The coolest ice baths for cold water therapy at home
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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 'The Iceman', 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.
'While it might sound like a modern wellness trend, it's actually rooted in something very old,' says Danyl Bosomworth, the founder of luxury ice bath brand Brass Monkey. 'Ancient Greek and Roman bathhouses were using hot and cold immersion over 2,000 years ago.'
Cold water therapy is simply immersing the body in cold water — usually between 0C and 16C, Bosomworth says, in a bid to trigger our natural systems of repair, resilience and recovery. 'Exposing the body to temperatures less than 15C triggers a physiological stress response,' adds Laura Fullerton, the founder of the smart ice bath Monk. 'When done intentionally and safely, this acute stressor can help train the nervous system to respond more resiliently to everyday stress.' Research in 2023 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 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.
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 has shown that an hour of 'head out' 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 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 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.
Fullerton uses hers as a powerful way to cut through over-stimulation and stress quickly and to regulate her emotions. 'Scientifically, it's been proven to support mental health, including anxiety and depression, as well as help menopause symptoms,' says Fullerton.'While some studies have shown cold exposure can increase norepinephrine by over 500 per cent and dopamine by 250 per cent — which explains that euphoric 'post-plunge' feeling.'
Ready to take the plunge? Keep scrolling for the coolest ice baths to shop now.
Ice baths have turned high-tech with brands such as Monk creating new smart solutions. Its founder Laura Fullerton's 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's app also has an acclimatisation guide taking you from ten degrees slowly down to three. Devoted to data? You're invited to geek out on all the health metrics from heart rate and sleep through the app's 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 — what is muscle recovery for one person is a stress buster or energy booster for another — so there are plenty of programmes to suit with personalised audio soundscapes and breath work routines to match. £5,995, Monk at Healf
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. 'The first time was a bit like being electrocuted. A full-body jolt. Like nothing I'd ever experienced. But then, I taught my brain and body to relax,' he says. 'That's when it happened. A stillness … a calm energy radiated from deep inside. Feelings of frustration and anxiety left behind in the water.' Far safer than his initial DIY approach, Brass Monkey's luxury ice baths start at £14,250 for a compact version and are available in standard and extra large iterations (the latter costing nearly £16,000). 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 — including a particle filter to remove outside debris and a UV bulb that neutralises bacteria and viruses — ensures you're always bathing in crystal clear water. Similarly to Monk, Brass Monkey's handy companion app allows users to control and monitor their ice bath remotely — whether that's scheduling a customised ice bath session or monitoring and controlling the tub's temperature. From £14,250, Brass Monkey
While this substantial ice bath has been designed for professional athletes, sports teams, recovery centres and swanky gyms, if you've discovered the beneficial effect of cold therapy and want to invest properly, there's 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's 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's 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. £15,000, Optimal Health at Healf
Polar Recovery's founder Mike was born with lymphedema — a condition that causes tissue swelling in the legs which caused him to be in and out of hospital throughout his life. At 27, he was inspired by Wim Hof's plunges into cold water and the alleviation from everyday pains and swelling it could potentially provide. Rather than a chest freezer he filled up his recycling bin and took a dip. The business, Polar Recovery, was born in 2022 and has now sold over 50,000 ice baths worldwide. It's a great choice for those who wish to travel with their ice bath (once you're hooked you just might not be able to go a day without it), as it's 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's pro chiller which can control the tub's temperature — cooling it to 3C or heating it to 45C — and can be connected via wi-fi so you can control it from your phone. £2,999, Polar Recovery
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 — robust vessels originally designed to be used in agriculture — which can withstand the harshest weather conditions. For those who want control over their bath's temperature, Urban Ice Tribe offers chiller systems that give you the ability to cool or heat your bath between 2C and 40C. £608, Urban Ice Tribe at Decathlon
Similar to its bestselling, stylishly petite, one-person sauna, Lumi Pod's 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't want to splash out on a chiller yet, the brand recommends simply adding ice cubes into the mix. £349, Lumi at Decathlon
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't 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's 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. £4,800, Icetubs
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