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What’s the ice barrel and is it worth your money? Let’s review this popular cold plunge tub.

Sponsored: Today, the Ice Barrel is used by countless celebrities and high-profile athletes.

By Amine Rahal | IronMonk Solutions
  | Jan. 27, 2023, 5:27 p.m.
| Updated: Jan. 31, 2023, 6:34 p.m.

If you’re wondering whether you should buy the Ice Barrel for your cold plunges, you’re at the right place. We’ll dive deep into this device to help you make an informed decision. Let’s get started…

Disclosure: a reminder that our content is provided for informational purposes and doesn’t constitute medical or health advice. Please speak to your doctor or healthcare practiotionner before attempting cold plunges and before starting any new exercise program. We may receive compensation from companies we review.

What’s the Ice Barrel?

The Ice Barrel is, as its name implies, a barrel specifically designed for cold plunging. The product has been designed in 2011 by Wyatt Ewing, an amateur athlete who fell in love with cold exposure.

After months of taking cold showers and baths using his own bath, Wyatt wanted to design a device that would be convenient, durable, portable and easy to use. The Ice Barrel was born…

Today, the Ice Barrel is used by countless celebrities and high-profile athletes, such as Georges St-Pierre.

The Specs

(Iron Monk Solutions) | Specs on ice baths and tubs.

Ice Barrel vs Other Ice Bath Tubs

If you’re wondering how the Ice Barrel compares to other cold plunge tubs on the market, here’s a comparison table to help you decide if this is the right product for you:

(Iron Monk Solutions) | Ice bath brand comparison.

As you can see, the Ice Barrel is the best choice for those looking for a lightweight, portable and affordable cold plunging product. However, those that want a fancier model with all sorts of extra features should probably look into one of the other popular ice bath tubs.

Visit this article for a more in-depth comparison of all cold plunge tubs in the market today.

Benefits of Using the Ice Barrel

Using the Ice Barrel daily for 1 to 5 minutes can provide you with a number of health benefits. However, please speak to your doctor or healthcare professional before starting any new exercise program, especially if you have a pre-existing condition or if you are taking any medication. The American Heart Association did warn cold plunge users about certain risks in a recent blog post.

When done right and under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner, you can expect a myriad of health benefits, including:

  • Improved blood circulation: Cold water immersion constricts blood vessels, which can help to improve blood flow and oxygenation to the body’s tissues.
  • Decreased muscle soreness and inflammation: Cold water immersion can help to reduce inflammation and muscle soreness, making it a popular recovery method for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
  • An increase in energy and stamina. Many cold plunge enthusiasts have reporterd an increased amount of energy and stamina in their daly activities, after a morning cold plunge session.
  • Improved immune function: Cold water immersion can increase the activity of white blood cells, which help to fight off infection and disease.
  • Improved mood: Cold water immersion can increase the release of endorphins, which are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators.
  • Better Sleep: according to Dr Huberman, cold plunging can promote better sleep, especially if done earlier in the morning rather than the evening.
  • Increase the density of brown fat: regular exposure to cold water can help to increase the density of brown fat in the body, which can help to increase metabolism and promote weight loss.

    • Cold Plunging Growing in Popularity?

    When and how did cold exposure become so popular?

    Well, most people would agree that it all started with Wim Hoff, the Austrian athlete and and international speaker, nicknamed the “Iceman”. Wim gained notoriety in the early 2000s for his ability to withstand extreme cold temperatures through a combination of breathing techniques and cold exposure training. Wim gained further fame in the 2010s through performing various stunts. Over the last few years, he has made more and more public appearances, and published his book called “The Wim Hof Method” in which he explains his techniques and talks about the benefits of cold exposure.

    In 2014, the Ice Bucket Challenge was another major event that popularized cold exposure. This was a fun social media challenge meant to raise awareness for ALS, and many big name celebrities like Bill Gates, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber took part of it.

    Gradually, people started to pay more attention to cold exposure and its benefits. Cryotherapy also started growing in popularity amongst many athletes.

    Today, you’d struggle to find a celebrity or athlete that hasn’t tried cold plunging or any kind of cold exposure. Notable people like Joe Rogan, Ryan Reynolds, Chris Hemsworth, Georges St-Pierre and Jason Momoa are only some of the celebrities that are known to regularly share their cold plunge sessions on social media.

    It’s safe to say that the practice has gone mainstream…

    Do I Recommend the Ice Barrel?

    I would say that the Ice Barrel is a great cold plunge device for those interested in “upgrading” from cold showers and interested in experiencing the full benefits of cold plunging. That said, please speak to your healthcare practitioner or doctor to ask if cold plunging is right for you, as there may be some risks for those suffering from certain conditions or those taking certain medications.

    The Ice Barrel is Great for:

  • Athletes (from Amateur to Pro) interested in Recovery
  • Every individual interested in boosting immune health, lowering inflammation and other benefits we covered earlier.
  • Those who are looking for a portable and lightweight ice bath tub.
  • Those who don’t mind filling their barrel with ice (this isn’t something you need to worry about with other fancier tubs)

    • The Ice Barrel isn’t Great for:

  • Those that want the ability to lay down while cold plunging
  • Those who don’t want to worry about having to add ice separately
  • Those interested in a cold plunge tub with dual usage (e.g. hot tob use)
  • Those with pre-existing conditions (speak to your doctor before buying the Ice Barrel or any other cold plunging device)

    • Celebrities and Athletes Using the Ice Barrel

    Many popular athletes and celebrities are actively cold plunging using the Ice Barrel as part of their daily routine. These include:

    (Iron Monk Solutions) | Celebrities and Athletes Using the Ice Barrel.

    Learn More About the Ice Barrel:

    If you want to learn more about this product and see the latest promotion, I recommend you visit their website, as they are known to constantly update their prices and discounts:

    Visit: www.IceBarrel.com

    Promo Code ($125 OFF): IRONMONK

    (Iron Monk Solutions) | Amine Rahal, entrepreneur, fitness enthusiast, and author.

    Author: Amine Rahal Amine is an entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast that is passionate about health, biohacking, calisthenics and muscular recovery. He regularly writes about fitness-related topics and product reviews for multiple publications, including Gymless.org. You can contact him on LinkedIn.

    By Amine Rahal | IronMonk Solutions