Most serious athletes have spent some time in cold-water immersion therapy, whether taking an ice bath after football practice or hopping in a nearly frozen stream after a long trail run.

Cold plunge tubs are an excellent way to get the same effect without loading up on bags of ice to fill your bathtub after every workout, as I did while training for my first ultra run. And very near the top of the list is the Ice Barrel 500 ($1,600) and Ice Barrel Chiller ($3,000) combo. I, along with another athlete, have been testing out the combo with three to five ice baths a week for the last 10 months.

We evaluated the barrel and chiller for its ease of use, insulation, cleanliness, and ability to keep water just above freezing during 100-degree California summers. 

In short: The Ice Barrel 500 and Ice Barrel Chiller combo is about as convenient as it gets. There’s no need to load up on ice. The quiet, easy-to-use chiller’s temperature can be set remotely, and the filtration system is top-notch. If you’re looking for an upright-style cold plunge, you may not find a better one than this setup from Ice Barrel.

What We Tested

We tested the Ice Barrel 500 plunge barrel and paired it with the Ice Barrel Chiller. For clarity, the two products work together. The plunge barrel is, basically, a tub. It holds the water you plunge in. The chiller is an external refrigeration device that circulates, cools, and maintains the water’s temperature.

The chiller weighs 65 pounds and has handles to make it easier to move into position. Thanks to its sleek black design and bright 7-inch color display, it’s the best-looking external chiller we’ve tested. It has everything you need to set it up with a plunge tub, and its temperature can get as low as 37 degrees. 

The 94-gallon barrel has extremely durable recycled polyethylene and thick polyurethane insulation. It comes with a lid of the same material, insulation, and input and output ports for connecting to a chiller.

There are two steps leading up to the plunge and a seat inside the barrel, all of which are molded onto the barrel itself, which we appreciated — a product with fewer separate parts tends to be more durable.  

And really, this plunge just screams “durability.” Made from one solid mold, the Ice Barrel 500 could drop off a cliff without getting more than a few scratches (we did not try this). Buying a plunge tub and chiller is a big financial commitment, and the quality and look of the barrel and chiller reflect the investment well.  

The setup couldn’t be more straightforward. The hardest part was moving the 100-pound barrel into place (the 60-pound chiller is no lightweight, either). After that, it was just a matter of connecting the chiller hoses to the barrel and plugging the chiller in. 

You can control the temperature with the knob on top of the chiller. Ice Barrel also has an excellent app that controls the temperature remotely (more on that later).

Ice Barrel 500 and Ice Barrel Chiller Review

Water Chilling

As long as we’ve been testing it, the Ice Barrel Chiller had no issues getting the water down to 39 degrees, even when the temperatures topped 100 degrees, despite the barrel being directly in the sun. It generally takes a few hours to get down to that temperature, but once it’s there, it stays there. 

The insulation does fairly well — the temperature went up about 10-15 degrees without the chiller, but again, the black tub sat in direct sunlight in 100-plus-degree weather all afternoon.

Tub Ergonomics

The barrel is 58 inches long, 31 inches wide, and 42 inches tall. Our tallest tester for this plunge was 6 feet tall and 215 pounds, and it easily accommodated him. While many plunges are tub-shaped, the barrel shape with this one is great for submerging. The upright position means you can simply drop down to the bottom to fully submerge, whereas, with tubs, you need to lay back and plug your nose. 

The molded seat inside is great for settling in and relaxing, and the two steps make it easier to get in and out of the barrel. No additional stool or stepladder is needed. It could use a railing to get in and out of: One tester almost fell once when he tried to get out of the tub with frigid legs. It’s a minor complaint but one worth noting. 

A weatherproof cover and insulated lid proved effective at keeping the tub cold in the summer heat. There aren’t any straps or locks to keep the lid down, which is worth noting for households with small children. 

If you’re looking for something with a lower price point, the company also offers the Ice Barrel 400 ($1,200), which is more traditionally barrel-shaped and comes with a lid and detached step stool. There’s also the Ice Barrel 300 ($1,300), a smaller tub that’s more insulated than the 400 and comes with ports for use with a chiller. 

The Ice Barrel Chiller Review

While we’re fans of the barrel, the Ice Barrel Chiller just might be the real star of the show. Of the four other chillers we tested, this one is by far the quietest. We also tried it on other plunge tubs, and it worked like a charm. It’s simple to use, chills water quickly, and it just plain looks great. Plus, the setup couldn’t be easier.

Some tubs from other brands may require adapters that cost a few bucks at any hardware store. Other than that, it’s pretty much plug-and-play. 

Water Filtration, Purification

The Ice Barrel 500 and Ice Barrel Chiller combo uses 50-micron filters that are easy to find either on Ice Barrel’s website, on Amazon, or at any pool supply store. Throughout our months of testing, the chiller kept the water and barrel clean and clear, with almost no maintenance required. 

Some of the plunge and chiller combos we’ve tested required weekly maintenance; this setup from Ice Barrel seemed self-sufficient. We changed the water and filter once (this is not recommended) to test how easy it was, and it was a snap.

A hose outlet allows the water to drain away from the tub, and swapping the filter only takes a few minutes. So far, the water and tub have been pristine, even though we’ve been negligent in our cleaning duties.

The Ice Barrel App

While it may seem minor, an app-connected chiller can greatly enhance the cold plunge experience. We’ve tested several smartphone chiller apps, and Ice Barrel’s is our favorite. 

It has the standard remote temperature control, plunge timer, and scheduling you’ll find in most apps, but its additional perks make it stand out. 

First, guided coaching offers music and motivational recordings to help you relax and power through those frigid minutes in the barrel. This feature was a godsend when we had a hard time getting through the full 3-plus minutes. 

A cool community feature also allows you to post your plunge time and temperature to the Ice Barrel user community. Again, this added accountability was a great motivator when we weren’t feeling like plunging. 

Ice Barrel 500 Cold Plunge and Chiller Review: Final Thoughts

Is five grand a lot of money? In general, yeah, but this is extremely reasonable for a plunge and chiller combo. And while you can cold plunge in a bathtub filled with ice, the convenience of having ice-cold water ready to go at all times makes it much easier to be consistent. 

The Ice Barrel 500 and Ice Barrel Chiller have a surprisingly small footprint, making them easy to install in a side yard or garage. The chiller keeps the water clean, pleasant, and safe to soak in. The integrated seat makes it feel surprisingly relaxing. 

We tested this setup in the blazing heat of a California summer. It kept the water consistently cold and clear, which kept us consistently plunging. And really, it’s that comfort and convenience that makes the Ice Barrel 500 and Ice Barrel Chiller feel like bargains. 

If you’re an athlete looking for a convenient, clean, and comfortable way to plunge consistently, the Ice Barrel 500 and Ice Barrel Chiller are an excellent choice and the best barrel-style plunge we’ve ever used.