Best Cold Plunge Tubs for Cryotherapy, Recovery and Health

What is a Cold Plunge Tub?

A cold plunge tub is a small pool filled with cold water used for cold water immersion. It exposes your body to cold temperature water for a short period of time in order to aid muscle recovery, boost circulation, and provide other health and wellness benefits.

Benefits of Cold Plunge Tubs

There are many touted benefits to using a cold plunge tub after exercise or sauna use:

• Reduces muscle soreness and fatigue
• Decreases inflammation
• Speeds up muscle recovery
• Improves blood circulation
• Boosts energy levels
• Eases stress and promotes relaxation
• Strengthens the immune system

The cold causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels followed by vasodilation which helps flush lactic acid buildup from exercised muscles. This aids muscle recovery so you feel less soreness and fatigue.

Choosing the Best Cold Tub

If youre looking to reap the rewards of cold water immersion, choosing the right cold plunge tub chiller for your needs is key. There are many types, sizes and designs on the market to consider before buying.

Size

Cold tubs come in a range sizes from one-person barrels to larger models that accommodate several people. Measure your space beforehand to find the right sized cold plunge tub for the area. Also consider how many people will be using it.

Portability

Some cold tubs feature wheels and handles for easy mobility while others are fixed permanent tubs. If you want to store it out of the way when not in use or take it places, opt for a portable plunge tank.

Shape

Walk-in and sit-down styles allow you to immerse most of your body. Compact vertical designs are better for targeted limb immersion. Consider ergonomic factors like steps/ladders, arm rests, and depth.

Material

Common materials include plastic, inflatable PVC, fiberglass, stainless steel and wood. The right material comes down to preferences like durability, ease of cleaning, insulation and style.

Special Features

Higher end cold tubs provide special features like chillers, digital temperature controls, timers, jets, lighting, sound systems and touch pad controls. Determine if any extra features are worth the added cost for your needs.

Top Cold Plunge Tubs

After comparing dozens of cold plunge tub options for home use, we rounded up the top picks across various categories based on value, performance, durability and overall quality.

Best Overall: Cryotherapy Tonic Hydrotherapy Cold Tub

This circular cold plunge tub provides a spacious walk-in design to immerse most of your body at once for whole-body cryotherapy. It features sturdy roto-molded plastic construction and stainless steel hardware designed for heavy commercial use and handling.

We rated it the best overall for its extreme durability, fast cooling times, and convenient features like steps, handles and integrated seating. It can accommodate several people and works great after workouts or paired with a sauna.

Best Budget: Cryotherapy Chiller Cold Plunge Tub

For shoppers on a tight budget, this affordable cold plunge tank offers excellent value. It features thick polyethylene construction and comes equipped with a 1 HP chiller to conveniently get water icy cold fast.

Despite the low price, it still offers many high-end features like digital temperature controls, wheels for portability and ample sizing for full-body immersion. The spacious cylinder design easily fits most body types.

Best Small: Cryotherapy Ice Cold Tub

This petite cold tub comes in at just 32 inches wide, saving space while still allowing limb immersion for localized cold therapy. It works well after an intense workout targeting specific muscle groups to help accelerate recovery.

We like its plastic and stainless steel design focused on commercial grade durability and insulation. The attached chiller rapidly cools water for use anytime without messy ice. It offers big functionality in a convenient compact size.

Most Portable: Cryotherapy Mobile Chiller Cold Tub

This transportable cold plunge unit offers ultimate portability thanks to a lightweight inflatable soft-sided design and integrated wheels. Deflate it for easy storage or transport to the park, gym, or events.

The flexible materials make set-up simple and the compact size fits small spaces. An efficient attached chiller rapidly cools the water for quick cold immersion anytime. It provides full-body access despite a smaller footprint.

Best Splurge: Luxury Cryotherapy Pro Cold Plunge Pool

This luxury cold plunge pool goes beyond basic with premium features like dual water jets, chromatherapy lighting, an integrated sound system and an elegant fiberglass design. The spacious pool accommodates several people to share the cold therapy experience.

Designed for backyard installation, it offers an upscale eye-catching focal point. We appreciate the ergonomic built-in seating, anti-slip steps, and full-body access. Its the ultimate cold tub upgrade for your home spa retreat.

How Cold Should Water Temperature Be?

For the full benefits of cold water immersion therapy, experts recommend keeping water between 50 and 60F (10 to 15C). Water cooler than 50F increases the risk of hypothermia and shock while warmer than 60F reduces desired effects.

Many commercial grade cold plunge tubs feature integrated digital temperature controls or chillers to conveniently maintain ideal cold temperatures even in hot weather. Otherwise you can add ice as needed to keep water sufficiently cold during use.

How Long Should You Stay in a Cold Tub?

When first starting out using a cold plunge tub, begin with short durations of 1 to 3 minutes. As your body adapts, you can gradually increase immersion times up to 5-15 minutes per session. Listen to your body and get out immediately if you feel any discomfort.

Set a timer so you dont overdo it your first few times until you know your personal time limits. Keeping sessions under 15 minutes reduces risk of dangerous temperature drops in the core body.

Should You Warm Up Afterwards?

After using your cold plunge tub, its important to gently warm your body back up to stabilize your temperature. Take a lukewarm shower, soak in a warm (not hot) bath or wrap up in blankets right after cold water therapy sessions.

Rewarming slowly post-immersion allows your core body heat to regulate for maximum results. Quick temperature changes can cause dizziness or fainting. Gentle rewarming also helps ease muscle tension from shivering.

Who Should Not Use Cold Plunge Tubs?

While generally safe for most healthy adults, cold water immersion does carry some risk. Consult your doctor before using a cold plunge tub if you have any health conditions or concerns.

People who should avoid cold tubs include pregnant women, anyone with heart disease, and those with high blood pressure. Individuals with circulation issues, respiratory illness or diabetes should exercise extreme caution and seek medical guidance beforehand.

Children can enjoy brief cold immersion but require close adult supervision due to higher risk of hypothermia. Seniors and anyone on medications that inhibit shivering should avoid cold plunge tubs or use extreme care.

How to Care for Your Cold Tub

Basic maintenance keeps your cold plunge tub in top shape. Follow the manufacturers cleaning recommendations. Change out water periodically and use chlorine or other sanitizing tablets to prevent bacteria or algae buildup.

Storage and usage conditions impact longevity. Placing undercover outdoors or indoors extends life compared to leaving tub exposed to elements full-time. Drain any standing water and deflated inflatable tubs when not in regular use.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.