Cold Plunge Showdown: Plunge Brand’s Top 5 Tubs Compared

My cold-plunging journey started when I got my first ice bath tub from Plunge in November 2021. Since then, the company has released four more tubs, and a new high-performance chiller that’s compatible with all of their models.

While I’m still awaiting the delivery of my Plunge Air (the company’s new premium inflatable tub), I recently visited Plunge’s headquarters in Sacramento to test all of their new tubs (except for the multi-person Party Plunge). 

If you’re considering investing in a cold plunge but are unsure whether to purchase one of Plunge’s tubs or something else, I hope this article will help you decide.

I did not include each tub’s maximum cold temperature in the table above because how cold each one can get depends on which chiller you choose, not so much the tub itself. Plunge offers two versions, with max cold temps of either 37 degrees or 39 degrees.

Colder is generally better. But as I explain in my article about the health benefits of ice baths, there’s not much difference in outcomes between those two numbers. So the choice of which chiller to go with should come down to factors like the size of the tub you choose (bigger requires more chilling power) and the ambient temperature where you plan to use it. 

You can also refer to my article about how to choose a cold plunge for more info on what factors to consider.

My Experience With Plunge Brand Tubs

As mentioned in the intro, my experience with Plunge brand tubs dates back to 2021, when I purchased the original Plunge – arguably one of the sleekest and lowest-maintenance tubs I’ve ever owned.

As discussed in my Plunge review, I have not had any issues with the tub or the chiller. It’s been working flawlessly, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my daily ice baths and infrequent water changes. The only issue I ever ran into was a cracked sediment chiller housing when I forgot to drain the tub before going on vacation in the winter of 2022.

What’s worth noting is that the original Plunge shipped with a chiller that’s no longer being manufactured. In other words, if you purchase a Plunge with a chiller today, you’ll get the latest-generation chiller, which is WiFi-enabled and more powerful than the one I have.

I should also point out that I recently gifted my plunge to my buddy Bryan to make space for the new Plunge Air, which I expect to arrive soon. Bryan previously had a plastic barrel for cold plunging, but since he didn’t have a chiller to keep the water cold and sanitary, he rarely used it. Now that he owns my Plunge, he takes an ice bath every morning before work and loves it!

Shipping and Delivery

I’ve owned a dozen cold plunge tubs, including the ones mentioned in my best cold plunge tubs article. And one of the most annoying aspects of receiving a new tub is disposing of the huge amount of packaging trash after unpacking. 

Plunge is different because they have partnered with FedEx to offer white glove delivery. Not only does that entail positioning the heavy tub exactly where you want it (I wanted mine in the backyard), but also disposing of all packaging material. In other words, you’re not left with a ton of packaging material that would require five trash cans to get rid of.

Support

My experience with Plunge’s support has been positive. I once forgot to drain the sediment filter housing before leaving for a long vacation while the tub and chiller were exposed to freezing temperatures. When the water inside the filter housing froze, some of the plastic parts cracked. I reached out to Plunge, and even though user error is usually not covered by warranty, they sent me spare parts and instructions on fixing the problem. 

To be fair, I might have been treated differently as an influencer than a regular customer, but given what I know about the company’s owners, I expect they stand behind their products and work with their customers should problems arise.

Chiller Compatibility

Before we discuss each model in detail, it’s worth noting that all Plunge’s tubs are compatible with the new Evolve Chiller or Evolve Pro Chiller. In other words, if you purchase the $150 Pop-Up tub, the company’s least expensive tub with a chiller, you can later swap it out for a larger one and connect it to the chiller you already own. 

Being able to use the same chiller for different tubs is an excellent way to protect your investment. The only exception is the All-In, which comes with an integrated chiller and doesn’t have connections for an external chiller.

Plunge All-In

Best for: High-end homes and families with multiple plungers.

The All-In is Plunge’s flagship model. It’s a beast of a cold plunge as far as performance and water filtration capabilities are concerned. At the same time, it looks sleeker and has a smaller footprint than the regular Plunge (and even the Air), because the chiller and filtration system are built into the unit.  

At first, I thought that the smaller footprint would make the All-In less than ideal for larger plungers, but when I tried it, I realized that I could easily fit my entire body inside the tub. For reference, I’m six feet tall (182 cm) with pretty broad shoulders. The reason why I had no issues fitting inside the smaller tub is because of its height. At 29 inches (74 cm), it’s taller than all the other tubs (except for the Pop-Up).

While there is much to like about the All-In — including the incredible cooling performance, effortless filter changes and integrated touch controls — it’s relatively expensive, retailing at just under $9,000. As a result, I think the All-In is best suited for commercial settings where ease of maintenance and powerful cooling and filtration performance (to handle back-to-back plunging) are required.

However, if you have the necessary budget and want the sleekest, most powerful cold plunge tub the company offers, the All-In is the way to go!

Shop All-In

Plunge (2nd Gen)

Best for: Serious cold plungers who value aesthetics.

While most of my hands-on experience is limited to the first generation of this tub, the second-generation version builds on the sleek aesthetics and powerful cooling performance of the original model.

One of the few things I complained about with my Plunge was that I couldn’t submerge my entire body in the water. In other words, either my knees or toes would stick out. Plunge fixed that problem in their second-gen tub by making it slightly larger.

When I jumped into the Plunge at the company’s headquarters, I had more than enough space inside the tub, significantly improving my plunging experience.

The other new feature of the second-generation tub is the ability to choose between two chillers: the Evolve and Evolve Pro (see below for a side-by-side comparison).

Regardless of which chiller you choose, the Plunge 2nd Gen features a slanted backrest, improved insulation (for better temperature retention) and an acrylic finish that looks sleek in any environment.

Regarding pricing, you can expect to pay between $6,000 and $7,500, depending on the chiller you choose. That’s not inexpensive but reasonable compared to what other companies charge for similar tech but less durable and stylish models.

Shop Plunge (2nd Gen)

Plunge Air

Best for: Seasonal plungers who want top-notch performance.

When it was time to replace my first-generation Plunge, I thought long and hard about which model to get. Based on my experience with inflatable tubs from other brands (see my TheraFrost review for more on that) and my hands-on testing when I visited the Plunge headquarters, I fell in love with the Plunge Air and decided to order one.

The primary reason I love the Air is that I can easily move it around in my backyard. While that may not be an important factor for everyone, it is for me, considering that I frequently review cold plunges, saunas and other gadgets, and I have to be able to move them around.

But even if your backyard doesn’t look like a warehouse for wellness gadgets, you might appreciate the ability to quickly deflate the tub when you don’t need it (such as during the coldest months of winter) or when you move to a new home.

One feature that makes the Air more comfortable than other premium inflatables is the slanted backrest. Being able to lie back (rather than sitting upright) makes relaxing in the frigid water easier.

Lastly, you can use the Air with or without one of the company’s chillers. I highly recommend getting a chiller because it makes water maintenance much easier, and you won’t have to worry about pouring in 120 pounds of ice every time you want to plunge. 

You can expect to pay between $1,200 (for the tub only) and $5,000 if you choose the Pro chiller.

Shop Air

Plunge Pop-Up

Best for: Cold plunge beginners with limited space and budget.

If you want to get your feet wet with cold water immersion (pun intended) or have a limited budget, the compact and travel-friendly Plunge Pop-Up might be your best bet. 

While I haven’t used this particular model, I own two pop-up plunges from another brand (the Ice Pod Pro) and can vouch for their convenience. Setup takes only a few minutes, and (while they’re empty) you can easily move them around with two hands. 

While many people use pop-up plunges with an ice maker or ice blocks, you can hook up the Plunge Pop-Up to one of the company’s chillers for a hassle-free cold plunging experience.

Here’s the thing: if you decide to invest in the Pop-Up and later purchase one of the company’s chillers, Plunge credits you what you paid for the tub towards the new chiller. From there, you can upgrade to one of the premium tubs that are compatible with your new chiller without losing your initial investment.

I like the pop-up concept and think it’s an excellent way to get started with cold water immersion, especially if you’re unsure if you’ll stick with it. 

Shop Pop-Up

Party Plunge

Best for: Community events or families (who enjoy plunging together).

The Party Plunge is the company’s latest addition to its tub lineup. It looks like a small pool and can accommodate six to eight people. That makes it ideal for community events like the one I hosted in our backyard a while ago.

Even when just my brother and his family visited us last summer, we could have used something like the Party Plunge instead of doing back-to-back plunges in my Gen 1 Plunge.

However, for most people, the Party Plunge is likely overkill because it requires a lot of square footage and one to two chillers to keep the water cold and sanitary for extended periods. (I can’t imagine using the Party Plunge without a chiller, considering how many pounds of ice I’d have to throw in to cool the water down.)

Size limitations aside, the Party Plunge is made from the same inflatable rubber material as the Plunge Air. That means it’s UV-resistant, insulated and incredibly durable. 

If the Party Plunge intrigues you, expect to pay between $2,000 (for the tub only) and $8,600 for the model with two Evolve Pro Chillers.

Shop Party Plunge

Evolve Chiller vs. Evolve Pro Chiller

You can order some of the tubs mentioned in this review with either the Evolve or Evolve Pro chiller. Without repeating all the details you can find on the company’s product page, here is a quick summary of the most important differences between the two chillers.

The (standard) Evolve Chiller has a 0.5 HP motor that can chill the water down to 39 degrees (4C) in environments with ambient air temperatures up to 98 degrees. This chiller comes with a 20-micron sediment filter, but no ozone. Changing the sediment filter takes approximately five minutes.

In comparison, the Evolve Pro Chiller comes with a 1 HP motor that can chill the water down to 37 degrees (2.78C) and hold that temperature even when the ambient air temperature is as high as 120 degrees. Additionally, the Evolve Pro Chiller is 30% less noisy and includes both a sediment filter and ozone sanitation. 

If you have the budget, I recommend getting the Pro chiller because it’s quieter and includes ozone sanitation to keep the water clean for longer — even without the use of chemical water treatment options.

I own the Standard chiller and it’s much noisier than the previous-generation Plunge chiller. So much so that I turn it off when we have dinner in the backyard (the dining table is only a few feet away from the chiller).

On a side note, if you purchase the Plunge All-In, you get the Evolve Pro Chiller built into the tub for a cleaner look. Also, the Plunge, Air and Pop-Up are available with either the Evolve or Evolve Pro Chiller. In contrast, you can’t get the Party Plunge with the standard Evolve Chiller because it’s not powerful enough to move the amount of water inside the large tub.

It’s also worth pointing out that both chillers are WiFi-enabled so you can control them via the excellent Plunge mobile app (available in the App and Google Play store).

Final Thoughts on Plunge’s Ice Bath Lineup

Plunge offers a diverse lineup of ice baths that makes it easy for anyone to find the right tub. Whether you’re on a budget or are looking for a high-performance plunge for your biohacking studio, the company has you covered.

What I like best about Plunge is the ability to use one chiller for various tubs. That makes upgrading or swapping out tubs cost-effective without losing your investment in the chiller.

Now I’d like to hear from you! Are you considering a Plunge tub, or do you already own one? Let me know in the comments.

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.