For the better part of a year, my social media feed was inundated. cold dives, ice baths and cold therapy. Ever since I learned about Wim Hof, a Dutch extreme athlete known for his endurance in cold temperatures, I have wanted to try this recovery technique. As a newbie, the closest I came to an ice bath was in the cold water of Lake Tahoe.
This summer I tested Echelon Smart Cold Dive Pro (1.0 hp). This is an inflatable bathtub connected to a cooling device that can cool down to 36 degrees Fahrenheit or heat up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This versatile system can be connected to your home Wi-Fi so you can control it from your smartphone, and it's even portable so you can take it with you on the go (though I wouldn't recommend it due to its size).
The Echelon Smart Cold Plunge Pro has a simple companion app, ThriveX, that works well. This is where the “smart” part of the name really comes into play. The chiller has a touchscreen display that can be difficult to see in direct sunlight, but the real magic lies in the accompanying app. Using the mobile app, you can adjust the temperature, track statistics and create graphs.
Schedules are my favorite feature. During testing, I programmed the device to cool the water in the afternoon so I could use it after tennis practice. To save energy, I scheduled the device to turn off overnight and then it would start working again the next day.
Now it's time to touch on some of the things I didn't like about this device. First of all, the tub is a little short, so if you're tall, I'd consider buying a different, longer model. Cleaning is also a challenge. This is actually not the fault of the device as it has an ozone sanitizer built into it. However, the nature of the water entering and exiting means it becomes polluted. I suggest finding some chemicals that will help extend the life of your water so you don't have to change it as often.
In this episode of How to Do It All, which you can watch above, I talk about what I learned from this experience, as well as my first impressions of using the Echelon Smart Cold Plunge Pro. I will also walk you through the setup process so you can be prepared for your first dive. The video provides cleaning and care tips to help you get the most out of your cold dive.
Cold immersion made cold therapy an accessible and permanent part of my life. However, this system requires a significant investment, as the Echelon Smart Cold Plunge Pro costs $4,999. The convenience and smart features it provides are worth it if you're serious about this type of recovery. It's been a great experience with the device so far and I'm looking forward to diving even deeper.
Overall my experience with cold therapy has been positive. However, this type of recovery is definitely not for everyone, and I would recommend consulting with your doctor first to make sure it's right for you. I would also like to make sure that you aware of the risksespecially if you have cardiovascular disease.
Ice baths have become firmly established in my weekly schedule, but have not yet changed my daily routine. The real test will be in winter. Will I have the desire to plunge into the cold when there is also snow on the ground? Check back later to find out.
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