Did you know that a two-minute dip in cold water can boost your mood and reduce inflammation?
Cold plunging is more than a trend you’re seeing online. It’s a revitalizing practice with proven health benefits.
Having your cold plunge tub at home will help you maximize the benefits, but you’ll notice that you can also use some accessories and supplies. Below, we’ll show you the best cold plunge supplies you need, to take full advantage of cold plunges, no matter if you’re only getting started or are a seasoned enthusiast.
Best Cold Plunge Supplies
Having the right supplies is important as it can ensure both safety and comfort. Here are some of our favorite picks. Some of them are a must-have.
Sirena Spa Kit
If you have a cold plunge tub or you’re thinking of getting one, one thing you’ll need is a maintenance kit.
Sirena spa kit is the kit if you’re interested in achieving the perfect water balance for your cold plunge. It contains all the essentials in one pack, so you won’t have to look elsewhere or wonder what it is you’re missing.
Don’t let the size of the Sirena bottles fool you, their product is powerful and ideal for cold plunges ranging from 80 to 90 gallons. Even a small amount of product goes a long way.
In the Sirena spa kit, you’ll receive:
- Oxidizer - An oxidizer that keeps spa water sparkling clear
- Metal control - Prevents scale deposits and staining of surfaces
- Sanitize - Sanitizes spa and hot tub water (chlorine-free)
- Waterline control - Prevents the formation of waterline deposits
- Test strips - Ideal for checking sanitizer levels, pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness.
Oxidizer is the product you want to add weekly, while sanitizer is added as needed, but we recommend adding it weekly as well.
Test strips will help you check sanitizer levels, pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness in one. It’ll also be a great guide as to what supplies you might want to add to your cold plunge water.
We also recommend combining it with Sirona Spa pH Down and Spa pH Up products. These two products don’t come included in this pack, but they are worth getting separately as they can help you regulate pH levels if needed.
Click Here for the Price of the Sirena Spa Kit!
Ice Barrel Maintenance Kit
If you have a barrel cold plunge tub type, you’d know that they’re a bit harder to clean than a bath type. However, if you don’t have a barrel cold plunge tub and are thinking of getting one, don’t let that discourage you.
Using the Ice Barrel maintenance kit, you’ll have everything to do complete maintenance and keep your ice plunge experience clean and enjoyable every time.
Ice Barrel maintenance kit includes:
- Water stabilizer
- Stainless steel mesh net
- Shatter-resistant thermometer
- Bag of eucalyptus Epsom salt
- Silicone cleaning brush
- Bottle of cleaning soap
If you have very “hard” water in the area you live in, you might notice that changing water every other week is a necessity. However, the cleaner and stabilizer will ensure you don’t have to change water for at least 4+ weeks (in case of “hard” water).
Some Ice Barrel kits also come with a carbon hose filter, which you can purchase separately. This is useful for filtering your water before filling your cold plunge barrel (if you’re using a chiller instead of using ice in the water).
Our favorite supply from this pack is the Ice Barrel Net, which has a unique design with strength in mind. It’s ideal for whenever you notice anything floating in the water (also very useful for people who don’t have a lock-on for their cold plunge barrel).
Click Here for the Price of the Ice Barrel Maintenance Kit!
Recoverx 6-Pack Replacement Filters
If you own a Recoverx cold plunge, you’ll definitely want to grab a 6-pack of replacement filters. Keep in mind that these filters might not be compatible with other cold plunge brands.
These high-quality filters are essential for maintaining clean, clear water, which ensures your cold plunge experience remains refreshing and hygienic.
Recoverx’s filters are designed to provide superior filtration, removing debris and impurities to maintain sparkling clear water.
This filter replacement ensures your chiller runs efficiently, reducing maintenance time and extending the life of your system. They also come with added consistency, and high-quality performance, which results in a pristine cold plunge experience.
Typically, you need to replace cold plunge chiller filters every 3 to 6 months, so this one pack will last you for a year and a half, up to 3 years. Keep in mind that heavily used cold plunge tubs might require more frequent maintenance. Water quality is also something to consider, as mineral-rich water or untreated water can clog filters faster.
Also, to make these filters last longer, ensure a proper chemical balance, as poorly balanced water chemistry (pH and chlorine levels) can lead to filter wear.
Click Here for the Price of the Recoverx 6-Pack Replacement Filters!
Non-Slip Floor Mat
How many times did you happen to slip while you were focused on handling the extremely low temperatures as you were about to immerse yourself in cold water?
This non-slip floor mat is ideal for cold plunge tubs of all types, as it provides superior traction, it’s water resistant, ideal for cold temperatures, and is very durable in wet conditions.
We like how versatile it is in forms like mat tiles to ensure a reliable, slip-resistant surface, which is crucial for safety in such environments.
The mat is made of SBR (styrene-butadiene) rubber, which is known for resilience, but also easy maintenance. If the last thing you want to think about is slipping when cold plunging, this non-slip floor mat will provide you with peace of mind, and most importantly - safety.
What we like the most about this mat is that it features anti-microbial properties, which prevent mold, mildew, and bacteria growth. This is a must-have feature if you’re thinking of using the mat inside your cold plunge and leaving it there for as long as you leave the water.
We still recommend cleaning the mat regularly by rinsing it with water and mild detergent, drying it thoroughly, and inspecting it for wear over time.
The dimensions are 35.43” x 78.74” and 5mm thick.
Click Here for the Price of the Non-Slip Floor Mat!
3-Month Filter Supply
If you’d like to enhance your cold plunging journey and not worry about maintenance, a 3-month filter supply is what you need.
This 3-month filter supply pack will ensure your water stays clean, clear, and optimized so you can relax and recover without worrying about the water quality.
The frequency of changing your filters will depend on the manufacturer’s recommendations, usage frequency, water quality, and routine maintenance times. Skipping it or overly relying on a used filter can lead to worse water quality.
Always having a filter close by helps ensure your cold plunge maintains optimal cooling, which can also reduce maintenance costs in the long run. Needless to say, regular filter change promotes hygiene and safety standards by preserving water chemistry for longer, which ensures clean and healthy water for longer.
What’s great about a 3-month filter supply is that quality cold plunge stores like The Cold Plunge Store offer it for free with the purchase of a cold plunge. This way, they set their customers right from the start. However, if you only need filters, you can still get this pack and let all the worries leave as soon as the filters get delivered to your doorstep.
Click Here for the Price of the 3-month Filter Supply!
Ice Block
If you’re not a fan of chillers and are instead relying on ice, you might know how hard it is to move large quantities of ice into the cold plunge tub.
That’s why this ice block is the right choice if you want the ability to move a lot of ice at once while having stability. Besides ice, you can move water as well without worrying about balance or stability.
This ice block is made from silicone with reinforced steel, which helps improve stability when it’s filled with water or ice.
Within the pack, you get 5 ice blocks, where each block weighs 1.5 lbs yet it can produce 7 lb blocks of ice.
Ice was always the old-school way of keeping your plunge tub cold, and it’s also the most efficient way at the same time. While it’s less convenient than a chiller you can control even remotely, you’ll still get to use the eco-friendly option.
We must add that these ice blocks are ideal for DIY cold plunge tubs and are a great alternative to built-in cooling systems. DIY cold plunge tubs are a decent option when you’re on a budget and these ice blocks will ensure you won’t have to buy ice.
Click Here for the Price of the Ice Block!
Cold Plunge Maintenance Tips
To properly maintain your cold plunge tub, here are a few key factors you should be considering:
- Water quality maintenance
- Filter care
- Surface cleaning
- Debris management
- Temperature control
- Chiller system maintenance
- Seasonal adjustments
Water is the most important thing you should maintain, and this includes testing it for pH, alkalinity, and sanitizer levels weekly.
Use appropriate treatments to keep a good chemical balance while avoiding contamination by showering before the use of a cold plunge to reduce oils and dirt.
We recommend rinsing filters weekly to remove debris, which helps improve efficiency. Also, the regular filter replacement we mentioned earlier is also very important.
A soft cloth or a sponge is the best material to clean the surface of a cold plunge tub and is important to do if you want to prevent grime buildup.
Removing leaves, hair, or debris from the water surface daily is also something you should do, and ideally, you’d want to cover the cold plunge tub if possible.
Even if the water feels cold and just fine, it’s still a good idea to occasionally inspect the cooler for proper functioning to ensure temperature settings are properly calibrated.
If you’re taking advantage of an ice-based plunge, cleaning the ice molds like the ice blocks we’ve mentioned in this article will help you avoid contamination.
Regularly checking for leaks, blockages, or wear and tear in the chiller system will help ensure proper circulation and avoid any long-term problems.
Lastly, if your cold plunge tub is outdoors, protect it according to the season - for example, protect pipes and components from freezing in the winter.
How Often Should You Change Your Cold Plunge Water?
How often should you change your cold plunge water depends on two factors:
- Usage volume
-
Water treatment
Usage volume is the most important factor. The more users daily, the more frequent changes you will need to make for occasional use.
Regularly treating water with chlorine or bromine will ensure water stays fresher than untreated water.
Keep in mind that chillers with advanced filtration will also help improve water’s quality and ensure you don’t have to change it as often as people who opt-in for ice-based cold plunging do.
With that being said, here’s how often you should change the cold plunge water:
- High usage - every 2 to 4 weeks
- Moderate usage - every 1 to 2 months with proper treatment
- Low usage - every 2 to 3 months if the water is treated and well-maintained
Conclusion
Cold plunge supplies are something you don’t necessarily think of ahead of time, but they’re necessary and good to have on hand.
Some of the most critical supplies are the treatment supplies or components like filters that do a good job of ensuring your water remains clear.
Being prepared and having them at hand will ensure your water quality remains good at all times. Therefore, we highly recommend stacking up with some of the best cold plunge supplies you need to ensure proper water quality and maintenance.