7 Best Portable Cold Plunge Tubs

Cold-water therapy is taking the world by storm. Across social media, health influencers and celebrities are showing off their cold plunge tubs. "The cold has been used as therapy for thousands of years," says François Haman, PhD, and a professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada who has studied cold exposure for more than two decades. "Socrates, Florence Nightingale, and many others are known to have used cold water as a therapy." Below, we've reviewed portable models for every budget. So you can try out the cold water exposure wellness trend for yourself.

• Best for Complete Submersion: Solstice Inflatable Cold Plunge Tub
• Best Customizable: The IcePod
• Best Luxury: Sun Home Cold Plunge
• Best for Small Spaces: SaunaBox PlungeBox
• Best Budget: Plunge Lab Cold Plunge Tub XL
• Best All-in-One: JURGFIT 90-Gallon Luxury Pro-Grade Cold Plunge Tub
• Best Foldable: Serenelife 59" Portable Bathtub

We tested portable plunge pools, spoke to credentialed experts in physiology and health, scoured customer reviews across the internet, and analyzed popular portable cold plunge pools with a multipoint methodology to answer these questions.

• Are the materials used high quality, and is the model well constructed?
• Are verified customer ratings high (4.5–5 stars)?
• How difficult is assembly?
• How easy is portability?
• How well does it maintain temperature?
• How easy is it to keep clean and maintain at home?
• How durable is the tub?
• Are the dimensions reasonable for home use?
• Would the tub fit a wide variety of body sizes?

We also spoke to six experts with a diverse range of expertise, including a pulmonary, sleep, and critical care doctor; a biology professor; a thermal physiology specialist; and a longevity and regenerative medicine doctor.

Below, our experts share some tips on what to look for when shopping for a portable plunge pool.

Insulation and Materials

Insulation is especially important for portable cold plunges. Since many options don't include chillers, insulation and weather are the only things keeping your water at your desired temperature. Many portable models promise to keep water cold for up to 24 hours, depending on your climate.

Materials

"Check what your cold plunge tub is made of," suggested Neil Paulvin, DO, a longevity and regenerative medicine doctor in New York City. "Avoid models that might be leak-prone or mold-producing."

PVC is a common choice for cold plunge tub materials due to its leak resistance, mold-resistance, and insulation properties.

Size and Capacity

Portable cold plunge pools tend to be smaller to squeeze into small spaces and carrying cases. There are narrow, vertical options — like the IcePod and PlungeBox — designed for upright seating.

Tub-style models — like the Sun Home Cold Plunge and Solstice Inflatable Plunge — let you stretch out.

Brands like the Pod Company offer upgraded models that can accommodate taller and heavier adults.

Cost

A major perk of investing in a portable plunge pool? Cost. While premium in-home models can cost upwards of $5,000, a quality portable plunge can be purchased for around $100.

Even without frills like filters and chillers, you can still harness all the benefits of cold-water therapy with these affordable models.

Filtration and Maintenance

My experience testing the IcePod and Plungebox was that the water turned cloudy and had to be replaced after around 7 to 10 days of use, even with regular cleaning using a nontoxic cleaner and pool net. If you can splurge on a cold plunge with a filtration system, it will save you time and hassle.

External Chillers

Higher-end portable cold plunge pools come with external chillers, while others sell them as optional add-ons.

It can be time-consuming and expensive to constantly add ice to your pod, so if you're serious about your cold plunging, shelling out for an external chiller may be worth it.

Across the board, the experts we spoke to agreed that further research needs to be done to understand the benefits of cold plunges.

Despite anecdotal reports, researchers have found little objective data on cold-water therapy benefits, according to James B. Mercer, PhD, a thermal physiology specialist and professor emeritus at the Arctic University of Norway who coauthored a review article on cold-water swimming research.

"There is an enormous variation in how [cold water] studies are carried out," Dr. Mercer says. "Everything from the number of people in the studies to the water temperature they used to many, many other factors. To cut a long story short, it's hard to define concrete benefits."

Haman agrees, noting that many of the health claims circulated by the media are not substantiated.

"We don't know the impact of ice plunges on inflammation; we don't know the impact on the immune system," he says.

So what do we know about the benefits of cold plunges?

"People feel better when they do ice plunges," Haman explains. "Dopamine gets released and people get a little buzz and the boost in energy."

Mercer echoed this sentiment.

"I've talked to many people who are doing cold water swimming and plunges, and they will swear to you — 'I feel great afterward,'" he says.

Cold plunges may improve your mood, but the practice isn't without risks. Here are some tips from our experts on cold plunging safely.

Do: Build Your Way Up to Cold Plunges

"Begin with cold showers and cold water swimming," recommends Erik Milosevich, a certified Wim Hof instructor in Bastrop, Texas.

Once you're ready to graduate to ice baths, stick to short dips and listen to your body," says Raj Dasgupta, MD, a quadruple-board certified physician and clinical researcher in Los Angeles. "Consider having supervision for your first few if needed, practice an exit plan, stay hydrated, and listen to your body to prevent any excessive discomfort or health risks."

Do: Limit Cold Plunge Session Time

Limit yourself to 11 to 15 minutes of cold plunging total per week, Dr. Paulvin recommends.

For water at temperatures below 59 degrees F, keep each session under two minutes, Haman adds. "If you go into ice water too often, for too long, you increase the risks of getting hypothermia or a non-freezing injury," he warns.

A non-freezing cold injury (NFCI) — also known as "trench foot" — involves tissue damage caused by prolonged exposure to wet, cold conditions that are not freezing, typically 32 to 59 degrees F (0 to 15 degrees C).

Do: Protect Your Feet and Hands

For cold water immersion at temperatures below 59 degrees F, Haman recommends protecting your hands and feet with neoprene gloves and boots used by divers.

"If you don't protect your hands and feet, you increase your chances of non-freezing cold injury dramatically," he explains.

Don’t: Cold Plunge With Health Problems

"If you've got heart problems, high blood pressure, breathing issues, are pregnant, have a weak immune system, open wounds, or Raynaud's disease, cold plunges might not be the best idea because of possible health risks," Dr. Dasgupta says.

Cold plunging can be particularly risky for the elderly. "Medical providers should always be consulted before considering cold water immersion," adds Cindy Present, the director of marketing and wellness at Lake Austin Spa Resort.

Don’t: Plunge Right After You Work Out (if You Want to Build Muscle)

While limited research suggests cold plunging can help with workout recovery, you may not want to do a cold plunge after strength training, Paulvin advises.

"Cold plunging within eight hours or so of a strength training workout can decrease the muscle-building potential," he adds.

Do: Breathe

"Breathwork is a big part of cold plunging," says Milosevich, who recommends practicing deep breathing even before you take your first plunge.

"When you get in, every cell in your body is going to tell you to get out. That's normal," Milosevich. "Just try to relax your breath and extend your exhales."

Haman agrees and suggests the following breathing pattern:

"As soon as you hit that ice water, the first thing you should do is exhale. Exhale, then take a small breath, then you exhale again. The whole time, focus on the exhale."

Exhaling keeps your body in parasympathetic mode, even though you're responding to a stressful condition," he explained.

Parasympathetic mode, also known as the rest and digest mode, is the body's relaxation response when the body is relaxed, resting, or feeding.

"After focusing on exhaling for [around] 30 seconds, the last minute should be meditation being in your body," Haman said.