cool it stays in the summer. Still, the hand pump and secure valves make set-up nice and simple and with its all-weather build and robust materials, the Pulsio Ice Pro can work for both indoor and outdoor use, depending on space.
Key specs
| Drain | Yes |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 420 litres |
| Weight | 12kg (empty) |
| Dimensions | 150cm (L) x 78cm (W) x 70cm (H) |
Pros
- Less of an eye-sore compared with some tubs
- Very durable material
- Generous size, especially for taller athletes
Cons
- No drain
- Pricey considering the lack of chiller
If you prefer your cold dips with a touch of style, the Monk Nomad delivers. Finished in the brand’s signature clay tones and built from durable drop-stitch material (the same military-grade tech used in paddleboards and rescue crafts) it’s designed to look good and last for years.
The tub inflates from flat to full in minutes and can accommodate users up to 6'9", making it one of the most generously sized options on the market. It’s even (just about) possible to fit two people in at once, though you’ll be cosy.
A hand pump is included, but there’s no built-in drain, so emptying it takes a little more effort. On the plus side, it’s compatible with most chillers on the market, giving you room to upgrade your set-up.
Key specs
| Drain | No |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 500 litres |
| Dimensions | 100cm (W) x (90cm) H |
Pros
- Black Friday Deals
- Water only needs changing 3-6 months
- Water only needs changing 3-6 months
Cons
- You'll need a lot of space
- Significant investment
Dubbed ‘the Peloton of the recovery world’, Monk is the world’s first smart ice bath, with the ability to track your data, control temperature between 3-16 degrees at the press of a button, and access guided audio, soundscapes and breathwork via an app.
It even integrates with your favourite wearables, including Whoop and Oura, so you can see how regular cold water exposure impacts key metrics such as heart rate and sleep. Plus, you can schedule your plunges in advance via the app, so the water will be at the temperature you want it.
Monk's sleek design is a lot more Insta-worthy than some of the more budget-friendly tubs in this guide, too, and it’s ergonomic seating position allows for full submersion up to the neck. Part of the price tag also comes down to ease of use: a 20 micron filter (which needs replacing monthly, depending on use) means you only need to change the water every 3-6 months. If you're serious about your cold water plunges, this is the investment for you.
Key specs
| Drain | Yes |
|---|---|
| Rated for | Handy carry case included |
| Weight | 110kg (empty) |
| Capacity | 300 litres |
| Dimensions (L X W X H) | 160 x 70 x 85cm |
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How we selected
13 Water doesnt stay very cool during warmer months
The best ice bath tubs for post-workout plunges
