Plunge Evolve XL review: I didn’t know ice baths could be so luxurious

The Plunge Evolve XL is a high-end ice bath and cooler that just begs to be noticed.

Many coaches and athletes extol the benefits of using cold water for recovery alongside stretching exercises. There are numerous portable or in-situ ice-bath options for the home. Plunge is one of most recognizable brands driving interest in ice baths and cold water immersion, as its products are often seen in luxury gyms, spas and dedicated studios. You’ve probably seen Plunge products strewn across social media too. It also received investment via the Shark Tank TV show, so products like the Plunge Evolve XL are very visible. But are they worth their premium price tag?

Plunge offers plenty of tub options in its new Evolve series, which are meant to be paired with an advanced chiller unit but can be used with ice too. There’s also the flagship Plunge All-In model ($8,990) with an integrated chiller.

After having a great experience with the inflatable and transportable Edge Theory Labs Elite tub and chiller, I was excited to compare. Plunge shipped me the second-generation Plunge Evolve XL tub, paired with the Pro chiller, which can cool water to a low of 37°F / 3°C.

This model retails for $6,690. Value is divided somewhat evenly between tub and chiller, which are $3,690 and $3,299 to buy separately. A water heating option for hot hub usage is available for an additional $600.

Plunge Evolve XL tub and Pro chiller set-up

Having a rigid tub eliminated the need for manual inflation. The downside? This model is far less portable (if at all). Empty, the tub weighs 175lb (79.4kg), so I ensured the delivery drivers put it where I intended it to remain.

The chiller unit connects to the tub via a couple of short-range, flexible plastic pipes. That means the chiller can only be about 4 inches (10cm) from the foot of the tub. It makes set-up quite tight and awkward. It took a couple of tries to get everything aligned. However, the angular design of both products ensures the chiller is neatly aligned with the tub. There’s also a power cable for the tub’s integrated light that slots into the chiller.

Once connected, I filled the tub (Plunge includes a hose filter to catch water impurities) and powered the chiller on via a safe 15-amp GFCI power outlet. Target temperature can be selected via on-chiller controls or by connecting with the Plunge mobile app. Plunge claims a 20-minute set-up, but I spent closer to an hour faffing about. The company also recommends sanitising and oxidising the water beforehand (1/4 cup of each), but those products arrived later in the review cycle. Plunge also sent PH testing strips and chemicals designed to balance the water.

Plunge Evolve XL tub

This feels like a luxury, standalone bathtub. It’s made from premium acrylic with fibreglass and is reinforced with a metal base. It’s built to last, as it should be for a $3,250 vessel. When filled, the tub holds over 105 gallons (397.5 litres) of water and weighs 1,200lbs (544kg). So be sure your surface is equipped to hold the weight!

The tub is very large at 70-inches x 29.5-inches (178 x 75cm), and slopes inward. At 6ft 2-inch / 200lb (1m 88cm / 90.7kg), I appreciated this. I could sprawl out without having to scrunch up and remain submerged. If you need some solidarity, you could get two average height/weight people in here. Shorter-legged folks should take care when entering and exiting the tub, as it’s 26in (66cm) high.

It’s deep too, and the sloped design meant I was naturally inclined to sink deeper to submerge my shoulders and neck – which helps to yield the full benefits of immersion. It’s also more comfortable to rest your head against than a more upright tub. The company sells a pillow too ($49) for added comfort.

The integrated light, which adds a spa-like luxury when plunging at night, also eased the trepidation. Adding to the luxury feel are a pair of customisable jets. There’s one at the front and one at the rear, which are manually opened and directed. These intensified the feeling of cold by breaking the thermal layer. It exposed my skin to more cold water per second and ensured my body had to work harder to stay warm.

The piping to circulate water in and out through the chiller connects beneath the chiller’s base. That means your knees won’t be sucked to the side as is the case with other tubs.

Draining the Plunge Evolve XL

The drain at the bottom has small perforations, meaning little debris makes it into the chiller. I was able to fish most of it out with the provided net although some stubborn grainy bits clung to the bottom. Tubs like the Edge Theory Labs Elite have a larger ‘water out’ opening, but also a dual filtration system that grabbed a lot of hair and other bits before they reached the filter. These bits clung to the drain filter on the Plunge tub.

The tub also comes with an insulated cover when not in use. This thing, combined with the choice of materials for the tub, maintains the cold temperatures exceptionally well.

Knowing I was planning a 6am run, I chilled the water down to 40°F (4.4°C) at midnight and shut off the chiller. I assumed, in overnight temperatures above 80°F, the water may hit close to my 48°F sweet spot by the time I got in, at 8am. The water was still at 43°F!

The cover clips onto the tub to keep it secure, but I’d have preferred a combination lock as I live in an apartment complex with an unfenced back yard.

Plunge Evolve Pro chiller

The Plunge Evolve Pro chiller has significant advantages over rival chillers I have tested, but also some drawbacks.

Firstly, it’s designed for all-weather use. It can operate in temperatures as high as 120°F and the rain won’t bother it. I loved this part of the equation as I don’t have outdoor coverage. The water resistance is key as the piping requires proximity behind the tub and there’s going to be overflow when entering or leaving the tub.

Secondly, the Plunge Pro chiller operates more quietly than rivals. My wife often remarked the Edge Theory model sounded like a jet taking off. The Plunge model is 30% quieter than the previous generation, but not “whisper-quiet” as the company claims.

The displayed water temperature is accurate when tested against a digital thermometer. However, the plunging experience just felt colder at the same water temperature than when I used other devices. Perhaps it was the jets moving the water around?

The Pro chiller is powerful (1 horsepower) and can cool water to as low as 37°F – a standard low point for plunging. How long that cooling takes depends on climate and starting water temp. My hose water was over 80°F, giving the chiller plenty to do. I found water cooled at around 8°F per hour, taking almost 4 hours to reach 50°F. By comparison the Edge Theory chiller (1.2hp) cooled at 12°F per hour. However, that was in April temperatures, not in over 90°F weather in July and August.

Chiller operation

Thanks to the tub materials and cover I didn’t have to run the chiller for as long during subsequent cools. The chiller also kicked-on less often when it attempted to maintain a temperature. In my experience a rise of more than 2 degrees triggered it.

There’s easy access to change out the filters via a screw cap on top of the chiller, which is opened and closed with a dedicated tool. You’ll need to ensure it’s closed tightly as I had issues with leaks a couple of times, which threw off the whole system.

The internal, replaceable filter is twice the size of the one in the Edge Theory chiller. In theory, that means with the appropriate water care regimen (a six-month supply including spare filters costs $200) water stays cleaner for longer, with more time between water changes.

The chiller has a digital clock-like display, above buttons to manually control temperature, the internal light and the opportunity to pause cooling and jets for a quieter plunge experience. The display isn’t at all visible in sunlight, but physical buttons are more suitable than a touch-sensitive surface with wet hands.

The chiller, which has a matte acrylic design akin to the tub, can be used with all tubs in the Evolve series (except All-In, which has its own). So, for example, you can spend $3,250 on the chiller then get a cheap Plunge Pop-Up Tub for $150. The chiller can also be retrofitted to use with older-gen Plunge tubs.

Cleaning the Plunge Evolve XL

While the design does look attractive, you’ll need to give it a regular wipe down if keeping it outdoors. I noticed some orange marks on the chiller, from dried pool/rainwater. Overall, the chiller weights 100lb (45kg). There are side handles but, again, this product isn’t designed to be moved.

The chiller unit I tested originally required time-consuming troubleshooting that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t.

There were plentiful leaks from the chiller component, some easily resolved, some not so. There were issues with excessive bubbling in the tub from the jets, which required an air purge by twisting open the top cap. Turns out the chiller was faulty (probably damaged in transit)

However, Plunge replaced the faulty chiller quickly (I went through the consumer support, not media relations for this, so you could expect the same level of service). I’ve had no such issues since, so am happy to accept those original problems were down to the damaged unit.

The Plunge app

The mobile app for iPhone or Android offers remote access to the chiller. Connection to the tub via Wi-Fi is straightforward. Thereafter, I was able to adjust temperature, control the internal light or pause the chilling whether at home or away. It’s also how you get new firmware to the chiller.

The app is great for tracking your progress and streaks. I was able to start a session from the app, with a timer, log the water temperature and have the phone take an “auto selfie” during the last couple of seconds of the session. Remember if you’re gonna plunge, everyone needs to know about it.

The tub even ships with a smartphone cradle that clings to the side of the tub. So it’s handy for snapping those selfies and keeping your eye on the timer or for watching/listening to other content to distract you.

I’d like to see Plunge integrate original content via guided breathwork, perhaps. This made a huge difference to my experience using the Edge Theory app, but also carried a subscription fee.

Is the Plunge Evolve XL and Pro Chiller worth it?

If you’re committing to a cold plunge practice and have the financial means, the Plunge Evolve XL and Pro Chiller would be a tremendous investment in your wellness.

It looks pristine, performs excellently, and is easy to operate and maintain. It also runs quietly, and is more weather resistant than rivals. The tub is extremely spacious and feels great to lay in, while the insulated cover holds cold temperatures brilliantly.

It’s not totally perfect. The chiller doesn’t cool as quickly as others, and the set-up is very inflexible and not at all portable.

This configuration costs $6,690 before tax, making it a truly premium purchase. That might be why my nearest studio offering plunges charges $195 per month for unlimited use!

There are far cheaper ways to achieve the same benefits of cold plunge immersion through many comfortable tubs, with well-functioning chillers and greater flexibility through portability. But few solutions offer this level of sheer luxury.

If you can pay this much just to cold plunge, it probably won’t be too much of a stretch to pay for the All-In flagship model for additional convenience through an all-in-one design.

An alternative to the Plunge Evolve XL is the Ice Barrel Ice Bath:

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