4 Inexpensive Ways to “Do Cold” At Home

As the owner of a cold plunge studio, I want everyone to be able to enjoy the benefits of deliberate cold exposure. However, I understand that visiting a studio might not always be possible. With cold water not always readily available in nature and seasonal changes affecting accessibility, it's important to find ways to maintain the practice at home. I've put together a simple list of some of the most inexpensive methods to get your cold shower or cold plunge at home without breaking the bank.

1. The 1-Gallon Cold Water Jug

This is the cheapest of the cheap, but it’s incredibly effective. Thanks to one of our members, Ken Boring, for this tip. Each night, fill up a 1-gallon jug of water and place it in the fridge. The next morning, while you’re taking your cold shower, pour the chilled water all over your body. It’s insane how well this works! It’s cheap, easy, and certainly wakes you up.

2. Buy Ice and Fill Up Your Bathtub

This is as old school as it gets and something athletes have done for decades. You’ll probably need to spend $20-40 on ice to get the water down to the ideal temperature if your tap water is around 75°F. It’s a tried and true method for getting a good cold plunge at home without any fancy equipment.

3. ZeroPod – A Dedicated Chiller for Your Bathtub

There’s a new invention I really like called the ZeroPod. Simply put the contraption in your bathtub, let it chill, and you’ll have chilly water. It’s not bulky, looks cool, and the best part is you can just drain the "dirty" water whenever you’re done. It takes a little bit of time and doesn’t get super crazy cold, but it gets the water into the 40’s, which for most people is plenty cold. I think this option is economical for many and convenient if you move, as you can just bring your ZeroPod with you.

Use my special code: “brock100” for $100 off and enjoy. Get it here.?

4. The Chest Freezer

I’ve used chest freezers on and off for years and have mostly enjoyed them. Even with all the money and fame Wim Hof has, he still uses a chest freezer in his home in the Netherlands. Simply fill it up with water, give it about 48 hours to get cold, and enjoy. There are a few negatives, though: be sure to unplug it and never use it outdoors if there’s a storm! Additionally, you’ll need to drain the tub, clean it, and refill it every couple of weeks. If you’re handy and don’t mind resealing the tub, you can often find these for fairly inexpensive prices on Facebook Marketplace.

So there you have it, four simple and cheap ways to get your cold exposure at home. I strongly recommend doing something daily for improved mental health benefits as well as recovery if you’re an athlete. I can’t go a day without it, and with these methods, you don’t have to either!