Can You Really Hack An Ice Bath Without The Ice?

If you're the kind of person who wants the benefits of an ice bath but hates the idea of plunging into a tub of freezing water, you’re not alone. Enter: dry cold therapy, the latest innovation in wellness tech that’s already causing a stir across Europe.

A high-tech waterbed-meets-cryotherapy chamber, could this be the wellness world’s answer to the ice bath craze? From nervous system recalibration to mood boosts and muscle recovery, this new form of biohacking is already generating buzz among spa-goers, athletes and wellness insiders alike. 

What is dry cold plunging?

Forget freezing bathtubs or Wim Hof breathing just to survive three minutes of torture. Dry cold plunging uses a closed membrane filled with water cooled to around 4°C, but here’s the twist… you don’t get wet. You just lie back (fully clothed) on a bed while your body is surrounded by icy-cold water beneath a dry barrier. The experience is said to be weirdly relaxing but also incredibly energising.

The system, called Zerobody Cryo, was developed by Italian wellness brand Starpool, and is already in use at elite recovery centres and high-end spas across Europe. Think of it as cold immersion 2.0.

“The Zerobody Cryo Dry Immersion was created to serve the demands of the professional sports and fitness sector, following the success of the Zerobody Dry Float,” explains Sean McGran, Founder of Alchemy Wellbeing Award, Starpool’s official partner for the UK & Ireland. “The same benefits exist… zero gravity floatation in a relaxed body position without the need to strip off or change, just remove your shoes and float.” It’s cold therapy, made convenient. 

Why are people turning to dry cold therapy?

Let’s face it, most people dread the shock of a freezing cold plunge or ice bath. So the idea of getting the same recovery benefits without the stress, shivering, or needing to strip off is a compelling one.

“Unlike the Cryo chamber where the air is cold, the Zerobody Cryo is closer to the cold plunge where the full body is immersed in cold water,” says Sean. “Water is a far greater conductor of temperature than air - the temperature transfer to the surface of the skin is almost instantaneous through water,” he adds. And that’s where dry cold therapy steps in - removing the friction while delivering the full physiological impact. According to Sean, users can expect benefits that include:

• Rapid muscle recovery

• Reduced inflammation

• A mental resilience boost

• Metabolic enhancement

• Stress reduction

• Improved blood flow to the core

• Reduction in skin and muscle sensitivity

• Boost to the endocrine and immune systems

• Vagus nerve stimulation

• Enhanced heart rate variability

“All of this comes from bringing the skin temperature down to between 4°C and 6°C which is the sweet spot for triggering the body’s natural adaptive processes,” explains Sean. And while the sensation is cold, the overall experience feels more like floating than freezing. It’s less about bracing for impact and more about unlocking recovery in a deeply restorative way. Users often describe the experience as “surprisingly soothing yet energising,” making it ideal for people seeking balance and restoration without extreme stress on the body.

How the tech actually works

At first glance, it looks like a next-gen waterbed, but there’s actually some pretty impressive science beneath the surface. “Zerobody Cryo contains 400 litres of water chilled to between 4 and 6 degrees,” Sean explains. “The water is covered by a patented membrane (less than 0.7mm thick), so although there’s no direct contact, the cold is transferred to the body almost instantly.”

Once you’re lying down, the system contours around you while two internal water wraps apply gentle, even pressure, helping to simulate full-body immersion and enhance the anti-inflammatory effects. “The two water filler wraps that engulf the body provide a complete immersion, creating a hydrostatic pressure on the lower body,” Sean adds. “The fact that there is no physical contact with the water allows users to arrive directly from training, workout or treatment with no need to change or shower.”

And from a facility perspective? It’s a win on multiple levels. “There is no water management or water treatment required by the facility, only an annual water change which is a major advantage over traditional cold plunge pools for commercial environments,” he adds.

Unlike cryo chambers, there's no storage of dangerous gases, no need for certified operators and no complicated setup, just straightforward functionality that’s low-maintenance and spa-friendly. Plus, because there’s no need to undress, shower or post-treatment redress, more time is spent in the actual therapy itself - not prepping for it. For both users and providers, this is a major upgrade.

Who’s it for?

While the original target audience was elite athletes, it’s already gone mainstream. “Though the initial interest has been the professional sports sector, the Zerobody Cryo is fast becoming an important instrument for recovery within the gym and fitness sectors,” Sean says. From biohackers to burnt-out professionals, it’s attracting attention across the wellness space - not just for recovery but for balance, resilience and even beauty. “Longevity as a health (and beauty) concept is where we see the Zerobody Cryo featuring heavily as we go forward,” he adds. 

So how does it really compare to a traditional ice bath?

While both offer powerful recovery benefits, the experience couldn’t be any more different. Here’s how dry cold therapy with Zerobody Cryo stacks up against the classic plunge.

Traditional ice bath

• Fully submerged, wet

• Anywhere from 2 to 15 minutes + prep

• Pretty intense and quite uncomfortable

• Requires home setup or spa

• At-home options exist

Dry cold therapy

• Fully clothed, dry

• 3-5 minutes, no prep

• Calming, soothing and energising

• Only available in high-end spas

• Premium-priced (for now)

For many, dry cold therapy isn’t about ditching the plunge… It's about upgrading the experience.

Where you can try it in the UK

Sold? We thought you might be. Zerobody Cryo is already in top-tier facilities across Europe but is still pretty new here in the UK. Their recent presence at Professional Beauty London does mean that wider availability is on the horizon as unsurprisingly, demand for this is pretty high. Right now, you can find it at the Hilton Hotel in Northampton but keep your eyes peeling for new spots in London, Manchester and Edinburgh. 

How to prepare and what to expect

With no need for a towel, swimsuit or stress, a session with Zerobody Cryo is about as frictionless as recovery gets. Just remove your shoes and lie down fully clothed. Each session lasts around 3 to 5 minutes, with no pre or post-shower required. While you’ll feel the cool pressure from the chilled water beneath the membrane, there’s no sudden shock or shivering - just a steady, soothing cold that calms the nervous system. During the session, many report a deep sense of stillness and afterwards, a clear-headed, energised feeling that sticks around all day. Most users walk away feeling more grounded, balanced, and surprisingly, relaxed. Frequent users can reduce the amount of clothing to enhance the experience.

Is this ‘just a trend’ or instead the future of recovery?

Dry cold therapy isn’t a fleeting gimmick but instead a well-timed response to the rising demand for smarter, more accessible recovery tools. “Going forward, we see the combined use of several treatment concepts to provide a longevity spa concept for the health sector,” says Sean. In other words, it’s not just about getting cold, it’s about layering innovative therapies that support the mind and body together. Starpool is already pairing Zerobody Cryo with complementary treatments; dry floatation to promote deep relaxation and improve sleep; red light therapy (photobiomodulation) to support cell regeneration and skin vitality and hydrogen molecular boosters to clear brain fog and boost immunity. “All Starpool therapies are the result of extensive scientific research into the effects on the body with the ambition of helping everyone enjoy good health and wellbeing by living well for longer,” explains Sean.

So yes, it might be buzzy right now, but dry cold therapy is shaping up to be much more than another trend. It’s part of a larger shift towards holistic, high-tech recovery that fits into real life.

Ready to chill out, level up and stay dry doing it? This could be the new plunge we didn’t know we needed.

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This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf