{"id":50178,"date":"2025-08-07T10:41:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T10:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/50178\/"},"modified":"2025-08-07T10:41:09","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T10:41:09","slug":"the-coolest-ice-baths-for-cold-water-therapy-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/50178\/","title":{"rendered":"The coolest ice baths for cold water therapy at home"},"content":{"rendered":"

A craze of cold plunging means that ice baths are the latest wellness status symbol. From tasteful tubs to smart baths you can control via an app on your smartphone, we round up the most luxurious ice baths to buy now.<\/p>\n

Like so many wellness trends, the fad for ice baths can be traced back to lockdown. Wim Hof, the Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete known as \u201cThe Iceman\u201d, became a household name thanks to his unconventional methods of cold exposure (such as barefoot half marathons on snow and swimming under ice) and his claim that benefits included improved mood, reduced inflammation and better muscle recovery. In the doom and gloom of 2020, many sought the bracing boost, an enthusiasm that continues today. <\/p>\n

What is cold water therapy?<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile it might sound like a modern wellness trend, it\u2019s actually rooted in something very old,\u201d says Danyl Bosomworth, the founder of luxury ice bath brand Brass Monkey. \u201cAncient Greek and Roman bathhouses were using hot and cold immersion over 2,000 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cold water therapy is simply immersing the body in cold water \u2014 usually between 0C and 16C, Bosomworth says, in a bid to trigger our natural systems of repair, resilience and recovery. \u201cExposing the body to temperatures less than 15C triggers a physiological stress response,\u201d adds Laura Fullerton, the founder of the smart ice bath Monk. \u201cWhen done intentionally and safely, this acute stressor can help train the nervous system to respond more resiliently to everyday stress.\u201d Research in 2023<\/a> indicated that cold-water bathing enhanced feelings of activity, alertness, attentiveness, pride and inspiration in participants, while reducing distress and nervousness. These findings suggest that brief, full-body cold-water immersion may positively impact brain function, leading to improved mood. Similarly, a 2020 study<\/a> concluded that cold exposure benefits the cardiovascular and endocrine systems and can improve mood disorders and general well-being. However, the full extent of the effects of cold-water immersion remains a subject of considerable debate. While many individuals believe in the benefits of icy plunges, scientific evidence is still needed to determine whether these effects are genuinely physiological or merely a placebo.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of ice bathing?<\/p>\n

Previously a pastime of burly rugby players and high-performance athletes, ice bathing is said to speed up recovery by helping to reduce inflammation, swelling and soreness by constricting blood vessels and metabolic activity in the muscles. However, ice bathing may be just as beneficial to our mental health. It can result in natural and sustained dopamine levels, sharpened focus, and recalibrated stress responses through repeated exposure, says Bosomworth. While the positive impact of cold water on mental health and mood is often anecdotal, some smaller studies offer encouraging evidence. Research<\/a> has shown that an hour of \u201chead out\u201d cold water immersion, such as open water swimming, can increase dopamine levels in the bloodstream by as much as 250 per cent and another study<\/a> involving 40 individuals new to cold water exposure found that a single session significantly improved mood and a study on the effects of 30-second cold showers<\/a> concluded that participants who consistently took them for 60 days experienced a 30 per cent reduction in sick days. In theory, ice bathing could offer similar beneficial effects.<\/p>\n

Fullerton uses hers as a powerful way to cut through over-stimulation and stress quickly and to regulate her emotions. \u201cScientifically, it\u2019s been proven to support mental health, including anxiety and depression, as well as help menopause symptoms,\u201d says Fullerton.\u201dWhile some studies have shown cold exposure can increase norepinephrine by over 500 per cent and dopamine by 250 per cent \u2014 which explains that euphoric \u2018post-plunge\u2019 feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ready to take the plunge? Keep scrolling for the coolest ice baths to shop now.<\/p>\n

Best home ice baths\"NINTCHDBPICT001010643130\"Monk smart ice bath<\/p>\n

Ice baths have turned high-tech with brands such as Monk creating new smart solutions. Its founder Laura Fullerton\u2019s mission is to make one of these sleek tubs, which feature leather straps and a touch screen control panel, your very own personal cold water coach. Serious ice bathers will appreciate the ability to keep the water at a certain temperature both through the integrated app or the in-built screen. For beginners who are just being introduced to the practice, Monk\u2019s app also has an acclimatisation guide taking you from ten degrees slowly down to three. Devoted to data? You\u2019re invited to geek out on all the health metrics from heart rate and sleep through the app\u2019s integration with your personal health wearable (read: your Oura ring or Whoop band). Backed by a team of athletes (including the professional boxer Anthony Joshua), bio-hackers and business leaders, Monk recognises we all use cold therapy differently \u2014 what is muscle recovery for one person is a stress buster or energy booster for another \u2014 so there are plenty of programmes to suit with personalised audio soundscapes and breath work routines to match. \u00a35,995, Monk at Healf<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NINTCHDBPICT001010642931\"Brass Monkey ice bath <\/p>\n

It was in the middle of the global state of anxiety of 2020 that Danyl Bosomworth, now founder and CEO of luxury ice bath company Brass Monkey, was inspired by the Wim Hof method. Bosomworth was so inspired he converted his chest freezer into an ice bath. \u201cThe first time was a bit like being electrocuted. A full-body jolt. Like nothing I\u2019d ever experienced. But then, I taught my brain and body to relax,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s when it happened. A stillness \u2026 a calm energy radiated from deep inside. Feelings of frustration and anxiety left behind in the water.\u201d Far safer than his initial DIY approach, Brass Monkey\u2019s luxury ice baths start at \u00a314,250 for a compact version and are available in standard and extra large iterations (the latter costing nearly \u00a316,000). Each design is hand-built in Britain and offered in multiple finishes and custom options. Patented ice cycle technology set to 2C creates thin sheets of ice while an always-on filtration system \u2014 including a particle filter to remove outside debris and a UV bulb that neutralises bacteria and viruses \u2014 ensures you\u2019re always bathing in crystal clear water. Similarly to Monk, Brass Monkey\u2019s handy companion app allows users to control and monitor their ice bath remotely \u2014 whether that\u2019s scheduling a customised ice bath session or monitoring and controlling the tub\u2019s temperature. From \u00a314,250, Brass Monkey<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"NINTCHDBPICT001010643005\"Optimal Health ice bath<\/p>\n

While this substantial ice bath has been designed for professional athletes, sports teams, recovery centres and swanky gyms, if you\u2019ve discovered the beneficial effect of cold therapy and want to invest properly, there\u2019s nothing stopping you from getting one of these serious pieces of kit to prove just how committed you are. And because they are created for commercial-use, you can expect commercial-grade materials and filtration systems to match; there\u2019s a salt water sanitiser which maintains chlorine levels, monitors the pH and ensures the water quality is always clear. Unlike other home ice baths, Optimal Health\u2019s designs offer both hot and cold therapy with its 5C to 40C temperature range and is one of the biggest versions available, designed to fully submerge even those who are seven feet tall. \u00a315,000, Optimal Health at Healf<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NINTCHDBPICT001010643033\"Polar Recovery pro barrel<\/p>\n

Polar Recovery, was born in 2022 and has now sold over 50,000 ice baths worldwide. It\u2019s a great choice for those who wish to travel with their ice bath (once you\u2019re hooked you just might not be able to go a day without it), as it\u2019s fully collapsible and takes only 10 minutes to assemble. The pro barrel can accommodate people up to 6ft 10in and comes with an outdoor lid to keep insects and debris out. This bundle also features the brand\u2019s pro chiller which can control the tub\u2019s temperature \u2014 cooling it to 3C or heating it to 45C \u2014 and can be connected via wi-fi so you can control it from your phone. \u00a32,999, Polar Recovery<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NINTCHDBPICT001010643047\"Urban Ice Tribe essential ice bath with black cover bundle<\/p>\n

In contrast to the brands jazzing the humble ice bath up with smart tech, Urban Ice Tribe is keeping things old school with this durable galvanised steel design. Manufactured in Nebraska, USA before being refined in the UK, each has been crafted from stock tanks \u2014 robust vessels originally designed to be used in agriculture \u2014 which can withstand the harshest weather conditions. For those who want control over their bath\u2019s temperature, Urban Ice Tribe offers chiller systems that give you the ability to cool or heat your bath between 2C and 40C. \u00a3608, Urban Ice Tribe at Decathlon<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NINTCHDBPICT001010643024\"Lumi pod pro ice bath<\/p>\n

Similar to its bestselling, stylishly petite, one-person sauna, Lumi Pod\u2019s barrel-style ice bath can easily squeeze into a garden corner. It is 90cm in diameter, so it is a better option for plunging rather than laying out for a lengthy soak. Built with durable rubber, with a hardened-wall construction, the Lumi is designed to keep your water cool, however, a chiller can be bought separately and seamlessly integrated to chill the temperature down to 3C. But if you don\u2019t want to splash out on a chiller yet, the brand recommends simply adding ice cubes into the mix. \u00a3349, Lumi at Decathlon<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NINTCHDBPICT001010643021\"Icetubs IceBarrel<\/p>\n

This cylindrical design from Icetubs is ideal for those who prefer sitting upright when undertaking that bracing dunk. However, the clever barrel construction does still allow for fully body immersion too (you don\u2019t get off that easily!). Handcrafted from a sleek thermally modified wood and stainless steel combination, Icetubs IceBarrel is the brainchild of the Dutch entrepreneur Chiel Kraai who cut his teeth with an inflatable hot tub business before venturing into saunas and ice baths. Like many luxury iterations, water temperature can be adjusted wirelessly through an app and you can seamlessly switch between both cold and warm therapies with its range of 3C and 38C. There\u2019s also a three stage water filtration system that ensures water is cleaned every six minutes without the use of chemicals, making it an ideal ice bath for those with sensitive skin. \u00a34,800, Icetubs<\/a><\/p>\n

Why trust The Times Luxury?<\/p>\n

The Times Luxury is brought to you by the award-winning team behind the Times Luxx magazine. For nearly 20 years the Times Luxx experts have been curating an unrivalled selection of the best in fashion, jewellery, travel, tech, cars, design, food, drink and more. The same rigour and insider industry knowledge underpins The Times Luxury. If we love it, we know you will too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A craze of cold plunging means that ice baths are the latest wellness status symbol. From tasteful tubs…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":50179,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[64,63,137,490],"class_list":{"0":"post-50178","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-medication","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-medication"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50178"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50178\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}