Cold plunge tub
Chilled tub that holds cold water ready, instead of hauling bags of ice
A tub with a chiller and a filter that keeps water down in the 40s Fahrenheit, so a plunge takes no setup. People get in after training for soreness, or first thing in the morning for the jolt and the mood lift that follows. The recovery evidence is mixed, and cold straight after lifting may blunt some of the muscle adaptation. Plumbed units run into the thousands; an insulated barrel and ice does the same job for far less.
Who backs it
Sorted by strength of stance
- Chris BumsteadDoes it
Bodybuilder · Six-time Classic Physique Mr. Olympia
He used to fill a tub and dump buckets of ice into it. Now he keeps a tub built for the job, held at 40 degrees Fahrenheit; he tried 35 once and said that was too much. Eight to ten minutes, lower body first and then legs. His reason, he says, is not muscle recovery but systemic inflammation, plus a dopamine lift in the morning.
Source: Generation Iron: Why Does Chris Bumstead Take Multiple Ice Baths Per Week? - Cristiano RonaldoDoes it
Footballer · Portugal captain and five-time Ballon d'Or winner
Posted a picture of himself sitting in an ice bath after a full 90 minutes against Al Hilal in November 2024. His own caption said he uses it as often as he can, so that his body is ready for the next game. No brand of tub is named.
Source: Goal: Cristiano Ronaldo's ice bath recovery after Al Nassr's draw with Al Hilal - Michael PhelpsDoes it
Olympic swimmer · Most decorated Olympian in history
Cold water carried over from his swimming years into what he calls his health and fitness routine today. He says he had tried several tubs and found them too small, so the Chilly GOAT he helped design is deep enough to sit in fully submerged. It is his own product line, made with Master Spas.
Source: Master Spas: Michael Phelps Chilly GOAT cold tub announcement - Rhonda PatrickDoes it
Biomedical scientist · FoundMyFitness
She owns a cold plunge and takes cold showers as well, while being upfront that she gets in less often than she thinks she should.
Source: FoundMyFitness: her sauna routine
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Gear entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.