My Unbiased Review of The Viking Cold Plunge by Nordic Wave

I recently had the opportunity to review a complimentary Nordic Wave Viking Cold Plunge. The views and opinions expressed within are my own. The costume in the video is mine, too – gotta have a little bit of fun to keep things interesting 😉. While the video below covers the unboxing, assembly, and testing the ice bath, here in my written review I’ll go over several aspects of my experience with this cold plunge unit. My objective will be to provide you with my personal feedback, preparing you to make your own decision regarding the purchase of a Nordic Wave Viking Cold Plunge.

The Viking Cold Plunge Assembly

Honestly… I was Nervous

As I mention in the video, but to expound on the point, the first thing I experienced was a little bit of an intimidation factor when I realized there was some assembly required to get the Viking Cold Plunge up and operational. Full transparency: for many things around the house that require technical/mechanical expertise in terms of assembly or fixing of any sort, I tend to call either my friend, my brother, or my father-in-law or brother-in-law to assist with it (translated: I give them each an equal opportunity to do it for me 😉). That part of my brain is just either not developed, or simply shuts down with trepidation. However, I was told that every customer has the opportunity to have a virtual setup call with a technician from The Nordic Wave team of technician specialists. I did watch the set up video that is available to prime myself for putting my cold plunge unit together when it arrived, but I felt that taking advantage of a FaceTime call (for Apple iPhone users; I believe there is also an Android option as well) with a tech specialist was going to give me the best possible chance to get this right.

The Virtual Setup Call with a Nordic Wave Technician Specialist was a Godsend

I will say with no reservation whatsoever that this virtual setup call gave me the confidence I needed as well as the guided step-by-step instruction to get my Nordic Wave up and running in the least possible amount of time. Had I tried to go it alone, I would have tripled or quadrupled the time it took to assemble the unit with the chiller functioning properly. All I had to do was book a Calendy appointment via the link that was sent to my email after my order was entered into their system.

The day I unpacked my Viking Cold Plunge, the technician called me right at the appointed time, and I was ready. I had some tools prepared just in case, but I was pleasantly surprised that no tools were needed (seriously!). The BIG ISSUE of putting the Nordic Wave Viking together became the BIGGEST NON-ISSUE! Suffice it to say, I was extremely relieved that knowing people that I was considering recommending spending thousands of dollars on a top-of-the-line, fully-equipped cold plunge unit to, I could greenlight this because I knew I myself had the capability of putting it together with Nordic Wave’s assistance, and that others could do it as well by being afforded the same level of service. I just feel it is really important to stress this because The Nordic Wave company even offering this as a free service to their clientele speaks highly of them, and demonstrates their commitment to their customers after the sale.

The Chiller Works Beautifully – As Advertised and Expected

Having a chiller for your ice bath is not only a convenience, but a luxury. The Viking vertical cold plunge isn’t sold without a chiller; it’s part of the package. You’re not stuck with having to add ice or frozen water bottles to your ice bath every time you want to take a dip. I would say, however, that if you are not more than a casual cold water immersion practitioner, you may be fine with adding ice or frozen water bottles to a lesser-equipped ice bath unit, but if you are dedicated to the practice of cold plunging and wellness in general, you should seriously consider this unit based on the full package you get with Nordic Wave.

The Viking comes equipped with a ¾ HP chiller unit, which is more than adequate for the 95-gallon capacity tank you’ll be submerging yourself in. The technician explained to me that the chiller would take the temperature down 5-6 degrees per hour, and in my case, it was 6-degrees per hour, taking the temperature down to 39-degrees from a starting temperature of 63-degrees. Four hours doesn’t seem long at all to prep an ice bath, especially because after the first plunge, the unit is basically just maintaining my desired temperature.

I just wanted to mention here that I keep my chiller unit covered with a tarp, so it doesn’t get dirty or wet. You may want to consider the same if you will be using your Nordic Wave Viking outside as well. I’m not well versed with electricity, grounding, and water, but to be safe, I opt to keep the chiller covered, especially because it’s been raining here quite a bit lately.

*Note: in the video you hear background humming noise. The chiller does have a low hum (pretty quiet, actually), but I want to point out that the shrill, high-pitched noise in the background you may hear when I get into The Viking is NOT the chiller unit. That noise is a neighbor a few doors down using an electric trimmer in their backyard. Just felt the need to clarify that.

Getting in and Out of The Viking Cold Plunge

I want to take a minute to address another concern I initially had before I experienced The Viking. I worried a little bit about the entry and exit logistics. As I mention in the video, I am 6’4” and 280-lbs. You’d (or at least I’d) think that it might be a little bit of a challenge for me to get into and out of a vertical cold plunge that is 41-inches in depth. The stair steps, though, were just the right height to navigate the entry, and as you’ll see in the video, the exit as well. I, for some reason, thought that exiting the cold plunge was going to be embarrassing, and a difficult ask with my frame. But, it really wasn’t. I perceived that I was going to have to heft myself awkwardly from my submersion, and appear like a beached whale when all was said and done. I made a mountain out of a molehill, as they say.

The Durability and Insulation of The Nordic Wave Viking

The sturdy, hard HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) plastic that The Viking Cold Plunge unit is constructed from gives me confidence that it is an investment that is going to last for years. I learned that HDPE plastic has outstanding tensile strength and a large strength-to-density ratio. This isn’t a flimsy inflatable that will eventually give out, or need to be patched up from getting a hole in it. It’s a solid barrel-type receptacle. And, not only that, it’s got 2-inch insulated foam walls. I want to mention that even when I turn off my chiller, when I check later the temperature in my Viking doesn’t go up much. It’s quite well insulated – much better than other units I have reviewed thus far.

Downsides to The Nordic Wave Viking Cold Plunge

Nothing is ever perfect, so there’ve got to be some downsides (I can hear some of my reader’s saying). That might be true; it depends on your perspective. Some folks might be priced out of The Viking. However, it is worth mentioning that you can make monthly payments with Bread Pay, a buy now pay later option at checkout. Also, get this – you can pay with a Flexible Spending Account or a Health Savings Account because The Nordic Wave Viking is eligible! Doing it this way means you can save around 33%, since you are spending pre-tax dollars, instead of money that has been taxed already. I haven’t seen this with other cold plunge units.

One other potential downside I guess could be that some people like to be in a horizontal position when they do cold water immersion therapy. I like being in a horizontal position sometimes, but I will say that I seem to better endure lower temperatures when I am upright. It may have something to do with psychology. I am in warrior mode when I am upright – I channel my inner Viking 😉.

In Summary

In all, I’m excited to have The Nordic Wave Viking Cold Plunge. It’s a luxury for people like myself that do cold water immersion therapy every day. I can’t stress enough how difficult it is to get cold enough water without a chiller like the one The Viking comes with, especially in a desert climate like Utah. I hope this review has helped you if you are shopping for a cold plunge; I’ve tried to be very transparent and authentic in reviewing The Viking. If it’s something that you’d like to invest in, consider using this Nordic Wave Viking Cold Plunge affiliate link, which will give you $150 off your purchase, and is a win-win for both of us.

For additional in-depth reviews, visit my ice bath tub reviews page for at-home cold plunges and venue experiences. For a discount on The Viking Cold Plunge, visit my Nordic Wave Viking Cold Plunge Discount Code page.