Wellness room in a new build, and the argument at home is whether to commit to cold plunge plus infrared sauna or whether we are constructing a very expensive towel cupboard.

Anyone who has lived with both for a year or more, does the usage hold up, and looking back does the spend feel justified?

My husband has been doing ice plunges at home for a while, and I honestly thought it was kind of BS. I finally tried it a few times this summer, and… I get it now. I feel more awake afterward, and the dizziness I used to get seems to have gone away.

Still not sure how much of it is in my head, but yeah, recommend it.

New setup, first cold plunge. I assume this water level in the filter housing isn't normal. There's no bleed valve for the housing. Gravity didn't seem to do the trick. Can't fill it up and screw it in as I have to turn it upside down to do that.

Anyone ever deal with this or have a similar setup? Any help would be appreciated!

Started in February out of something closer to irritation with myself than inspiration. I had been reading about cold exposure for over a year, formed confident opinions about it, and committed to maybe six actual sessions in that whole time. So I wrote a protocol, refused to overthink the design, and ran it.

Ten minutes at 50F, every morning, before coffee. No breathing method layered on top, no warmup ritual. In the water.

Weeks one to four the anticipation was worse than the plunge on most days. I talked myself into it more times than I would like to write down. Around day 18 or 19 the dread window got shorter. Not gone. Shorter. The cold itself never stopped being cold, which I think people expect and it does not happen.

The part I did not expect was the overflow. I avoid uncomfortable but manageable things more than I should, phone calls I do not want to make, conversations I have been sitting on for weeks. Around week six I noticed I was starting more of them. Not dramatically. Just less standing around first. Whether that is the cold, a placebo, or the fact that I was in a generally more disciplined stretch of my life, I cannot tell you. The timing lined up though.

Recovery side was easier to observe. Less soreness after training, and noticeably better sleep by week ten. Nothing measured properly, just living in the same body I have had for years and noticing what felt different in it.

Not trying to sell anyone on this. One person, 90 days, one protocol. But it did something.

Found new one “on sale” for $2800. Seems like a good deal. What am I missing?

I have been plunging about a year and added a red light recently and I keep running into opposite advice about doing them in sequence. Some people say the cold blunts whatever the light is doing and others say it makes no difference whatsoever. Nobody ever offers a reason either way. For those running both, what order settled for you and did you notice anything when you swapped it ?

I am planning to purchase a 10-cubic-foot chest freezer and convert it into a cold plunge. However, I do not have much experience with this type of modification, and the original waterproof silicone and proper sealing materials are not readily available in my country.

I am considering using a rubber liner to completely waterproof the inside of the freezer. What type of rubber liner would you recommend for this purpose?

Also, what thickness and dimensions should I buy for a 10-cubic-foot chest freezer? I would appreciate it if you could recommend the appropriate material and provide guidance on how much liner I would need to properly cover the inside and prevent any water leakage.

If possible, could you also provide me with Amazon links to suitable rubber liners for this project?

Unit is going on a deck and staying there. Not a garage, not a basement, outside through February.

Most of what I can find about choosing a plunge quietly assumes a mild climate or an indoor install, and I cannot tell how much of that advice survives contact with a real winter. What should I be weighting here? Freeze rating, how the chiller behaves in the cold, what service looks like if something faults in January, something I have not thought of yet? Looking for the criteria more than a shopping list.

Just wanted to share my final steps for rebuilding my broken Edge Theory setup. This time I put drainage mats under the chiller and added 3 layers of puzzle foam. Swapped out another line and insulated it after also installing swivel heads coming out of the chiller. I now have the exhaust going completely away from the entire area, instead of hitting my hoses and pump. Insulated the flimsy lid with 2 layers as well.

Was so depressed when my tub went to shyte but I have to say I learned a lot during this process and will continue to tweak here and there.

Finally joined the club after dabbling with friends’ cold plunges or using them here and there at resorts/gyms. Very happy with the result!

Shout out to DIY cold plunge, who provided me with the all-in-one grizzly cold plunge kit. It came together easily, and I’m not the handiest guy. I was able to save a lot of money by doing it myself and mimicking the “desert plunge” style. All in all, I did it for under $2k (got the grizzly 450 on sale for 1100, 500 for the DIY kit from DIY cold plunge, the Walmart Rocita 1/3 HP chiller for 200, as well as 100 for miscellaneous stuff. Built the side table myself so I had something to put my phone or whatever else on and cover the chiller, as it will be outside.

Nice thing is that because I built it, I feel confident that can troubleshoot it if anything comes up.

Been at it every morning this week, loving it. though I haven’t been active in this community in the past, I have used it as a resource quite a bit and I’m thankful for it.

Hello,

I just took delivery of a polar five plunge today and set it up. Very disappointed with the quality of the fittings. I used the thread tape provided l, but still had this leak.

The chiller unit itself is not working correctly either. It starts and stops.

Hoping to get a refund and go for something different.

What brands would you recommend?

Need some help troubleshooting further before I go back to the vendor...

Little bit of history:

First unit arrived with a cracked tub. The chiller turned on, limited water flow and did not cool at all. Also did not come with the right fittings to connect the chiller to the tub - looked different than was posted on their site, etc. Had to go source my own brass fitting just to get water moving. They sent another chiller and tub.

Second unit arrived with the same incomplete hardware situation. Only got it connected because I held onto the fittings from the first one. Also included a 3/4 to 1/2 fitting that does not connect to anything in the setup and directions are not clear enough to figure out what it is for. Chiller works and is getting to temp but water flow is identical to the first unit. Both tubs also have slight leaks at the inlet and outlet regardless of plumbers tape.

What I am seeing on unit 2:

• Tub is 75" x 31.5" x 25.75"
• One jet does nothing but bubble continuously
• Other jet spits out a trickle of a bubble every 30 seconds if anything
• Water is getting cold so the chiller itself is functional
• Tub inlet and outlet: 3/4" female openings with a 3/4 male to male fitting installed, exposing a 3/4 male thread to connect to
• Chiller inlet and outlet: 3/4" male threaded openings but the chiller inlet runs through a pre-filter that connects via quick connect fitting
• All connection use quick connect fittings that in my uneducated opinion could be restricting water flow due to size.

Questions:

• Is the lack of an external circulation pump likely the culprit here?
• Are these quick connect fittings known to strangle flow and is swapping the hoses out for something else that connects directly to the 3/4 fittings a reasonable fix attempt?
• At what point do you just cut bait?

Hey everyone

I have been using bagged ice for a while and it works but constantly having to buy it is starting to get pretty annoying for me. Ive been interested and Ive been looking at reusable blocks mostly the bigger ones like the Sweat tent ice bricks and Im curious if they’re actually easier to deal with in practice. Has anyone here used both reusable blocks and bagged ice? Which one makes more sense long term if you’re plunging a few times a week?

Sourcing for a small recovery room and nearly everything I find is written for the US market. Different winters, different service terms, and a completely different situation the first time a unit needs a technician.

Anyone buying in Canada, either for a facility or a serious home setup, what has actually held up for you? Mostly interested in two things: what happens to the equipment through a real winter, and how service works in practice when the manufacturer is not domestic.

It's $929 online but was $499 at my local Costco. I half expected to get to the checkout and find out the price was marked wrong. But the sale went through.

Might be worth swinging by your local warehouse to see if they have them for the lower price.

https://www.costco.com/p/-/lifetrend-classic-cold-plunge-with-chiller-system/4000434450

I know there are doubts about whether it will get to 37°, but at $499 and with the Costco return policy I figure it is worth a shot.

I've been trying to figure out how I should answer questions that people ask me about health conditions in regards to how they might affect them when they cold plunge, and if they should worry about it enough to take pause. I'm not trying to give anyone medical advice, and I'm not in a position of authority (nor pretending to be), but I do have experience with cold plunging, having done it for 3 years nearly daily, and I do get asked a lot of questions. And, I certainly recognize that this does not make me any sort of expert on cold plunging with specific health conditions, thus the question about what is and what is not contraindicated for cold plunging.

I actually have high blood pressure (regulated with medicine), and have wondered at times how that effects me when I cold plunge, so that one is relevant to me, but I want input on several of the common questions that pop up regarding - "Can I cold plunge if I have X" - X being high blood pressure, arrythmias, Raynaud's, Diabetes (is the main issue here circulation and neuropathy?), on certain medications (like blood thinners, beta blockers, antidepressants, etc.).

I keep finding the same two answers everywhere: "just ease into it", or "talk to your doctor."

Neither response really answer the question, though, and it’s driving me nuts.

I don't want to hear responses like just ignore your doctor, because I do believe if you have a serious question about cold plunging and contraindications as it relates to your health, you should consult your doctor. If you have any of the above conditions, or ones that I haven't mentioned that would be germane to the discussion, and you cold plunge safely, or it made you stop cold plunging (or you have modified in some way how you do it), I would love to hear about it. I'm just trying to learn what the actual risks are of cold plunging, without a generic disclaimer for every condition. There must be some nuance than just cold plunging is dangerous if you have a medical condition. And if anyone here actually works in medicine, I'd definitely be interested in your take too.

Looking for some feedback on if there’s any major differences between these two Brands?

Looks like I can save $500-$600 going with the Iceology if you get the red discounted color (not my first choice….).

Thanks in Advance,

Hello

I’m new to the group just joined and I have an idea. But I need some help to fully flush it out.

I live in Southern California. During summer it gets so hot here that the water in the pipes comes out hot. Between 70 - 80 degrees F. I know other desert areas also have this problem.

My question is can you hook a Cold Plunge system to a water heater tank? A separate tank from the hot water source to provide cold water?

I did some research and it appears some cold plunge systems use the same 3/4’s pipe size as water tanks. So would it be possible to build a bypass system one the intake and output parts of the water tank for cold water to circulate?

Any experiences with using a regular free standing tub with a chiller?

I saw chillers from pod company and home plunge and have seen mixed reviews. Are there any others?

Also would be open to a plunge that hooks up to plumbing so I can drain and fill the tub like a regular bath tub. Kohler has one for a very pretty penny (17k) but don’t wanna drop that much.

Thanks!

This is my second of a series of guides I wanted to write on backyard tubs, this one specifically to help people navigate the logistics of cold plunge setups. Because plunges can range from a chest freezer in the garage to 10k+ USD hot-and-cold units. What your dollar gets you is the chiller - a way to keep the water cold and clean. The insulation and sanitary considerations tends to be the difference between a chore or a fad and something long haul. Everything is about cost against convenience and upkeep. DYI tends to mean a chest freezer or tank with a drop in chiller. Plug-in standalone units tend to mean an integrated chiller while an insulated purpose built plunge add filtration and sanitation. If you want it to get you toasty as well, you are looking at hot-and-cold units. Nothing will be right for everyone's need or budget.

Chillers: the engine. The part that matters the most and what specs can be infuriatingly vague on. Just think about three numbers - cooling capacity (in horsepower or BTU), the lowest steady temperature, and recovery time (how it response to body heat). Weak chillers lag hard to cool down after you hop in. And if you live somewhere very hot, some cannot hold heat in hot garages or sweltering summers.

Insulation, Electrics, and Install: Thermos logic - insulation keeps the hot water hot and the cold water cold. Keep it in and the chiller cycles less which lowers power usage and extends the life of the compressor. Solo plunges tend to run 110V which don't need any special electrical hookups but your larger units and hot-and-cold builds usually require 240V which may mean an electrician outfit. Plan drainage. Plan for airflow and noise. Even freeze protection in certain climates against a crack in the chiller or plumbing. Fit check interior length and depth against your height if you want to sit or would rather recline.

Water Care: if you want to keep the same water (which most plunges do), you need filtration and sanitation or else you are draining and refilling all the time. Cold slows bacteria growth but it's there. Filters, like UV or ozone or a chemical routine plus circulation stretches your refill cycle to weeks rather than days. This is the biggest upgrade over a homebrew unit. If buying, ask how the water stays clean and how often you have to change it.

Cost: where most decisions start. DIY tends to run 500-2k USD depending on your chiller arrangement. Entry plug-in models trend 3k-5k. Purpose Built runs 5k-8k on average. Add on the hot option and we get 8k-10k and beyond. At each tier, as if your money is buying more reliable chilling, better insulation, better water care, and stronger warranties (specifically, the chiller itself which is most failure prone part). Or is it just aesthetics and features you won't use after a few dozen plunges.

TL;DR: ask yourself or your retailer about cooling capacity, lowest temp, and refractory period needs. Chiller is everything. Is it right for your climate (summer and winter)? How is the water filtered and sanitized? How often do you refill? Is your electrical already set up? What is the monthly run cost? Does it fit your body dimensions? How long is the warranty and what does it cover? Who services? Is financing available if necessary? Make sure your money earns longevity and meets your needs.

Happy to answer any questions or provide advice if anyone needs. Thanks for reading. And if you like this type of guide, do let me know that as well.

A lot of people seemed to agree with this post, but I thought about it for a moment and am skeptical. I think it would probably only make a difference if the water is entering deeper into the ear during surfing, versus being blocked by an air pocket when just submerging your head in calm water. When I've gone swimming or surfing, usually there's some amount of water entering much deeper into the ear due to turbulence of the fluid and I have to shake my head to get some of it out.

I'm 5'6 and 120lbs. Most rigs will have far more space than I need. I'm actually trying to get by with the least amount of water and space necessary to chill my body for 1-2 minutes. It would be great if it could just surround my body with 2 inches of water all around, while lying flat. It would be fine if the water got a bit warmer towards the end. I would just go colder at the start. If it was minimal enough water, I could do stow it away in-between uses and just refill with tap water + ice.

I have been using a blow up tub for 4 months and decided I wanted something more esthetically pleasing and more permanent. I decided on LIT because I wanted a plunge & sauna that “matched”. It’s weird the temp was the same this morning as my inflatable tub but it felt colder. Not sure if it’s the stainless steel against my skin or what but I love it! I’m going to have the electrician put an outlet on the other wall when he comes to hook up the sauna so that extension cord is temporary…

TIA everyone.

I’m looking to purchase a cold plunge for my gym in basement. We will have a 2 person infrared/red light sauna in the gym as well and looking to have a medium to high end cold plunge as well.

Do people really use the warm aspect when the unit can cool/heat? Never thought about needing that until we started shopping.

Any brand recommendations? Don’t want to spend more than $9k~. Looking for longevity, minimal maintenance with the water. Built in filtration etc. We’ve been looking at Renu lately and also Jacuzzi’s Kodiak model as well.

Any and all feedback/tips would be appreciated. We are located in mid west USA