There’s a new kind of pool that — according to manufacturers — became the “it” project during the pandemic. It is called the “plunge pool,” and plunge pool manufacturer Soake Pools, based in Pembroke, New Hampshire, said that its revenue for the first half of 2022 is 14.5 times higher than it was in 2019.

Plunge pools are larger than hot tubs, at an average of between 15 to 20 feet long, 6 to 10 feet wide, and 4 to 7 feet deep, with a flat bottom. They’ve become a popular choice for people with small yards and lot sizes, or for people without children who just want a place to take a dip and have some drinks.

Karen Larson, a co-founder of Soake Pools, said that she thinks the pandemic drove the demand for plunge pools because it is easier and less expensive to install a prefabricated pool.

“Maybe even some people that might have been thinking of a large pool may have converted to the idea of a small pool,” Larson said.

Once the homeowner picks out a pool size, tile, and other extras, the company builds the pool off-site while a landscaper prepares the yard. When the pool is complete, it’s installed with a crane. It can take from days to a couple of weeks to complete.

Because they are relatively small, they are easy to heat or to chill, so they can double as a spa or for cold water therapy. Artificial currents can be set up to provide resistance for athletic types. They are less expensive than traditional pools in terms of initial installation costs, heating costs, and overall maintenance costs.

According to Allison Messner, chief executive of the landscape design company Yardzen in Sausalito, California, many people like the minimalism of plunge pools.

“I think people that are drawn to plunge pools are looking for a smaller footprint pool, because maybe they have more functional areas in their yard, which is also a modern look,” Messner said.

An added bonus is that plunge pools allow for more space for dining and play areas. They can also “make your yard look and feel like a staycation spot.”

And because a lot of adults don’t actually use pools to swim, but rather to cool off on a hot summer day, it makes sense to have a simple, onelevel pool to stand in and relax while hanging out with friends.

Image of Soake Pools https://soakepools.com/ gallery/#foogallery-1298/i:60