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Ice tub

Ice Barrel 500

Barrel with lid and cover, no chiller (94 gallons)

$1,749.99US price, checked Oct 20, 2026

Insulated 94-gallon ice tub for people up to 6 ft 9 in, chiller-ready, sold without one

Check price at Ice Barrel Full review →

Ice tub

Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub

Stained, with lid and steps, no chiller (130 gallons)

$2,700US price, checked Oct 24, 2026

130-gallon hemlock ice tub with lid and steps, sold without a chiller

Check price at Redwood Outdoors Full review →

Criterion	Ice Barrel 500	Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub
US price	$1,749.99Checked Oct 20, 2026 · Price details in the review	$2,700Checked Oct 24, 2026 · Price details in the review
Three-year ownership estimate	$1,749.99 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: annual consumables.	$2,700 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: installation, annual consumables.
Choose if	You're over about 6 ft and want an upright ice tub you can add a chiller to later.	You want a wood-clad ice tub for a yard or beside a sauna and have a pad or deck for about 1,334 lb.
Main trade-off	Cold water depends on ice, the "lifetime" warranty is capped at 3 years, and returns cost 30%.	Without a chiller, cold water depends on ice, and Redwood doesn't say how much ice that takes or how cold the water gets.
Key specifications	Capacity: 94 gallons (356 liters) Size and weight: W 30.7 in x H 42.1 in x L 57.6 in. 104 lb empty. No filled weight given Fit: Up to 6 ft 9 in, sitting upright on a built-in seat, with built-in steps to get in and out Cooling: No chiller included. Cool it with ice, or add a chiller through the 3/4 in NPT ports (14 TPI) Insulation: R-16 polyurethane foam in the barrel and lid. The FAQ says it often holds around 59 degrees without a chiller, with no conditions or time given Included: Barrel, lid and a UV- and water-resistant cover Add-ons: Ice Barrel Chiller $3,999.99, water stabilizer $59.99, maintenance kit $179.99 and a replacement 500 cover $99.99 Shipping: Freight to the contiguous US for $300, arriving 7 to 13 days after you order. The page also says shipping is calculated at checkout Warranty: Sold as limited lifetime. The warranty page says it's limited to 3 years Returns: 30 days from delivery, minus a 30% restocking fee. Original shipping isn't refunded	Capacity: Up to 130 gallons, one person Size and weight: 37 in diameter by 40.5 in tall (FAQ: about 31 in across, about 40 in tall). 250 lb empty, 1,334 lb with water Cooling: No chiller included. Cool it with ice. Redwood gives no lowest temperature for the tub Chiller connection: Three pre-plumbed 1/2 in MPT wall fittings on tubs from mid-2023 (two low for suction, one high for return), per the FAQ. The product page doesn't list them Insulation and lid: Reflective insulation between the liner and the wood, per the FAQ. Heat-treated hemlock lid included. No temperature-holding figure given Materials: Canadian heat-treated hemlock exterior and lid. Molded acrylic liner per the spec table, fiberglass per the FAQ Drain: Built-in drain with a 3/4 in garden hose connection Included: Tub, hemlock lid and movable entry steps Foundation: Level concrete pad at least 4 in thick with mesh, or a deck checked for the weight. Not on dirt or grass Water care: No filter or sanitizer built in. Change the water after each session with ice only, about every 7 days with bromine Freight: Wooden crate to the curb, appointment required. Shipping calculated at checkout
Exact variant	Barrel with lid and cover, no chiller (94 gallons)	Stained, with lid and steps, no chiller (130 gallons)
Dimensions	Ice Barrel lists it at W 30.7 in x H 42.1 in x L 57.6 in. It holds 94 gallons (356 liters) and weighs 104 lb empty. Ice Barrel doesn't give a filled weight. It fits people up to 6 ft 9 in, sitting upright on a built-in seat. Ice Barrel says it still fits through standard doors.	Redwood's product page lists the tub at 37 in in diameter and 40.5 in tall. Its FAQ says about 31 in across and about 40 in tall, and neither page says which figure is the inside. It holds up to 130 gallons and seats one person. The tub weighs 250 lb empty and 1,334 lb with water, per the product page. The FAQ rounds the filled weight to about 1,350 lb. The movable steps are 23.25 in wide, 21.25 in long and 25 in tall. The tub ships in a wooden crate 3 ft 2 in wide, 3 ft 4 in long and 3 ft 4 in tall.
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 to set it on an even surface that can hold it full. It ships in 2 to 3 business days and should arrive 7 to 13 days after you order. Barrels come boxed by freight, and the carrier leaves them at your garage when possible. Report any visible shipping damage within three days of delivery. At 104 lb empty, Ice Barrel's FAQ calls it more of a permanent setup than the lighter 300, though its feature list calls it movable.	Without a chiller, the tub needs no outlet or plumbing. Assembly takes three steps with the supplied parts. Screw the two handles onto the lid, take the steps out of the tub, and screw the drainpipe onto the bottom outlet. Redwood's manual asks for a strong, level foundation. That means a concrete pad at least 4 in thick with mesh, or a deck an architect or building engineer has checked for the weight. It advises against dirt or grass. The drain has a 3/4 in garden hose connection and works by gravity. The manual suggests a 1/4 HP submersible utility pump, around $60, to move the water farther. A freight truck delivers the crate to the curb by appointment, and someone has to be there to sign. The page's delivery estimate showed an order on Oct 23 shipping Nov 3, and Redwood calls delivery times estimates.
Materials	Made in the USA from recycled, BPA-free LLDPE plastic with a UV formula. Polyurethane foam insulation fills the barrel and lid, and Ice Barrel rates it at R-16. Ice Barrel says the plastic fades in direct sunlight, and its warranty doesn't cover fading.	The exterior and lid are Canadian heat-treated hemlock. The spec table lists a molded acrylic liner, while the FAQ calls it fiberglass. The FAQ says a reflective insulation layer sits between the liner and the wood. The stained model comes with a clear linseed-oil primer that Redwood says protects the wood for about 12 months. The FAQ then suggests a marine-grade sealer for the tub, the steps and both sides of the lid. The manual says to reapply stain and seal every 1 to 2 years.
Warranty	Limited lifetime, capped at 3 years by Ice Barrel's own warranty page. It covers material defects, such as a broken valve, as long as you use the barrel as intended and maintain it. Ice Barrel repairs or replaces the barrel free, but you pay any shipping and handling. Cosmetic wear and fading, weather damage including freezing, improper installation, relocation, misuse and unauthorized changes aren't covered. Neither is delamination (bubbling) after the first year, or damage to a deck or patio under the barrel. It covers only the original buyer and non-commercial use.	One year from delivery, per Redwood's warranty policy for cold plunge tubs. It covers defects in materials and workmanship for the original buyer. Redwood chooses between replacement parts, a replacement tub or a full or partial refund. Labor, installation and removal aren't covered, and Redwood pays reasonable shipping only on returns it authorizes. Freight damage, cosmetic blemishes and poor water maintenance are excluded. The tub must not be operated, stored or left filled at or below 32°F unless it's winterized, and freeze damage isn't covered. Claims go by email with proof of purchase and photos or video. Redwood's chillers are also covered for 1 year.
Returns	30 days from delivery, minus a 30% restocking fee that also covers return shipping. Original shipping isn't refunded, and the barrel must be in its original condition and packaging or it won't be accepted. The policy's return steps say to request a return label within 30 days of the order date, which is shorter than 30 days from delivery. 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 delivery, and Redwood must approve the return in writing first. Redwood decides whether to give a full refund, a partial refund or credit, less shipping and handling and other costs. The tub must come back disassembled, palletized and in its original wood crate. The policy doesn't say who pays return freight or name a restocking fee. An order with a cold plunge is held 7 days before processing. Canceling in that window is free, and after it the charge is 3.5% of the order. Damage has to be noted on the delivery paperwork and emailed to Redwood within 7 days.
Unresolved questions	The weight when full How much ice a session takes, and how long the water stays cold What the FAQ's "around 59 degrees" assumes about the room and starting water What warranty shipping and handling costs Whether a pre-filter is included, since the 500's page doesn't list one	How much ice a fill needs and how long the water stays cold The lowest water temperature the tub reaches with ice The insulation's rating and how well the lid holds the cold Which diameter is the inside, since the page says 37 in and the FAQ says about 31 in Whether the liner is molded acrylic or fiberglass Freight cost, which Redwood calculates at checkout Return freight cost and whether any restocking fee applies The price and model of a chiller that fits this tub, since the page lists none Whether the bromine and water balancing kits are back in stock Whether the tub carries any certification, since the pages name none

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.