When looking for the best water chiller for cold plunges, it can be tough to find the perfect water chiller for you. Whether you indulge in cold plunges to help reduce inflammation, clear your mind, or relax your muscles, you can use a cold tub chiller to help maximize these benefits.
There are some specific things to keep in mind when shopping for the best water chiller. You should always consider the power of the motor, ease of use, portability, durability, warranty, and temperature controls.
Our Review Methodology
During my best water chiller for cold plunge reviews, I noticed a few things that stood out. These specific factors should always be kept in mind before making a purchase, as they can influence whether you do or do not want to buy a product. Here are some of the things I tested during my research:
Motor Power
When choosing a water chiller for ice baths, you should avoid using an ice bath cooler with a motor that is under .25 horsepower.
Horsepower that is under one quarter will most likely not get your ice bath cold enough, and you will need to run it very frequently to get it to keep up with your ideal ice bath temperature. Running the machine too often can not only cause your electric bill to run up, but it wears out the machine and is not energy-efficient.
However, if you do choose a cold plunge chiller with a lower horsepower, try to ensure it is made of durable materials and has a good filtration system or a micron filter, because it will have a better chance of lasting longer.
Ease of Use
The best water chiller for your cold plunge tub should be easy to use. After all, you probably plan to take frequent ice baths, which is why you want to invest in a chiller..
Your chiller should come with clear instructions to help you set it up as soon as you open the box. Luckily, all of these water chillers are easy to set up, and all come with clear instructions if you do have any trouble.
Portability
Your water chiller should be portable for many reasons. First, you should have a portable water chiller in case you want to change the location of your ice bath.
Many cold plunges take place in a portable ice bath, so your water chiller should also be portable. Second, you don’t want the chiller to be too heavy for you to lift from one place to another.
Third, it should be compact enough to not be in the way, which also makes it easy for you to move.
Durability
A cold plunge water chiller should be durable and constructed using high quality materials. The strong build of your water chiller will help ensure that it doesn’t break down after use and it lasts for a long time.
Warranty
Before purchasing, you should check that your water chiller has a warranty. Your warranty will protect against product defects. A warranty helps to legally ensure that your product can either be replaced or repaired if there is a manufacturer defect.
Temperature Controls
Most of the best water chillers for cold plunge have temperature controls that allow you to adjust the temperature to your liking and set it similar to a household thermostat.
Before purchasing, make sure that the chiller has a wide temperature range, and displays the temperature for you. Some cooling systems will even sound an alarm if you need to adjust your temperature.
During my product review, I can say that all of these water chillers are fairly easy to set up and simple to use, but some are easier to set up than others.
The Cold Plunge Chiller from Redwood Outdoors seemed to be the easiest to set up for me, mostly because you simply have to plug it in, and you are ready to go.
You also have to pay attention to if your chiller can be used for both indoors and outdoor use, because some are specifically designed for indoor use, like the Active Aqua Water Chiller Cooling System.
While all of these cold plunge water chillers are a great choice, I will dig deeper in my review, explaining what they are best used for and some specifics that make it a good product.
4 Best Water Chillers for Cold Plunge: Reviewed
I’ve tested out quite a few cold plunges over the years and I’ve determined these to be the four best options based on performance and value.
Best Water Chiller Overall—Deluxe Cold Plunge Dual Chiller and Heater
- Price: $$$ (Cooler + Heater)
- Size: 19 ¼” L x 12 ¼” W x 18″ H // 75lbs
- Warranty: One year
- Main Feature: 75F to 50F in ~3 hours (cooling times are highly dependent on water volume, times here assume a 500L volume, smaller volumes will cool faster) : 50F to 75F in ~2 hours (heating times are highly dependent on water volume, times here assume a 500L volume, smaller volumes will cool faster)
Pros:
Dual Functionality: The Deluxe Cold Plunge is a true all-in-one solution, offering both cooling and heating capabilities.
Durable Construction: Crafted with high-quality materials, this chiller is built to last. Its stainless steel interior ensures longevity even with frequent temperature fluctuations.
User-Friendly: Operating the Deluxe Cold Plunge is a breeze. The intuitive control panel allows you to set your desired cool water temperature range with precision. The digital display provides real-time temperature feedback, ensuring a comfortable and safe experience every time.
Cons:
75lb Weight: While the company claims that the chiller is portable, at 75 lbs I wouldn’t exactly describe that as portable.
The Deluxe Cold Plunge’s standout feature is its ability to switch between chilling and heating modes. Whether you’re seeking post-workout recovery or a refreshing start to your day, this chiller delivers. Its stainless steel construction ensures excellent heat retention and corrosion resistance, ensuring the ice bath water temperature stays just right for longer periods.
Operating the chiller is simple, thanks to the user-friendly control panel. Set your desired temperature and let the chiller do the rest. The built-in safety features, such as overheat protection and freeze prevention, guarantee a worry-free experience.
This cold plunge water pump and chiller has a cooling capacity of 300 gallons and cools temps down as low as 37 degrees F. The heating capacity is the same and takes it up to 104 degrees F, making this one of the most versatile cold water chillers ever made. It’ll take about 2-3 hours to reach your desired temperature and the less water you have the faster it will reach temp.
Redwood Outdoors is a Sauna Guide partner and a company I have done business with for years. They produce great products and offer a limited one-year warranty with the chiller.
Best Water Chiller for Indoor Use—Active Aqua Water Chiller Cooling System
- Price: $
- Size: 17″D x 10″W x 15″H
- Warranty: 30-day Amazon Return Guarantee
- Main Feature: Very inexpensive workaround to chill plunge, designed for aquaponics
Pros:
Affordable: This chiller is a budget-friendly solution that comes at a fraction of the cost of the more expensive units allowing you to build your own DIY cold plunge at a reasonable cost.
Compact Design: This chiller boasts a compact and space-saving design, making it suitable for homes with limited space. It’s also relatively lightweight, which simplifies installation and portability.
Large Capacity: For its size, it has a large capacity of up to 40 gallons of water and its anti-corrosive design allows you to even use saltwater in your cold plunge for added health benefits for your skin.
Cons:
Limited Features: While it effectively cools water, the Active Aqua doesn’t offer advanced features like digital displays or precise temperature control.
The Active Aqua chiller is a no-frills water chiller designed for hydroponics and fish tanks but it can be used for home cold plunges as well. It’s a great option for beginners or people building a DIY homemade ice bath at home.
The chiller’s compact and lightweight design is a plus, especially for users with limited space. It can easily fit into smaller areas or be transported to different locations, providing flexibility in its use.
However, it’s important to note that this chiller is a cooling-only unit and doesn’t offer the versatility of heating like some premium models. Additionally, it lacks advanced features found in higher-end chillers, such as precise digital temperature control.
Users will need to manually set and monitor the desired ice bath water temperature, which may require occasional adjustments.
Again, since the unit isn’t specifically designed for ice baths, it’s hard to tell how long it would take you to chill the bath and how much power it would require to maintain that temperature for a period of time.
Most Accurate Temperature Display—VEVOR Water Chiller
- Price: $
- Size: 17″D x 20″W x 13″H
- Warranty: 30-day Amazon Return Guarantee
- Main Feature:Rapid Cooling & Intelligent Temperature Adjustment & Multiple Security
Pros:
High Cooling Capacity: The VEVOR Industrial Water Chiller boasts a substantial cooling capacity, ensuring rapid and efficient temperature control. This makes it suitable for large cold plunge setups
Advanced Temperature Control: Unlike many other chillers, this model features precise digital temperature control. Users can set and maintain the water temperature with pinpoint accuracy.
Cons:
Bad Reviews: There are a lot of negative reviews explaining the inconsistency of the product quality and bugginess of its performance overall.
The VEVOR Industrial Water Chiller is a powerhouse when it comes to cooling capacity. Whether you’re seeking to cool a large cold plunge pool or maintain a consistent temperature for an industrial application, this chiller delivers. Its digital temperature control allows for precise adjustments, ensuring you can achieve and maintain your desired cold plunge temperature with ease.
The chiller features a 1.6 gallon water capacity so it’s a little bit less than some of the other options but it uses forced air-cooled radiators for heat dissipation so it uses less power and refrigerant as a result.
One of the biggest reasons why I like this chiller is because of the display. You get a lot of accurate information about water levels, flow rate, and current temperature so you can adjust as necessary.
Easiest to Set Up—Cold Plunge Chiller
- Price: $$
- Size: 17 ¾” L x 11 ¾” W x 16 ½” H // 50 lbs
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
- Main Feature: 150 gal — 1.8 kW (3/4 HP) — Cools water down to 37F
Pros:
All-In-One: The Redwood Outdoors Cold Plunge Chiller Kit is a complete package, including everything you need to set up the best cold plunge system. This includes the chiller unit, water pump, water filtration, and control panel, eliminating the need for separate component sourcing.
Powerful Capacity: With a 1.8 kW cooling capacity, this kit is capable of efficiently chilling water to your desired temperature, even for larger plunge pools.
Super Simple Installation: The kit comes with everything you need when you open it, and it’s incredibly portable so you can wheel it around and set up your cold plunge anywhere you want.
Cons:
Price: With all of these features and supercharged recovery comes a high price point, this is something we would expect. It’s more than double the cost of many of the other chillers on here but keep in mind that this one is specifically designed for cold plunges.
For individuals seeking a comprehensive and easy-to-install solution for their cold therapy needs, the Redwood Outdoors Cold Plunge Chiller Kit (1.8 kW) offers a compelling option. Designed with simplicity and performance in mind, this kit is an excellent choice for those looking to create a dedicated cold plunge experience at home.
The chiller unit is compact and can be easily packed up and taken to your next competition or race. If you already have an ice bath tub, you can easily add this electric chiller to take your routine to the next level.
It takes around four hours for it to cool your 150 gallon tank down to 37 degrees Fahrenheit. The chiller weighs around 50 lbs but it comes with wheels and handles making it much more portable than a lot of the previous options.
Benefits of Using a Cold Plunge Cooling System
Here are some of the main benefits of using the best water chiller for your cold plunge.
Consistent Temperature
Cold water immersion has been known for centuries for its revitalizing effects. A Cold Plunge Cooling System allows you to maintain a consistently cold water temperature, which can help stimulate circulation, invigorate the body, and leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
If you have to maintain the temperature yourself with ice, you’ll be spending a lot of time producing the ice and trying to keep the temperature down in the bath.
Optimal Temperature Range
With a cold chiller, you can set the bath to a certain temperature and ensure it reaches that point. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts often use cold plunge baths as part of their recovery regimen.
The cold water helps reduce muscle soreness and inflammation after intense workouts. A Cold Plunge Cooling System ensures that the water temperature is always in the optimal range for effective muscle recovery.
Stress Reduction
Cold baths can trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood lifters. They can also reduce the levels of stress hormones like cortisol. A Cold Plunge Cooling System makes it convenient to incorporate cold baths into your routine, helping you manage stress and improve your overall well-being.
Convenience and Ease of Use
Most of these water chillers are pretty easy to use, set up, and operate on a regular basis. If your plan is to use them daily, you don’t have to worry about setting a ton of time aside to set everything up and wait for it to cool down.
With a Cold Plunge Cooling System, you can maintain the desired water temperature consistently. This eliminates the need to manually prepare and adjust the bath’s temperature, ensuring a hassle-free and enjoyable cold plunge experience.
Best Water Chiller for Cold Plunge: FAQs
Can water chillers be used on an inflatable tub?
Yes, water chillers can be used on inflatable tubs. You set it up the same as if you were to hook it up to an ice barrel, or an ice bath tub for your cold water therapy.
What are some health benefits of using a chiller for a cold plunge?
By cooling your ice bath water to below 60 degrees F, you can relieve muscle soreness, reduce inflammation, boost your immunity, and improve your mental clarity.
How big of a chiller do I need for a cold plunge?
You should have at least a .5 or .75 HP chiller for your cold plunge. Using less horsepower can cause your water chiller to overwork itself and run too long, which will shorten its lifespan and run up your electric bill.
Final Thoughts
While these are the four best water chillers for cold plunge, my top choice is the Deluxe Cold Plunge Dual Chiller and Heater.
I love that it offers both cooling and heating capabilities, is constructed of high quality materials, and is easy to use. It might be a little high for your budget, but it is essentially an investment for your cold plunge tub that contains helpful features to make your cold plunge experience even better.
Whichever chiller you choose, be sure to look into certain factors, like temperature control, durability, portability, motor power, if it is user-friendly, and warranty information before purchasing.
