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The Cold Plunge Review 2023
The Cold Plunge is, without a doubt, one of the leading companies in the cold exposure therapy market. Their products are made of high-quality materials and are designed to provide a convenient and effective way to practice cold water immersion at home. The wide variety of features and range of temperature control is best in class. Being one of the most affordable options on the market, in addition to the most brand awareness worldwide, this makes it the best option available to you.
The Cold Plunge Pros & Cons
- Sleek design
- Wide temperature range
- Consistent filtration
- Simple set up
- Full body immersion
- 0% APR financing
- 30-day return policy
- No heating on base model
- Extra $ for longer warranty
IceColdBaths.com authors, contributors, and editors take research seriously. When it comes to online reviews, it’s important to approach them with a critical eye. We have a longstanding history of providing detailed and honest feedback. We oftentimes combine our own experience with the services we recommend, with reviews that come from users. Together, with reviews from industry experts, we find the best products to make sure you can choose with confidence and ease.
On the surface, the decision of whether or not to buy The Cold Plunge tub may sound ridiculous. Yes, there are many health benefits to subjecting your body to close to freezing temperatures. However, most of these tubs on the market run in the several thousands of dollars range. At this price point, a product like this is considered a luxury. But is it really? And do the other features of The Cold Plunge, in addition to the health benefits associated with plunging, make this a solid long-term purchase? Let’s take a look.
If you’re looking for the most ‘complete’ brand, look no further. The Cold Plunge was founded in March 2020, in Lincoln, California by Michael Garrett and Ryan Duey. What they’ve accomplished in terms of overall branding since then is nothing short of amazing. They have been featured in more major publications than any of their competitors, in addition to being featured on Shark Tank and being offered a major investment deal through that. One of the primary reasons for this is because the company is not only filling a large need in the market, but also because they’re doing it at a more affordable price than before the pandemic. Yes, you read that right. As expensive as The Cold Plunge may sound, cold plunges prior to early 2020 were significantly more expensive according to the company. Having the ability to mass produce superior quality products at a discount early on created several large opportunities for them, which they have definitely capitalized on. Overall, ‘Plunge’ is the most complete brand out there.
If you plunge regularly, there’s no denying that this product is easier to use and more efficient than a traditional ice bath. The old school method is to buy ice from your local store, fill up your tub with water, and drop at least 50+ pounds of ice into it (we’ll dive into the cost analysis below). Good luck with that. In addition to being time-consuming and costly, it’s simply not effortless. There’s a lot of work involved. With the Plunge, the system is not only delivered to your home, but it is also set up for you within a matter of minutes. Once installed, simply set the desired temperature and jump in.
Also, when it comes time to change the filters, you don’t have to unplug or drain your unit when changing it. Simply pull up the white valve to the side and this will divert the water. Then, with the wrench that is supplied with the tub you purchase, unscrew the filter tank, take out the old filter, pour out the old water, and pop a new filter back in. Then, screw it back on with the wrench and you’re good to go. The entire process will take you roughly one to two minutes, at most.
The Cold Plunge website offers several in-depth FAQs and videos if you’re unsure of how to use or properly maintain your tub.
Paying $5,000 minimum for a cold plunge tub? You should expect superiority, and that’s what you get with the Plunge. It is made from high quality acrylic material, and fiberglass, with a strong metal base. This part of the system should last a very long time, if not forever. It weighs around 150 pounds empty, and around 1,000 pounds when full. The Plunge is 24 inches tall, 67 inches long and 43 inches wide. All in all, you will need around 20 square feet of space for it. As is the case with all products in life, there are potential weak points to it. While the Plunge comes with durable tubing, it will almost certainly need replacement or repair every few years. Additionally, you will need to change the water filters every six months and clean the filtration system. It’s easy to do but it’s still a bit time consuming.
It’s just a tub, right? Wrong. The Plunge comes with an incredible number of features considering it’s essentially a portable ice bath.
- Precise temperature control – from 39° to 103°
- Can be used indoors or outdoors. If outdoors, and you live in an area with freezing temperatures, you need to purchase the Hot & Cold Plunge so your tub does not freeze
- Circular, constant filtration every 10 minutes
- Ozone sanitation which is a powerful oxidizer to maintain water quality
- 20 micron filter which eliminates hair, debris and even skin cells
- Underwater lighting
- Zero plumbing required
- Plug it in and plunge. The system requires a dedicated 110V outlet, although a dedicated circuit is strongly recommended. A GFCI outlet is required
- The tub comes with a fully insulated cover, with the underside of the tub also insulated and all of the tubing being fully covered too
- Comes with a skimmer net and cell phone holder
There are really only two types of models offered by the company: The Cold Plunge and The Hot & Cold Plunge. Both of these models come with a standard or ‘Pro XL’ version, in addition to having a standard or ‘Pro’ option for cooling speed. For simplicity, here are the options you can choose from:
- Cold Plunge ‘Standard’ with ‘Standard’ cooling speed – $4,990
- Cold Plunge ‘Standard’ with ‘Pro’ cooling speed – $5,990
- Cold Plunge ‘XL’ with ‘Pro’ cooling speed – $6,990
- Hot & Cold Plunge ‘Standard’ with ‘Standard’ cooling speed – $5,490
- Hot & Cold Plunge ‘Standard’ with ‘Pro’ cooling speed – $6,490
- Hot & Cold Plunge ‘XL’ with ‘Pro’ cooling speed – $7,490
The Pro cooling speed cools the water at three times the standard rate. There is also an option for commercial use, so if you’re running a spa business and you’re looking for bulk purchase options, make sure to check out the ‘Commercial Plunge’.
Lastly, The Cold Plunge offers a one-year warranty on all models. You have the option to purchase a three-year or five-year warranty for an additional cost.
There’s no beating around the bush here. $5,000 is $5,000. It is a lot of money for one product. But we’re not talking about total cost. We’re talking about value. How much is your time worth? And even if not much, what’s the value in this product relative to your lifestyle routine? Firstly, it’s important to note that there are 0% APR financing options through Affirm or Klarna with no credit check. Options for as low as $174/month are available.
Secondly, if you already do cold plunges on a bi-weekly or even weekly basis, after one year, you will more or less spend the same amount of money. Ice and transportation costs add up, in addition to needing to fill your bath tub with water every single time with at least 30 gallons of water. If you’re on the fence about plunging, it’s probably best you start getting into a routine first. Try it out at home in your own bathtub and see if it’s for you, and that it’s something you can sustain within your routine. If you can’t sustain that lifestyle, then purchasing a Plunge isn’t worth the money. But if you’re already somewhat active in this rapidly growing community, the value is not only incredible, but we’d go as far as saying that this is not an expensive product. Even with only two years of semi-consistent use, you’ll end up saving around 50% of what you would with a DIY at home system (even taking into account electricity costs which will run you roughly $30/month).
The Cold Plunge is an excellent product that is ideal for athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone who is looking for a convenient and effective way to get into the cold plunge revolution/lifestyle. It is especially good for people looking to recover from intense physical activity or work out-related injuries. The product is well-designed, easy to use, and delivers effective results. The product has a high price point, but the value, in our opinion, is phenomenal. If you’re looking for an innovative solution to help you recover from injuries, want to improve your recovery time after workouts, or you simply want to partake in this lifestyle, the Cold Plunge is definitely worth considering.