You can’t beat the convenience and affordability of the best portable ice bath. And if you’re looking for the best one in the market, you’ve come to the right place.
Portable cold tubs are the ultimate game changer for freezing your way into faster recovery and supercharging your health without paying the big bucks. Typically small and lightweight, their easy portability means you can bring your ice bath tub with you wherever you want to go. You can set it up in any location, whether at your training facility, so you can cold plunge right after a workout or bring it with you on an outdoor adventure to enjoy cold therapy while on the go. It’s perfect for at-home use, too, especially if you plan on moving your ice bath around often.
But with the increasing popularity of the practice, there’s a whole bunch of portable ice baths out there. So it’s definitely worth taking a closer look at which product is suitable for you before buying one.
To help make your decision process easier, we’ve narrowed down the list to the best and trusted portable cold plunge tubs in the market with varying design features, performance specifications, warranty, and price ranges.
5 of the Best Portable Ice Baths: Our Top Choices
1. Inergize Cold Plunge Tub—Best Overall
2. Polar Recovery Tub—Best Value
3. SHUIMEIYAN Ice Bath Tub—Most Affordable
4. Qoolpod Portable Ice Bath—Most Durable
5. Irtree Inflatable Portable Bathtub—Best Inflatable
The 5 Best Portable Ice Baths Reviewed
Best Overall—Inergize Cold Plunge Tub
- Price: $$$
- Size: 51” x 28” x 30”
- Warranty: One year
- Main Feature: Fits inside a duffel bag for portability
Our top pick for the best portable cold tub is the Inergize Cold Plunge Tub, an impressive on-the-go cold plunging solution that combines portability, style, convenience, and performance.
The design structure is one of the Inergize Cold Plunge Tub’s main selling points. It includes a chiller unit that provides you with cold water up to 37°F within 4-5 hours. Meanwhile, the tub is 30 inches deep, spacious enough for full-body immersion and for accommodating taller bodies. Setup and take down are also quick, averaging 15 minutes. Once deflated, the tub rolls into the supplied duffle carry bag, making it convenient and hassle-free to take with you wherever you go.
Another reason that makes this tub well-loved is its noteworthy set of features that maximize the effectiveness of every cold plunging session. The insulated walls and the provided tub cover preserve the water temperature so you have cold plunge-ready water on demand. Also, the 24/7 filtration system means fewer water changes and maintenance are needed. It keeps the water clean for 3-6 months. The unit also comes with a 4-month sanitation kit.
Compared to some competitors, it’s relatively more expensive. That said, the price tag is somewhat understandable with features like a digital timer and display system for monitoring your ice bath session accurately and an app control you can use to remotely customize the water temperature once it’s connected to the Wi-Fi network. There’s also the added functionality of heating the water up to 105°F if you want to alternate between cold and hot therapy.
The good news is you can sometimes get the tub at a discounted price. At the time of writing, it’s priced at $4,990 and comes with a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects for both the tub and chiller. Overall, the Inergize tub is popular among cold plungers for its performance, user-friendly features, and portability.
Read our full Inergize Cold Plunge Tub review.
Best Value—Polar Recovery Tub
- Price: $
- Size: 31.5” x 27.56”
- Warranty: 30-day Amazon Return Guarantee
- Main Feature: Easy set up and weighs less than 6 pounds
The Polar Recovery Tub offers great value that’s perfect for those who want to feel the benefits of cold water immersion from anywhere and without breaking the bank. The inflatable ice bath tub is well-made and durable. It’s designed for indoor and outdoor use and comes with a protective lid to keep outside dirt and bugs away. The inner lining is made from durable, UV-resistant PVC, which is puncture-resistant and easy to clean.
Unlike other inflatable tubs that can easily flop over, eight support poles keep this one incredibly stable, considering how lightweight it is. The inflatable ring also provides support when getting in and out of the recovery tub. It also acts as a neck support for extra comfort during your soak.
Unfilled, this tub weighs less than six pounds, making it extremely portable. Bring it anywhere with you, indoors or outdoors, and you’ll have a mobile ice bath tub in under three minutes of assembly. It might be lightweight, but with the tub’s freestanding design, 31.5 inches in diameter and 27.5 inches in depth, it’s large enough for people up to 6’7” in height to soak up to their shoulders. The tub’s quick-release drain tap and the drain pipe included in the package make water changes a breeze.
As expected, a collapsible ice bath tub under $130 regular price, sometimes available at $99.99 sale price at checkout, won’t have the frills and extra features. It’s just a standalone tub. But if you don’t mind the effort of filling it up with water and loading it with ice to achieve the desired temperature, the Polar Recovery Tub is a great value option to reset your mind and body through cold water therapy.
Most Affordable—SHUIMEIYAN Ice Bath Tub
- Price: $
- Size: 33.5” x 29.5”
- Warranty: 30-day Amazon Return Guarantee
- Main Feature: Foldable design and great for small spaces
If you think that a pocket-friendly collapsible ice bath is not worth the money, think again. The SHUIMEIYAN Ice Bath Tub offers the necessary features you want from an ice bath tub for a super affordable price tag. With six layers of high-quality materials for excellent thermal insulation, you can expect this tub to fully lock the temperature.
The six supporting poles keep the tub more stable, and the inflatable ring keeps your neck supported and comfortable while braving the cold. And I have to add that the included water-filled cushion is a nice-to-have feature. It beats sitting directly on a hard surface, making it more comfortable while you’re soaking in the tub.
It’s easy to set up and takes up very little space, perfect even for small bathrooms. It only takes 1m2 of space. The tub is also the quickest to empty, thanks to its two drains—a bottom drain valve and a side drain pipe. Easy and fast draining coupled with its foldable design, it’s hassle-free to take down for storage or set up in another space.
Admittedly, I was not expecting premium features at this price range. So, I wasn’t expecting that this tub would support hot water therapy. If you want to alternate between cold and hot therapy, this tub can support hot water temperatures up to just below 122°F.
On the downside, there’s a noticeable plastic smell when using the tub for the first time or when using it with hot water. The smell will go away after a while, but you might want to set up this tub somewhere with good ventilation and remember to use it below the maximum temperature of hot water indicated for safety.
It’s a decent option for beginners looking for the most affordable cold plunge unit. At the time of writing, you can snag this tub for as low as $67.99 with a discount.
Most Durable—Ice Barrel 300
- Price: $$
- Size: 35.5” x 30.5”
- Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
- Main Feature: Sturdy but compact and lightweight design
When it comes to finding that fine line between durability and portability, the new Ice Barrel 300 Tub is our best pick. This tub is made from recycled plastic material, exceptionally sturdy but still compact and lightweight. You can easily move it from one place to another. It only weighs 61 pounds when empty. And as a testament to the tub’s durability, it comes with a lifetime warranty.
That’s not all because the functionality is somewhere the Ice Barrel 300 shines as well. It’s a fully insulated unit, keeping the water plunge ready whenever you need it. The included lid also boasts the same polyurethane foam insulation of the body, perfect for keeping the water colder for an extended period. It’s a great cold therapy tool even in warmer climates.
Soaking in iced-cold water may not be the most comfortable. But the tub’s built-in textured small seat inside, where you can maintain a natural seated position, does help give you an ergonomic experience. It also allows you to fully immerse your body in the cold water so you can reap the maximum benefits of cold exposure, like reduced muscle soreness after a hard workout.
The Ice Barrel 300 may not come with a chiller unit, but it’s a chiller-ready barrel. Besides having an outlet drain plug, it’s designed with a quick-connect inlet port, seamlessly integrating with chillers with no modification. So, the option is there whether you go the DIY route or purchase a chiller unit.
It’s not the most expensive cold plunge out there, but this tub is still a pretty pricey option for an ice tub without a chiller. Still, the durability and superior insulation means you have a dedicated cold plunge tub that can last a lifetime, so I’d say it’s still worth the slightly hefty price tag. At the time of writing, it’s available for pre-order at $1,999. It’s a slightly smaller, more compact version of the Ice Barrel 400, which makes it easier to enter and exit.
Read more about it in our Ice Barrel review.
Best Inflatable—Irtree Inflatable Portable Bathtub
- Price: $
- Size: 33” x 30”
- Warranty: 30-day Amazon Return Guarantee
- Main Feature: Foldable and packable
Inflatable tubs often get a bad rep. They don’t always win in terms of durability with problems like a slippery surface when getting in and out and a fabric that easily rips. But this barrel-style inflatable cold plunge from Irtree is designed and constructed with durable materials to ensure that it lasts through numerous ice baths.
The tub material is made of three sheets of fabric combined into one anti-tear layer—a wear-resistant and thickened PVC material, thermostability composite mesh, and PE foam for locking down the temperature. The included inflatable cover will keep dirt and bugs away and help preserve the temperature when the tub’s not in use.
You can use it for a cold bath and a hot bath safely. The inflatable armrest and neck support provide extra comfort for using the ice tub, while the water cushion keeps you comfortable while you take the plunge. Installation is quick with the included air pump and six support poles. But takedown is even quicker with the Irtree Inflatable Portable Tub’s dual drain system. And because it’s inflatable, this ice bath tub is ultra-portable and easy to store.
Overall, this tub is great if you’re looking for a pocket-friendly and beginner option that inflates quickly, works great in small spaces, and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Why Purchase a Portable Ice Bath?
While the best at-home ice bath tubs are a worthy wellness and recovery investment, they are expensive. Traditional ice tubs take up a lot of space, and they are not something you can easily move around or carry with you. Meanwhile, a portable ice bath tub offers the perfect combination for reaping the cold immersion therapy benefits and affordability.
Here are some great reasons to get a portable ice bath.
- Portability. Most portable ice baths are foldable and packable, ready to take with you wherever you go. Others with a sturdy, solid build are lightweight enough to move around.
- Space-saving. Portable cold plunges are generally smaller than traditional ice tubs. You can set them up in small areas like a bathroom. Inflatable cold plunges can be drained, deflated, folded, and stored when not in use.
- Cost-effective. Their compact design means they require less water and ice. And compared to traditional ice tubs, there are plenty of portable ice tubs to fit every budget.
Right now, there are a variety of different ice baths for sale in varying styles and levels of portability. You can get a foldable or an inflatable ice bath tub, both great traveling options. They are small, packable, and lightweight, so they are easily transported and set up in any location.
There are also more solid tubs made of heavy-duty but still lightweight plastic. They are typically more durable than their inflatable counterparts, can hold temperature better, and drain more easily. They are also heavier but should still be lightweight enough to move around the place when empty.
And depending on the model or how much you’re willing to pay for an ice bath tub, there are two options you can choose from.
- Portable Tub Only
It is cheaper, with many good models available just under $100. But tub-only units mean you must make or buy ice bags for each cold plunge.
If you want to take cold plunges regularly, buying a lot of ice bags for every plunge could get expensive quickly. You might also need a few more extras, like a thermometer, to ensure the water temperature reaches your desired level for your cold plunge. Read more about understanding ice bath temperature. They won’t solve sanitation for you, so they might require frequent water changes.
That said, tub-only options are great for those who want to dip their toes and experience the health benefits of ice baths firsthand without spending hundreds on a unit.
- Portable Ice Tub and Chiller
The advantage of this option is it keeps the water ready for ice bathing anytime you need, convenient for those who ice bath often. They are designed to cool water at very low temperatures than you can get from ice cubes. With a chiller, water temperature control to ensure that you get the best from every soak is convenient and simple.
Chillers also require minimal maintenance once set up. They don’t only keep the water cold but take care of the sanitation.
The obvious con is the price tag. Portable ice tub + chiller combos generally cost $ 5,000 upwards. Some chiller units also have hot and cold capabilities.
How We Chose the Best At-Home Ice Baths
With a boatload of portable and affordable ice bath tubs available on the market, finding one that meets your needs and preferences can be a challenge. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key features we considered while searching for the best ice baths for home use.
Mobility Features
Portable ice baths should be easy to transport and store. Look for models that are inflatable, have collapsible walls, and are made of lightweight materials. One option is a tub made of durable materials like PVC or plastic, which can usually withstand repeated use and outdoor elements and is lightweight.
If you plan to bring your ice tub to your outdoor adventure, look for models with extra features like a carrying case to make them even easier to move.
Warranty
A product warranty will give you peace of mind and will protect your investment. You’ll find portable ice baths with a standard one-year to a limited lifetime warranty.
If you go for a tub and chiller unit, go with a manufacturer who stands behind their products. Having an extensive warranty is advantageous in case you need maintenance and/or repairs, especially with a chiller.
Price
The price tag is always a factor when buying anything, but the good thing is there’s a portable ice bath tub to fit every budget. Frills-free inflatable tubs are the most pocket-friendly option, which are big enough for one person and can cost below $100. If you’re willing to spend $4000 upwards, you can get a tub with a chiller unit with cold and hot capabilities.
Technology
There is only a little technology to look forward to for budget cold plunge units. But for this review, insulation is a critical factor we considered. Always look for an ice bath to keep the water cold for longer. Consider multi-layered materials and an ice tub cover for extra insulation. For a chiller unit, look for one with a cooling capacity that meets your needs. A hot and cold capacity is also a bonus.
Final Thoughts
A portable ice bath is your best bet for boosting the immune system, reducing fatigue, supporting mental health, and a faster muscle recovery time, so long as you pick one that meets your needs. It makes ice plunging convenient and affordable at home or on the go.
Of many ice baths on the market right now, our top pick is the Inergize Cold Plunge Tub, a convenient tub and chiller combo. The SHUIMEIYAN Ice Bath Tub is another great option for budget buyers.
For more of the best cold tubs in the market, check out our cold plunge reviews and cold plunge tub buyer’s guide.
