Ice tub
Ice Barrel 300
Barrel with lid and cover, no chiller (77 gallons)
$1,149.99US price, checkedCompact insulated 77-gallon ice tub, chiller-ready but sold without one
Check price at Ice Barrel for Ice Barrel 300 Full review →SIDE BY SIDE
See prices, running costs, specifications and trade-offs side by side. Choose two to four products of the same type.
Ice tub
Barrel with lid and cover, no chiller (77 gallons)
$1,149.99US price, checkedCompact insulated 77-gallon ice tub, chiller-ready but sold without one
Check price at Ice Barrel for Ice Barrel 300 Full review →Ice tub
Black foldable tub, sold at Target (no chiller)
$43.99US price, checkedFoldable one-person ice tub sold at Target under the Sharper Image name, with no chiller
Check price at Target for Sharper Image Ice Bath Portable Cold Plunge Full review →| Criterion | Ice Barrel 300 | Sharper Image Ice Bath Portable Cold Plunge |
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| US price | $1,149.99Checked Oct 23, 2026 · Price details in the review | $43.99Checked Oct 20, 2026 · Price details in the review |
| Three-year ownership estimate | $1,149.99 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: annual consumables. | $43.99 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: installation, annual consumables. |
| Choose if | You're up to about 6 feet tall and want to start plunging with ice before paying for a chiller. | You want a low-cost way to try an ice bath at home and are fine adding your own ice and pump. |
| Main trade-off | Without a chiller, cold water depends on ice or cold weather, and Ice Barrel doesn't say how much ice that takes. | You get no chiller, no named manufacturer and a one-year warranty with no stated terms, and an air pump isn't included. |
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| Exact variant | Barrel with lid and cover, no chiller (77 gallons) | Black foldable tub, sold at Target (no chiller) |
| Dimensions | It fits most body sizes up to 6 feet. Above that, full-body immersion can feel tight and your knees may sit above the waterline. For taller people, Ice Barrel suggests its larger Ice Barrel 500, rated up to 6 ft 9 in and priced at $1,749.99 on Oct 20. The barrel is 35.5 in wide, so measure your doorway before you order. | Target describes the tub as 31.5 in by 29 in with a water depth of 1.45 ft. Overall dimensions are 5.31 in high, 28.35 in wide and 13.28 in deep, and Target doesn't say whether that's the folded size. The listing gives a 100-gallon capacity and a 7.28 lb weight, and says the tub fits one adult up to 6.5 ft or 250 lb. It doesn't say how 100 gallons relates to the 1.45 ft depth, so the amount of water at a normal fill is unknown. |
| Installation | No chiller is included, so the barrel needs no outlet, circuit or plumbing. You assemble the drain spout yourself, and the wrenches shown in the replacement parts kit aren't included. Ice Barrel says most people can get in without a step stool. It ships within 2 to 3 business days and should arrive 7 to 13 days after you order. A full barrel weighs about 700 lb, so the floor or deck has to carry that. | Target lists no electrical or plumbing need for the tub. It says adult assembly is required and no tools are needed, and the tub folds for storage. Its spec list shows an air pump as required but not included, and doesn't say whether the pump must be electric. A bottom spigot with a hose handles drainage. Target gives no setup time, no floor-load guidance and no outdoor-use rating. |
| Materials | Thick polyurethane foam insulates the barrel and the lid. Ice Barrel says it's made in the USA from recycled materials, and its FAQ goes further and says 100% recycled. The design is listed as patent pending. | Target lists a PVC frame and a liner of PVC and polyester. It describes tri-layer insulated walls with eight supports for stability. Customer reviews and Target's review summary mention a lid, but the description and spec list don't say one is included. Target says the item is imported and doesn't name the maker. |
| Warranty | Three years on the barrel, per Ice Barrel's warranty page, which caps its limited lifetime warranty at 3 years. It covers material defects when you use the barrel as intended and maintain it. Ice Barrel repairs or replaces the barrel free, but not the shipping and handling. Cosmetic wear from use and weather, such as fading, isn't covered, and neither are improper installation, misuse, unauthorized changes, delamination after the first year or damage to a deck or patio. It covers only the original buyer and non-commercial use. | One year, listed as a limited warranty on Target's product page. Target says to call its Guest Services for a copy of the manufacturer's or supplier's warranty before you buy. The page doesn't say what the year covers, what's excluded or who handles claims. |
| Returns | 30 days from delivery, minus a 30% restocking fee that also covers return shipping. The original shipping isn't refunded, and the barrel must come back in its original condition and packaging. Ice Barrel's steps say to request a return label within 30 days of the order date, which can be shorter than 30 days from delivery, and someone has to be there for the pickup. Refunds come 1 to 2 weeks after Ice Barrel accepts the return. Canceling before the order ships costs 4%. | 30 days from the date of purchase, delivery or pickup, per Target's product page. You can return it to any Target store or to Target.com. The page points to Target's return policy, and fees and conditions aren't stated on the product page. |
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These comparisons use published specifications, not head-to-head tests. Prices and terms are dated. Unknown costs are not zero. Check the exact variant before you buy.