Price: $600
Purchase the 1/4 HP Chiller
The Active Aqua 1/4 Chiller is the industry-standard when it comes to cooling your ice bath. At a very reasonable price, you cannot go wrong with this upgrade!
Positives
- Competitive Price
- Great Build Quality
- Energy Efficient
- Easy to Use
Negatives
- It only cools down to 39° F
- Not fully outdoor-rated
- Requires additional filter
Industry Standard
The Active Aqua 1/4 HP Chiller is perhaps the most widely used chiller for Cold Plungers. We’ve seen it used countless times in DIY setups, and it’s even used by the Plunge Company in their chillers (they just put their own logo on it).
Ease of Use
Set-up time: 10 minutes
Perhaps our favorite feature of this chiller is its ease of use. It contains 1 input and 1 output for water and an electrical chord. Simply plug it in, and it basically works right out of the box. There is a small interface on the front with a few buttons, but we found it doesn’t take very long to figure out how to use it and set it to the desired temperature. We love the simplicity of this chiller as it just works.
1/4 HP vs 1/2 HP
One of the most popular questions we get is, “What’s the difference between the 1/4 HP and the 1/2 HP?” To which we say, not much of a difference – other than the price.
The 1/2 HP chiller is almost twice the price and both chillers only go down to 39° F. The only advantage we’ve found is that the 1/2 HP Chiller will reach the desired temperature of 39° F faster. However, it will use more energy in doing so. Other than that, both are very similar so we’d recommend saving your money and going with the 1/4 HP Unit.
The Negatives
The biggest negative we’ve found is that it only gets down to 39° Fahrenheit. While this temperature is perfectly acceptable and is still going to give you most of the benefits cold plunging has to offer – we wish it could get a little colder.
Next, this chiller isn’t fully outdoor rated – meaning it has to be kept under shade. It’s not that big of a deal, but some competitor units, such as the Penguin Chiller, can be left outside in all conditions.
Lastly, this chiller will require an additional filter to prevent leaves or debris from getting stuck in it. Some chillers have a built-in filter – this one does not. We are currently using it with the Mod Tub, which takes care of this issue for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
I use an 800 GPH Pump with the Active Aqua 1/4 HP.
Here is a link to the exact pump I use: https://amzn.to/3uBRSOG
Conclusion
If you’re ready to upgrade from using ice in your daily plunges, we cannot recommend this chiller enough. At an amazing price point and incredible build quality, you cannot go wrong with this purchase!
I am dedicated to sharing all of my cold plunge-related adventures and research to give you the best knowledge base. As a videographer and biohacker, I blend visual storytelling with health optimization to share insights and guide others in their cold plunge journey.
