ICE BATH BUYING GUIDE

Do you need a chiller—or just a tub?

The cheaper purchase is not always the cheaper way to use an ice bath. Start with how often you expect to use it.

Compare the ownership, not just the temperature

Option	What you pay for	Ongoing work	When to consider it
Tub with added ice	Tub, cover, ice and water	Source or make ice; fill, clean and manage water according to instructions	Occasional use, or testing whether a home setup is something you will keep using.
Tub plus compatible chiller	Tub, chiller, connections, filtration and site setup	Electricity, filter care, cleaning, water treatment and possible equipment repairs	Frequent use when the convenience justifies the higher upfront price.
Sessions at a facility	Session price and travel	Booking and travel; no home equipment maintenance	Before committing to a purchase or where space and maintenance are a problem.

Example: what does “from $1,090” actually buy?

Ritual’s Stoic page lists a $1,090 starting price, with separate tub-only and tub-plus-0.8 HP-chiller options. It was marked sold out when checked. We could not verify the selected combo’s current total, so we do not present $1,090 as the price of a working chilled system.

The listed tub is 132 × 70 × 62 cm, with a 400 L stated capacity. Its matching chiller adds a 47 × 35 × 53 cm unit, plus ventilation and hose space. The chiller is included only with the combo. This is why a tub footprint and a starting price are not enough to plan a purchase.

How much electricity would it use?

The Stoic page distinguishes 710 W input power from 1,770 W cooling capacity. Use electrical input for a cost estimate—not cooling capacity or the 0.8 HP label.

For illustration, 0.710 kW × 6 equivalent full-input hours × $0.30/kWh = $1.28/day, or about $466/year. Six hours is an assumption, not measured consumption. At 12 equivalent hours, that doubles to about $933/year. Actual use depends on conditions and operation; request measured daily kWh for a comparable climate and setup where available.

Does buying ice become expensive?

Try your own numbers before assuming a chiller is cheaper. If ice costs an illustrative $12 per use and you use it twice a week, that is $1,248 a year. If an illustrative chiller upgrade costs $3,000 and adds $700/year in electricity and maintenance, the saving is $548/year: roughly 5.5 years to recover the upgrade price. At once a week, $624 of ice costs less than that assumed $700 running cost, so there is no operating-cost payback.

These are hypothetical figures, not Ritual prices, an ice quantity recommendation or a prediction. The example excludes repairs, financing and water-cost differences. Replace every assumption with your own usage and quotes.

Who should wait before buying?

If you have not tried a cold plunge, cannot accommodate the cleaning routine, or do not have a suitable location, start by investigating a facility rather than a home system. Equipment research does not establish personal medical suitability; seek qualified advice when unsure. Full water weight, drainage and applicable water-safety requirements also need to be resolved before installation.

Calculate your ownership costs

Check the current range

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Sources and price checks

Checked 24 September 2026. Prices are in AUD and may change. These are selected examples, not a whole-market ranking or hands-on review. Confirm the exact configuration, stock and delivered price before ordering. The links below do not earn us commission.

Ritual Stoic configurations, dimensions and electrical specifications

Useful next steps

Ice baths