The Founding of ARKTK ColdWear: How Two Friends Turned Freezing Their Butts Off into a Business
It All Started with Two Best Friends and One Really Cold Idea
Jon and Kyle have been best friends since high school, bonded by the usual stuff: crazy parties, questionable decisions, and an impressive knack for making each other laugh. But they never expected their friendship to lead to founding ARKTK ColdWear, a brand dedicated to making cold plunging easier, more consistent, and—dare we say—actually enjoyable.
Enter: The Pandemic and the Birth of a Cold Plunge Obsession
When COVID hit, Jon found himself in a situation many of us faced: gyms closed, routines shattered, and an existential crisis brewing somewhere between his fourth cup of coffee and hour three of doom-scrolling. Desperate for an outlet, he did what any rational person would do…he jumped into the Long Island Sound in the middle of winter.
That first plunge was like a slap to the face—literally freezing, but also electrifying. It wasn't just a physical shock; it was mental clarity, stress relief, and a dopamine rush all rolled into one icy embrace. Jon was hooked. Soon, he wasn’t plunging alone. He started a cold plunging group, casually inviting a few friends. Fast forward, and now that group has grown into a cold-plunging community larger than Jon ever imagined.
The "My Balls Are Killing Me" Moment: The Birth of ARKTK
Jon noticed something odd during his early cold plunging days: people were cobbling together all sorts of cheap scuba gear to make the experience bearable. Guys were slipping on flimsy neoprene socks, stuffing random neoprene scraps under their bathing suits, and basically DIY-ing their way through the freeze with whatever they could find on Amazon.
But then came the moment of clarity. One fateful day, a new guy joined the plunge—brave, determined, ready to embrace the cold. He waded in, chest-deep, face set with gritty resolve. But within seconds, he shot out of the water like a human cannonball, screaming, "MY BALLS ARE KILLING ME!"
And that… was the lightbulb moment.
Jon realized that while people were clearly desperate for solutions, no one had created cold plunge equipment designed with actual thought and purpose—especially for, well, the most sensitive of regions. That epiphany sparked the birth of ARKTK: gear made to solve real cold plunging problems, starting with the Zero Degree Shorts.
The Zero Degree Shorts: Designed for Maximum Cold Plunge Performance
Determined to solve the problem, they teamed up with a designer from No Bull, because if you’re going to make gear for people who willingly freeze themselves, you need someone who doesn’t mess around. The goal? Create shorts that make cold plunging easier without compromising the cold plunging benefits everyone loves.
Kyle became the neoprene whisperer, testing over 100 different types of neoprene. (Yes, you read that right. One. Hundred.) He took neoprene testing to levels most would consider unnecessary, but when you’re obsessed with creating the perfect cold plunge gear, "unnecessary" becomes part of the job description.
The result? ARKTK Zero Degree Shorts — a blend of premium materials designed to protect against unnecessary discomfort while still delivering all the benefits of cold immersion.
Funny Videos, Frozen Waterfalls, and a Whole Lot of Dopamine
Jon’s background in video production and comedy turned out to be the secret sauce for ARKTK’s brand. They didn’t just want to sell shorts; they wanted to make cold plunging fun, approachable, and less intimidating for beginners.
From plunging in a frozen waterfall in upstate New York and the Berkshires (because why not?) to creating hilarious videos about the struggle of convincing yourself to get into freezing water, ARKTK is all about embracing the suck…with a smile.
What’s Next for ARKTK? (Because We’re Just Getting Started)
Zero Degree Shorts were just the beginning. Up next:
Footwear: Because your toes deserve love, too.
Recovery Gear: To keep you feeling like a Viking long after you’re out of the ice.
Ready to Make Cold Plunging Easier?
If you’ve ever hesitated at the edge of an ice bath, questioning your life choices, we get it. We’ve been there. That’s why we created ARKTK ColdWear.
Try ARKTK Zero Degree Shorts and experience how the right gear can turn cold plunging from a mental battle into your favorite part of the day.
Live Bold. Live Cold.