The four ice-only tubs side by side
None of these four comes with a chiller. Each needs ice, and none of the makers says how much a fill takes14714. The Sharper Image tub is a foldable one-person tub that Target sells for $43.99, and the other three are rigid tubs from $1,149.99 to $2,70014714.
Prices are US prices before tax. The Ice Barrel 300, Ice Barrel 500 and Redwood Alaskan were read on November 6, 2026, and the Sharper Image price at Target on October 20. Redwood’s $2,700 is a sale price, and its page also promotes a Black Friday sale, so the price may change7. If you were looking for an Ice Barrel 400, Ice Barrel’s store lists the 300 and the 500, and we found no 400 page5.
| Question | Ice Barrel 300 | Ice Barrel 500 | Redwood Outdoors Alaskan | Sharper Image ice bath |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | An insulated barrel up to about 6 ft, with ports for a chiller later | People over about 6 ft, up to 6 ft 9 in, who want to sit upright | A wood-clad 130-gallon tub on a concrete pad or checked deck | A foldable one-person tub, with your own air pump |
| US price | $1,149.99 list on Nov 6, with no sale1 | $1,749.99 list on Nov 6, with no sale4 | $2,700 on sale on Nov 6, against a printed regular price of $2,999. The page doesn’t say when the sale ends, and a Black Friday banner means the price may change7 | $43.99 at Target on Oct 20. Target showed $49.99 as the earlier price14 |
| Price and where to buy | $1,149.99US price, checked Check price at Ice Barrel for Ice Barrel 300 | $1,749.99US price, checked Check price at Ice Barrel for Ice Barrel 500 | $2,700US price, checked Sale price when checked. Redwood Outdoors lists $2,999 as its regular price.Check price at Redwood Outdoors for Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub | $43.99US price, checked Check price at Target for Sharper Image Ice Bath Portable Cold Plunge |
| Shipping | $300 listed for the contiguous US, with the final cost set at checkout1 | $300 listed for freight to the contiguous US, arriving 7 to 13 days after you order. The page also says shipping is calculated at checkout46 | Freight in a wooden crate to the curb, by appointment. The cost is calculated at checkout711 | Not stated in Target’s listing14 |
| Capacity | 77 gallons (292 liters)1 | 94 gallons (356 liters)4 | Up to 130 gallons, one person79 | 100 gallons listed, with a water depth of 1.45 ft. The amount at a normal fill isn’t stated14 |
| Who it fits | Most body sizes up to 6 ft. Above that, your knees may sit above the waterline1 | Up to 6 ft 9 in, sitting upright on a built-in seat, with built-in steps4 | One person. No height limit stated7 | One adult, up to 6.5 ft and 250 lb14 |
| Size | W 35.5 in x H 30.5 in x 35.5 in1 | W 30.7 in x H 42.1 in x L 57.6 in4 | 37 in outside diameter by 40.5 in tall. The FAQ says about 31 in across and about 40 in tall79 | Tub 31.5 x 29 in. Overall 5.31 x 28.35 x 13.28 in, and Target doesn’t say if that is the folded size14 |
| Weight | 61 lb empty, 700 lb full1 | 104 lb empty. No filled weight given4 | 250 lb empty, 1,334 lb with water7 | 7.28 lb14 |
| Tub and insulation | Barrel and lid with polyurethane foam throughout. No temperature-holding figure1 | 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 time4 | Heat-treated hemlock exterior and lid, with reflective insulation under the wood per the FAQ. No temperature-holding figure79 | PVC frame, PVC and polyester liner, tri-layer insulated walls and eight supports. No temperature-holding figure14 |
| Lowest temperature with ice | Not stated1 | Not stated4 | Not stated7 | Not stated14 |
| Chiller connection | 3/4 in NPT ports (14 TPI) for adding a chiller. Ice Barrel’s chiller was $3,999.99 on Oct 2014 | The same 3/4 in NPT ports. Ice Barrel’s chiller was $3,999.99 on Oct 204 | Three pre-plumbed 1/2 in MPT wall fittings on tubs from mid-2023, per the FAQ. The product page doesn’t list them or offer a chiller for this tub79 | None listed. A bottom spigot with a hose drains it14 |
| Power and plumbing | None needed without a chiller1 | None needed without a chiller4 | None needed without a chiller. The drain is gravity-fed through a 3/4 in garden hose connection7 | No electrical or plumbing need for the tub. An air pump is required but not included14 |
| Floor and setup | You assemble the drain spout, and wrenches aren’t included. The floor or deck has to carry about 700 lb1 | You assemble the drain spout, and wrenches aren’t included. Ice Barrel says to use an even surface that can hold it full4 | A level concrete pad at least 4 in thick with mesh, or a deck checked for the weight. Not on dirt or grass89 | Adult assembly, no tools. Target gives no floor-load guidance or outdoor-use rating14 |
| Included | Lid, UV- and water-resistant cover, two bulkheads and seals, top inlet plug and a pre-filter1 | Barrel, lid and a UV- and water-resistant cover4 | Tub, hemlock lid and movable entry steps7 | The tub. A lid isn’t confirmed, and the air pump isn’t included14 |
| Water care | Water stabilizer ($59.99) and maintenance kit ($179.99) sold separately. How often to change the water isn’t stated14 | Water stabilizer ($59.99) and maintenance kit ($179.99) sold separately4 | No filter or sanitizer built in. Change the water after each session with ice only, or about every 7 days with bromine89 | Cleaning and water-change guidance isn’t stated14 |
| Warranty | Sold as limited lifetime. Ice Barrel’s warranty page caps it at 3 years12 | Sold as limited lifetime. Ice Barrel’s warranty page caps it at 3 years24 | 1 year from delivery. Freeze damage is excluded10 | 1 year, listed as limited. Terms aren’t on the page14 |
| Returns | 30 days from delivery, minus a 30% restocking fee that also covers return shipping. Original shipping isn’t refunded3 | 30 days from delivery, minus a 30% restocking fee that also covers return shipping. Original shipping isn’t refunded3 | 30 days from delivery, and Redwood must approve the return in writing. Redwood decides between a full refund, a partial refund or credit1112 | 30 days at any Target store or Target.com. Fees and conditions aren’t on the product page14 |
| Who makes it | Ice Barrel1 | Ice Barrel4 | Redwood Outdoors7 | Target sells it under the Sharper Image name and names no maker. Sharper Image’s own store search found no ice bath on Oct 201415 |
| Cost to start, known items only | $1,449.99 if shipping comes to the listed $300. Ice and water care unknown1 | $2,049.99 if shipping comes to the listed $300. Ice and water care unknown4 | $2,700 plus freight, a pad or checked deck, and ice. Freight and pad costs unknown78 | $43.99 plus an air pump Target doesn’t price, and ice14 |
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Which one fits which need
Each suits a different need, and this isn’t a ranking. The first questions are your height and your floor, because the four differ most in size and weight. The buying guide names the Ice Barrel 300 as its best cold plunge without a chiller. Choose a different one here if your height or yard says so.
- Trying ice for the least money: Sharper Image ice bath. It’s $43.99 at Target (Oct 20), weighs 7.28 lb and folds for storage, and it fits one adult up to 6.5 ft and 250 lb14. The catch: an air pump is required and not included, no maker is named, and the one-year warranty has no terms on the page. Sharper Image’s own store listed no ice bath on Oct 201415. See the Sharper Image review.
- An insulated barrel up to about 6 ft, with a chiller option later: Ice Barrel 300. It’s $1,149.99 plus $300 shipping, holds 77 gallons, and needs no outlet or plumbing1. It has 3/4 in NPT ports for a chiller1. The catch: a full barrel weighs about 700 lb, and a return costs 30%13.
- Over about 6 ft, or you want to sit upright: Ice Barrel 500. It’s rated up to 6 ft 9 in, holds 94 gallons and has a built-in seat and steps4. It’s $1,749.99 plus $300 shipping4. The catch: Ice Barrel gives no filled weight, and the same 30% return fee and 3-year cap on the warranty apply24.
- A wood-clad tub for a yard or beside a sauna: Redwood Outdoors Alaskan. It holds up to 130 gallons for one person and comes with a hemlock lid and steps7. It’s $2,700 on sale against a printed $2,9997. The catch: it weighs 1,334 lb full and needs a concrete pad or an engineered deck, the warranty is one year, and Redwood decides whether a return gets a full refund781012.
Weight, floor and fit
A full Ice Barrel 300 weighs about 700 lb1. The 500 weighs 104 lb empty, and Ice Barrel gives no filled weight. The water alone in 94 gallons weighs about 780 lb, which is our arithmetic from the gallon count4. Redwood’s Alaskan is 250 lb empty and 1,334 lb with water7.
Redwood’s manual asks for a concrete pad at least 4 in thick with mesh, or a deck that an architect or building engineer has checked for the weight. It advises against dirt or grass8. The Sharper Image tub weighs 7.28 lb, and Target gives no floor-load guidance, so check the surface before you fill it14.
On fit, the 300 suits most people up to 6 ft and is 35.5 in wide, so measure your doorway1. The 500 is rated to 6 ft 9 in, and Ice Barrel says it still fits through standard doors4. Redwood’s Alaskan seats one person, and its movable steps are 25 in tall7. Target says the Sharper Image tub fits one adult up to 6.5 ft or 250 lb14.
Can you add a chiller later?
Both Ice Barrels have 3/4 in NPT ports for a chiller14. Ice Barrel sells its own chiller at $3,999.99 (Oct 20) and doesn’t publish its cooling range, horsepower or power draw4. A 300 and that chiller come to $5,149.98 before shipping, and a 500 and the chiller to $5,749.98. That is our arithmetic, and the second figure matches the 500 bundle Ice Barrel lists45.
Redwood’s FAQ says tubs from mid-2023 have three pre-plumbed 1/2 in MPT wall fittings, two low for suction and one high for return9. The Alaskan’s product page doesn’t list them and offers no chiller for this tub. Redwood sells a separate Alaskan All-In-One with a built-in chiller, at $6,999 for the Standard Model on Oct 24713.
Target lists no cooling system, ports or fittings for the Sharper Image tub, so treat it as ice only for as long as you own it14.
What the warranties and returns say
Ice Barrel sells both barrels with a limited lifetime warranty, but its warranty page caps that at 3 years2. It covers material defects when you use and maintain the barrel as intended. Ice Barrel repairs or replaces the barrel free, and you pay shipping and handling. Cosmetic wear, weather damage, misuse, delamination after the first year and damage to a deck or patio aren’t covered24.
A return costs 30% of the price, and that also covers return shipping. At list price, that is about $345 on the 300 and about $525 on the 500, and the original shipping isn’t refunded3. The policy’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 pickup3.
Redwood’s warranty is one year from delivery. Redwood chooses between replacement parts, a replacement tub and a full or partial refund, and it excludes freeze damage if you leave the tub filled at or below 32°F without winterizing it10. A return needs Redwood’s written approval and goes back disassembled, palletized and in the original crate. The policy doesn’t say who pays return freight or name a restocking fee1112.
Target lists a one-year limited warranty on the Sharper Image tub and says to call its Guest Services for the manufacturer’s or supplier’s warranty before you buy. The page doesn’t say what the year covers or who handles claims. The 30-day return is at any Target store or on Target.com, with fees and conditions in Target’s return policy14.
What no maker says about the ice
No maker says how much ice a fill takes. Ice Barrel gives no amount for either barrel, Redwood gives none, and Target’s listing gives none, though Target staff suggest starting around 20 to 40 lb for the Sharper Image tub14714. None gives a hold time or a lowest temperature with ice. Because of that, the running cost of every tub here is unknown, and we haven’t priced it.
The nearest figure is in Ice Barrel’s FAQ for the 500, which says it often holds around 59 degrees without a chiller. It gives no room temperature, starting water or time4. For scale, the trials in a 2025 review of cold-water immersion used water from 7 to 15°C, about 45 to 59°F. That review says nothing about how cold an ice-cooled tub gets16.
The Redwood and Target pages list benefits of cold exposure in general, such as faster recovery, and cites no studies about the tub714. The Ice Barrel 300 and 500 pages carry similar wellness pitches, also without studies about the tub14. For what studies found, and who should check with a clinician first, read the cold plunge evidence review.
When ice stops being enough
Ice is a cheap way to find out whether you’ll keep plunging. The cost is that every session depends on ice you buy and carry, and no maker here says how much. If buying ice becomes a chore, or you want the water at a set temperature, a chiller is the next step. A return on an Ice Barrel costs 30%, so decide before you order whether to start with ice or with a chilled tub3.
You can add a chiller to an Ice Barrel, which costs $3,999.99 for Ice Barrel’s own (Oct 20)4. Or you can buy a tub with a chiller built in. The Ice Barrel 300 vs Sun Home Horizontal vs Plunge Air comparison sets a barrel against two chilled tubs, and Plunge All-In vs Plunge Air compares two chilled tubs with each other. To line up seven hard-shell tubs with a chiller from $6,990 to $16,500, see cold plunge tubs with a chiller compared.
For what a chiller adds in purchase price, electricity and upkeep, see how much a cold plunge costs to buy and run. To compare all twelve tubs on ice or chiller, floor, circuit, warranty and returns, see the cold plunge buying guide and how we choose cold plunges.
Sources
- Ice Barrel 300 official product page and store listing Ice Barrel · manufacturer
- Ice Barrel Product Warranty Ice Barrel · manufacturer
- Ice Barrel Return and Cancellation Policy Ice Barrel · manufacturer
- Ice Barrel 500 official product page Ice Barrel · manufacturer
- Ice Barrel online store product list Ice Barrel · manufacturer · data file
- Ice Barrel shipping and delivery Ice Barrel · manufacturer
- Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub official product page Redwood Outdoors · manufacturer
- Alaskan Plunge Tub Installation and Owner's Manual (version 4.0, October 2026) Redwood Outdoors, 2026 · manufacturer
- FAQs: Cold Plunge Tubs and Chillers, Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub Redwood Outdoors · manufacturer
- Hot Tub and Cold Plunge Tub Warranty Information Redwood Outdoors · manufacturer
- Redwood Outdoors Shipping and Returns Policy Redwood Outdoors · manufacturer
- Redwood Outdoors Refund policy Redwood Outdoors · manufacturer
- Alaskan All-In-One Cold Plunge Redwood Outdoors · manufacturer
- Sharper Image Ice Bath Portable Cold Plunge Revitalizing Ice Therapy Workout Recovery - Black Target
- Sharper Image store search results for ice bath Sharper Image · data file
- Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis PLOS ONE, 2025 · meta-analysis
How this was written. Written from the sources listed above, checked . It is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a clinician before acting on anything here if you have a health condition or take medication.
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