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Ice Barrel FAQs
What is Cold Therapy?

Our Ice Barrel team
is here to help.

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Ice Barrel and cold therapy.

The answers below will teach you the basics about the Ice Barrel and how to use it. For further information, explore our blog articles or contact us with any other questions you have.

  • What is Ice Barrel?

    What is
    Ice Barrel?

  • What is Cold Therapy?

    What is
    cold therapy?

  • Maintaining Ice Barrel

    Maintaining
    Ice Barrel

  • How to take an Ice Bath

    How to take
    an ice bath

How is the Ice Barrel made?

We have a lot of pride that we’re made in the USA using a very involved process to get the edges smooth and the barrel extremely durable.

The Ice Barrel took several years of research and development to arrive at the final design you get to experience today. The barrel is made using advanced rotomolding technology. Rotomolding is a production process that allows us to rapidly produce a consistent and high-quality product that our customers love. Through this technology, we are able to produce highly durable, thick-walled barrels. This means that you don’t have to worry about the Ice Barrel failing or breaking down over time.

What is the Ice Barrel made from?

The Ice Barrel is made from high-quality recycled materials that will last a lifetime. The Ice Barrel is composed primarily of LLDPE (low linear density polyethylene); a lightweight and durable non-toxic plastic. This is the same type of plastic used in food and medical grade applications. We also use a UV resistant formula to help minimize fading.

What differentiates the Ice Barrel from a stock tank, bathtub, or chest freezer?

Our team of industrial designers has spent years identifying and solving many challenges associated with cold therapy.

The Ice Barrel is a cold therapy training tool that offers an easy way to bring ice baths to your wellness routine. With a lightweight design and functional features, the Ice Barrel is portable, durable, compact, and looks great! We’ve designed our product to fit most body types under 6’6″ and 300lbs, while also allowing you to sit in an upright position, which helps the body and mind focus and relax. Our Easy-Flow drainage system is designed to connect to a standard garden hose and allows you to easily drain the water in a preferred location.

How do I get into the Ice Barrel?

After removing the lid, you’ll enter from the top and settle into a comfortable position. Depending on where you have your Ice Barrel, you can use a step stool or ladder, but use it at your own risk. We recommend always having another person present while you are in the Ice Barrel for your safety. You might experience numbness after an ice bath, which can make it hard to get out of the barrel by yourself.

Will I fit in the Ice Barrel?

Our current Ice Barrel comfortably fits bodies under 6’6 and 300lbs. However we are frequently asked if individuals larger than that can fit. To show an example, here is a video clip of a 6’6 320lbs individual who was able to fully submerge and dunk within the Ice Barrel – https://youtube.com/shorts/nDDHzbI4jYc

Here is another example of a 6’5 320lb customer testing the Ice Barrel – https://youtube.com/shorts/mbnt4sG3CJI

How long should you soak in an ice bath?

We recommend staying fully-submerged in the ice bath for 2-10 minutes, depending on how your body responds to the cold. For those just starting out, try shorter dips and build up to longer ones as you get more comfortable. As always, listen to your body and don’t push past what you’re comfortable with. It’s better to build resistance slowly over time. Staying in for too long at low temperatures can put your body at risk for hypothermia, which is a medical emergency that occurs when your body temperature drops below a safe level (95°F/37°C). Dangerously low body temperature can cause heart failure and even death.

What is cold therapy?

Cold therapy is short-term cold stress that activates the body’s healing mechanisms. There are several different cold therapy methods, and Ice Barrel uses cold water immersion. This involves immersing the body at least to the abdomen (but preferably up to the neck) in 40-60°F water (4-15°C), for around 2-10 minutes. This can be done daily as part of the lifestyle for well-being, for reducing muscle soreness and fatigue, inflammation, and many other benefits. The other primary method of cold therapy requires a clinical setting and a cold air chamber typically set at -166°F (-110°C).

Learn more on our blog: Cryotherapy and Ice Baths: What’s the Difference

How is an ice bath better than a cold shower?

With ice baths, you feel the effect immediately around your entire body, and you are sure that every part of your body is submerged in water. Activation of the body’s natural healing mechanism for general wellbeing works best with consistent cold temperature applied to the neck and abdominal region. Consistent application of the cold, as well as the natural compression provided by water, is only provided by submersion.

With an ice bath, you’ll be able to enjoy a deep, penetrating cold through your entire body and muscles. You won’t get this level of penetration from taking a cold shower.

Learn more on our blog: How is an ice bath better than a cold shower?

Are ice baths healthy?

Yes, ice baths are healthy if you follow the correct procedures. Cold therapy has proven to be a safe, non-pharmaceutical way to relieve pain, reset the body for overall health, and allow athletes to return to their workouts faster. With our guidelines, you stand to benefit greatly from cold water immersion therapy with the Ice Barrel.

To learn more about the science of cold therapy, visit our website at www.icebarrel.com/science, so you know the right way to take a cold plunge and get the desired results.

Learn more on our blog: Cold Water Therapy Benefits: What You Need to Know and Back To Our Roots: The History of Ice Baths & Cold Water Bathing

How do I chill the water and keep it cold?

Maintaining the water temperature greatly depends on your regional climate. For example, customers in Texas, Arizona, and Florida typically need more ice in the summer, spring, and fall months. However, customers in Canada and northern states will likely require less ice in the summer months due to colder temperatures and groundwater.

During the colder months, many customers don’t need to add ice.

What is the optimum temperature for an ice bath?

Your ice bath temperature should be below 60°F (15.5°C). We recommend easing into your practice, allowing your body to get used to lower temperatures and building up a tolerance slowly over time. If you’re just starting out, start closer to 60°F and lower the temperature over a few sessions. More experienced ice bathers tend to use temperatures between 40-50°F (4-10°C) as their body becomes more cold adapted.

Should I use ice baths after every training session?

For decades, cold therapy has been used to treat acute injuries and post-exercise recovery. Interestingly, new research has confirmed that cold therapy is a safe and effective remedy for chronic diseases and can promote overall well-being.

According to studies, stress in the form of physical exertion (exercise), as well as life stress, triggers similar hormonal responses that affect heart rate and heart rate variability. Cold water therapy stimulates the Vagus nerve, which can reduce heart rate while improving variability. The Vagus nerve is about 75% of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating abdominal organs and mood. The Vagus nerve runs from the brain, through the neck, to the abdominal organs. Vagus nerve activation reduces stress and induces relaxation.

If you’re focused on recovering and minimizing the fatigue you feel after a training session, an ice bath is a great addition to your post-workout routine. In addition to reducing fatigue and exercise injury, an ice bath has also been shown to prepare your body and mind for the next workout.

Learn more on our blog: Optimizing Athlete’s Post-Workout Recovery

How do I clean and maintain the Ice Barrel?

Ice Barrel requires very little maintenance. We recommend changing the water every four (4) weeks or as preferred. Water cleanliness can be extended by using water stabilizers or treatments such as hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, or UV purifier. You can clean your Ice Barrel using your preferred soap or detergent.

What if the water freezes in my Ice Barrel?

Ice Barrel has gone through extensive testing in extremely cold temperatures where the water freezes. Water freezing in the barrel will not harm the product. In order to keep water at the optimal temperature for cold water immersion therapy (40-60°F), we recommend using the Ice Barrel lid and cover during extended cold periods.

Still have questions? Let us know
and we’ll be happy to assist you.

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