[zekrioca]

It is easier in tropical countries like Colombia, where “cold” is basically “warm”. In colder (northern) countries, I tried this but it is very hard because “cold water” (i.e., non heated) is way too cold (like minus temperatures).

[dghughes]

I'm in south-eastern Canada. Just now I checked the temperature of the water from my city water company I measured it at 8C. The current outside temperature is -1C. The water couldn't be lower than freezing or pipes in homes would freeze.

I agree cold, hot, warm are all relative. Somewhat related I've seen people from hot countries worry about "cold weather". To them ~20C is cold compared to 35C hot day and was blamed to be the cause of colds and flu. Often perpetuated in movies and TV too a tired old trope. So yes to someone in a hot country a "cold" shower may be considered warm to someone from a cold climate.

[spodek]

You're right about geography.

My record for cold shower temperature was 39.9F (4.4C), here in New York City. Five minutes at that temperature bordered on pain. My fingertips turned purple.

The warmest cold shower I took was in Brazil. Sadly, I didn't get to enjoy it because I was sunburned.

[Drdrdrq]

> minus temperatures

Nitpick: it is difficult to take a shower with water in solid form (ice).

[Jap2-0]

> > minus temperatures

> Nitpick: it is difficult to take a shower with water in solid form (ice).

Nitpick: having a temperature below zero does not necessarily mean that it is in a solid form; for example, it could be at a high pressure or not have a nucleus to freeze around (supercooling).

[hedora]

I’d like to see a video of this hypothetical subzero shower stream turning to a block of ice around an unsuspecting nucleus.

Bonus points if you can scale it up to a mannequin.

[Izkata]

Supercooled water isn't quite the same thing you're asking for - I doubt it could be done with a shower without special equipment - but here's a video of spontaneous freezing in two ways: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fot3m7kyLn4

The first, pounding it inside the sealed bottle, is creating some sort of disturbance to crystalize around (an "unsuspecting nucleus"), and the second is pouring it semi-shower-like.

[ColFrancis]

A shock would likely cause a nucleus site anyway. When people do this with water in the freezer a good knock sets it off. So when the water starts to flow I think it'd freeze in the pipes.

[Jap2-0]

High pressure would probably be a more likely explanation for a shower. As for the feasibility... we're talking about technicalities here.

I do think it would be interesting to see it, though.

[soheil]

Not if the water has enough salt mixed in it.

[CBLT]

It's certainly easier in tropical countries because you can just use the cold knob, but it's doable in colder places as well. Even using both hot and cold sources to get a comparable temperature, it isn't as easy to get into the shower when the weather is colder. I've noticed that the coldness of the water only bothers me for the first 20 seconds of the shower, so I'll use a bit more heat then turn it colder.

[vuciv1]

I'm in a cold area and experienced this recently. My hair started to harden and freeze. I started just putting the heat knob just the tiniest bit.

But I guess it depends on your knobs shower knobs.

[cambalache]

By his accent he is from Bogota, it may not be Canada, but the temperature can reach 6C, I wouldnt call that "warm"

[desiderantes]

Colombia has a huge range of climates. His city, Medellin, is a bit chillier than what you would expect.

[vecinu]

Medellin has highs of 28C and lows of 17C every month, pretty much.

Seems really warm!

[whymauri]

Yeah, they might have mentally flipped Bogota and Medellin. Bogota is a lot like SF's climate, but even steadier throughout the year.