Portable and Packable: We Tested the Best Inflatable Cold Plunge Tubs of 2024

If you’re looking to reap one of many potential ice bath benefits, but don’t want to spend top dollar for the best cold plunge tub, you’re in the right place. We’ve hand-selected the best inflatable cold plunge tubs and have personally tested each of them. You won’t see any stainless steel or acrylic tubs on this list, because we’ve narrowed it down to just inflatable options—all of which can be drained and packed up. 

The best part of an inflatable cold plunge is that you’ll still get all the same cold exposure benefits, but in a lightweight and portable package. If you’re ready to take the plunge, read on. 

Best Inflatable Cold Plunge

• Best Inflatable Cold Plunge Overall: Sun Home Cold Plunge
• Best Inflatable Cold Plunge for Outdoors: Plunge Air
• Best Lightweight Inflatable Cold Plunge: Hydragun Supertub
• Best Inflatable Cold Plunge for Small Spaces: Inergize Cold and Hot Plunge Tub
• Best Portable Inflatable Cold Plunge: Tru Grit Cold Tub

Best Inflatable Cold Plunge Overall: Sun Home Cold Plunge

Good for: Folks who want the best cold water therapy inflatable option on the market  

Best Overall

Sun Home Cold Plunge

GGR Score: 4.24

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Product Highlights

• Inflatable tub
• Can be used as a cold or hot tub
• Easy setup process
• Durable construction

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Goes from 37.5 to 104 degrees
• Inflatable tub is lightweight and portable
• Feels durable
• Controllable with an app

Cons

• Expensive
• Only fits one person
• External chiller is heavy
• Requires power outlet

Bottom Line

The Sun Home Cold Plunge was described by our expert product testers as "the most durable inflatable tub" they've seen. It can be used with hot or cold water and sets up easily.

The inflatable cold plunge tub from Sun Home Saunas is our top pick for the best inflatable cold tub. It’s lightweight, durable, and it’s made from a high-quality, military-grade drop-stitch material. That means the tub will hold its shape and you can lean back into the side walls while you’re submersed in cold water. 

For this reason, the Sun Home Cold Plunge earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for both construction and durability. “It doesn’t budge when you’re getting in and out of the tub either,” says Lindsay Scheele, CPT, CNC, and GGR expert tester. 

Lindsay also appreciates the roomy 76-inch-long tub and gave the Sun Home Cold Plunge a 5-star rating for ergonomics because she had plenty of room to stretch out. “The website says people up to 6 feet and 8 inches tall can fit in this tub, which I totally believe. This would be a great option for heavier people, too. And you may even be able to get two smaller people in there together,” says Lindsay.   

You’ll have all the high-end amenities like WiFi connectivity for wireless temperature control, advanced filtration and circulation, and an energy efficient chiller. Plus, the Sun Home Cold Plunge can cool and heat water, which means this doubles as a mini hot tub. Your cold plunge experience just got a lot better. 

For more details on Linday’s experience, check out our Sun Home Cold Plunge review. We’ve also tested the Sun Home Cold Plunge Pro, which offers an ultra-luxe, spa-like experience for about double the price. 

Best Inflatable Cold Plunge for Outdoors: Plunge Air

Good for: Anyone interested in The Plunge brand, but wants a portable cold plunge option 

Best for Outdoors

Plunge Air

GGR Score: 4.2

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Product Highlights

• Lightweight, portable cold plunge
• Indoor and outdoor use
• Horizontal, inflatable design
• Purchase includes inflatable all-weather cover, matching ground cover, repair kit, manual air pump and custom backpack
• Compatible with Evolve Pro Chiller
• 1-year warranty

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Portable
• Lightweight
• Compatible with chiller
• Great for small spaces

Cons

• 1-year warranty
• May be small for larger individuals

Bottom Line

The Plunge Air is part of Plunge's new Evolve series and it aims to make cold plunging more accessible. This plunge is inflatable and portable, and compatible with a chiller.

You may be familiar with Plunge because it was one of the first companies to splash onto the cold plunge scene. Our Plunge review, featuring the OG acrylic tub, was one of the first cold plunges we tested and reviewed. The Plunge Air is ideal for outdoor use with its heavy-duty nylon and PVC fabric liner, insulated cover, and easy inflation process. 

The Plunge Air is a full-size tub that can hold 105 gallons of water and can get down to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. But here’s the part we really appreciate about this cold tub: there are three buying options, all with different price points. 

You can purchase Plunge Air without a chiller (which means you’ll use your own ice), with a chiller that only controls cold water, or a chiller that can create both hot and cold water temperatures. We tested the non-chiller option. 

You’ll also get all the standard sanitation system equipment you get with The Plunge, which includes a 20 Micron Filter and ozone sanitation. 

GGR Head of Content Nicole Davis says the Plunge Air is super durable. She was able to lean on the sides getting in and out, but did notice some slight warping on the edge in the middle of the tub. For this reason, she gives a 4 out of 5 stars to both the durability and the construction of the Plunge Air. 

However, Nicole and our other experts note that even with slight warping, this tub doesn’t require periodical re-inflating like some of the other cold plunges we’ve tested. Our team also noticed during the initial assembly that the hoses, chiller, and other components were higher quality and more durable than other tubs.

Best Lightweight Inflatable Cold Plunge: Hydragun Supertub

Good for: Folks who want a high-quality inflatable tub that’s light and easy to pack 

Best Lightweight

Hydragun Supertub Cold Plunge

GGR Score: 4.19

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Product Highlights

• 60-gallon cold plunge tub
• Choice of 0.6- or 0.8-horsepower chiller
• 52” L x 28” W x 24” H
• Temperature range of 37-108 degrees Fahrenheit

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Portable
• Less expensive than other cold plunge tubs
• Choice of chiller
• Can be used as cold or hot tub
• Durable military-grade vinyl

Cons

• Chiller is noisy
• $400 flat-rate shipping
• Might be too small for taller or larger people

Bottom Line

The Hydragun Supertub Cold Plunge comes in two different size chillers—0.6 or 0.8 horsepower. If you’re in a more moderate climate, you won’t need the larger chiller. This inflatable cold tub is constructed of military-grade vinyl material and holds its shape well.

The Hydragun Supertub is one of our favorite cold plunges because it’s lightweight, easy to use, and has a chiller that can both heat and cool. At 21 pounds, this is one of the lightest inflatable cold plunge pools we’ve tested. It comes with a carrying case and can easily be drained, deflated, and rolled into its bag for on-the-go muscle recovery. 

The chiller weight will have some heft to it at either 68 pounds (for the 0.6 horsepower motor) or 82 pounds for the (0.8 horsepower motor). However, with either choice your chiller will come equipped with transport wheels. 

The brand offers two motor sizes to accommodate different uses and climates. If you use the Supertub indoors (or outdoors in a moderate climate) the smaller 0.6-horsepower chiller is all you need. However, the bigger motor may work better for more extreme climates or full-time outdoor use. 

GGR expert tester Lindsay Scheele suggests the Hydragun Supertub for outdoor use based on her experience with the noise of the chiller. “While this may be a minor detail, the chiller runs louder than most other tubs I’ve tested. If you’re sensitive to sound, it could be annoying to hear running inside your garage,” says Lindsay. 

Noise aside, Lindsay thinks the Hydragun Supertub is durable and appreciates that she could put her weight on the edge without it bowing or moving. She gave the tub a 4.5-star rating for durability. It’s made from military-grade marine vinyl and has a 60-gallon water capacity. 

Lindsay shared more thoughts in our Hydragun Supertub Cold Plunge review. 

Best Inflatable Cold Plunge for Small Spaces: Inergize Cold and Hot Plunge Tub

Good for: Folks who need a smaller cold plunge footprint with an inflatable design 

Best for Small Spaces

Inergize Cold And Hot Plunge Tub

GGR Score: 4.3

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Product Highlights

• Inflatable cold plunge tub
• Filtration system and chiller
• App for temperature control
• Set temperature from 37 to 105 degrees

Pros & Cons

Pros

• App control for temperature
• Portable and packable
• Replace water every 3-6 months

Cons

• Expensive
• Tub inflates with hand pump
• Over a 4-week lead time for shipment

Bottom Line

The Inergize Cold and Hot Plunge Tub allows you to regulate the water temperature with the touch of your phone. You can prepare the water for hot or cold therapy modalities depending on your needs. The inflatable tank is portable and comes with a duffle bag for packing up and bringing with you. The tank has a 60- to 70-gallon water capacity and you can choose your temperature between 37 to 105 degrees.

If you have a small backyard or garage, we think you’ll appreciate the Inergize Cold and Hot Plunge tub for small spaces. It’s certainly not as compact as a vertical plunge (like one we tested for The Ice Barrel 400 review) but it’s only 51 inches long and 28 inches wide. It’s also fairly tall at 30 inches, which means more of your body will be underwater. 

CPT, CNC, and product expert Lindsay Scheele says her 5-foot, 4-inch frame was comfortable with her legs bent, but recognizes it may not be the best option for tall or heavy individuals. For ergonomics, she scored the Inergize tub 3.5 out of 5 stars.

One of Lindsay’s favorite features was the temperature control. “You can control the temperature on the chiller itself or connect to your WiFi network so you can control it remotely on the app,” says Lindsay. 

This tub can chill water down to 37 degrees and heat it up to 105 degrees. This range offers a ton of versatility to your recovery routine. When going from cold to hot (or vice versa) you’ll need some patience as Lindsay noticed the temperature, on average, takes about an hour to change 8 to 10 degrees. 

We have more details about our experience (plus notes on cleaning, draining, and maintenance) in our Inergize Cold Plunge Tub review. 

Best Portable Inflatable Cold Plunge: Tru Grit Cold Tub

Good for: Folks seeking the most portability in a cold plunge tub 

Best Portable

Tru Grit Inflatable Ice Bath

GGR Score: 4.0

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Product Highlights

• Inflatable ice bath tub with designated fill and drain ports
• Industrial-grade stitched chassis with PVC shell
• 60” L x 30” W x 24” H exterior dimensions
• Interior size of 52.5” L x 24.5” W x 23.5” H
• Dry weight of 38 lbs

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Lightweight and portable
• Affordable
• Holds its shape well
• Optional chiller

Cons

• No extra features or conveniences
• Can’t drain tub entirely with drain port

Bottom Line

For those looking for a lightweight, portable cold plunge tub that can be traveled with, the Tru Grit Inflatable Ice Bath is an excellent option. Weighing only 38 pounds, this tub can be deflated and rolled up into a simple backpack, allowing for easy travel. Although there aren’t too many extra features behind the tub, it’s affordable and portable, making it a great option for anyone on the move.

If you’re looking for a portable ice bath, look no further. The Tru Grit Cold Tub is designed for maximum ease-of-use for transporting from one place to another. The kit comes with a carry bag, tub cover, air pump, and repair kit (for potential punctures). 

It also comes with a Tru Grit Rubber Floor Mat (similar to some of the best home gym flooring) to help protect your floor and the integrity of the cold tub base.  

It’s also priced under $1,000 for the tub without a chiller, which means you’ll need your own ice.  With a chiller, it’s priced at $3,900. Without the chiller, it’s a much more portable tub, but keep in mind you won’t have temperature control or filtration. Foregoing filtration means you’ll need to drain and clean the tub every month. 

Frequent draining and cleaning may sound like a hassle, but we appreciate there are designated fill and drain ports. The drain port just has one little problem: It sits a few inches from the bottom of the tub. This is actually pretty typical of cold plunges, which leaves plungers having to tip over their tubs or use a wet vacuum to drain the remaining water. For cleaning and draining, this earns a 3.5-star rating. 

GGR Performance Editor, CPT, and CNC Anthony O’Reilly says he was comfortable in the 60-inch long tub and scored the ergonomics category 4 out of 5 stars. Anthony is 6 feet and 2 inches tall and about 220 pounds. He also thought the tub was durable and held its shape well, even when he pressed his body weight into the sides and put pressure on the edge from the top. We have more details on Anthony’s experience in our Tru Grit Cold Tub review. 

Other inflatable Cold Plunges We Researched

The Cold Pod: We’ve used this cold plunge tub and think it’s a worthy contender for anyone looking for an ultra-budget option sans chillers and filters. However, it’s not inflatable. This is designed more like a pop-up tent. 

Redwood Outdoors Yukon Tub: This inflatable cold plunge tub did not make it on this roundup for two reasons. First, it’s soon to be discontinued. Second, this tub doesn’t hold its shape unless you drain the water out every 48 hours. That means the tub literally buckles in the middle if you don’t fully drain it after a day or two. 

How We Picked and Tested the Best Cold Plunge Tub

You can rest assured that our experts at GGR make tons of considerations while assessing, scoring, and ultimately recommending any piece of home gym equipment or recovery product. Each product tester is tasked with using our in-depth testing methodology to score a variety of categories on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Here are some factors we used to score cold plunge tubs: 

• Footprint and volume: High scores were given to cold plunges which had the balance of compact footprints and high water capacity. 
• Delivery and setup: A brand earned higher scores if delivery was fast and reliable in addition to the inflatable set-up process being quick and easy. 
• Durability and construction: Low scores in this category meant that an inflatable cold plunge tub didn’t hold its shape, couldn’t support weight on the edges, or was constructed from flimsy materials. 
• Ergonomics: Our testers looked for spacious cold plunge tubs with enough room to sit comfortably without being constricted.  
• Additional conveniences: Low scores were reserved for inflatable tubs without additional conveniences like chillers, filtration, or temperature regulation apps. 
• Price and value: Testers used market value and all the additional features that come with most cold plunges (like chillers, pumps, and filtrations systems) to score the overall price and value of each cold plunge tub. 

Benefits of Cold Plunging

If you’re considering adding a cold plunge tub to your recovery routine, you may already be familiar with some cold plunge benefits. Plus, an inflatable cold plunge is portable. Going to the beach for the weekend? You can pack it up and bring it with you. 

Inflatable Tubs Are Budget-Friendly

An inflatable cold plunge tub is typically less expensive than traditional ceramic tubs or hard plastic baths. It also weighs less, which means you’ll spend less in shipping fees and it won’t require professional assembly. 

Immune System Support

Persistent cold water exposure paired with therapeutic breathing techniques (like the Wim Hof method) may help to activate the sympathetic nervous system to help your body naturally fight infections and inflammation. A 2014 study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America¹ notes that these findings may suggest future treatment for folks with chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases.

Mental Health Benefits 

Many internet influencers and celebrities boast about mental toughness and mental clarity after a cold plunge session. While it may sound a bit hokey, there is something to be said for it. Because cold water exposure can activate the sympathetic nervous system, one study found that regular cold plunges improve perception of mental health². Participants used a cold plunge once a week for four weeks and reported reduced feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. 

Potential to Reduce Inflammation 

In a randomized control trial published by the European Journal of Applied Psychology³,  researchers found that a group of well-trained cyclists perceived less leg soreness after cold water immersion therapy. 

We also spoke to Dr. Michael Masi, doctor of physical therapy and strength coach, about cold plunges as related to muscle soreness and recovery. Dr. Masi says, “Inflammation is a natural response to activity that aids muscle growth. This natural process could be stunted with cold therapy.

“In reality, cold water immersion is more effective for athletes trying to recover quickly. For example, a pitcher trying to recover between games during a baseball double-header may have better results than the average person trying to build muscle with weight training a few times per week,” says Dr. Masi. 

Buying Guide for the Best Inflatable Cold Plunge Tubs

After extensive research and hands-on experience with cold plunge tubs of all shapes and sizes, here are the main things we think you should consider before clicking add to cart: 

Size and Capacity 

Like any large piece of home gym equipment, measure your space before you buy. We even recommend using painters tape to block out the footprint and see how it will fit into your space. 

Along those lines, you’ll also want to consider your height and the height and weight of the folks who plan to use your cold plunge tub. Some brands offer extra-long tubs for tall folks. 

Filling, Draining, and Maintenance

OK folks, this may sound like a no-brainer but here it goes: Will your preferred location for your cold tub be easy to fill with water and drain? Sure, an inflatable cold plunge is portable, but not when it’s filled with water. 

Let’s say you’re going to put it in the garage—filling may be easy with a garden hose, but what does draining look like? Will it be draining onto the concrete floors or near electrical outlets? 

Plus, if your cold plunge tub does not come with a water chiller and filtration system, you may need to drain your inflatable tub frequently. 

Customer Reviews

We think customer reviews are important to read (especially on third-party retailer sites like Amazon and Best Buy). While customer reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, common uses and themes that concern you may raise some flags during your comparison shopping. 

Best Inflatable Cold Plunge: FAQs

References

1. Kox, M., van Eijk, L. T., Zwaag, J., van den Wildenberg, J., Sweep, F. C., van der Hoeven, J. G., & Pickkers, P. (2014). Voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system and attenuation of the innate immune response in humans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 111(20), 7379–7384. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1322174111
2. Srámek, P., Simecková, M., Janský, L., Savlíková, J., & Vybíral, S. (2000). Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures. European journal of applied physiology, 81(5), 436–442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004210050065 
3. Stanley, J., Buchheit, M., & Peake, J. M. (2012). The effect of post-exercise hydrotherapy on subsequent exercise performance and heart rate variability. European journal of applied physiology, 112(3), 951–961. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2052-7
4. Williamson, L. (2023, May 9). You’re not a polar bear: The plunge into cold water comes with risks. www.heart.org.

Lauren Strong, CPT

Lauren is an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer working with clients of all ages and skill levels. She specializes in coaching the squat, bench, and deadlift and enjoys introducing beginners to barbell training. Before becoming certified, she worked in marketing roles after graduating from the University of Maine with a BA in Journalism. Writing for Garage Gym Reviews blends her two passions: writing and lifting. Lauren spends her leisure time in the kitchen, reading fiction, and taking nature walks. She's also an avid downhill skier, learning how to ski when she was just two years old. She lives in Maine with her husband and two cats.

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