Picture this: You’ve finished an intense workout or competed in a grueling sport. Your muscles ache, and your body yearns for relief.
That’s when cold water therapy enters. The former helps reduce inflammation and improve blood flow, accelerating your recovery period. With numerous ice bath products, it can be overwhelming to choose one.
That’s why we’ll review the Plunge ice bath, one of the most prominent cold tubs on the market. From its features to its potential drawbacks, keep reading for all the details!
Plunge Ice Bath Review
If you want to upgrade your recovery routine and are looking for a top-of-the-line ice bath product, the Plunge ice bath might be an excellent option.
Unlike the cylindrical tin-like ice baths, the Plunge has a sleek tub design with a horizontal format. The former is available in two sizes: a standard and an XL. The former has a length of 67 inches, while the latter is 73 inches.
So, if you’re over 6 feet, you can still lay flat and submerge yourself in the water without restrictions.
Aside from the roomy design, the Plunge boasts several features, including adjustable temperatures as low as 39ºF.
The reinforced metal base, combined with the insulation properties of fiberglass, ensures the water remains cold for a long period without damaging the tub.
On the downside, the cooling system can be noisy once the temperature exceeds the desired range by two degrees.
What’s more, this ice bath product features a 20-micron filter, circular filtration, and ozone sanitation—all of which help maintain water quality for as long as six months!
If that wasn’t enough, the tub comes with a cover that clips in so that no outdoor dust or other debris contaminates the water. It also features a convenient smartphone holder and a rubber duck to add a touch of fun!
As you might have guessed, all those perks come at a hefty price, slightly under $5,000. However, you can expect to pay additional costs for electricity, maintenance, and an extended protection plan, which is optional.
Pros
- Convenient design, requiring only a hose to fill the water
- Two size options to cater to tall people
- The temperature reaches as low as 39ºF with constant circulation
- Sanitation system that keeps the water quality for up to six months
- Added perks include an insulated cover, a cell phone holder, a hose filter, a built-in underwater light, and a rubber duck
- One-year warranty that you can extend to three or five years
Cons
- Bulky size for the XL option, making it unsuitable for indoor use
- Noisy cooling system
- Additional costs for upgrades, extended warranties, and maintenance
- Expensive
Why choose Plunge over the other options?
If you're like me, well-designed objects are something that I specifically look for, especially for items like this that will always be out in the open.
Plunge has a strikingly minimal design compared to some of the other options on the market, featuring a sleek white body, minimal branding, and a unique angular design that gives you a comfortable angle to lean back on.
There are more friendly budget options available (scroll down to see those), but you can think of Plunge as the Tesla of the ice baths on the market. High tech, high design, and some of the best features on the market.
What Are the Benefits of Cold Water Therapy?
Now that you have a better understanding of the Plunge ice bath, let’s discuss its advantages.
Generally, cold water therapy offers several physical and psychological health benefits. Those include:
Reduce Inflammation
Ever noticed your first reaction when submerging your body in cold water? Your brain instantly tells you to move away. That’s because such cold temperatures strain your body, but not in a harmful way.
Once you dive into the icy water, your body enters survival mode and constricts the blood vessels near the skin's surface. As a result, the blood flows into deeper tissues, improving your circulatory system.
That comes with many physical benefits, including reducing inflammation and improving muscle oxygenation—both of which help sore muscles heal.
Boost Your Immune Health
Aside from improving the circulatory system, cold plunges can boost your immune health. Research suggests that cold-adapted bodies produce more leukocytes, blood cells that fight off harmful microorganisms, preventing infections.
Another study showed that cold showering reduces the chances of common colds. Participants in the former research switched to cold water after hot showers for 30, 60, or 90 seconds.
After 90 days, the cold-adapted group had 29% fewer sick days than those who didn’t undergo cold water therapy.
Improve Metabolism
It comes as no surprise that cold temperatures can increase your metabolism. As mentioned earlier, cold water stresses your body since it's not your everyday temperature.
To overcome freezing, your body starts burning more calories to keep you warm. A study shows that cold water immersion at 57ºF can increase your metabolism by 93%!
Another study conducted on mice concluded that cold exposure can increase the body’s metabolic rate twofold.
That’s not to say you should throw away exercising and eating healthy for ice baths. The evidence is still inconclusive.
Combat Depression
Although more research is needed, studies show that cold water can be a potential treatment for depression. It helps boost your mood by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating stress hormones in a dangerous situation.
Combined with the increased electrical impulses from the skin to the brain due to the cold shock, the body’s physiology changes, producing anti-depression effects.
Plunge Ice Bath: Budget-Friendly Alternatives
Sure, the Plunge ice bath can be a high-end product that isn’t affordable for everyone. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of cold water therapy.
Luckily, several budget-friendly alternatives are available on the market. Those include Lumi Therapy ice baths and Nurecover. The former company offers several designs suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
As for the latter, Nurecove took minimalistic designs to a whole new level. They offer a portable ice bath so that you never miss out on recovery days, even when traveling!
Plunge Coupon Code
Plunge was nice enough to offer minimalgoods reader $100 off and free shipping using coupon code COLD100 at this link.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, the Plunge ice bath is a convenient solution for cold water. Its spacious design, adjustable temperatures, and sanitization system, among other features, make it an attractive option for those seeking a high-end, durable product for muscle recovery.
However, if the Plunge ice bath is beyond your budget, you can still find other affordable alternatives. Such products include Lumi Therapy and Nurecover.
Regardless of your option, ice baths provide several benefits that can enhance your physical and mental health.
FAQs
Who is the Plunge Ice Bath for?
While the Plunge ice bath caters to all audiences, it’s mostly used by athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking for enhanced recovery. The durable, spacious tub is particularly suitable for outdoor use or if you have enough space in your house.
Are ice baths safe?
Ice baths aren’t for everyone. Cold water therapy isn’t recommended for people with heart conditions, diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic illnesses. You should consult with your healthcare provider before using ice baths.
For how long should you take an ice bath?
The duration of ice baths can vary depending on individual tolerance and adaptability. However, generally, you shouldn’t exceed 10-15 minutes.
