SIDE BY SIDE
See prices, running costs, specifications and trade-offs side by side. Choose two to four products of the same type.
Our hot-and-cold pick
Meterous Black finish, California Redwood deck, included basic tub lid (SKU AS-CS30-BK-RD)
$11,399US price, checkedHot-and-cold plunge tub, 37 to 104°F, with published power use
Check price at Renu Therapy for Renu Therapy Cold Stoic 3.0 Full review →
Chilled plunge tub
Black, Standard size (67 in), 1.0 HP ChillX chiller
$10,990US price, checkedLay-back acrylic tub that chills and heats from 32 to 107°F, with white-glove delivery
Check price at Polar Monkeys for Polar Monkeys Brainpod 2.0 Cold Plunge Full review →| Criterion | Renu Therapy Cold Stoic 3.0 | Polar Monkeys Brainpod 2.0 Cold Plunge |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $11,399Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review | $10,990Checked Oct 13, 2026 · Price details in the review |
| Three-year ownership estimate | $12,013.95 Incomplete known subtotal. Electricity assumption: $0.18/kWh. Not included: installation, annual consumables, other annual costs. | $10,990 Incomplete known subtotal. Not included: installation, annual consumables, other annual costs, energy use. |
| Choose if | You want cold plunges and warm soaks at home from one tub, you can give it a dedicated 120 V circuit, and you can handle curbside delivery of a 365 lb tub. | You want cold plunges and warm soaks in one lay-back tub, carried into the room for you, and you have a spare dedicated 15 A circuit. |
| Main trade-off | The chiller gets only 1 year of coverage (other covered components get 5 years), returns cost 5% plus shipping, and a fresh fill cools slowly at the manual's rate. | At $10,990 you get 2 years of coverage unless you pay $1,299 or more for Chill+, and once you fill it or plug it in, you can't return it. |
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| Exact variant | Meterous Black finish, California Redwood deck, included basic tub lid (SKU AS-CS30-BK-RD) | Black, Standard size (67 in), 1.0 HP ChillX chiller |
| Dimensions | The body measures 70 L × 33 W × 35 H in. It's 33 in wide at the base and top and about 35.5 in at the widest point of the contoured sides. The tub interior is 40 L × 25 W × 31 D in. The tub weighs 365 lb dry and about 1,155 lb filled with 95 gallons. The user manual gives about 1,165 lb filled. The cut sheet asks for 15 in of clearance at the small vent and 27 in at the large vent. It also asks for 1 to 2 in on the long side for the cord. | The Standard cold plunge measures 67 in long, 31.5 in wide and 23.5 in high. Polar Monkeys gives a total footprint of 80 in long at the same width and height. The XL is 71 in long, or 84 in for its total footprint. The spec list gives a capacity of 85 gallons (322 L), but the store description says 80 gallons. The tub weighs 110 lb empty and 819 lb filled. Polar Monkeys says the Standard size suits most people up to 6'2" and suggests the XL for taller users. Interior dimensions aren't stated. |
| Installation | Renu recommends a dedicated 120 V, 15 A circuit. The user manual adds that the circuit shouldn't be shared with other devices and calls for grounded 110 V/120 V power. The unit has a GFCI plug. The product page lists a 12 ft cord, but the cut sheet shows both a 12 ft GFCI cord and a 9 ft standard 3-prong cord. No plumbing connection is described. The manual says to fill the tub with a hose to 6 to 8 in below the top and to place it on a level surface in a water-resistant area. It doesn't give a floor-load rating, and the filled tub weighs about 1,155 lb. Delivery is free curbside within the contiguous US, and you have to move the tub off the pallet yourself. It ships in 3 to 5 weeks. | The user guide calls for a dedicated 120 V, 15 A circuit with GFCI protection. You must use the GFCI extension that comes with it and no other extension cord. The product page's spec list says 110 V, though its FAQ says 120 V. Polar Monkeys calls it plug-and-play with no plumbing. You fill it with a garden hose to 8 to 9 in below the rim, using the included hose filter. You empty it through a built-in drain valve or side drainage. The chiller weighs 76 lb and needs 12 in of clearance on its left and right. The standard hoses reach 6 ft, and longer runs need custom hoses from Polar Monkeys. The guide asks for a level, solid, water-resistant surface that can hold the filled tub, ideally in shade. It gives no floor-load figure. Below 33.8°F ambient you switch to heating mode. Below 25°F you drain the tub and bring the chiller indoors. White-glove delivery in the continental US is included: the crew places the tub in the room you choose, unboxes it and removes the packaging. Installation isn't included. The product page says it ships the next business day. |
| Materials | Renu doesn't state the shell material, though its warranty page groups the Cold Stoic 3.0 with its plastic tubs. The perimeter has 4 in of HD foam insulation. The version priced here has a California Redwood breath deck, and Pacific Cedar and four composite decks are options. Renu also lists a basic tub lid and a matching step stool, and says the tub is handcrafted in Southern California. | The tub is fully insulated acrylic. Polar Monkeys doesn't name the insulation material. Black and White cost the same, and the four printed finishes cost $600 more. Polar Monkeys says custom artwork, logos and colorways are available on request. Included items are an insulated cover, two filters, an ergonomic pillow, a phone holder, a hose filter and a skimmer net. The warranty page says the systems are assembled and serviced in the USA. |
| Warranty | Covered components get a 5-year limited warranty from the delivery date. The water chiller is the exception, at 1 year. The user manual dates coverage from shipment instead. You can add a 4-year extended chiller warranty, for 5 years in total, if you buy it within 364 days of shipment. Its price isn't stated. Coverage is for non-commercial home use in the contiguous US by the original purchaser. Exclusions include water leaks, poor water chemistry, neglected filter care, freezing conditions, power outages, low water flow and misuse. Renu also takes no responsibility for the natural wood of Redwood and Cedar decks. The user manual says the warranty doesn't cover the water filter or the filter housing O-ring. You do most repairs or part replacements yourself. Renu covers parts for covered repairs, and you pay shipping and removal costs. Renu pays approved-provider labor at up to $50 per hour, for a maximum of 2 hours. Rural travel fees aren't covered. | It comes with a 2-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, counted from the original purchase date. Coverage is for the original purchaser only, with proof of purchase, and it isn't transferable. The product page says the Brainpod is for residential use only, and the warranty excludes a residential unit used commercially. Other exclusions include misuse, improper installation, freezing conditions, power outages, and poor water chemistry or filter care. Enclosing the chiller in a box or cabinet that restricts airflow is excluded too. Third-party filters void it, and so does any modification, even a cosmetic one. You must claim within 30 days of finding a defect, by email with photos and videos. Standard claims carry no shipping fee in the continental US. In-home repairs are covered only up to a pre-approved amount. Chill+ 3-Year costs $1,299 and Chill+ 5-Year costs $1,899. You can buy either only when you buy the tub. Claims under an extended warranty carry a flat $299 shipping and handling fee for residential units. |
| Returns | You can return a new cold plunge from a domestic order for any reason within 45 days of delivery. It has to arrive back in good condition, and you pay a 5% restocking fee and shipping costs. Refunds process 3 to 10 business days after receipt. Canceling before shipment costs 5%, and shipped orders can't be canceled. Refurbished, international and bulk (3 or more units) sales are final. | You can ask for a refund within 30 days of delivery. The refund policy is strict: the tub must be unused, unfilled, never plugged in and never operated. So you can't fill it to try it and then send it back. Polar Monkeys decides whether a return qualifies, and its decision is final. A 25% restocking fee applies, which is $2,747.50 on a $10,990 tub. That fee covers return shipping within the continental US. Canceling an order after it's placed costs 5%. Accessories, supplies and consumables can't be returned, and any modification voids both return eligibility and the warranty. The policy doesn't say how long a refund takes. |
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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.