Inergize Cold Plunge Review

The Inergize Cold Plunge is an inflatable ice bath with a WiFi-enabled chiller and filtration system that cools water down to as low as 37 degrees. It’s the sixth plunge we’ve added to the ever-growing Kummer Home Spa, and after a month of testing I have a few key takeaways: 

• The Inergize has a small footprint compared to other cold plunges, having been designed for use in small spaces like patios. I’m six feet tall, and I was surprised to find that despite its small dimensions, I can still comfortably submerge myself up to my jawline.
• The tub is made from lightweight, durable rubber, which makes it easy to move (when empty) if necessary. I’ve repositioned most of my plunges several times and have come to appreciate the portability factor. 
• The lid has integrated handles, which makes it easy to cover and uncover the tub. It might seem like a small detail, but if you plunge daily, the extra convenience and ease of access can add up.
• While it’s not the coldest plunge I’ve ever used, the Inergize chiller cools the water down to 37 degrees. That’s plenty cold for even the most advanced plungers. The chiller can also heat the water to 105 degrees, turning your plunge into a hot tub.
• Combined with the included non-toxic water treatment solutions, ongoing maintenance is limited to replacing the sediment filter every couple of weeks and replacing the water every six months. That offers significant time savings compared to DIY solutions and most of the less-expensive cold plunges on the market.
• Setting up the Inergize takes less than 15 minutes, including the time it takes to inflate the tub and lid, hook up the chiller and fill the tub with water.

The only downside that I’ve experienced is that because of the shape of the Inergize, I can’t scoot far enough back to submerge my head in the cold water. As a result, I have to hinge forward if I want to get my face wet (which I’ll do for very short periods of time during my plunge). I reported a similar issue when I tested the new Ice Barrel 500. 

Unboxing the Inergize Cold Plunge

In addition to the tub, lid and chiller, the Inergize comes with a maintenance kit and a variety of accessories, including:

• A drip tray to catch condensation from the chiller.
• A repair/patch kit in case you accidentally puncture the tub or the lid.
• Extra O-rings for the connections.
• A 20-micron pleated sediment filter.
• A filter housing wrench to help with replacing the filter.
• Water test strips and non-toxic water treatment solutions from Sirona Spa Care.
• A dual-action hand pump for inflating the tub.
• A duffle bag to easily carry the deflated tub and lid (e.g., if you want to take your plunge on camping trips).

The reason I decided to list the accessories the Inergize ships with is because it’s unusual for a tub to come with all of this. For example, I haven’t seen other inflatable cold plunges include a patch kit and extra O-rings — items that come in handy if you experience a tear or puncture, or lose one of the O-rings during setup or disassembly.

The latter happened to me, and I was glad I had an extra O-ring I could use without having to run to the hardware store.

Setup

Setting up the Inergize Cold Plunge is incredibly easy. After unboxing the tub and chiller (which arrive in separate packages) and laying out all the individual pieces, I inflated the tub and lid using the provided dual-action hand pump.

Next, I hooked up the chiller to the tub using the included hoses, after making sure all the required O-rings were in place. One of the connectors was missing the O-ring, but Inergize provides plenty of extras in the box. You’ll figure out quickly if an O-ring is missing if you see water leaking from any connections.

Once everything was hooked up, I filled the tub with water using a non-toxic garden hose (most regular garden hoses contain lead, so I wouldn’t use them to fill your cold plunge).

Also, our whole-house water filtration system removes all toxins and impurities, including chlorine, from our water supply. If you don’t have a water filtration system, I recommend getting a screw-on RV water filter to remove chlorine and other chemicals you don’t want in your bathwater. 

Once the tub was filled, I installed the sediment filter on the back of the chiller, turned on the unit, and used the touchscreen to dial in the desired temperature.

Last but not least, I downloaded the third-party Tuya app (as recommended by Inergize), connected the chiller, and set a schedule to automatically turn the chiller on in the morning and off at night.

Chiller Performance

The Inergize’s 0.8 horsepower chiller performs incredibly well and has no issues maintaining water temperatures of 37 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (3 to 41 C), regardless of ambient temperatures. 

It’s worth pointing out that unlike many other chillers on the market, the Inergize chiller can actively heat water to 105° F, turning your cold plunge into a hot tub. While combining cold and heat therapy can be incredibly beneficial and can enhance the health benefit of cold water therapy, I don’t recommend heating water inside a rubber tub because it could cause endocrine-disrupting chemicals to leach into the water. (This isn’t a problem with cold water.)

It takes about four to five hours to cool or heat the water if your ambient temperature is around 65 degrees. I let the chiller run overnight to cool the water to 37 degrees before taking my first plunge.

The plunge’s filtration performance is also top-notch, and comparable to the high-end plunges I have reviewed in the past. 

Inergize accomplishes this outstanding filtration performance using a three-pronged approach that includes:

• A 20-micron filter that removes debris and insects.
• An integrated ozone treatment function to kill organic pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses.
• Non-toxic water treatment solutions.

What I found interesting is that Inergize recommends in its user manual disabling the ozone water treatment function to prolong the lifespan of the chiller (and reduce noise). According to the company, the combination of sediment filtration and non-toxic water treatment solutions is sufficient to keep the water sanitary for extended periods.

I disagree because I have not encountered any reliability issues with the chiller type Inergize uses (more on that in a bit) and have never been bothered by its noise. I also prefer relying on ozone over water treatment options to keep the water sanitary. 

But I suppose if you want the quietest possible chiller, turning off the ozone feature (which makes some noise every few minutes when it turns on) is an option.

The one issue I ran into when trying to configure the chiller using the integrated touchscreen is the poor screen brightness, which makes it almost impossible to see the screen’s content in bright daylight. I wish the chiller’s manufacturer would upgrade the screen to improve its brightness and contrast.

The good news is that you can use the Tuya smart app to control all chiller functions (except for the ozone settings, which Inergize must have deliberately disabled) from your smartphone. In other words, you don’t need to use the touchscreen after connecting the chiller to your WiFi network and the Tuya app.

Build Quality

Both the tub and the chiller are made from commercial-grade materials that are durable and relatively lightweight. The tub weighs 25 pounds (when empty) and is made of high-grade industrial airplane drop stitch PVC, which is much thicker and more durable than cheaper inflatable tubs available on Amazon. As a result, the tub is less likely to tear, puncture or fade over time, especially when exposed to harsh UV light.

Despite the thick rubber, carefully sweep the floor underneath the tub before filling it with water. If you miss a nail or other sharp object, the tub might puncture under the weight of the water. 

The chiller isn’t necessarily light (it weighs 60 pounds) but comes with wheels that make it easy to move it around without much effort. 

One detail I like about the Inergize is that it has a drip tray to catch condensation from the chiller. That’s particularly useful if you plan on operating the chiller inside, such as in a garage.

Ergonomics and Space Requirements

What I like most about the Inergize Cold Plunge is its small footprint of 51 x 27.5 x 30 inches. While we have a reasonably large backyard that can accommodate any size cold plunge, Inergize is our sixth tub, so I need to be cognizant of the available space.

The Inergize is comparatively tiny, and I initially had concerns about being able to submerge myself entirely in the cold water. However, the tub is also taller than most other ice baths I own, including the Plunge. As a result, I can submerge myself entirely in the cold water, albeit with bent knees.

At the same time, it’s worth noting that you sacrifice some comfort with the small footprint and tall sidewalls, because you can’t lean back. Instead, you have to remain relatively upright and crouched. I don’t think that’s a big deal, considering you won’t spend more than a few minutes inside the tub, but it’s a minor inconvenience nonetheless.

Ultimately, whether the Inergize’s tiny footprint is a pro or a con depends on how much space you have in your home or backyard. 

It’s also worth noting that filling the tub with 80 gallons of water increases its weight from 25 pounds to 800 pounds. If applicable, ensure your floor, deck or patio can support that weight.

Price: Is the Inergize Cold Plunge Worth It?

As of this writing, the Ingerize Cold Plunge retails for $3,990. That’s not inexpensive, but it’s several hundred to a thousand dollars cheaper than most high-end plunges I have tested.

Considering the quality of materials and the high-performance chiller you get, I think it’s reasonably priced.

Shop Inergize Cold Plunge

Using code MICHAELKUMMER at checkout will get you $150 off the purchase price. As of this writing, the Inergize Cold Plunge is only available directly from inergizehealth.com but not on Amazon or other online retailers.

Inergize Health offers a one-year warranty for residential use and a six-month warranty for commercial use.

Inergize Cold Plunge vs. TheraFrost

The Inergize Cold Plunge is very similar to the TheraFrost plunge, which I’ve owned since 2023. Both plunges appear to use components from the same manufacturer, making them comparable. However, Inergize and TheraFrost differ in some areas worth pointing out.

The table below illustrates the main differences between the two products:

As you can see in the table above, the Inergize cold plunge tub is smaller (but slightly taller) and comes with a lockable lid with integrated handles that makes it easy to cover and uncover the tub. 

Instead of a telescoping handle, the lower-performance Ingerize chiller includes two fixed handles that allow you to move it if necessary. 

The built-in display/touchscreen is inconveniently located on the front of the Inergize chiller, making it necessary to bend over or lower yourself to read or manipulate it. In contrast, the TheraFrost’s chiller is more conveniently located on top of the unit, making it a breeze to manipulate (albeit the display has the same low brightness and contrast specs).

The TheraFrost tub is larger and holds about 20 more gallons of water. The lid has straps with clips, but you can’t lock them to prevent children from uncovering the tub. That’s something to consider if you have young kids who might accidentally climb or fall into the tub while unsupervised. 

Which of these two plunges is best for you ultimately depends on how much space you have, whether you appreciate the potential benefits of structured water (e.g., enhanced absorption, improved hydration and enhanced conductivity), and which design and color you like best.

You can learn more about the ThereaFrost in my dedicated review and YouTube video.

Inergize Cold Plunge Review: Final Verdict

The Inergize portable cold plunge has proven to be both convenient and efficient. Its design is perfect for small spaces like patios, maximizing usability without taking up too much room. The tub is made from durable, lightweight rubber and features a WiFi-enabled chiller that maintains the water at a crisp 37 degrees, with a sediment filter and ozone treatment function that ensures cleanliness with minimal maintenance.

Compared to all the other cold plunge tubs I own (or have tested), Inergize strikes a reasonable balance between size, price and ergonomics. In other words, it’s ideal for anyone who doesn’t have the skills or desire to build an ice bath from scratch, appreciates the convenience of a high-performance chiller, and doesn’t have a lot of space for a larger tub. If that’s you, the Inergize Cold Plunge might just be a perfect choice.

On the flip side, if you’re looking for maximum comfort (if that’s the right word, considering that freezing-cold water is rarely comfortable), superb ergonomics and a premium design, check out some of the more spacious plunges I have tested in the past.

Overall, with its robust construction and efficient chilling capabilities, this cold plunge tub is a sound investment for those looking to make cold water therapy part of their wellness routine, provided they can accommodate its initial cost and space requirements.

Michael Kummer

Michael Kummer is a healthy living enthusiast and CrossFit athlete whose goal is to help people achieve optimal health by bridging the gap between ancestral living and the demands of modern society.