01 · The shift
From ice baths to circuits
US searches for "cold plunge" peaked in January 2024 and have since fallen by more than half. Searches for "contrast therapy", heat followed by cold, roughly quadrupled between January 2023 and January 2026. The Global Wellness Institute's hydrothermal trend list for 2026 describes the same move, from single saunas to full circuits of heat, cold and rest.
Brands are following: Plunge, the best-known cold plunge maker, now sells saunas, and Sunlighten, an infrared sauna maker, bought Ice Barrel.
Sources: Polar Recovery: cold plunge searches down 55% · Global Wellness Institute: hydrothermal trends · Sunlighten acquires Ice Barrel
02 · Setting it up
What a home circuit needs
- Heat: an outdoor barrel or cube sauna is the most common start; indoor infrared works where there's no yard.
- Cold: a chilled plunge with its own chiller holds temperature year round; an insulated tub with ice is the low-cost route.
- Between them: a few steps, not a walk across the yard. A cedar outdoor shower in between is the classic third element.
- Power and water: most saunas want a dedicated 240-volt circuit, and a plunge wants a drain and a GFCI outlet.
Plan the plunge next to the heat, on the same deck and the same electrical run.
Compare the products
