David Maus Jr. Reviews All 3 Nordic Wave Cold Plunges | Viking Hybrid, Premier & XL

When one of YouTube's most trusted cold plunge reviewers agrees to review your entire product lineup, you pay attention. David Maus Jr. — widely known as "the cold plunge guy" — recently put all three Nordic Wave cold plunges through a comprehensive, hands-on review. He measured every dimension, tested every feature, set up the chillers himself, and got into each tub to show exactly what the experience looks like for someone who's 6'1" and 210 lbs.

What makes this review especially meaningful? David actually avoided reviewing Nordic Wave for years. Here's why — and what changed his mind.

Why David Maus Jr. Initially Held Off on Reviewing Nordic Wave

David has reviewed dozens of cold plunges — Ice Barrel, Polar Monkey, Edge Theory Labs, Plunge, and many more. Nordic Wave was on his radar from the beginning, but he held back because of one concern: the chillers.

David relies heavily on community feedback — Reddit threads, DMs, comments — to determine which brands are worth reviewing. At the time, Nordic Wave was using third-party chillers that had a mixed reputation. But then something changed: Nordic Wave designed and built their own proprietary chillers, specifically engineered for their cold plunges.

After a conversation with Nordic Wave's founder — whose personal story David called "incredible" and "so powerful" — he was convinced it was time to review the full fleet.

The Three Nordic Wave Cold Plunges at a Glance

One thing David emphasized right away: unlike many brands that release multiple models that are essentially the same tub in different sizes, Nordic Wave's three cold plunges are fundamentally different designs, each built for a distinct user and use case.

Viking Hybrid: The Entry Point for All Ages and Mobility Types

The Viking Hybrid is Nordic Wave's most accessible cold plunge. With its slanted back and lower entry height, David noted it's designed for people who want a comfortable, reclined cold plunging experience without having to climb stairs.

What David Liked

The split-top lid with extra insulation. Unlike most cold plunge lids that simply sit on top, the Hybrid's lid has a cutout that pushes down into the tub, creating a tighter seal. David pointed out this keeps debris out, insulates better, and reduces how hard the chiller has to work.

Pre-drilled bolt holes for lid clips. This was a sore spot for David across the industry:

Full insulation to the floor. David flipped the Hybrid over to show the bottom — something he says most reviewers skip. Many competitors cut corners here by removing insulation from the base. The Hybrid has a flat bottom with insulation all the way down, which means the chiller runs more efficiently.

Compact footprint. No stairs needed. The chiller tucks right under the tub's lip. Everything fits in a tight space, making it ideal for garages, patios, or small setups.

The In-Tub Experience

At 6'1", David found the Hybrid comfortable for a full cold plunge with water above his collarbone. The slanted back keeps you in what he called a "seated active pose" — not fully reclined, but not rigidly upright either. He could cross his legs, spread out, and get his arms fully submerged.

Full head dunking is possible but tighter than the other two models. David's verdict: if you're someone who wants to fully submerge regularly and you're taller than 5'6", the Premier or XL might be a better fit for that specific use case.

Viking Premier: The Flagship Vertical Plunge

The Viking Premier is Nordic Wave's original model — the one that put them on the map — with meaningful upgrades. It's a vertical cold plunge designed for an upright, active pose.

What David Liked

The upgraded composite wood steps. Nordic Wave enlarged the steps from their earlier design, and now the chiller fits neatly underneath them. David called this "freaking cool" — competitors often have the chiller sitting separately, taking up additional floor space.

Everything is pre-drilled. Setup was so simple that David and his son did it together, and the cold plunge itself took less time to set up than assembling the steps.

Insulation throughout. Same story as the Hybrid: 2+ inches of spray foam insulation all around, including the base. The HDPE construction is durable enough to slide across surfaces without damage.

Wind-resistant lid design. Despite living lakeside in Florida with strong gusts, David noted the Premier's lid stays put without clips — it fits flush and wind passes right over it.

The In-Tub Experience

David has a self-described "special place in my heart" for vertical cold plunges, and the Premier impressed him:

The rounded interior edges make it comfortable regardless of position. At 6'1", David could easily get fully underwater with inches to spare above his head. The jet positioning hits mid-body, and the water flow from the Pro Chiller was "a really healthy flow — not a fire hose, not a dribble."

David's personal pick: If he were buying only one cold plunge, this is the one he'd choose.

Viking XL: The Beast

The Viking XL is, in David's words, "a monster." It's built for the largest users — people up to 7 feet tall — or anyone who simply wants more room.

What David Liked

The sheer size. At 160-gallon max capacity and 43 inches of interior depth, this is one of the largest residential cold plunges available. David estimated he and his wife could cold plunge in it together.

Built-in interior steps. Because of the height, the XL has two steps molded into the interior on both sides, making it easy to get in and out regardless of which side your external stairs are on.

Carrying handles on the bottom. The XL is the only model with built-in handles, which David discovered while moving it from his garage with a wagon. He hopes Nordic Wave adds this to all models.

The gasket seal on the lid. Because the opening is larger, the XL lid includes a rubber gasket around the entire perimeter to keep bugs and debris out — a detail the smaller models don't need.

The In-Tub Experience

David could sit on the built-in steps with water above his collarbone, spread his arms wide, or sink to the floor of the tub with massive clearance overhead. Dunking was effortless. He noted that buoyancy actually makes the depth a feature, not a challenge — your body naturally floats into a comfortable position.

The Chillers: Pro vs. Elite

Both chillers are Nordic Wave's own proprietary design — a major upgrade from the third-party chillers they previously used.

Key Chiller Details David Highlighted

Both chillers heat AND cool. This means any Nordic Wave cold plunge doubles as a hot tub. David was able to heat water to 107°F (though the listed spec is 104°F). He floated the idea of buying two units for contrast hydrotherapy — one hot, one cold.

Efficient enough to run two on one outlet. David successfully ran two chillers on a single 15-amp breaker. Three tripped the breaker, but two worked fine — meaning contrast therapy setups are practical without special electrical work.

Quiet operation. David noted the chillers are "definitely very quiet" but do produce some noise — not ideal for a bedroom wall, but fine for a garage, patio, or outdoor setup.

Easy maintenance. The pre-filter strainer captures hair, grass, and debris before it reaches the pump. David recommended spraying it out every one to two weeks. The 20-micron paper filter needs periodic replacement (approximately every two months), with extras included in the box.

Lock feature prevents weather interference. David shared that rain has changed his chiller settings on older models without lock features. Nordic Wave's lock prevents this.

Cold Plunge Tips from David Maus Jr.

Throughout the review, David dropped practical cold plunging advice worth sharing:

Get the water to your collarbone fast. Whether you're using cold water therapy for recovery, mental health, or general wellness, David recommends getting fully submerged quickly rather than easing in slowly. The initial shock lasts about 10 seconds, and fighting through it gradually actually prolongs the discomfort.

Dunk your head first if you can. David referenced the mammalian dive reflex — a physiological response that calms your nervous system when your face hits cold water. A quick dunk at the start makes the rest of the session noticeably easier.

Check water displacement before your first full fill. Get in the tub when it's about 75% full to see how much the water level rises. This prevents overflow and wasted water — especially important for indoor setups.

Keep your cold plunge on a flat, level surface. It sounds obvious, but David said he gets this question constantly. Water is always level — if your surface isn't, it'll spill over one side.

Use a hose filter when filling. Starting with cleaner water means less work for your chiller and filtration system from day one.

Setup: How Simple Is It Really?

David spent the better part of a full day filming the setup of all three units, but the actual installation per unit is straightforward:

1. Position the tub on a flat, level surface

2. Attach the drain spouts with Teflon tape (ball valves for easy draining)

3. Connect the inlet and outlet reducers

4. Place the chiller (under the steps for Premier/XL, under the lip for Hybrid)

5. Connect the two insulated hoses — bottom to bottom, top to top

6. Plug into a standard household outlet

7. Fill with water and power on

Everything is pre-drilled. No cutting, no guessing. David's son helped with the Premier setup, and the tub itself was faster to install than assembling the steps.

What Comes in the Box

Beyond the tub and chiller, David unboxed several accessories including a Viking rubber ducky (a fun touch), a high-quality owner's manual with QR codes for support, neoprene covers to reduce condensation on filter housings, extra O-rings and bleed valves, a filter wrench, and replacement filters for approximately six months of use.

David also mentioned the Nordic Flow app, which includes breathwork exercises and nervous system regulation techniques — useful even without a Nordic Wave chiller.

David's Final Verdict

If he could only buy one: The Premier. He loves the vertical style, the size is right for the average adult, and the build quality with the Pro Chiller is more than sufficient.

If he were larger: The XL, hands down.

If he were older or wanted no stairs: The Hybrid — easy in, easy out, compact, and comfortable.

His closing note captures what many feel after watching the full review:

Ready to Choose Your Nordic Wave Cold Plunge?

Frequently Asked Questions

You might also like:

• The Power of Vertical Cold Plunging

• The Importance of Breathwork When Taking a Cold Plunge

• How to Incorporate a Cold Plunge Routine Into Your Lifestyle