Ad Best ice baths and cold plunges UK 2026: 9 compared, from £395
Inflatable tubs, timber barrels and stainless steel plunges with chillers from UK retailers, compared on price, capacity, cooling and power. Prices checked 10 November 2026.
Quick answer
The cheapest way into cold plunging is an inflatable tub you fill from the hose and cool with ice: £395–£545 for the PortaPlunge range in November 2026. If you want the water held cold without buying ice, the lowest-priced tub-and-chiller bundle we found was Polar Recovery's 2.0 Ice Bath with Mini Chiller at £799.99. Permanent timber or steel plunges with chillers cost about £3,600–£4,200. Chillers in this guide run from an ordinary RCD-protected socket rather than a special circuit.
Safety first
The RNLI defines water below 15°C as cold and warns that cold water shock raises heart rate and blood pressure and causes an involuntary gasp. If you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or are pregnant, talk to your GP before trying cold immersion. Never plunge alone, and cover or empty tubs when children are around.
We compared nine ice baths and one standalone chiller from Steam & Oak, Pro-Line Direct, Polar Recovery and Outdoor Living 365, from inflatable tubs to steel plunges. We haven’t tested them; specs are as the retailers publish them, and we don’t repeat the health claims that many listings make.
| Model | From | People | Heat | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PortaPlunge CUBE inflatable plunge Steam & Oak | £395 | 1 | No chiller: ambient water or ice | – |
| CenturaHeat inflatable ice bath XL Pro-Line Direct | £515.11 | 1–2 | – | – |
| PortaPlunge SOLO inflatable plunge Steam & Oak | £545 | 1 | No chiller: ambient water or ice | – |
| Polar Recovery 2.0 Ice Bath + Mini Chiller bundle Polar Recovery | £799.99 | 1 | Bundled Mini Chiller | – |
| Polar Recovery Ultra Mini Chiller Polar Recovery | £799.99 | – | Cools to 1°C and heats to 38°C (retailer figures) | IPX4 rated; retailer recommends siting it under cover |
| Steam & Oak Halla 120 barrel cold plunge Steam & Oak | £2,250 | 1–2 | Optional chiller holds a set temperature (e.g. 4°C) year-round | Chiller version: RCD-protected outdoor socket |
| Iceman's Barrel with Wim Hof Steam & Oak | £2,965 | 1 | – | – |
| Polar Cyclone wooden ice bath Polar Recovery | £3,295.99 | 1 | – | – |
| SaunaPlunge Peak Plunge with chiller (1–2 person) Outdoor Living 365 | £4,200 | 1–2 | Integrated chiller, 3–10°C range stated | Dedicated 13A socket; outdoors it must be weatherproof and RCD-protected |
Inflatable tubs without a chiller
Lowest price
PortaPlunge CUBE inflatable plunge
From £395 at Steam & Oak
£395. Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Capacity
- 1 people
- Heat
- No chiller: ambient water or ice
- Build
- Drop-stitched PVC
A one-person drop-stitched PVC tub at £395. You inflate it, fill it from a hose and add ice if you want it colder than the weather. No electrics or permanent fittings, so it suits renters and anyone testing the habit before spending more.
See current price at Steam & Oak Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Thicker walls, one or two people
CenturaHeat inflatable ice bath XL
From £515.11 at Pro-Line Direct
£515.11. Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Capacity
- 1–2 people
- Size
- 150 × 80 × 65cm
- Build
- 80mm drop-stitch PVC
Pro-Line Direct’s XL tub is 150 × 80 × 65cm with 80mm drop-stitch PVC walls, listed for one to two people, at £515.11. An XXL size is £541.32.
See current price at Pro-Line Direct Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Single-person tub
PortaPlunge SOLO inflatable plunge
From £545 at Steam & Oak
£545. Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Capacity
- 1 people
- Heat
- No chiller: ambient water or ice
- Build
- Drop-stitched PVC
A single-person drop-stitched PVC plunge at £545. Like the CUBE, it has no chiller: you cool it with ice or use it at whatever temperature the weather gives you.
See current price at Steam & Oak Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Tubs with a chiller
Cheapest tub and chiller bundle
Polar Recovery 2.0 Ice Bath + Mini Chiller bundle
From £799.99 at Polar Recovery
£799.99 with Mini Chiller (tub only £109.99, out of stock when checked). Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Capacity
- 1 people
- Heat
- Bundled Mini Chiller
- Size
- 85cm diameter × 75cm high; 390 litres on the spec list (the FAQ says 370 litres)
- Build
- Inflatable PVC with insulated lid
- Warranty
- 1 year on ice baths
Polar Recovery’s insulated inflatable tub with its Mini Chiller for £799.99. The tub has two valves for the chiller hoses and a rain-shedding lid. Polar says you’d normally change the water about every 10 days, or up to 30 with the chiller’s built-in filtration. The spec list says 390 litres; the FAQ on the same page says 370 litres.
See current price at Polar Recovery Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Add a chiller to a tub you own
Polar Recovery Ultra Mini Chiller
From £799.99 at Polar Recovery
£799.99. Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Heat
- Cools to 1°C and heats to 38°C (retailer figures)
- Power
- IPX4 rated; retailer recommends siting it under cover
A standalone chiller at £799.99, which Polar says cools to 1°C and can also heat to 38°C. It’s IPX4 rated, and the retailer recommends siting it under cover.
See current price at Polar Recovery Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Permanent tubs and barrels
Traditional banded barrel
Steam & Oak Halla 120 barrel cold plunge
From £2,250 at Steam & Oak
£2,250 self-fill; £3,950 with chiller and filter. Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Capacity
- 1–2 people
- Heat
- Optional chiller holds a set temperature (e.g. 4°C) year-round
- Power
- Chiller version: RCD-protected outdoor socket
- Size
- Ø1200mm; about 470 litres
- Build
- Banded timber barrel, stainless bands, PVC liner, timber ladder
- Warranty
- 2 years on tub and chiller
A round 1.2m timber barrel with stainless steel bands, a replaceable PVC liner and a timber ladder. It holds about 470 litres. It’s £2,250 to fill yourself or £3,950 with a chiller and filter, and Steam & Oak says a chiller can be retrofitted later. Lead times range from 2 to 12 weeks.
- Lead time 2–12 weeks; the retailer asks you to confirm before ordering.
See current price at Steam & Oak Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Upright, small footprint
Iceman's Barrel with Wim Hof
From £2,965 at Steam & Oak
£2,965. Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Capacity
- 1 people
- Size
- 150 × 85 × 94cm; 300 litres
- Build
- Upright barrel with seat and step
A one-person upright barrel with a seat and step, holding 300 litres, at £2,965. It’s developed by Passion Ice Baths with Wim Hof. The price is for the barrel; check the listing for chiller options.
See current price at Steam & Oak Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Thermowood tub
Polar Cyclone wooden ice bath
From £3,295.99 at Polar Recovery
£3,295.99 tub only; £3,595.95 with Ultra Mini Chiller. Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Capacity
- 1 people
- Build
- Thermowood, built-in LED light
A handmade thermowood tub with a built-in LED light, at £3,295.99 alone or £3,595.95 with Polar’s Ultra Mini Chiller.
See current price at Polar Recovery Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Integrated chiller, stainless interior
SaunaPlunge Peak Plunge with chiller (1–2 person)
From £4,200 at Outdoor Living 365
£4,200 with integrated chiller. Price checked 10 November 2026.
- Capacity
- 1–2 people
- Heat
- Integrated chiller, 3–10°C range stated
- Power
- Dedicated 13A socket; outdoors it must be weatherproof and RCD-protected
- Size
- 2000 × 860 × 880mm, 900 litres
- Build
- Stainless steel interior (1.5mm)
A two-metre, 900-litre plunge for one or two people with a 1.5mm stainless steel interior and a built-in chiller listed at 3–10°C, at £4,200. It’s plug-and-play on a dedicated 13A socket, which outdoors must be weatherproof and RCD-protected. Full, it weighs nearly a tonne, so the base matters.
- Includes filtration, per the listing.
See current price at Outdoor Living 365 Ad
Specs are as published by the retailer. We have not tested this product.
Things to check
- Base and weight. A litre of water weighs a kilogram. Steam & Oak notes its 470-litre barrel is “nearly half a tonne before anyone gets in”. Use paving, concrete or a rated deck.
- Draining. You’ll empty it periodically. Plan where several hundred litres of water will go.
- Power for a chiller. An RCD-protected outdoor socket, not an extension lead through a window. A new outdoor socket is electrical work for an electrician.
- Water care. Even with a chiller and filter you’ll need a sanitiser and periodic water changes. Read the maker’s instructions.
- Running costs. None of the chiller listings we read gave a power consumption figure. Ask the retailer for the chiller’s wattage before you buy if running cost matters to you.
Pairing a plunge with a sauna? See outdoor saunas and our all-in cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an ice bath cost in the UK?
At the retailers we checked in November 2026: inflatable tubs without a chiller £395–£545, an inflatable tub with a bundled chiller £799.99, timber barrels and wooden tubs about £2,250–£3,300 without a chiller, and plunges with a chiller included £3,595–£4,200.
Do I need a chiller for an ice bath?
No, but without one the water temperature follows the weather and you'll need ice to get it cold in summer. A chiller holds a set temperature and usually filters the water, which Polar Recovery says can stretch water changes from about every 10 days to as long as 30 days.
Does an ice bath chiller need special wiring?
The chillers in this guide are listed as running from a standard socket. Outdoors, the retailers specify a weatherproof, RCD-protected outdoor socket, not an extension lead. Outdoor Living 365 says the Peak Plunge needs a dedicated 13A socket.
How heavy is a full ice bath?
Water weighs about a kilogram per litre, so a 390-litre tub weighs about 390kg full before anyone gets in, and a 900-litre plunge nearly a tonne. Put it on a firm, level base such as paving, concrete or a deck rated for the load, not a lawn.
Is cold water immersion safe?
It carries real risks. The RNLI says water below 15°C can cause cold water shock, which raises heart rate and blood pressure and triggers a gasp reflex. Speak to your GP first if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or are pregnant, never plunge alone, and keep children away from filled tubs.
Sources
We read each of these on or before 10 November 2026. Retailer links in this list are plain links, not affiliate links.
- Steam & Oak: PortaPlunge CUBE
- Steam & Oak: PortaPlunge SOLO
- Steam & Oak: Halla 120 barrel cold plunge
- Steam & Oak: Halla 120 barrel ice bath with chiller
- Steam & Oak: Iceman's Barrel
- Pro-Line Direct: inflatable ice bath XL
- Polar Recovery: 2.0 Ice Bath
- Polar Recovery: Ultra Mini Chiller
- Polar Recovery: Cyclone wooden ice bath
- Outdoor Living 365: Peak Plunge with chiller
- RNLI: cold water shock