Polar Monkeys Review 2023
The fact that Polar Monkeys reaches this high in our list of best cold plunges shouldn’t surprise anyone. Custom design? Check. A wide range of models? Check. One of the lowest price points in its tier? Check. Moreover, it’s always encouraging to see that price does not impact quality. The company has a strong focus on innovation and delivering high-quality products.
Polar Monkeys Pros & Cons
- Cheap models available
- Cool design
- Wide temperature range
- Steel/ Fiberglass/ Wood/ Vinyl options
- Controlled by app
- High shipping costs
- Portable tub is expensive
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Even after several glances into the entirety of the cold therapy tub market, Polar Monkeys would likely not make the #2 spot on most lists of best cold plunges. However, that is because the company is very new (established in 2022) and has not properly branded themselves. This is a shame because their wide array of tubs come shockingly close to the leader in the industry –The Cold Plunge brand – in terms of sheer quality. With that said, let’s take a deep dive into what Polar Monkeys offers.
The one (and in our opinion, only) downside to Polar Monkeys is the lack of brand recognition. The Cold Plunge has been on Shark Tank. BlueCube has received brand exposure from Joe Rogan. Even the extremely economical, though very barebones, Ice Barrel brand has been featured in a variety of online publications with exposure to millions of eyeballs. Polar Monkeys? Crickets…both online and offline. So, allow us to formally introduce Polar Monkeys. They are based out of Hallandale, Florida. The brand was formed after seeing a price inefficiency in the market. Although they have tubs that are more expensive, their lowest priced tub (~$2,500) is half the price of the average priced tub on the market. You’d think the lower price point would bring about lower quality, but that is not the case as we will see later in this review. The company has a strong focus on innovation and delivering high-quality products that are both effective and user-friendly. They are known for their innovative designs, high-quality materials, and exceptional customer service. Overall, we’re surprised more people aren’t talking about Polar Monkeys.
The Polar Monkeys cold tub is designed with ease of use in mind. The product is simple to set up and requires no special tools or equipment. The tub comes with clear instructions that make it easy to understand how to use it, even for those who have never used a cold tub before. The tub is also designed to be lightweight and portable (at least the inflatable version), making it easy to move from one location to another. The difference between the inflatable tub and the steel version is obvious. You can move the inflatable version around easier, while you’ll want to think about a permanent place for the steel tub in advance. Moving it is a little bit of a hassle as you’ll have to drain it and then move a 120+ pound piece of steel. Also, unlike The Cold Plunge, the company does not set it up for you upon arrival. You will have to do this yourself. While the installation process lasts a mere 10-15 minutes, we would have liked to have seen the company offer the option for assistance. However, if you’re very price conscious, this is the cost of ‘business’, and in our opinion it’s a small price to pay.
All of their tubs are made of high-quality materials that are designed to withstand the rigors of regular use. The exterior is made of a durable and waterproof material that is easy to clean and maintain. The interior is made of a food-grade liner that is safe for use with ice and water. The liner is also insulated to keep the water cold for longer periods of time, making it an ideal solution for people who want to use the product for extended periods of time.
What’s surprising to see, though, is that all four separate models are built with different materials without sacrificing quality. The ‘Portal’ model is made from steel. The ‘Brainpod’ is made from fiberglass. The ‘Star Treatment’ model is made from wood. Here’s a breakdown of empty and full weight by model:
- Four-foot Portal: 100 pounds empty weight, 800 pounds full with water
- Five-foot Portal: 120 pounds empty weight, 1,000 pounds full with water
- Brainpod: 140 pounds empty weight, 600 pounds full with water
- Inflatable: no information is listed on the Polar Monkeys website, but it is safe to assume an empty weight of around 70 pounds, and probably in the 800-pound range when full with water
- Star Treatment: 300 pounds empty weight, well over 1,000 pounds full with water
Tub dimensions are as follows:
- Four-foot Portal: 4 feet (length) x 2 feet (width) x 2 feet (height)
- Five-foot Portal: 5 feet (length) x 2 feet (width) x 2 feet (height)
- Brainpod: 67″ Long x 31 1/2″ Wide x 22 4/5″ Deep
- Inflatable: 53.3” (length) x 31.5” (width) x 24” (height)
- Star Treatment: 86” (length) x 28” (width) x 28” (height)
The tubs come with a filter on the side of it, but we recommend purchasing the ozone generator, which will kill any bacteria. Polar Monkeys does recommend that you use chlorine or bromine to help keep the water clean. You will need to change out the filter every few months, and the website does provide easy to understand manuals on how to do so. It’s intuitive and should take you only several minutes.
A rarely spoken about feature that we like is the ability to choose from four different colors on the Portal and three colors on the Brainpod. The Brainpod comes with a vchiller that can give you jacuzzi-like temperatures, an ozone generator for cleaner water and an insulated cover. If you purchase the Portal tub, you will have to add additional money for the chiller and insulated cover. The Star Treatment comes with its own pump. Other than that, there are really no other special features. Remember, this is an economically viable option for people who are sensitive to price.
We’ve already covered the models above, so let’s take a look at the pricing on their tubs:
- Four-foot Portal: $2,740 (only cooling) and $2,990 (heating and cooling)
- Five-foot Portal: $3,090 (only cooling) and $3,490 (heating and cooling)
- Brainpod: $3,890 (only cooling) and $4,190 (heating and cooling)
- Inflatable: $4,200 (only cooling) and $4,400 (heating and cooling)
- Star Treatment: $12,900
All tubs come with a one-year warranty.
Pound for pound? The Portal model is probably the best value for money on the market, even more so than The Cold Plunge. However, if you’re already looking at something even slightly upgraded, we give the very slight edge to The Cold Plunge over Polar Monkeys Brainpod or Inflatable tub. The Star Treatment is a high-end luxury cold tub. Unless you’re swimming in cash, it’s not worth actually considering.
Overall, the Polar Monkeys cold tub is an excellent value for the money. The product is well-designed, easy to use, and delivers effective results. With its lightweight and portable design on the Inflatable tub, it is perfect for people who want the ability to move around their tub. The product is also well-priced, making it accessible to a wide range of customers.
Polar Monkeys definitely delivers on its promises. The issue of affordability no longer applies given their low price point of entry. The company has a strong focus on innovation and delivering high-quality products. The product is well-designed, easy to use, and delivers effective results. With its sleek and abundant designs, it is perfect for people who are on a budget. If you’re looking for an effective and user-friendly cold tub without the extra bells and whistles, the Polar Monkeys cold tub is definitely worth considering.