Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub vs Ice Barrel 300
$2,700 against $1,150. Here is where the $1,550 difference actually goes.
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Higher lab score
Redwood Outdoors
Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub
$2,700
8.7 / 10
Cold-climate buyers and anyone pairing a plunge with a Redwood sauna
Ice Barrel
Ice Barrel 300
$1,150
8.3 / 10
Garages and small patios where floor area is the binding constraint
One of these on its own, in full: Redwood Outdoors Alaskan cold plunge tub review: two tubs, not one with a chiller
Specifications side by side
| Spec | Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub | Ice Barrel 300 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,700 | $1,150 |
| Lab score | 8.7 | 8.3 |
| Capacity | 130 gallons | — |
| Exterior | 37" diameter x 40.5" tall | — |
| Dry weight | 250 lb | — |
| Material | Canadian thermowood, hard plastic liner | — |
| Chiller | None (ice only) | — |
| Included | Tub, wooden lid, wooden steps | — |
| Warranty | 1 year | Limited lifetime |
| Dimensions | — | 35.5" W x 30.5" H |
| Empty weight | — | 61 lb |
| Filled weight | — | 700 lb |
| Fits | — | Users to 6'0" |
The verdict
Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub takes the higher score here. A 130-gallon thermowood barrel that needs no outlet. It is an ice tub: Redwood sells no chiller for it, so buy it for the ice route, not as the first half of a chilled one.
The counter-argument for the Ice Barrel 300 is straightforward: it costs $1,550 less. The smallest footprint that still fits a 6-foot adult. Vertical means it occupies about the same floor space as a trash can.
Put plainly — if your constraint is budget, take the Ice Barrel 300 and put the $1,550 toward installation, which is the line item most first-time buyers underestimate. If your constraint is that you want to buy once, the Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub is the one you will not be replacing.
What each one is good at
Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub
Strengths
- No electricity required — put it anywhere on the property
- Canadian thermowood exterior matches the sauna line visually
- Wooden lid and steps included, not upsold
Compromises
- Ice only: Redwood sells no chiller for it and lists no chiller ports
- 250 lb dry, 1,300+ lb filled — placement is permanent
- 1-year warranty is short for the money
Ice Barrel 300
Strengths
- Smallest floor footprint of any real plunge here (35.5" wide)
- Only 61 lb empty — one person can move and position it
- Chiller ports built in, so upgrading later needs no modification
Compromises
- Vertical seated position is not for everyone
- 700 lb filled still needs a solid floor
- Chiller not included
Read the full ranking
Both products are placed in context, against the whole field and with the installed cost worked out, in these guides:
- The best cold plunge tubs of 2026, from $1,150 to $9,990
- Cold plunge temperature: how cold, how long, and what the chiller display is not telling you
- Ice Barrel review: the 300, the 500, and the weight nobody mentions
- Redwood Outdoors Alaskan cold plunge tub review: two tubs, not one with a chiller
- Redwood Outdoors review: what $6,299 to $7,499 actually buys
More head-to-heads
- Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub vs Plunge All-In Gen 2
- Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub vs Redwood Outdoors Alaskan All-In-One Cold Plunge
- Redwood Outdoors Alaskan Cold Plunge Tub vs Ice Barrel 500 + Chiller Bundle
- Ice Barrel 300 vs Plunge All-In Gen 2
- Ice Barrel 300 vs Redwood Outdoors Alaskan All-In-One Cold Plunge
- Ice Barrel 300 vs Ice Barrel 500 + Chiller Bundle
Prices captured September 2026 from manufacturer and retailer pages and subject to frequent promotion. Confirm before buying. See our testing method for how lab scores are assigned.