The Pod Company makes one of the most popular portable ice baths for good reason: it is cheap, packs flat, sets up quickly and can be upgraded with a plug-in chiller later. It is not a premium hard-shell tub, and its sale-heavy pricing can be confusing, but as an entry point to cold plunging it is hard to beat on value.
What we like
- Very low entry price for a dedicated, insulated ice bath
- Packs flat, weighs around 8 pounds empty and sets up in minutes
- Optional Pod Chiller cools to about 39°F so you can stop buying ice
- Pro and Long Pod versions fit taller users and add thicker insulation
- Large customer base and strong Trustpilot rating
Keep in mind
- Inflatable, fabric construction is less durable and less elegant than a hard-shell tub
- Without a chiller you need roughly 15 to 40 pounds of ice per session
- Constant sales and inconsistent figures on the site make true prices and warranty terms hard to read
- Return shipping is at your cost
The Pod Company calls itself the home of the original portable Nordic ice bath. Its founder, Simon, says he grew up cold-water bathing in Nordic lakes and created the Ice Pod after struggling to find a decent ice bath while living away from home. The result is a round, insulated, inflatable tub that you can set up in a garden, garage or bathroom, fill with cold water and ice, and pack away when you are done.
The brand reports more than 270,000 customers, sells through national retailers such as Dick's Sporting Goods, and has expanded into chillers, a longer lie-down pod, a portable sauna and red light devices. Here is what you get, what it really costs and who it suits.
Who is The Pod Company?
The company's stated mission is to make at-home health and wellness affordable and achievable for everyone, and its products reflect that. Rather than competing with $5,000-plus chilled tubs, it focuses on simple, lightweight equipment you can buy for the price of a few months of gym recovery sessions.
Its US site prices in dollars, ships free to the lower 48 states and offers a frontline discount for military and first responders. A separate UK operation runs its own help center. Reviews are a big part of its pitch: the site shows a 4.8 TrustScore on Trustpilot from more than 3,600 reviews.
The Ice Pod, Pro and Long Pod explained
The Ice Pod is the core product. On the current US product page it is listed at about 30 inches tall and 32 inches wide, holds roughly 110 gallons and weighs around 8 pounds empty. It uses a military-grade anti-leak nylon lining with a UV-resistant cover, a five-layer insulated wall and an inflatable top ring that you pump up by hand.
- Ice Pod (standard): regular insulation; fits people up to about 6'2″.
- Ice Pod Pro: extra-thick insulation for longer-lasting cold; fits people up to about 6'7″.
- Long Pod: a longer, lie-down format with high insulation, about $199 on sale.
Each pod comes with an all-weather lid, a repair kit with patches, a drain hose and a hand pump. A tap at the base lets you drain it with a standard garden hose. The UK help center notes that the shell fabric is not treated with PFAS water-repellent chemicals and that the pods are rated for water up to 60°C, so they can double as a warm soak.
See The Pod Company's current range
Chillers, saunas and add-ons
The biggest upgrade is a chiller. The Pod Chiller (from about $649 on sale) and Pod Chiller 2.0 (about $999 on sale) connect to the pod and hold the water at about 39°F. The brand lists power draw of roughly 280 to 500W, or around $0.50 a day at typical US electricity rates, noise around 44 to 55 dB and a 20-micron filter to clean every week or two. A Universal Chiller with adaptors is also offered for other tubs.
Beyond cold, the range includes the Sauna Pod, a portable sauna listed at about $697 that heats to around 185°F, the Infra Pod red light devices from about $399, and a filtered Shower Pod. Useful accessories include insulated lids, a floating thermometer, water maintenance packs and a filter unit.
Ice or chiller: what to buy first
Start with the Ice Pod Pro if you are new to plunging. The thicker insulation helps your ice last longer, and the extra height suits more body types. Without a chiller you will need roughly 15 to 40 pounds of ice per session depending on your tap water and the weather, so budget for ice or freeze your own blocks.
If you find yourself plunging most days after a month, add a chiller. It removes the ice runs, keeps the water at a steady temperature and makes daily use far easier. The brand recommends water between about 40 and 50°F, and the UK help center suggests sessions of roughly 3 to 8 minutes below 15°C, which is a sensible range for beginners to build toward.
Shipping, returns and warranty
Orders ship free within the contiguous US, usually in 2 to 5 business days. Alaska, Hawaii and military addresses pay a shipping fee. Pods can be returned within 30 days for a full refund if unused, or exchanged if they have not been filled with water. You pay return shipping, and refunds are issued within about 10 business days of receipt.
The pod product page lists a 2-year warranty and says the company will replace a pod for leaks or issues. The site's comparison table also mentions up to 3 years on chillers and up to 4 years on the sauna and red light products. Because figures differ across pages, confirm the term for your exact product at checkout.
Portable pod or premium tub?
A hard-shell chilled plunge from a premium brand typically costs several thousand dollars and arrives by freight. An Ice Pod with a chiller costs a fraction of that, ships in a box and can be packed away in a cupboard. The trade-offs are durability, looks and convenience: fabric tubs can be punctured (a repair kit is included), they sit lower and less sturdily than a molded tub, and you will handle more of the water care yourself.
For many people, especially renters or anyone unsure how often they will plunge, that is a good trade. If you later decide cold water is a daily essential, the pod still has a second life as a travel or backup tub, and nothing you learned about routine and water care is wasted.
Our verdict
The Pod Company is a sensible, low-risk way to start cold plunging at home. The Ice Pod is light, quick to set up and well insulated for the price, and the chiller upgrade lets the system grow with your habit. Buyers wanting a furniture-grade tub with built-in filtration should look at premium plunge brands, but for value and convenience this is one of the best places to begin.
The Pod Company products at a glance
| Product | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Pod | Round, insulated, inflatable ice bath holding about 110 gallons, with lid, pump and drain tap. | from about $99 (sale) |
| Ice Pod Pro | Thicker-insulated version that fits users up to about 6'7″. | sale pricing varies |
| Long Pod | Lie-down, highly insulated ice bath for full-body immersion. | about $199 (sale) |
| Pod Chiller | Plug-in chiller that holds water at about 39°F with a 20-micron filter. | from about $649 (sale) |
| Sauna Pod | Portable sauna that heats to around 185°F for hot-and-cold routines. | about $697 (sale) |
Prices as listed on the brand's site at the time of our research and may change. Check the store for current pricing.
The Pod Company FAQs
Is The Pod Company legit?
Yes. The Pod Company is an established ice bath brand with a large customer base, a 4.8 Trustpilot score from thousands of reviews and retail distribution through stores such as Dick's Sporting Goods.
How much ice does an Ice Pod need?
Without a chiller, the brand estimates about 15 to 40 pounds of ice per session, depending on your starting water temperature and the weather.
Can I use the Ice Pod outdoors?
Yes. The pods are designed for indoor and outdoor use. A shaded spot and an insulated lid help keep the water cold, and in winter the water can freeze if left unused.
What is the Ice Pod return policy?
Unused pods can be returned within 30 days for a full refund, and pods that have not been filled can be exchanged. Return shipping is paid by the customer.
Do I need the Pod Chiller?
Not to start. Many people begin with ice and add a chiller once they plunge regularly, since it holds the water near 39°F and removes the need to buy ice.
First-time cold plungers who want a low-cost, portable ice bath they can set up in minutes
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