Today we review the Ice Barrel, which is a cold therapy training tool that offers an easy and convenient way to add ice baths into your regular routine.
Ice baths and cold water therapy have been recommended by top athletes for years. They provide numerous health and recovery benefits such as reducing inflammation, stimulating the nervous system, improving hormone production, and many more.
But the problem I face when I want to take an ice bath is finding a place to do it. I personally love taking cold plunges first thing in the morning, but having to drive all the way to the beach to jump into the freezing ocean can be a hassle sometimes. Plus, not everyone can realistically do that.
You could always fill your bathtub with ice, but you can’t really submerge more than just your legs, so it’s hard to get the full benefit of cold therapy. Plus, it can be both costly and time consuming to buy enough ice to reach the right temperature every single day. Thankfully, the Ice Barrel helps solves both of these issues.
The Ice Barrel is almost 4 feet high and holds 105 gallons of water to allow you to fully submerge yourself. It weighs 55 lbs when empty and up to 750 lbs when filled. So make sure to place it where you want before you fill it up, otherwise good luck moving this thing. Also keep in mind that when you fill it, leave some room at the top. Otherwise when you submerge yourself, the water will rise and you’ll overflow the barrel.
The full Ice Barrel package includes:
- A lid to keep the water cold and the bugs out
- A barrel stand so it doesn’t have to sit directly on the ground
- A step stool to make getting in and out a lot easier
- A UV cover to protect the barrel from sun damage in case you need to store it outside
Plus, there is already a drainage spout built into the side of the barrel so when you’re done using it, you can easily and quickly drain the water out.
Another feature that I love is since the Ice Barrel is so well insulated, the water stays cold for up to two to three days so you don’t need to refill it every time you want to use it. This can definitely save you a good amount of money on ice, especially if you’re doing ice baths every day of the week. You’ll only need to buy ice two to three times per week instead of every day. It is recommended to use about 80-100 lbs of ice to reach the desired temperature, but that may vary depending on where you live.
I decided to give the Ice Barrel a try and I have to say, I really liked it! Using the Ice Barrel was my first official ice bath so I didn’t know what to expect. I loved the convenience of being able to take a quick dip after a workout without having to drive to the beach or buy ice every time to fill my bathtub.
Once the Ice Barrel was all filled up, it was time for me to jump in, relax, and focus on my breathing. Which is easier said than done in that freezing water. It’s recommended that you soak for 5-10 minutes but only submerge yourself up to your shoulders for 2-5 minutes. I know it doesn’t seem like a long time, but if you spend 15 minutes or more in a cold bath, you face the risk of getting hypothermia.
After I soaked for about 10 minutes, it was time to get out. While having the step stool on the outside to use when getting into the barrel was a big help, it would have made getting out a lot easier if there was one on the inside as well. Luckily I’m tall so I was able to lift myself up and bring my legs over. But for shorter people, I could see getting out of the barrel being a bit of a challenge. I might recommend looking into a second step stool to place on the inside if you’re at all concerned about the height.
After I got out, I felt so refreshed and energized that I honestly couldn’t wait to take another ice bath again. Overall, I think the Ice Barrel is great, and I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to benefit from frequent cold therapy and start incorporating ice baths into their routine.
It currently costs just over $1,000. However, the convenience of not having to buy ice every day can end up saving you that much and more. Also, having the ability to submerge your whole body is a really huge bonus so you can get all the benefits of cold therapy.
If you would like to purchase an Ice Barrel, make sure to use the code “CONNECTTHEWATTS” to receive $75 off your entire order. Buy Ice Barrel here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
