Modtub Cold Plunge Unboxing & Review – 30 Days

Cold water therapy has taken over the fitness world over the past several years.

From the old school ice bath to modern cold plunges, it’s hard to go a day without seeing fitness influencers jumping in cold water and touting the health benefits of cold water therapy.

I had been interested in Saunas and Cold Plunges for many years, but could not find a great way to make the cold plunge work year round. I started with traditional ice baths in my bathtub and then graduated to the DIY Cold Plunge with a horse trough.

I learned pretty quickly that buying ice was a massive pain, so I only plunged in the wintertime when I could get naturally cold water because of the freezing temperatures outside. Plunging in the summer was a no go for me.

In early 2024, I made the decision that I was going to invest in a cold plunge that I could use year round and every day of the week.

I researched every cold plunge on the market, only to be left frustrated by how fragmented the market was.

Too many cold plunge options, high prices, and hard to find legitimate reviews from non-influencers.

It felt like there were 30+ different cold plunge options and almost all of them had considerable downsides when you considered the investment price.

My criteria for choosing a cold plunge was narrowed down to:

• $3-5k Price Range
• Chiller able to be kept outside in the summer (Hot/Humid Nashville weather)
• Small enough to fit outside on a covered patio
• Strong enough to hold up to the elements outside

After spending literally dozens of hours researching and jumping back/forth between a few different cold plunge options, ultimately I chose the Modtub.

It just made sense to me that a Grizzly cooler would have superior insulation in comparison to other cold plunges on the market and be more efficient in holding temperatures outdoors.

In this article, I will share everything I learned about Modtub and my thoughts on it after using the cold plunge for the past 30 days.

What is the Modtub Cold Plunge?

Modtub is Dallas, Texas based company that sells a cold plunge unit that combines a Grizzly Cooler with the Active Aqua 1/4″ HP chiller.

Put another way – this is a massive Yeti style insulated cooler (Grizzly brand) that has been “modded” to have a chiller connected to it to keep the water cold.

Some fast facts on the Modtub:

• Delivers with everything needed to plunge on Day 1
• Chiller cools water to 39 degrees, no ice needed
• Includes Pump and Filter to keep water clean
• Footprint: 72″ wide and 45″ deep (minium)

One important thing to know when researching the Modtub: It is possible to buy all of the parts directly and create your own DIY insulated cooler/chiller cold plunge.

Modtub simply does the work for you and organizes everything in a foolproof convenient delivery.

Ultimately – I decided to spend a little bit more (probably $500-700 compared to DIY) out of convenience, not wanting to deal with a huge project that potentially would break after a few uses.

Modtub Delivery and Setup

Overall – The Modtub delivery/setup process was top notch and I immediately felt like I made the right decision with my purchase.

I did NOT want to deal with a ton of setup issues or have to run to Home Depot to buy parts.

Luckily for me, Modtub setup is super simple – It was literally a 30 minute process to set up, definitely less than 1 hour from start to finish..Basically set it & forget it.

I can’t emphasize this enough – Even if you are not handy, you will be able to figure out how to set up the Modtub cold plunge pretty easily.

Shipping/Delivery:

I ordered the Modtub in late June 2024 and it delivered to my house on a pallet just 6 business days after I ordered. This includes processing at the Modtub warehouse, shipping, and ultimately delivery.

If you decide to purchase the Modtub, you will need to be at home for delivery and work with the LTL carrier to schedule a delivery window. For me, this was a simple as answering a text message and confirming the time slot worked.

It took me ~5 minutes to break the pallet down and get to the Grizzly cooler, which had the entire setup inside of it including the Chiller, Pump, Filter, and setup equipment.

You will need a second person to help move the Modtub to where it will live long term, but after moving the cold plunge I did the entire setup solo.

Setup:

I’m not going to lie – I was a little nervous about the cold plunge setup, which would be connecting the insulated cooler to the chiller with hoses and also setting up the pump/filter.

I’m not super handy and I flat out didn’t want to deal with a major DIY project that required me to do a bunch of research/troubleshooting.

Luckily – Modtub made the whole process super easy. The cold plunge tub can be plugged into a standard outlet and there is no additional plumbing required.

All of the components were separated in their own marked box and there was a super easy to follow step by step video on how to put together the plunge.

The parts are:

• Chiller – Active Aqua 1/4″ HP
• Pump – Danner Supreme Aqua-Mag 950 Pump
• Filter – Housing to attach filter to unit along with 2x filters
• Power Strip & Hoses – All connections necessary to hook up cold plunge
• Accessories

The instructions come with a QR code that sends you to a super simple installation video.

I was able to follow the step by step instructions and have the whole thing up and running in about ~30 minutes.

I did have a minor issue with leaking on the hose that connected the chiller to the cooler, but I was able to tighten the fittings and the issue was fixed.

All in all – Setting up the Modtub is a breeze, even if you are not handy. .

Pros and Cons of the Modtub

After spending dozens of hours researching the Modtub and now using it for over 30 days, here are some baseline Pros & Cons:

Modtub Pros:

• Best cold plunge option in the “Lower” price range ($2-3k) – It does exactly what it is supposed to do and is an amazing product for the price
• Delivery and setup could not be easier – Less than 1 hour from start to finish
• Has maintained temperature (39 degrees) in 100+ degree summer days in Tennessee
• Looks super cool and rugged to me (Some people may hate the look, which is why I also have it as a Con)
• No need to EVER buy ice again
• Active Facebook group for Modtub owners to ask any questions and quickly have problems fixed (Modtub owners are very active in the group)

Modtub Cons:

• Not the best option for super tall people – I am 5″10 and it fits me perfectly
• Chiller should be be covered/protected in some way if keeping the unit outdoors
• Filters need to be replaced fairly often to keep the water clean – I replaced my first filter after about 2 weeks of use
• Same exact setup could be done DIY for $500-700 less
• Could be considered unsightly to some – It is literally a massive cooler with a chiller attached to it

Kevin’s Thoughts on the Modtub After 30 Days

Having researched nearly every cold plunge on the market and having paralysis by analysis, I can confidently say that I strongly recommend the Modtub cold plunge.

I have zero regrets about the money I spent on the Modtub and would purchase it again without a doubt.

I’ve used the Modtub every single morning and I am loving the ability to go cold plunging literally whenever I want. It has been a game changer for my daily wellness routine.

Here are some of my main takeaways on the Modtub:

• I was super worried that the chiller would not be able to maintain the set temperature in the heat of the summer, but it holds within 3 degrees around the clock regardless of the outside temperature.
• We’ve had a bunch of summer storms and I haven’t had an issue keeping the unit outdoors (Note: I do have it under a covered patio, but it still is exposed to the elements)
• The Grizzly cooler is massive – In general it is a badass looking cold plunge tub, but make sure you have the space for the unit. I skipped out on the added Step option which saved me 13 inches of space (I don’t think the Step is necessary)
• It just works – Every day I wake up and head outside, the Modtub is ready to go at the temperature I need it to be at
• I’m still figuring out the maintenance piece and what my weekly/monthly routine will be to keep the water clean. Once I have this mastered I will add a new article, but I do expect routine maintenance each month to keep the Modtub going strong.
• I’ve had to change the filter once so far and it looks like I will need to change it every 2-4 weeks. It was kind of a pain to change the first time, but I figured it out after a few tries (with some leaking).
• I feel good about the price I paid for it and I don’t think there is a better cold plunge option in this price range

After trying to add cold water therapy to my wellness routine for years, I was finally able to make cold plunging stick as a habit with the Modtub unit just steps away.

Since I invested a fair amount of money on the Modtub, there is no doubt each morning that I am going to go out and take the plunge.

Removing all barriers I had previously (Seasonal cold plunging, Needing to buy Ice, Dirty Water, etc) finally made cold plunging stick for me as a morning habit.

Conclusion – Is the Modtub Worth It?

Yes – the Modtub is my favorite purchase of 2024 and I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking to spend in the $3k range on a cold plunge.

There are tons of options on the market (almost too many), I think the Modtub cold plunge is best for you if you check any of these boxes:

• You are sick of buying ice and want a reliable cold plunge tub in your own home
• You are trying to upgrade from basic cold plunge options (Ice Baths, pop up cold plunge units, etc) and want something for the long term in the $3k price range
• You want a reliable cold plunge, but are not willing to go the DIY route which requires purchasing a bunch of components separately
• You are keeping your cold plunge unit outdoors or in a garage and are comfortable with the huge Grizzly cooler look
• You are shorter than roughly 6’3″ and want to plunge in the reclined/seated position

If any of the above callouts appeal to you, I think the Modtub will be a perfect balance between a affordable cold plunge and something that will last for the long term.