Kmart jumps on major 2024 trend with $20 product: 'Seriously recommend'

Whether you’re going to the gym, staying at a fancy hotel, or simply scrolling through TikTok, ice baths have been popping up more and more over the past 12 months. Interest in the cold water immersion trend has grown by 62% in Australia this year as celebrities, influencers and athletes swear by the morning ritual.

Deb Sarah, founder of Ice Baths Sydney, tells Yahoo Lifestyle that cold plunges have several health benefits, including reducing inflammation, speeding up muscle recovery, boosting circulation, and supporting the immune system.

“What’s often overlooked, but in my experience is the greatest benefit of ice baths, are the mental benefits,” she adds. “The challenge of immersing yourself in cold water not only boosts confidence and self-esteem but also builds mental toughness over time. Regularly sitting with discomfort strengthens your mindset and can have a positive impact on overall mental health.”

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Never one to avoid jumping on a trend, Kmart has begun selling an inflatable portable ice bath for just $20. The product’s description says it’s easy to assemble and comes with a portable bath, two repair patches, six tubes and one outlet hose.

It’s only 73cm tall with a 72cm diameter, making it the perfect size for your backyard, balcony or bathroom, and has a capacity of 150 litres.

Shoppers praise 'budget-friendly' product

Content creator Gracie Webb (@graciemwebb), who runs her own wellness centre The Rituwell Club in Queensland, recently went viral on TikTok after she shared a video praising the item.

“If you are looking for a budget-friendly ice bath to have at home, listen up because Kmart at the moment has these portable ones for $20,” she said in the clip.

Gracie explained that she freezes several containers of water each night and transfers the ice into her portable plunge pool in the morning.

“You don’t have to spend extra money on ice every day or have to spend so much money on a proper one,” she continued. “It is honestly such a good option and such a nice ritual to start your day off with.”

Social media users quickly took to the comments to share their thoughts on the item, with many saying it’s the “perfect” way to cool down if you don’t own a pool or bath.

“Love jumping in my ice bath after my walk,” one person wrote, while another added, “I seriously recommend this for mental health!”.

“Yup, I may have just been influenced by this video,” a third remarked, followed by someone else who said, “This is smart”.

Others also suggested buying an ice machine from Kmart for just $99 or freezing water bottles to save time and energy, with one commenter writing: “We just fill up 1.5L bottles and freeze and leave them for a bit, no refilling needed.”

“You can save plastic water bottles, freeze 8-10 of them, and just chuck them in without opening them,” a different user agreed. “They will still work the same, then you just take them out, wipe them down with your towel and chuck back in the freezer.”

How often should you take ice baths?

Ice Baths Sydney founder Deb Sarah tells Yahoo Lifestyle that regular cold plunges can be highly beneficial for the mind and body but it’s important to gradually build up your tolerance.

“Evidence suggests that around 11 minutes of cold exposure per week is optimal for health benefits, which could be spread out as 3 x 3-minute sessions and a 2-minute plunge,” she details. “When it comes to cold exposure, less is more, and starting slow ensures you get the benefits without overwhelming your body.”

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Important tips for taking ice baths

Deb adds that it’s important to listen to your body when doing cold plunges and “colder water isn’t always better”.

“The colder the water, the shorter the time needed to get the benefits,” she says. “Optimal results are typically achieved within 2-3 minutes in the plunge.

“To prepare your body, focusing on conscious, slow breathwork before entering the cold is key. Avoid fast breathing, as it can increase stress on the body; instead, use slow, deep breaths to help you stay calm and grounded. If you're pregnant, cold plunges are not recommended, and if you have a heart condition, it’s important to check with your doctor first before trying them. This helps ensure you're not over-stressing your body, especially if you’re new to cold exposure.”

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