Do you practice cold-water immersion? I try to do it regularly, but recently not just in winter at the lake or by the sea. Some might think… Oh, another person jumping on the trend, spouting health nonsense. But no, I simply enjoy it! A while ago, I decided to get a tub for ice baths, known as an Ice Box, which allows you to do cold-water immersion wherever you want—on the terrace, in the garden, or even at the gym.
First Impressions with the Ice Box
My first impressions with the Ice Box from Viby? Total surprise! At first, I was curious how such a tub would work in practice, as I was used to doing cold-water immersion only in winter, in lakes or by the sea. But what about summer?! I wondered if it would feel the same, and it turned out it did—except that with the Viby, it’s much more convenient.
Without water, the tub weighs less than 5 kg, so setting it up is no problem. You can set it up anywhere you have space and access to water to fill it. It only takes up about 1 m², so it works even in limited spaces. Setting up the Ice Box took me about five minutes, which is way shorter than the trip to the nearest lake.
The easiest way to fill it is with a garden hose—just connect it to the tap and start filling. OK, but what about the water temperature? And here’s the GAME CHANGER in cold-water immersion, overshadowing most competitors offering just basic ice bath tubs. With the Viby set, you can immerse yourself in cold water no matter the season or outdoor temperature. Of course, you can traditionally cool the water by throwing in a few kilos of ice, but there’s a more convenient option in the package. You can add a special cooler that cools and maintains the water temperature regardless of the weather. You can chill the water down to 0°C without freezing loads of ice, although I recommend starting with a slightly higher water temperature.
And How’s the Cold-Water Immersion?
Brilliant, mainly convenient and quick. The tub is insulated, so it holds the temperature well. The biggest difference compared to cold plunging in a lake is primarily cleanliness—no mud, no dirty feet when you get out, and no need to stress about “I still need to get back” or other such hassles.
What Are the Benefits of Ice Baths?
A few minutes in icy water is a shock to the system, but a positive one. Cold-water immersion offers many benefits, such as:
- Biohacking: Cold-water immersion is one way to “hack” your body, improving health, performance, and overall functioning.
- Energy boost: An ice bath gives you a natural power surge.
- Better sleep: After a session, you fall asleep faster, and your sleep is deeper and more restorative.
- Endorphin explosion: Happiness hormones kick in immediately, so you can feel better even if you’re having a rough day.
- Increased focus and concentration: You can boost your productivity at work or in study.
- Less stress, more calm: Cold water reduces cortisol levels, making you less susceptible to stress.
- Faster recovery: Perfect after a workout, especially when your muscles are sore. An ice bath soothes pain and reduces inflammation.
- Faster metabolism: Cold activates brown adipose tissue (BAT), which helps burn calories.
- Improved immunity: Regular cold-water sessions strengthen your immune system, helping fight viruses and bacteria.
- Inflammation reduction: Cold effectively alleviates pain and speeds up muscle recovery after exertion.
If you haven’t tried cold-water immersion yet, it’s worth giving it a go, especially if you’re feeling low on energy and need recovery. You can find your Ice Box here: Ice Bath Tub – Ice Box.
Lake/Sea vs. Ice Box
Winter sea plunges right after a sauna session are in a league of their own, but if you don’t live by the sea (like me), it’s hard to compare. For those hooked on ice baths who want to do them year-round, the setup I use is definitely the better choice. I also recommend it if you struggle with motivation, lack time, and constantly look for excuses not to go to the lake.
With the Ice Box, you can practice cold-water immersion 365 days a year, even in spring and summer when the water in lakes warms up. It’s a great option for beginners who want to control the water temperature to ease into it. And finally, you don’t have to change clothes on the beach in freezing wind.
Conclusion
Cold bath tubs + a device for cooling and maintaining the temperature is a revolution in cold-water immersion—it allows you to enjoy all the benefits of ice baths, and there are no more excuses! Sure, it’s still good to head to the lake during the season, but if you want to immerse more conveniently, quickly, and hygienically, it’s worth trying a portable tub.
