One of the best ways to get through the summer heat is by basking in a hot tub. Sounds counterintuitive, we know, but with heated water jets gently massaging your lower back, there’s absolutely no way you can’t stay relaxed while soaking in a hot tub.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about finding the right tub for your backyard. But first, let us tell you about our picks of the top 4 best inflatable hot tubs.
Our Recommended Inflatable Hot Tubs
1) Best of the Best: Intex 28429E PureSpa Plus
Enjoy total relaxation with what we deem to be the best of the best inflatable hot tub out there. The Intex PureSpa Plus comes with 140 high-powered and a built-in treatment system to soften the water and enhance the experience of your massage.
Softened water also prevents the tub’s inner lining from become damaged over time.
This inflatable hot tub seats up to four people at once, although only two of them get to enjoy the contoured headrests. There’s even a multi-colored LED light fixed in the inner lining of the tub to create a unique ambience during your soak.
- Cobalt blue round. Fits up to 4 people. 140 high-powered bubble jets for relaxation.
- Easy-to-use, tilt-adjustable control panel. Pamper yourself in relaxing water up to...
2) Best Seller: Coleman SaluSpa Inflatable Hot Tub
The Coleman SaluSpa is one of the most popular inflatable hot tubs for its four to six-person seating capacity.
An onboard heater heats all 242 gallons to 104°F in only 24 hours, and warm water comes gushing out of the numerous jets to soothe any soreness in the neck, shoulders, and low back region.
Temperature and pressure are controllable via the onboard digital panel. Like most hot tubs, this has its own pump where a single push of a button can have it fully inflated.
All of the controls can be found on the module that serves as the pump and heating unit.
- ATTENTION: Shipping restrictions may apply. This model is not available for sale in the...
- ENJOY THE ULTIMATE SPA EXPERIENCE: Nothing beats the feeling of sinking into a warm,...
3) New Release: Coleman SaluSpa AirJet
There are only slight variances between the Coleman SaluSpa AirJet and the best-seller Coleman SaluSpa.
They share the same 60-jet design, hold onto 242 gallons of heated water up to 104°F, and comes with a cover and two filter replacement sets. Plus, they’re made of the same anti-puncture material with internal beams for structure.
The AirJet features a handy remote control that lets you control the heating element, the pump, and the massage system for added convenience. Sadly, this unit doesn’t retain heat as well as the traditional SaluSpa while also producing the same 2-3°F/hour heating efficiency.
- Contents: 1 spa, 1 cover, 1 pump, 1 ChemConnect dispenser, 1 remote control, 2 filter...
- Included remote control allows you to control the pump, temperature and massage system
4) Affordable: Bestway Lay-Z Spa Miami
If you’re looking for the most affordable two to four-person inflatable hot tub, then the Bestway Lay-Z Spa Miami is for you.
It comes with the exact same features as you’d find in higher-end models, including an energy-saving timer and 81 high-powered jets. There’s even a rapid-heating system that can bring all 177 gallons of water up to temp in under 20 hours.
It also has the same water-softening treat system to prevent the inner lining from becoming damaged. This kit comes with its own cover to protect the water from dropping in temperature at nighttime, but you’ll need to purchase your own ground cover to protect the base.
- ATTENTION: This model is not available for sale in the following states: CA, MA, ME, NJ,...
- SOOTHING MASSAGE SYSTEM: The SaluSpa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub Spa features 120 jets which...
Buying Guide: Finding the Right Inflatable Hot Tub
Choosing which inflatable hot tub to take home with you can be more challenging than it sounds. If you read our reviews of our picks of the top 4 best inflatable hot tubs, you’ll see that they all share a ton of similarities. This guide will assist you in determining of these tubs is the perfect match for your home.
Size and Capacity
The first thing you need to determine is how many people are going to enjoy the hot tub at any given time. Take a look at the tub’s inner dimensions, seating capacity, and gallon capacity at 80% to see which would fit the appropriate number of users.
The products mentioned above are designed for between two and four people, though a person may require more space to sit in the tub comfortably.
Energy-Saving Timer
A built-in timer function serves to save as much electricity as possible without sacrificing the quality of your soak. A timer controls how long the jets stay on as well as how long the heating element works over the course of several days. It can range from a “mere” 72 hours of heating in advanced all the way up to 99 hours.
Heating Efficiency
How quickly does the hot tub’s heating element heat water? Most of the products on our list have a heating ratio of up to 3°F per hour or requires roughly 24 hours to heat several hundred gallons of water to the desired temperature.
The Bestway Lay-Z Spa Miami, which is the most affordable item on our list, has a rapid heating system that can do it in 20, though admittedly it has a max capacity of only 177 gallons.
Specialty Features
Specialty features are those that serve to enhance the relaxation experience of the tub owner. These include headrests, multi-color LEDs, and cushioned bottoms. All of these specialty features can be found in the Intex 28429E PureSpa Plus which is unsurprisingly the best of the best inflatable hot tub on our list.
Included Accessories
Accessories include a tub cover, a ground cover, filter cartridge replacements, and repair patches. The newly released Coleman SaluSpa AirJet even has a remote control to make it easier on the user to adjust temperature, jet pressure, and the pump without needing to touch the onboard controls.
Buying Guides• Best Inflatable Hot Tubs
Info Articles
• Hot Tub Sizes
• Different Types of Hot Tubs
FAQ
The items on our list do not come with seats, although the inner base of the tub should provide enough cushioning for sitting hours on end in the tub. Seats can be purchased from third-party manufacturers; just make sure they fit within the hot tub’s inner dimensions.
In warmer parts of the globe, this shouldn’t be a problem. From the question and answer above, you can deduce that the only issue is with extreme cold conditions where the heater doesn’t function properly. Cold can also lead to rigid inner beams that can crack when inflated before thawing properly.
Indeed, you can. In fact, many people take their inflatable hot tubs out of storage during the colder months. The main problem is that their onboard heaters operate within a certain temperature range. If the ambient air is too cold, the heater won’t turn on.
Yes, there is. You can use an external liquid propane heater to bring the water up to 104° and beyond if that’s your thing. There’s a cost benefit of using liquid propane as opposed to the built-in electric heater. Plus, you won’t have to wait up to 24 hours for the water to heat up to your desired temperature.
Although it would be convenient to have an inflatable hot tub placed on a patio and in the shade, it’s highly recommended that you do NOT put it there. A single gallon of water is eight pounds, and each of the inflatable hot tubs mentioned on our list can more than 200 gallons of water.
Standard wooden decks are not designed to carry a 1,000-plus-pound load for extended periods. Brick decks or those with full supports beneath might be able to handle the load, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Conclusion
An inflatable hot tub is a great tool to have to enjoy your downtime after a long, hard day at the salt mines. They’re generally inexpensive, have some pretty advanced features that simulate the genuine spa experience, and they’re easy to set up and put away.
In this guide, we’ve included all of the information you need to decide which of the best inflatable hot tubs is the perfect match for your home.
If you have any questions or comments, please add them below in the comment section. Similarly, please let us know if you spot any mistakes or omissions. Thanks!
Last Update: 2024-04-23 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
