Having a hot tub at home is one of the best stress relievers that you can get for yourself. The hot water in them combined with the bubble jet action will melt away the tension that builds up during your workday or soothes sore muscles from physical activity. Well, this article will introduce you to some inflatable hot tubs that are both affordable and you can take even take them with you when you travel. We have taken a look at several inflatable hot tub models and compiled 5 inflatable hot tub reviews on what we feel are the best ones available. This review list and the other information contained in this article should help you be able to find the best inflatable hot tub for your needs.
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Why You Need an Inflatable Hot Tub
Many people do not realize all the benefits they can gain from owning an inflatable hot tub. Here are a few of the main ones:
Cost
For those who are budget conscious, an inflatable hot tub will fit right into that mold. They are thousands of dollars less than non-inflatable hot tub models yet you will get many of the same benefits from them. That is a very big cost-saving, to say the least. Inflatable hot tubs are also less costly to run and maintain. Most regular hot tubs run on 220v which makes them more costly to heat and run. Inflatable hot tubs are smaller so it also takes fewer chemicals to maintain them.
Portability
No other type of hot tub can come close to matching the portability of an inflatable spa. They are very easy to both setup and takedown. That makes them ideal for people who move around a lot to own or for a family that likes to take their hot tub with them when they go on vacation. They are even very convenient to put up and take down around your own home too. That means if you only use your hot tub during the warmest months of the year it is easy to take down and store for the winter too.
In case you are an outdoor person and portability is important to you, you may want to check out our outdoor solar shower reviews and outdoor tankless water heaters.
Relaxation
The combination of warm water and gentle bubbles hitting your body are one of the best ways for you to relax and unwind. Actually, your hot tub has many therapeutic benefits. This type of therapy can help soothe the pain of aching muscles. It takes the edge off of your nervous tension too. An inflatable hot tub will give you all that and more. There is nothing quite like owning your own hot tub and being able to get in it and do these things whenever you feel the need.
If you are into relaxation and spoiling yourself, you may want to check out our list of top-rated steam showers and modern infrared saunas, as well.
Entertaining Guests
Want to surprise the next set of visitors that are coming to your home? Then introduce them to your new inflatable hot tub when they arrive. Your own hot tub is a great centerpiece for entertaining your guests. You can do such things as sit in it and talk or you can share a glass of wine and look at the scenery around you. They definitely are a great product that will really impress the next guests that come to your home.
When you add all of these advantages and disadvantages of inflatable hot tubs up, it makes inflatable hot tubs an excellent choice for affordable relaxation.
Best Inflatable Hot Tubs Comparison Chart
PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
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Coleman Lay-Z Spa Inflatable Hot Tub |
| View On Amazon | |
Intex PureSpa Bubble Massage 4-Person Portable Hot Tub |
| View On Amazon | |
Bestway Lay-Z-Spa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub |
| View On Amazon | |
Octagonal 210 Gallon Spa with 120 Bubble Jets |
| View On Amazon | |
Bestway Lay-Z-Spa Paris Inflatable Hot Tub |
| View On Amazon |
Best Inflatable Hot Tub Reviews (Updated List)
1. Coleman Lay-Z Spa Inflatable Hot Tub
This company is well known for its outdoor adventure products so it is not surprising that they would make their own inflatable spa too. It is also a company whose name is synonymous with quality and this inflatable hot tub is a great example of that. We were skeptical at first as to whether an inflatable hot tub would work as well as a regular one but we are now convinced they can.
This is no balloon-thin type inflatable product either. It is solidly made of thick fabric that will hold up to any elements that it faces. The top is coated with aluminum foil so it will not only keep the hot tub clean when it’s not in use it will also help keep the water warm so it gets quickly up to temperature when you go to use it again.
It features a comfortable printed liner on the inside to sit on and the water circulates through the tub as part of the pump and filter system. You can even add bubbles to the flow of water coming into this inflatable hot tub. It gets its power by simply plugging it into any 115v outlet.
For a small hot tub, this spa had some nice jet and bubble action to it. This really added to the enjoyment of using the hot tub. Another nice feature was that it included an air pump that was tied in with the filtration system. This made it very easy to set up and install.
It says it is a spa that is made to hold 4 – 6 comfortably. Well if you consider having someone sit on your lap comfortable then yes it seats 6. More realistically this is a 3 or 4 person hot tub max.
2. Intex PureSpa Bubble Massage 4-Person Portable Hot Tub
This is another excellent inflatable hot tub product and we were impressed with the thought that went into this design by Intex. We liked how sturdy this hot tub felt once it was inflated and filled. The company said there was some reinforcement inside the spa fabric and we believe that wholeheartedly. The unit also comes with an insulated cover for convenience.
It is a product you can take just about anywhere you go that has a flat surface to set it upon. It only weighs 100 pounds when deflated and empty so two averaged size people can easily move it. This product also only requires 115v to run the equipment so it can virtually plug into any 115v volt outlet that is close by.
The hot tub itself is very comfortable to use and it has some nice bubble jet action inside of it too.
This unit will heat up the water very quickly for a unit that only plugs into 115v electricity. The hot tubs we tested averaged heating up almost 2 degrees every hour the heater ran. There was also consensus here about the way the walls of the hot tub were so solidly constructed once inflated; everyone was very impressed by how sturdy this unit was for an inflatable hot tub.
One thing that we were not impressed with about this product was the filter size. They were very small so they tend to get gunked up pretty quickly and are not easy to take out and clean on a regular basis; so a little bit of a poor design here. Some of the more technical people here noticed there were some plastic parts built into certain components of the hot tub circulation motor and that is something we were very uncomfortable with.
3. Bestway Lay-Z-Spa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub
This company has come out with a very good looking and relaxing inflatable hot tub product. We thought it was one of the more stylish looking inflatable hot tubs that we looked at for the purposes of this review. Both the inside and outside of this hot tub are made of sturdy material that seemed like it would be very hard to puncture.
The portability of this hot tub comes from it only needing a 115v outlet to run its pump and filter and its only 55-pound dry weight; that was among the lightest of all the inflatable hot tub products that we tested.
The pump and filter system was more than adequate to keep this hot tub clean and give you some relaxing bubble action while using it. I was very comfortable to sit in for sure.
The control panel on this hot tub was super easy to learn and use. It easily controlled both the bubble action of the hot tub and the filtration cycles. The large size digital display on the controls was very easy to read too. For a small size hot tub, it was very easy to keep clean too.
One of the things that were really substandard about this hot tub is that it was very hard to drain. This made the spa much less portable in our opinion. We found the instructional video and directions for this hot tub to be a little misleading also and the setup steps did not mesh with the actual way the hot tub needs to be installed. We also do not agree that this is a 4 person hot tub unless they all know each other very well because they will be sitting ‘extremely’ close.
4. Octagonal 210 Gallon Spa with 120 Bubble Jets
This is an incredibly priced and highly portable inflatable hot tub. It has a much more unique shape than the other hot tubs on our list. It’s more octagonal than it is round. It’s both an interesting and comfortable design that seems to give it a little more room than most of the round inflatable hot tubs we looked at.
It features very sturdy heavy fabric construction and a soft pliable inside line liner. This product is very comfortable to sit in, to say the least. It features over 120 bubble jets to give it some action while you are in there using it. The easy to operate all-digital display makes it simple to operate the controls, to say the least.
It is also very lightweight and easy to move to different locations or take it with you when traveling.
We really liked the easy way this model sets up and how sturdy it is once it gets filled with water. It made us confident we were not buying some cheap products that we would throw away in less than a year’s time. The unit also heated well over 1 degree an hour which is not bad considering it uses 115v equipment.
We were not totally thrilled with the jet or bubble action on this inflatable hot tub. It just didn’t seem to produce as strong a massaging sensation as on some of the other hot tub models we tested. This hot tub has the same problem as many of the other inflatable hot tubs we tested. The filters are so small they need to be cleaned after just a few uses so we recommend you buy a few extras to keep on hand to help make maintenance easier.
5. Bestway Lay-Z-Spa Paris Inflatable Hot Tub
This is an incredible inflatable hot tub for the price that Bestway has manufactured. It was every bit as good we thought as some of the higher-priced models that we compared with it. It is a good looking hot tub inside and out also which will not be an eyesore anywhere you set it up in your yard. The nice all-around job here by Bestway.
The fabric for the hot tub is very strong and it seems like it would be very difficult to puncture. This hot tub is also very easy to keep clean because it has a good little filtration system. It also has a surprisingly strong flow of bubbles that come out of the jets in the hot tub.
The handy air pump that is incorporated into the hot tub equipment pack made this hot tub really easy to set up. In a little over a ½ hour of time water was already going into it to fill it up. The floor had a nice cushiony feel too as we sat in it that made it very comfortable. This hot tub was also very easy to move around despite its 86-pound weight because of the two heavily sewn handles that are built into it.
We all thought that the cover of this model was a little bit to the flimsy side. That made it not seem to fit quite right so we think that will cause some heat loss over time. This is yet another hot tub that the claims of it being able to hold 6 people are greatly exaggerated; it once again would probably not be very comfortable to use with more than three people in it at one time.
Inflatable Hot Tub Buying Guide
These inflatable hot tubs may be bought for an affordable price but there are many things to consider when buying them. It is one of those situations where you may get a lot more benefit from one that you spend a little more money to purchase it. Here are some of the key features that you need to look at on an inflatable hot tub before making a purchasing decision.
Price
Of course, you have to look at the price whenever you are purchasing a product but there is a catch. The cheapest hot tub may not always be the worst and the most expensive hot tub may not always be the best. Many times there is a bargain to be had someplace. That would be something like a moderately priced inflatable hot tub that has many features of more expensive models. So make sure you take a look at the big picture as far as price is concerned when shopping for an inflatable hot tub.
Weight
One of the reasons many people like to buy inflatable hot tubs is because they can be easily set up and taken down. This makes it easy to put almost anywhere. It may be a flat space around your home. You can also take them with you to a vacation home or camping spot that has electricity. The only thing is, in order to do these things you have to have an inflatable hot tub that can be easily moved around. That is why the weight of the inflatable hot tub must be considered.
Filtration
You have to keep the water in your hot tub clean and germ-free. It would be a huge nuisance to drain and empty the hot tub each time you wanted to use it. So this is most easily done by having a working filtration system on your hot tub product that circulates and filters the water inside it. Look for an inflatable hot tub that has a decent size pump and filter. That way it can circulate the water in the unit several times over in a single day. This will help the water stay fresh and crystal clear when combined with hot tub chemicals.
Spa action
There is no doubt about, there is something very soothing about immersing your body in hot water. Inflatable spas do a nice job of heating the water so you can enjoy it this way. There is another level of the satisfaction of being in your inflatable hot tub though. Many models will have water jet or bubble jet action that feels great on your body when using them. It is something that you really want to emphasize when making a purchasing decision on an inflatable spa because it will maximize your satisfaction when using it.
Fabric
Most portable hot tubs are made of wood or heavy-duty plastic. That is not the case with an inflatable hot tub. Hot tubs have to use expanding fabric that traps the air when they are filled. That means they are soft-sided and susceptible to puncturing and cuts. That is why you need to choose an inflatable spa model that has a very strong fabric that the outer hot tub material is made of. This will make it less susceptible to such incidents as punctures and abrasions as it is used and moved around. This is a big factor in your hot tub buying decision, to say the least.
Controls
Most good inflatable hot tubs will have some kind of control system built into them that works the filtration on the unit and the jet action in the tub. You want this system to be easy to use for sure. It should include programmable filtration cycles and also have a continuous mode to run the filtration. There should also be an easily accessed button that activates either the water action in the hot tub or the air injection action it has.
Seating Capacity
One consistent theme here is that most of the companies we looked tend to exaggerate a little on how many people that their model hot tub sits comfortably. It is not important if you are a family of two and the manufacturer says their hot tub seats 4 – 6 persons but if you are a family of five you will definitely need to take a closer look at the size and seating capacity. A good way to tell how comfortable you and your family will be is to mark out on a floor the outside dimensions of any hot tub you are thinking about buying. Then all of you sit in the marked out space. It’s a pretty safe bet that if you are crowded in the marked out space you will be crowded in that model hot tub too.
Heater, Cover, and Insulation
Even with a small hot tub, it can be expensive to heat and maintain if its heater is inefficient and the hot tub is not well insulated. This is especially true in the colder months of the year. You want a hot tub heater that will warm up the unit at least one degree an hour under most circumstances. It should also have some insulating characteristics built into the fabric of the hot tub itself too. Another requirement for an inflatable hot tub you will buy is an insulated top cover. Therefore, make sure the model hot tub you are looking at buying comes with one.
As a result, in order to get the most out of the inflatable hot tub, make sure you take a look at every hot tub feature discussed here.
Other bathtubs we have reviewed are freestanding tubs and acrylic bathtubs. Do not forget to have a look at them, too.
Inflatable Hot Tub Maintenance & Cleaning
Just because these hot tubs are on the small side does not mean that they don’t require any maintenance. That is not true. Like any item such as a swimming pool that is exposed to the elements and contains water, it has to be kept clean inside and out. Here are the maintenance steps that every inflatable hot tub needs.
Fabric cleaning
It is important to keep the fabric of your inflatable cover soft and supple. It can get dried out in a hurry from the sun and other elements if you are not careful. That is why it is recommended to wipe down the outside of your inflatable spa on a regular basis using soap and water. You should also add a fabric treatment at times but make sure it is not one that is petroleum-based; that will only cause the fabric to deteriorate even faster when the sun hits it.
Filter cleaning
There is nothing worse than going to use your hot tub and finding out the water is cloudy and unsanitary to get in. All of this can be avoided if you take proper care of your filtration. That means running your pump and filter at least several hours a day. Also, keeping the hot tub filter clean. You will need to take your filter out of the system at least once a week. Then, spray it off so it keeps the spa water sparkling clear. This is an essential maintenance step on a hot tub that has small filters as inflatable ones do.
Chemical Balancing
There is no more important maintenance step than adding chemicals to your hot tub water and keeping them balanced. It is not only how the water stays clear. It also keeps it safe and sanitary when you are using it. Warm water grows bacteria at a much faster rate than most anything else in the environment. Thus, you have to keep your hot tub water safe and sanitized. Most hot tub owners use bromine to keep the water in their hot tubs safe and sanitary. Bromine is not only an excellent sanitizer but it also keeps algae and other organic matter from growing in your hot tub too. So be sure to take sanitizing and balancing the water chemistry in your hot tub very seriously.
Cover Cleaning
Make sure you clean your hot tub cover the same way as the fabric on your hot tub. It too can become dry and get brittle over time. If it does then it will either break or become ineffective at keeping the heat in your hot tub and keeping it clean. Cleaning it and treating it will make it last a very long time.
Ground Prep
Many people choose to set up their inflatable hot tub on a flat patch of their lawn. That is perfectly ok as long as you put the mat that comes with the hot tub underneath it. Over time though you will most likely see grass and other weeds start to grow out from under the mat. These must be kept cut all the way to the ground. If not, they will grow up the side of the hot tub and can ruin it or cause holes in the fabric.
Every one of these maintenance steps is very important in their own way of keeping your water clear and making your inflatable hot tub last a long time.
Our Final Thoughts on Making an Inflatable Hot Tub Purchase
It is hard to beat having your very own inflatable hot tub in your backyard. Having an inflatable hot tub will give you a place you can go to relax, a place where you can entertain guests and a place where you can go to be romantic. They can be a very welcome addition to your life, to say the least.
Take the advice in this article on Beyond Shower. The inflatable hot tub reviews here will guide you in what to look for in an inflatable hot tub when combined with the other information contained here within. Put this information to good use so you can find the best inflatable hot tub available to purchase for yourself.
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