COLD WATER THERAPY
It’s Time To Chill! Over the last few years, the cold water therapy side of the wet leisure sector has gained real traction thanks to some high-profile media coverage detailing the many benefits that it provides. Whilst still a niche sector, the resulting wave of new products made available, especially from manufacturers within the hot tub sector, was almost inevitable, and in this issue, we take a closer look at some of the portable options By Jon Wadeson
D
espite what’s been a challenging period for the wellness sector, and in particular for hot tub retailers and brands, one product area that has really taken off over the last couple of years is that which involves cold water therapy. There’s many names being used across the industry for these products – ice baths, plunge pools and cold tubs to name just a few – plus there’s also solutions which combine both cold and hot environments to consider too. Whatever the term used for the product, they are all referring to the immersion of the body into a product which contains cold water of 15°C or less. Having been used for hundreds if not thousands of years, cold water therapy provides a number of physical and mental benefits. These include but aren’t limited to: improved support for the immune system, stress reduction due to the release of dopamine, improved sleep quality, pain relief and improved recovery time for certain injuries, plus an improved metabolism for weight management. These benefits have meant in more recent times, cold water therapy has been used primarily by athletes but also by those in the
The Essential Pod is the new, lightweight addition to the Chill Tubs range from Superior Wellness
46 June 2024 SPN 46-48_SPN_June_2024_Cold_Water_Therapy.indd 46
know, however, partially due to increased media exposure highlighting the many benefits that cold water therapy provides, more people are now taking a much closer look at products in the sector and the range of benefits that the chilled water affords. So with cold water therapy and the products that provide it looking like a trend that is set to continue, in this issue, we put a number of the portable options that are currently available under the spotlight.
CHILL TUBS EXTEND RANGE WITH GAME-CHANGING INFLATABLE ICE BATH One brand that has enjoyed tremendous success with their cold water therapy products is Superior Wellness who introduced their popular Chill Tubs brand at the start of 2023. The well-received Original model, was joined by the Lite, limited edition Obsidian and Pro models last year, all of which have again proven to be extremely popular options within the sector. Now the company has announced the next product in their extensive range of ice baths, bringing the range up to five models. The Chill Tubs Essential Pod is the new,
lightweight addition to the range and has been designed for those at the beginning of their cold water journey or for those that require the flexibility of an easily transportable option. The inflatable ice bath is both portable and simple to use, with durable fibreglassreinforced PVC walls for the perfect cold plunge experience. Simply use a hose pipe and fill with cold water and to reduce the temperature further, adding ice or ice packs. Alternatively, a chiller with accessories can be purchased as an optional extra. The thermal lid allows the temperature to maintain at as low as 3°C, and both the pod and the lid are insulated, keeping the outside weather from affecting the tub. The easy-to-maintain tub is ideal for those wanting to try the physical and mental benefits of cold-water therapy, as well as the more experienced, on-the-go users. In fact, it takes less than five minutes to inflate for a super-easy set up.
CERTIKIN’S HARVIA FROSTY OFFERS COLD THERAPY FOR BODY AND MIND Regularly exposing the body to cold water for
Available from Certikin, Harvia Frosty is a cold plunge enabling owners to experience cold water therapy at home
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk 10/06/2024 20:24