Cold plunges, sauna blankets, and other biohacking devices you should know about.

Imagine going outside on a 16 degree day and jumping into a bucket of 40 degree water.

That’s what former Cosmopolitan beauty director turned content creator Carly Carlino did this winter when she set up an ice barrel cold plunge in her backyard in Bedford, New York. In a recent Instagram video, Cardellino documented her experience. “I’m scared to go outside,” she laughed, but when she soaked in the 40-degree water for 1 minute and 50 seconds, she looked full of energy and refreshed, and she exclaimed, “Yay!” .

“You really realize what you’re capable of while you’re in it because you think, ‘Oh my gosh, what other limiting thoughts were I thinking?'” she said.

Cardellino isn’t alone in her reaction to cold therapy, and her enthusiasm is responsible for much of the biohacking technique’s popularity in recent months. According to Google data from Journo Research, searches for “ice bath” hit an all-time high in January 2024, and searches for “ice bath benefits,” which include increased energy and reduced inflammation, reached an all-time high in the past five years. Increased by 334%. Year.

It’s not just cold therapy that’s on the rise, but this therapy is now the darling of biohacking. Many other technologies that can improve overall health, such as red light, infrared saunas, air compression, and contrast therapy, are becoming increasingly popular and household staples. The increased adoption rate is being driven by the increased usage of wearables, their influence in the field, word of mouth, and, of course, more accessible devices.

In 2004, author and entrepreneur Dave Asprey coined the term “biohacking” to refer to the ability to hack one’s own health and biology. While many experts agree that biohacking is anything that optimizes the body, including diet, supplements, and fitness, the category is often associated with expensive and complex routines and technology. is common. For example, Brian Johnson, 46, is a notorious biohacker who spends $2 million a year hoping to be physiologically 18 years old again.

This inaccessible field of biohacking is still here, but a second wave of more realistic pricing is also emerging. According to experts, the catalyst is wearable devices such as Whoop, Oura, and Apple Watch, which allow users to track everything from their devices. heart rate, blood sugar levels, and sleep patterns.

“Wearable devices are a great way for consumers to understand how they’re performing and what little tweaks they can make in terms of fitness, movement, and sleep,” says McKinsey Partner said co-leader Anna Pione. The company’s global research into the future of wellness.

Whoop is a wearable that tracks recovery, cardiovascular tone, and sleep, helping wearers decipher what’s working for them and what’s not. Users can track biohacks such as cold plunge to see how they affect their score. “Wearables have helped us unravel a lot of the noise in the system,” said Emily Capodilupo, senior vice president of science and research at Whoop. “When you measure things that matter, you manage them.”

At Whoop, we track biohacks over time to provide clear information to our users and, if useful, provide positive feedback to continue. It also provides the company with extensive data to further validate technologies that may not be well-studied.

McKinsey lists wearables as a key part of the wellness category, estimating it to be a $10 billion to $15 billion market in the U.S., with double-digit year-over-year growth and 40 to 50 percent penetration.

Similar to wearables, at-home diagnostic tests from brands like Viome and Everlywell have become popular over the past few years, in part due to COVID-19. At-home options include tests that measure everything from gut health and food sensitivities to hormones and sexually transmitted infections.

The Global Wellness Institute predicts that 45 percent of healthcare services will be performed at home in the next five years, and experts see this as an area of ​​biohacking that will become more accessible to consumers.

Wearables and diagnostic tests have made it easier for the average consumer to assess their daily health at home and find ways to improve their results.

Lauren Dovey, founder of Heat Healer, which sells biohacking technology such as sauna blankets, says: “We’ve seen a huge shift from therapeutic health to preventative health, which encourages healthy lifestyles.” Told.

Although there are more extremists in the field, many casual biohacking enthusiasts have learned about these techniques from popular wellness podcasters and influencers such as Joe Rogan, Peter Attia, Dave Asprey, Andrew Huberman, and Rhonda Patrick. I’m learning about.

“You’ve probably seen the rise of superstar science educator podcasters right now,” says Dr. Mark Cohen, a holistic health expert and biohacking fan. “Because you want to tell other people about it, [a] It has a life of its own in terms of spreading it. ”

When it comes to word-of-mouth referrals, Cold Plunge is currently the most popular, and Plunge is a well-known brand in the field with home bathtubs starting at $4,990.

“When we do something unique that makes us feel great, we tend to want to share it,” said Ryan Dewey, CEO and co-founder of Plunge. Masu. “That was the big catalyst for the cold crash, and it had a huge impact, involving social media and a lot of top scientists and influencers.”

Similar to the cold plunge, other technologies that are gaining traction are those that provide immediate benefits. For example, a steep drop at low temperatures provides energy. Red light can lift your mood. Saunas are invigorating and the compressed air can quickly combat inflammation and tension.

Home saunas were all the rage 10 to 15 years ago, but blanket versions from brands like HigherDose and Heat Healer offer even more convenient options.

“Not everyone has the space for a sauna, not everyone can afford a sauna, or have access to a local gym or wellness center,” said Lauren Bergheri, co-founder of HigherDose. He added that the brand is selling its sauna blanket for the fourth time. Changes have been made to make the product more accessible, such as changing from a Velcro closure to a zipper closure, but Berlingeri says it’s still the brand’s best-seller.

Contrast therapy combines two common methods, heat and cold exposure, into one practice that is said to relieve tension and reduce inflammation. While some may buy saunas and cold plunges, certain brands are making this biohack easy with compact devices. For example, Hyperice sells knee and shoulder braces that alternate between hot and cold.

While there may be specific reasons why people buy these kinds of devices, such as a red light mask to make your skin glow or a cold water bath for sports recovery, why do people buy these types of devices? Experts agree there’s one overriding reason to try biohacking and keep coming back.

“I just felt better overall…that tends to be why people get into it,” Dewey said.

As more people jump on the biohacking bandwagon, this category will continue to grow. “Now they’re getting attention, people are using them, people are buying them, more money is flowing into the industry, and the marketing behind it is getting bigger and bigger.” said Dr. Jonathan Leary, founder of Remedy Place.

However, as the market grows and household products become more mainstream, while still expensive, due to the negative connotations associated with them, such as being expensive, exclusive, or only for men, experts are calling it “biohacking”. We anticipate that the name itself will need to be changed. .

“The field of biohacking is going to change its name,” Dewey said. “There’s always going to be a group that’s obsessed with it.” [biohacking]But I see it becoming just health and wellness. ”

biohacking at home

From high-tech chillers to personal saunas, the latest gadgets and gadgets to improve your health at home.

High Dose Infrared Sauna Blanket, $699

The HigherDose Infrared Sauna Blanket employs far-infrared heat, which is said to promote skin health, detoxify the body, burn calories, and promote overall recovery.

Heat Healer Energy Sauna, $2,498

Heat Healer’s energy sauna combines far infrared heat for detox, red light to support skin health, and PEMF (pulsed magnetic energy) to boost cellular energy.

Hyperice X knee, $399

The Hyperice X Knee provides both hot and cold therapy to reduce inflammation and pain.

Hyperice Normatec 3 legs, $799

Hyperice’s Normatec 3 Legs provide air compression to reduce pain and tension and promote overall recovery.

Cera Face Mask, $599

Therabody’s TheraFace Mask features three sessions of red light to combat signs of aging. Red and infrared light can reduce blemishes and increase collagen production, while blue light attacks acne-causing bacteria.

Remedy Roller, $11,900

Remedy Place’s first product, the Remedy Roller, is an automatic massager that targets tense muscles and increases blood circulation. Infrared therapy is also used to enhance the anti-inflammatory effect.

Joovv The Go 2.0, $649

Red light therapy combats inflammation, promotes blood flow and cell function, and improves skin health. This handheld device can be used for the whole body, but Joovv also has a larger panel for the whole body.

Plunge Plunge All In, $8,990

Plunge’s new Plunge All-In is the brand’s largest ice bath product, cooling down to 37 degrees for optimal cold exposure.