Thanks to increasing scientific data about the mental and physical benefits of deliberate cold exposure, as well as the efforts of celebrity advocates such as Wim Hof and Joe Rogan, we’ve also seen an explosion in the public popularity of at-home ice bathtubs. But ice baths come in various sizes, styles, and price points that can be confusing. That’s why I’ve ranked and reviewed the best ice bathtubs on the market so you can find the perfect tub to take the cold plunge.
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The Plunge
Advanced automatic cooling and cleaning, mood lighting, and hot tub capabilities, wrapped in a sleek aesthetic, make The Plunge an ultimate ice tub experience.
Ice Barrel
If you want a classic ice barrel look with high-quality but lightweight materials, a sprinkling of functional extras, and a reasonable price, then the Ice Barrel is for you.
BDL Folding Tub
This is great for those who want a lightweight space-saver that can double as both a hot and cold tub. It’s easy to fill and empty, and best of all, it’s extremely well-priced.
- Best Overall Ice Bath Tub: The Cold Plunge
Jump to review ↓ - Best Portable Ice Bath Tub: Ice Barrel
Jump to review ↓ - Best Fullsize Budget Ice Bath Tub: BDL Bathtub
Jump to review ↓ - Best Half-size Budget Ice Bath Tub: WEY&FLY Foldable Tub
Jump to review ↓ - Best Ice Bath Tub for Multiple People: Coleman SaluSpa Inflatable Tub
Jump to review ↓ - Best Outdoor Safe Ice Bath Tub: Rubbermaid Stock Tank 300
Jump to review ↓ - Best True Zero Ice Bath Tub: Odin Ice Bathce Bath
Jump to review ↓ - Best Premium Ice Bath Tub: Renu Therapy Cold Stoic
Jump to review ↓
How We Pick
Best Ice Bath Tubs
The Cold Plunge
Best Overall Ice Bathtub
- Water circulation for deep cooling
- Ozone filtration cleaning
- Temperature control to 39°F / 4°C
- Mood lighting
- Optional hot tub feature
- Needs a constant electricity supply
SPECIFICATION
- Rated for: Indoor and Outdoor use
- Materials: Acrylic and fiberglass with a reinforced metal base
- Hot Tub Compatible: Yes
The Cold Plunge is a luxury ice tub for those seeking the ultimate cold plunge experience. Forget the ice; just fill it with water, set the desired temperature, and let the automatic cooling do its magic. The Plunge keeps water cool and ready for use at all times. The Plunge also features water circulation, which prevents a warm water layer from forming around you and maximizes the health effects of the cold water.
The Plunge also features a smart ozone filtration system. This automatically filters the water and keeps it clean for weeks, saving you both time and water. If you’re interested in contrast therapy and using heat and cold for health, I recommend upgrading the bathtub to the hot tub-capable version. The Plunge is a true plug-and-plunge experience.
Lastly, The Plunge is a well-made and beautiful tub. It boasts a modern design aesthetic with sharp lines, a glossy white finish, and inbuilt mood lighting. It’s made from a sturdy metal base and high-quality fiberglass, making it durable and suitable for all-weather outdoor use. The Cold Plunge is so confident you’ll love its ice bath offering that they offer a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
- Many people report improved recovery post-workout
- Many people recommend doing contrast therapy with the hot and cold tub option
- People love how much time, ice, and water the automatic cooling and cleaning saves
- Many people report feeling more alert and focused after using it early in the morning
- The motor is strong and generates some noticeable noise
- Not space-friendly to those over 6 foot in height
Ice Barrel
Best Portable Ice Bathtub
- Classic ice tub design
- Durable recycled material
- Lightweight and portable
- Includes UV cover
- Requires filling with ice
- Requires you to sit upright
- No precise temperature control
SPECIFICATION
- Rated for: Indoor and Outdoor use
- Materials: High-quality, non-toxic recycled plastic
- Hot Tub Compatible: No
The Ice Barrel is the classic portable ice bath for athletes for a reason. It is surprisingly roomy at 105 gallons, yet has a small footprint and is lightweight. Although the Ice Barrel requires you to fill it with water and add ice, the heavy-duty plastic inner walls keep the water surprisingly cool, and depending on where you live, you may only have to top it with ice every few days to weeks.
The Ice Barrel features a suite of functional additions that make it straightforward and safe to use. A step allows easy access to the entrance hole, and the support stand prevents it from falling over as you enter and exit. The lid allows you to keep unwanted dirt and insects out of the barrel when not in use, and the UV cover protects the barrel from being degraded by UV sunlight.
Overall the Ice Barrel is for those who long for a portable, durable, modern take on the classic ice bath.
- It looks great and the material feels quality
- Customers love the upright form factor compared to lying down
- Lots of room even for tall people (customers up to 6ft 4″ reported comfortable use)
- Many customers report:
– improved mental clarity
– improved mood
– reduced post-workout soreness
- It can be expensive to fill the tub with water and ice – especially if you live in a hot, dry part of the world
- Getting in and out is difficult for those with mobility issues
- It can be difficult to get into if you are short
BDL Foldable Tub
Best Full-size Budget Ice Bathtub
- Large size
- Hot and cold tub
- Foldable for space saving
- Requires filling with water and ice
SPECIFICATION
- Rated for: Indoor and Outdoor use
- Materials: Steel skeleton, Six-layer nylon cover
- Hot Tub Compatible: Yes
This ice bathtub from BDL is a great budget-friendly option. As with other non-electric tubs, simply fill it with water and ice. Then once you’re finished, open the drain for easy emptying. If you don’t have a bath at home, this also doubles as a warm water bath.
When you’re not using it you can fold it flat for easy storage, and it’s extremely lightweight so portability is never an issue. If you’re tall and after a budget tub, I would strongly recommend this over the budget half-size option; your knees and back with thank you.
- Large capacity, allowing most reviewers (up to 6ft 2″) to completely submerge
- Holds temperature well
- Sturdy and easy to enter
- Works well for both hot and ice soaks
- Cover is easy to clean and dried quickly
- Can flood the bathroom if not set up properly
- Can tear and leak
- If using in the shower, then ensure the correct size
WEY&FLY Portable Bathtub
Best Half-size Budget Ice Bathtub
- Great price
- Hot and cold tub
- Foldable and portable
- Cannot lie down
- Requires filling with water and ice
SPECIFICATION
- Rated for: Indoor and Outdoor use
- Materials: Steel, Plastic, and Polyvinyl
- Hot Tub Compatible: Yes
This bathtub from WEY&FLY is my pick for the best budget ice bathtub. It’s inexpensive, well made, and has good water capacity allowing for immersion to the neck. You will have to fill this tub with water and ice, or hot water if you’d prefer a steamy soak. Once you’re done, open the bottom drain to empty.
The tub is light, making it easy to transport, and when you’re done you can fold it down flat for storage. Then throw the cover in the wash for cleaning. What this ice bathtub lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for it by being extremely budget-friendly, portable, and simple to use. The only word of caution is that this is an upright, crouched-style tub. If you would prefer to lie flat then I recommend the budget fullsize option above.
- Fits in small spaces
- Sturdy and easy to assemble
- Water stays hot / cold for a long time
- Versatile and can be used for hot and cold baths
- Slightly awkward to assemble
- Potential to leak if the material tears\
- Be careful using extremely high water temperatures
Coleman SaluSpa 4-Person Inflatable Tub
Best Ice Bathtub For Multiple People
- Fits up to 4 people
- Doubles as a hot tub
- Can deflate for portability
- Jets mimic water circulation
- Requires filling with water and ice
- Unable to control the cold temperature
SPECIFICATION
- Rated for: Outdoor use
- Materials: Rubber
- Hot Tub Compatible: Yes
Hacking hot tubs is criminally underrated as a way to enjoy heat and cold without breaking the bank. This may not be what you had in mind when shopping for an ice bath, but it makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Electric hot tubs are much cheaper than electric ice baths, and cold water and ice are also relatively affordable.
The inflatable form factor means the bathtub is durable, all-weather friendly, and deflates for easy portability. To maximize your ice bath, you want the water circulating at all times; whilst this doesn’t have a water circulation feature, the in-built jets will work just as well and give you a hydro massage to boot.
Best of all, the tub is huge so you can share your cold plunge with up to four others.
- Lots of room and feels sturdy
- Simple to setup and easy to carry
- The jets feel amazing
- No automatic timer for the hot tub
- Difficult to get parts serviced
- May struggle to heat in very cold weather
Rubbermaid Stock Tank
Best Outdoor Safe Ice Bathtub
- Virtually indestructible
- Multiple large size options (up to 300 gallons)
- Not as comfortable
- Not hot water compatible
- Requires filling with water and ice
SPECIFICATION
- Rated for: Indoor and Outdoor use
- Materials: Moulded Polyethylene
- Hot Tub Compatible: No
The Rubbermaid is arguably the simplest tub on this list, given it is essentially a single, seamless piece of industrial-grade plastic. The reason for this simplicity is that it wasn’t originally designed as an ice bath but rather as a water trough. But it’s found popularity and reputation amongst ice bath enthusiasts due to its tough, all-weather construction.
Best of all, you get your pick of 50, 100, 150, and 300-gallon sizes. Depending on your height, you can stretch the legs out and possibly even submerge your head in larger sizes. So if you don’t mind changing the water and ice every time, this is a great large and durable ice bathtub option.
- Lightweight and portable
- Easily fits people even up to 6ft 1″
- Works great for no-frills ice bathing
- Sturdy; people report it lasting for years
- Does not have a drain plug
- Requires tipping over to empty
Odin
Best True Zero Ice Bathtub
- Thermostat control to true 0°C (32°F)
- Sanitation and filtration
- Stainless steel construction
- No heating at this price point
- Needs constant electricity supply
SPECIFICATION
- Rated for: Indoor and Outdoor use
- Materials: Cedar and Stainless Steel
- Hot Tub Compatible: No
Odin ice baths are hand-made, premium tubs from sunny Australia. What makes the Odin unique is its internal stainless steel tub. This steel interior allows the water to be cooled to a freezing 0°C (32 °F) – making this the coldest automatic cooling tub on the market.
This steel interior also houses the cooling mechanism, so there is no external protruding box to ruin the unique and sleek cylindrical form factor. The exterior is paneled with Cedar and finished with coils of stainless steel. So the Odin is outdoors safe and all-weather capable.
Renu Therapy Cold Stoic 2.0
Best Premium Ice Bathtub
- Fully customizable design
- Sanitation and filtration
- Thermostat control to 39°F (4°C)
- No heating at this price point
- Needs constant electricity supply
SPECIFICATION
- Rated for: Indoor and Outdoor use
- Materials: Metal Frame, Wooden Breath Deck & Panelling
- Hot Tub Compatible: No
While the price tag may make you wince at first sight, you’ll quickly realize why the Cold Stoic 2.0 from Renu Therapy deserves every penny. The Cold Stoic features many of the same features you would expect at this price point: thermostat controllable water temperature, water circulation for advanced cooling, and self-cleaning.
Where the Cold Stoic stands apart is in its beautiful, customizable design. The base tank comes in various colors, including black, white, navy, and more. The tub features a wooden breath deck you can perch on after emerging from your plunge. This deck comes in various kinds of wood, including California Redwood, Pacific Cider, and multiple Shou Sugi Ban options. The overall design is pleasing to the eye and would look great in any indoor or outdoor space. All Renu Therapy tubs are hand-made in California and include a 5-year warranty.
