It’s plunge time: Lumi Recovery Pod Portable Ice Bath review

The Lumi Recovery Pod Portable Ice Bath is well-constructed and robust, so let's see whether it can rank among the best cold therapy pods around. The main bulk of the product is three-layer insulated walls. These keep the water at a stable template while the outer layer protects it from rips and scuff. I set mine up on a patio and had no worries about punctures, and the UV-resistant materials kept it safe from deteriorating in the sun. Its simple design relies on six vertical legs and the weight and pressure of water to give it structure, so it’s small when packed down and substantial when set up.

The Recovery Pod comes with a Thermo Lid and All Weather Cover included. These keep the water safe from the elements, wildlife and the general debris of nature. The All Weather cover holds in place with a drawstring that fits just under the top lip of the Recovery Pod.

The Termo Lid and the top rim of the Recovery Tub are inflated loops, and a small pump (included) inflates them in a few minutes. It’s a bit fiddly, but it does the job. A tap at the bottom of the Pod allows easy emptying when water change day comes.

The capacity of the Recovery Pod is 320 litres, but you only need to put around half that into account for the water you will displace. For roughly 160 litres of water, it took me 40 minutes and 20 trips with a bucket to fill (those with a hose will have an easier time).

You can add ice if needed, but any temperature under 15 degrees is enough to reap the benefits of cold water therapy. I go into more detail on the effects and benefits of cold water therapy in the article, ‘My Autumn of cold therapy’.

I added bromine to the freshwater for four weeks and a floating thermometer to check the temperature. These were purchased separately, though you can buy a Lumi Cold Club Starter Pack, which includes a thermometer, scum sponges and a Cold Water Guide PDF (so you’ll still need some bromine).

Why choose a Lumi Recovery Pod over the bath?

If you have a bath, you can do cold water therapy. The Lumi Recovery Pod and similar products can save water in the long run and add convenience to the treatment.

Filling your bath three times a week with enough water to fully submerge your body is expensive and time-consuming. With a dedicated Recovery Pod, you fill it once every four weeks (so long as you add bromine). Then it’s good to go whenever you are. (Want some more tips? Read my cold therapy top tips article.)

The bath is an excellent place to start to see if you like the process, but once it becomes part of your routine, a Recovery Pod is a no-brainer.

Verdict: Whether or not this product is for you depends entirely on how dedicated you are to cold water therapy. If you are one of the converted, then with a couple of additional accessories - bromine and a floating thermometer - the Lumi Recovery Pod Portable Ice Bath becomes a convenient and affordable way to access cold water therapy. You can trust the construction; it holds temperature well, so it’s ready to go whenever needed.

What’s good?

The best thing about the Lumi Recovery Pod Portable Ice Bath is that it does everything exactly as you expect. It’s tough, meaning I could set it up on a paved patio without the worry of puncturing through the walls and floor, and the tap and values are all well-fitted.

I was impressed by the insulation, which keeps an even temperature almost regardless of what’s happening weather-wise. For most of my testing, the water maintained a temperature of between eight and 10 degrees - perfect for longer sessions. This was in autumn, with the air temperature ranging from 17 to four degrees. The water only dived on the year’s first frost, where the air temperature dropped to minus four. On that day, the water dropped to three degrees. It was a considerable drop, but since I had 160 litres of water sitting overnight on a patio, staying so much above the outdoor temperature was impressive. This is a testament to the three-wall insulation working its magic.

Update 04/12/2023: After three days of below-zero temperatures, the water's surface reached its freezing point and began to ice over. It still shows that the insulation works well, but there's a limit.

The lid and cover are essentials that you will rely on to keep the Recovery Pod’s water protected. I found that the fit of the cover over the top wasn’t flawless and always looked a bit janky - however, it did hold on during November’s storms. So kudos on that; looks can be deceiving.

What’s okay?

Lumi’s pump is tiny and fiddly to keep in the inflation nozzle. I needed my partner’s help to keep the connection in place, so if you plan on setting this up solo, you might have a more challenging time. Thankfully, the seals are very tight and secure once inflated, so you won’t have to battle with them again for a while. Mine’s been okay over the four weeks since it first went up.

While the lid and cover are solid at holding their position in the wind, they do get affected by water weight. After some hefty rainfall, the top did fall into the tub. Luckily, there was no cross-contamination with the waterside, but it was closed. I can’t blame stormy weather on Lumi, so I’m not counting this against the Recovery Pod - but it’s worth keeping an eye out for if you are using it during wet seasons.

Any negatives?

There isn’t anything terrible to say about the Lumi Recovery Pod Portable Ice Bath. It does exactly what it sets out to do.

Other products to consider

How we tested it

The Lumi Recovery Pod Portable Ice Bath was tested for four weeks over November 2023. It was used regularly as part of a wider fitness routine, including cardio and weight lifting. The Recovery Pod was installed in a garden in the corner of a patio. It was out of direct sunlight for most of the day, with some weather protection from a fence.

The thermometer and bromine used in testing were purchased separately.

Who tested it

The Lumi Recovery Pod Portable Ice Bath was tested by William Lobley. Not a complete stranger to cold water therapy, William attends the gym five times a week and runs and hikes. He has used cold therapy before to ease sore muscles, but this was the first time he used a pod for a prolonged period of time.

William Lobley is the Deputy Tech & Fitness Editor for What's The Best. Here, he oversees, curates and researches listicles and reviews as many products as his home office can handle.

He has spent nearly five years writing about tech, audio, outdoors and fitness and has reviewed everything from smartphones to ice baths. In addition, he's well-versed in sniffing out the best deals and savings the internet offers.

When not at his desk writing, reviewing or deal-hunting, he'll be relaxing with Japanese crime novels, bingeing some classic anime, strolling the countryside or at the gym listening to the heaviest metal Spotify has to offer.

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