Ice Barrel
Ice Barrel 500
$1749.99
Released 2023
Best Cold Plunge Tubs · head-to-head
Ice Barrel 500 vs The Cold Pod
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. The Cold Pod is cheaper at $149.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
The Cold Pod
The Cold Pod
$149.99Cheaper
Released 2022
Which is better: the Ice Barrel 500 or The Cold Pod?
The The Cold Pod wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The The Cold Pod is the cheaper at $149.99. The The Cold Pod both leads on specs and costs less — the straightforward pick.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Ice Barrel 500 | The Cold Pod |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $1749.99 | $149.99 |
| Brand | Ice Barrel | The Cold Pod |
| Released | 2023 | 2022 |
| Msrp usd | 1749.99 | 149.99 |
| Water capacity gal | 94 | 85 |
| Includes chiller | No | No |
| Min temp f | — | — |
| Chiller power hp | — | — |
| Interior length (in) | 57.6 | — |
| Interior depth (in) | 42.1 | 29.53 |
| Filtration | No | No |
| Wi-Fi app control | No | No |
| Tub material | recycled BPA-free polyethylene | PVC with pearl foam and nylon |
| Insulated | Yes | Yes |
| Weight (lb) | 104 | 7.72 |
Sources — Ice Barrel 500: icebarrel.com (verified 2026-06-23). The Cold Pod: thecoldpod.com (verified 2026-06-23).
What's the difference between the Ice Barrel 500 and The Cold Pod?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 12). Matching specs are omitted.
- Msrp usd: Ice Barrel 500 1749.99 vs The Cold Pod 149.99
- Water capacity gal: Ice Barrel 500 94 vs The Cold Pod 85
- Interior depth (in): Ice Barrel 500 42.1 vs The Cold Pod 29.53
- Tub material: Ice Barrel 500 recycled BPA-free polyethylene vs The Cold Pod PVC with pearl foam and nylon
- Weight (lb): Ice Barrel 500 104 vs The Cold Pod 7.72
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Ice Barrel 500
One verified hands-on review covers the Ice Barrel 500: GearJunkie tested it with the Ice Barrel Chiller for ten months at 3-5 plunges per week and called it the best barrel-style plunge it has ever used, with the chiller holding 39°F water through 100°F+ California heat in direct sun. Praise centers on easy upright submersion, durable one-piece molded construction, and near-zero maintenance; flags are the high price, a missing stair railing, and a lid without straps or locks. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Upright barrel shape makes full submersion easy — drop to the bottom rather than lying back and plugging your nose; One-piece molded polyethylene construction with integrated steps and seat feels extremely durable; Insulation plus chiller held water at 39°F through 100°F+ California summer heat in direct sun.
Flagged: Expensive — $1,600 for the barrel alone, roughly $4,600 paired with the Ice Barrel Chiller; No railing for the molded stairs; one tester almost fell exiting with frigid legs; Lid has no straps or locks, worth noting for households with small children.
The Cold Pod
Only one whitelisted source survived verification: BarBend's best-cold-plunges roundup, which covers The Cold Pod in a brief 'Other Cold Plunges We've Tested' entry rather than a dedicated review. BarBend calls it the ultimate budget buy at around $156 and a great portable barebones option, but says its testers weren't impressed with the durability and notes there is no chiller option, so cooling requires a hose and ice. No measured performance data exists in the surviving coverage. (1 sourced review.)
Praised: Ultimate budget buy at around $156 on Amazon — among the cheapest cold plunge options; Great portable option for a barebones plunge.
Flagged: Testers weren't impressed with the durability; No chiller option — cooling requires a hose and a bunch of ice each session.