Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller Review

Cold plunge and chiller combos often cost $3,000 or more, which is why durability should be a factor when considering one. Often, a chiller will go out, or the tub itself can crack or degrade over time, especially when exposed to the elements. A cracked tub can throw that $3,000 investment right out the window. Which is why, when I saw the sturdy and no-frills build of the Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller ($3,476), I thought it might be able to handle the great outdoors. 

The tub is made from 45mm linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), an extremely lightweight and durable plastic. That, combined with its simple tub-and-lid design and some other thoughtful features, gave me high hopes that this tub could stand the rigors of the outdoors. So I left it outside to brave the elements and see how it fared. 

In short: The Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller is made with a durable industrial plastic and some clever design elements to help it withstand extreme outdoor temperatures. The tub is roomy enough for a larger person and very comfortable to sit in. The Eternal Ice Power chiller is a 1-horsepower beast capable of quickly chilling water to 36 degrees Fahrenheit and heating it to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

How I Tested the Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller

I tested the Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller by plunging daily for about 2 months. The tub was stored and used in my backyard in November and December.

Most of the non-collapsible plunges that I test are extremely heavy. The Sun Home Cold Plunge Pro I reviewed weighed a whopping 345 pounds dry, which is barely above average for hard plunges. Moving the 110-pound Eternal Ice HD Pro to its spot in the backyard was a relatively easy task.

The lighter weight doesn’t mean less durability, however. The walls and lid are made from 45mm linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), an extremely durable yet lightweight plastic compound commonly used in pipes and agricultural equipment. Plus, it’s insulated with polyurethane foam, which keeps the weight down. 

I tested it alongside the Eternal Ice Power Chiller ($2,219), a 1-horsepower chiller that can lower water temperature to 36 degrees and raise it to 104 degrees. 

Setting up both the tub and the chiller was fairly simple. The tub was easy to move, as was the chiller, thanks to its four caster wheels. Attaching the hoses was a matter of screwing them to the right ports, and then filling the tub with water and turning the chiller on. 

Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller Review

Tub Ergonomics

The tub is 35 inches tall and has a 36-inch diameter. I’m 5’8” and 220 pounds, and I had more than enough room to sit. In fact, you could easily fit another person if you could convince them to join you (my cold-averse wife strongly declined). It’s a barrel-style tub, which made it easy to sit and relax, but if you’d rather recline, this might not be the tub for you.

I also liked the height because it’s one of the only tubs that I can sit upright in without submerging my head. Most barrel tubs require me to hold myself up, so this was a nice change of pace. 

That said, people who are over 6 feet tall may have some trouble fully submerging in this tub. Sitting with my butt on the bottom of the tub, the water goes up to my chin. For taller people, this probably means their shoulders and upper chest are going to be out of the water when they sit. To be fair, that’s a lot more comfortable than fully submerging, but it’s something for tall folks to consider. 

The tub itself is extremely sturdy, thanks to its industrial plastic build. The lid handled my 220 pounds sitting on it with no problem. Also, parents of small children will appreciate that the lid has straps around the handles that secure the lid to the tub. It’s a useful safety feature to keep kids out of the tub when parents aren’t around. 

Water Chilling

While I appreciate the tub, the Eternal Ice Power Chiller is the technological marvel of this combo. The setup is simple. One tube funnels water from the tub to the chiller, and the other tube returns chilled, filtered water to the tub. The chiller’s touchscreen is bright and intuitive, making it one of the most user-friendly chillers I’ve ever used.  

The 1-horsepower chiller is one of the more powerful that I’ve tested. It chills the water quickly. I started the chiller in the morning when I set it up, and it was down to 50 degrees by early evening. The consistency is impressive. I kept the temperature at 50 degrees, hoping it’d be in the mid-50s when I’d hop in, but every time I went out to the tub, it was right at 50. I also like the fact that it can heat up to 104 degrees when you’re in the mood for a hot soak. 

When the chiller alone is running, it’s fairly quiet. The noise goes up considerably when the chiller’s fan turns on, but it was never loud enough to drive me nuts. Plus, the fan only turns on periodically, and only for a few minutes at a time. In my 2 months of testing, I think I’ve only noticed the fan two or three times. 

Water Filtration

The Eternal Ice Power Chiller has the coarse paper filler that most chillers use. I appreciate this because it makes them easy and fairly cheap to replace. I’ve tested a few chillers that use one-off filters that you have to buy from the brand, and it’s always more expensive and time-consuming.

It also has an integrated ozone system, which is appropriate for chillers in this price range. Ozone systems help keep the tub from getting slimy. Any tub I’ve tested that didn’t have a chiller with ozone filtration had to be drained and scrubbed weekly. Full disclosure: I haven’t changed the water yet. After 3 months, it’s still clear and algae-free. 

At $2,219, it’s not the least expensive chiller. But the excellent filtration, ease of use, quick chilling, and heating feature make it one of my favorites. 

When you do end up changing the water, the tub has a huge drainage port near the bottom. It’s extremely useful for draining the tub quickly (quicker than every other tub I’ve tested), but the downside is that you can’t connect a hose to it if it’s in a house or garage. This tub is draining right where it sits, cementing it as an outdoor tub.

Durability

What impressed me the most about the tub itself was just how sturdy and simple it was. At its core, it’s a tub made of industrial-grade plastic, and the tub itself feels like one huge piece. No caster wheels for moving it, no extra bells and whistles that can break off. While other tubs have spa vibes, this beast was made for surviving the great outdoors. 

After a few months in the sun, I don’t see any signs of degradation or cracking in the exterior — the tub still looks new. I think that the main danger to this tub would be in colder climates. If the water freezes, it may expand and crack the tub. 

Apparently, Eternal Ice Bath thinks so, too, because there’s a slot in the lid so you can insert the company’s Eternal Ice De-Icer ($67). During winter months when the weather drops below freezing, the De-Icer’s thermostat activates at 35 degrees and heats the water to prevent it from freezing and cracking the tub. As a California resident, I won’t need this, but our readers in colder climes will likely appreciate this. 

Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller: Final Thoughts

While most cold plunge tubs are designed to look like they belong in a spa, the Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller is built for being outside, and it looks the part. The industrial-grade plastic tub looks tough, and features like a deicing slot in the lid make it ideal for surviving freezing winter nights.

The chiller is powerful, relatively quiet, and offers a heating option. Plus, the filtration is so effective that you’ll likely only need to change the water every few months. Taller people may have some difficulty fully submerging, but if you’re looking for a tub that can survive all four seasons in your backyard for years, the Eternal Ice HD Pro Ice Bath + Chiller might be your best bet.