Unlock Next-Level Recovery: The 6 Cold Plunges That Elite Athletes Swear By in 2025—Are You Ready to Join Them?

Ever wonder why some ice baths look like they’re straight out of a Viking saga, while others seem like inflatable kiddie pools dressed up in frosty gear? Yeah, me too. That’s why when I first laid eyes on the Ice Barrel 400, it was like a breath of fresh, chilly air—a barrel you literally step down into. But here’s the kicker: as badass as it is, getting into it felt like a mini workout itself. Enter the Ice Barrel 300—same solid build, less “climb-on-the-barrel” hassle, and a clever little seat that whispers sweet comfort in the chill. Now, I’ll be frank: these barrels ain’t cheap. Dropping around a grand might make you hesitate, especially when you could snag an inflatable for a fraction of that. But durability, design, and that backyard-ready vibe? It’s a game changer if you’re serious about cold plunging. Stick around—I’m diving deep into why the Ice Barrel 300 just might be the cold plunge companion you didn’t know you needed. LEARN MORE

Ice Barrel has been at the forefront of making cost-friendly ice baths that are also sturdy and portable. The original Ice Barrel 400 we reviewed awhile back was quite impressive, as it featured a fun design that literally looked like a barrel that you step down into. The Ice Barrel 400 has cosigns from all types of athletes out there—UFC star Michael Chandler noted how useful his Ice Barrel 400 is for him in his 2023 interview with us.

The one knock on the Ice Barrel 400? Well, the design was hard to get into (you needed an actual step to get up into it). The company heard those qualms, and then, released a brand new Ice Barrel 300 model. So far, this new design has solidified the Ice Barrel 300 as one our of favorite cold plunge baths.

For starters, the Ice Barrel 3oo is made with the same strong recycled plastic and insulated with polyurethane foam that’s used in the 400. However, the 300 has a friendlier design to step into, as it’s essentially the 400 but shorter. The design of the 300 means it holds less water (77 gallons compared to the 400’s 105 gallon capacity), but it still provides enough space for most guys to sit down and submerge up to the neck. The Ice Barrel 300 also has a small seat built in for a more comfortable plunging experience. And just like the Ice Barrel 400, the 300 still features an easy draining function and comes with a thermal top.

The downside of buying an Ice Barrel? They cost around $1,000, so it’s a significant investment compared to something as value-driven as an inflatable ice bath (like The Cold Pod). However, the Ice Barrel is made with more durable materials and offers a more comfortable design. You can set up an Ice Barrel in your backyard and leave it exposed to the elements and it’ll fair just fine, whereas an inflatable ice bath requires you to set it up and break it down more frequently to avoid punctures and tears. Nonetheless, the Ice Barrel is still much more affordable than an ice bath with a built-in chiller. (Speaking of chillers, Ice Barrel plans to release an attachable chiller for the 300 at some point, but for now the 300 still needs to be filled with ice.)

The verdict: If you are committed to plunging on a regular basis, then the Ice Barrel 300 is an awesome ice bath model that’s easy to use and will last a long time.