ColdPlungeSpot is a cold therapy review publication. We test equipment, publish what we find, and let readers make their own decisions.
ColdPlungeSpot is an independent cold therapy review publication. We cover cold plunge tubs, portable ice baths, chillers, and the science behind cold-water immersion. Everything published on this site is based on hands-on testing or primary-source research - we do not rewrite press releases, do not publish brand-supplied content, and do not run "best of" lists based on commission rates.
We started because the cold plunge market grew faster than honest information about it. Between 2021 and 2024, dozens of new brands entered the market with significant marketing budgets and limited independent scrutiny. Prices ranged from $200 to $10,000, and most review content online was either affiliate-driven ranking articles or manufacturer-produced comparisons. We wanted to do something more rigorous.
Every product gets the same testing treatment regardless of commission rates or brand relationships.
Minimum 30 days per unit. Controlled environment plus real-world conditions. Calibrated instruments.
We tell you who should buy this product and who should skip it. Specificity is more useful than hedging.
We earn revenue through affiliate commissions. This is disclosed on every page that contains affiliate links, and it does not influence our scores. We have published reviews that recommend cheaper products over more expensive ones, and we have given low scores to products we earn commissions from. If this changes, we will stop publishing.
Dr. Halvorsen's research background at NTNU focused on the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of repeated cold-water immersion in healthy adults. This means she evaluates cold plunge equipment not just as consumer products but as tools for a specific physiological practice - and brings scientific skepticism to manufacturer claims about "optimal temperatures" and recovery benefits that are often overstated in marketing.
ColdPlungeSpot is a small publication. Dr. Halvorsen leads all testing and review content. Our editorial team includes a research assistant who handles specification verification and a copy editor who ensures factual claims are sourced before publication. We do not outsource review writing to agencies or freelancers.
When a review is authored by someone other than Dr. Halvorsen, this is clearly credited and the author's qualifications are disclosed in the byline.