8 Best Ice Bath Tubs For Cold Plunge Recovery, According To Experts

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Ice ice, baby!

The thought of willingly submerging yourself in frigid water for an ice bath may sound miserable or utterly refreshing. No matter which mindset you're in, the discomfort of a cold plunge comes with overflowing benefits. Seriously.

“Ice baths are a form of cryotherapy and involve exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures as a way of therapy,” says Neil Paulvin, DO, a New York-based family medicine physician, who is also certified in osteopathic manipulation, anti-aging, and regenerative medicine. “Being immersed in cold water stimulates leukocytes, the white blood cells that help fight off sicknesses, and ice baths may help increase dopamine, decrease inflammation, calm down the nervous system, and improve sleep,” he explains.

Meet the Experts: Neil Paulvin, DO, is a New York-based family medicine physician, who is also certified in osteopathic manipulation, anti-aging, and regenerative medicine. Louis Chandler, CPT, is a certified personal trainer and Alo Wellness Club trainer at Alo Moves.

And, it's easier than you think to create your own cold plunge experience at home with a dedicated ice bath tub. There are tons of tubs on the market, but you want to be mindful of size, shape, temperature regulation, drainage, and filtration, says Louis Chandler, CPT, Alo Wellness Club trainer. Finding one that checks all your boxes is totally worth it, he adds.

If you're ready to take the plunge, peruse the top tubs right here:

Whether you’re looking for a cold plunge for health benefits, a fitness boost, or to improve your overall mood, an at-home ice bath is the perfect addition to your wellness routine. Read on for the expert-approved ice bath tubs that earned rave reviews.

Solo dips in your ice bath should always be comfortable, and the IceBox tub is just that. Made with a five-layer installation and a quick drain valve, this plunge only takes minutes to assemble and clean up. Oh, and it’s fully collapsible so you can keep up your plunge routine anywhere.

Rave review: “I absolutely loved the ice bath tub! The icy water was refreshing and revitalizing, and it helped soothe my muscles and joints. The sensation was invigorating, leaving me feeling rejuvenated and ready to take on the day. I'll definitely make this a regular part of my post-workout routine. I couldn't be happier with my purchase of this product!” —Leyla

If you’re looking for a worthy investment, Dr. Paulvin swears by The Plunge. “This is a favorite of mine because it’s self-cleaning, fills up the water supply with a connected hose, has a filtration system, and there’s an easy temperature control system,” he explains. It’s pricey, but totally worth the spend if you’re committed to your ice bath routine.

Rave review: “I couldn’t be happiest with my Plunge. Super easy setup, seamless operation, and nice looking. I use it almost every day, sometimes more than once a day.” —James

Tight on space? No prob. Dr. Paulvin says the Ice Barrel Bathtub is an excellent cold plunge option. “It’s a stand-up tub that is shaped like a barrel and comes packaged with steps to help you hop in,” he explains. The Ice Barrel is also extremely sturdy and can hold up to 105 gallons of water. Just be mindful that you need to fill it up with water and ice each time you go in.

Rave review: “I was a bit skeptical on the value of this thing due to the hype of ice baths, but let me say, it lives up to the hype! My husband and I like to workout and getting in this thing is a welcome release making recovery much more efficient.” —Taylor

Curious to try a cold plunge without breaking the bank? G Ganen ice bath is a great choice at well under $100. The inflatable tub is portable, freestanding, and great for indoor or outdoor use. Another perk? It includes an arm and neck rest for peak comfort.

Rave review: “As a sport player it's really comfortable to get into the ice bucket to relax after each practice. This ice bucket is just perfect for me to use and its value it’s worth the price.” —QQ

There’s something ultra-luxe about this Scandinavian spruce thermowood tub. It pairs perfectly with a sauna to replicate the Finnish tradition of hot-cold therapy.

The design is sleek and functional solo, too. Made with an internal wooden bench, wooden steps, hard plastic liner, and a 130-gallon capacity, you can expect premium cold plunges on the daily.

Rave review: “Great price for a great product. Love our new tub and look forward to using it more and more.” —Michelle

The Edge Theory Labs Legacy Tub is as sleek as it comes. With a sturdy inflatable design, the bath is built for portability and use indoors or outdoors. It also comes with a state-of-the-art filtration and sanitation system so the water stays clean and ready to use 24/7.

Rave review: “I have shopped around for cold plunges for over 6 months. I finally decided to pull the trigger on the Edge tub. It's a winner all around! Not only is it portable and has a super powerful chiller, but it also does hot and cold! Ended up being a no-brainer. I 100% recommend this tub.” —Bethany

The Viking is a modern cold plunge designed with a multi-stage sanitation and filtration system, for constant, clean, cold water ready when you are. The tub also features two-inch foam insulated walls to lower energy cost and eliminate any “sweating” to keep your plunge extra chilled. Not to mention, the vertical design is great for space optimization.

Rave review: “Great purchase, customer service has been outstanding! Product is solid and plunging definitely puts extra pep in your step. No regrets.” —Janae

“This is the Escalade of ice baths,” says Dr. Paulvin. “It does everything but give you a massage, and features microfiltration, a luxe cedar frame, fans, and digital temperature controller,” she explains. Plus, it even makes its own ice and comes in a variety of different colors to match your decor.

Rave review: “These ice baths are legit! We've had ours for 2 years and LOVE it! This company is as solid as it gets.” —Mindy

How long should you stay in a cold plunge tub?

For optimal results, Dr. Paulvin recommends cold plunging three to four minutes at a time, for a total of about 11 minutes per week. So, to maximize the benefits, aim for three to five days a week.

However, if you have nerve issues, back pain, heart and lung difficulties, or open wounds, you should avoid cold plunges, notes Dr. Paulvin.

You should also build up the frequency and duration of ice baths, he adds. “Listen to your body and don’t force it to last longer than what it's able to.”

What temperature should an ice bath be?

Ideally, you should immerse yourself shoulders down in temperatures between 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, says Dr. Paulvin. “I recommend starting at 60 degrees and working your way down to colder temperatures, keeping in mind that you want to initiate shivering,” he explains. “Practicing breathwork before entering the bath and during the bath can help you withstand the cold temperatures for a longer period of time,” he adds.

That said, colder is not always better. “The main idea behind cold plunges is to increase hormesis, or stress to the body, and while research shows that hormesis increases at colder temperatures, there aren’t any specific benefits at certain temperatures,” says Dr. Paulvin. In fact, most people develop tolerance to colder temperatures as they increase the frequency and duration, so there’s no need to plummet the thermostat, he adds.

Support mental health. “Ice baths can help improve mental health by increasing dopamine production and decreasing inflammation or oxidative stress to the brain,” says Dr. Paulvin. Plus, repeated cold exposure reduces oxidative stress (a bodily condition that happens when your antioxidant levels are low), studies found, and this may translate into improved overall health and a reduced risk of disease.

Improve sleep. Cold plunges can help calm your sympathetic nervous system (the network of nerves that helps your body activate its “flight-or-fight” response), in turn, improving sleep, says Dr. Paulvin. “Ice baths stimulate our stress response and recovery process, all of which contribute to a boost in mood and attitude, less fatigue, and better sleep,” he explains. Research also suggests that cooling therapies can reduce thermal stress to improve sleep quality.

Reduce inflammation. Ice baths decrease inflammation by closing out blood vessels which creates an anti-inflammatory effect, says Dr. Paulvin. As a result, this can relieve some muscle soreness and swelling from a tough workout. Just wait a bit after training if building muscle is your goal. Immediate cold immersion may counteract or reduce muscle gains research shows, adds Dr. Paulvin.

Boost immunity. Being immersed in cold water stimulates leukocytes, the white blood cells that help fight off sicknesses, says Dr. Paulvin. Not to mention, reducing inflammation in the body also helps ward off illness, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, so it’s a win-win for your immune system.

For the past two months, Women’s Health editors, including our fitness editor Jennifer Nied reviewed the bestselling, most popular, and top-rated ice bath tubs. Our team consulted a certified personal trainer and family medicine physician, and then evaluated thousands of customer reviews and ratings to narrow down the best 8 tubs for a wide range of preferences and budgets.

Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based writer and graduate student at Northwestern Medill. She’s a mass consumer of social media and cares about women’s rights, holistic wellness, and non-stigmatizing reproductive care. As a former collegiate pole vaulter, she has a love for all things fitness and is currently obsessed with Peloton Tread workouts and hot yoga.

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