It is always pleasant to take a hot bath to feel your body relaxes. It is not unreasonable, as Hindawi scientists have confirmed the positive effects of warm water on the skin and mental health. Each subject who took a bath for 10 minutes a day for two weeks had higher health indicators than those who took a warm shower [1].
What if you add bubbles to warm water, which creates a massage effect and further improves physical health? In this case, you get a hot tub that will provide all of the above at home.
Also, we can add simplicity and mobility to the hot water + bubbles formula. In this case, we get blow-up hot tubs! It is very convenient to have such a device at home. Therefore, we decided to take a closer look at this type of hot tub, discuss its pros and cons, find out the top four models on marketplaces, and list the chemicals and accessories that will simplify and diversify your user experience!
Let’s dive into the world of relaxation with bubbles!
Coleman SaluSpa Winner in the category The most efficient heater | Characteristics Amazon rating: ⭐️ 4.4 Max temperature: 104°F Capacity: 4-6 Number of jets: 114 Air Jets Material: PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a colorless, transparent plastic. What makes it the best The most efficient heater – heats water from 70°F to 104°F in 11-18 hours, which is 1.5-3 times more than others on the list; The fastest inflation – inflates in 10 minutes, which is 3 times faster than others; The safest chlorine level – ChemConnect system controls the desired chlorine level of 3-5 ppm; Easy to connect – requires 110-120V outlet; High durability – puncture-resistant Tritech material retains its shape no matter how many times it was inflated/deflated. Jump to the detailed review |
Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki Winner in the category The best for winter relaxation | Characteristics Amazon rating: ⭐️ 4.1 Max temperature: 104°F Capacity: 5-7 Number of jets: 180 AirJets Material: Drop stitch What makes it the best The best for winter relaxation – the Freeze Shield™ prevents freezing of the inner components; The most puncture resistant – drop stitch material and I-beam wall construction makes its walls thin and durable; The most practical design – thin walls reduce its size while saving interior spaciousness; The efficient reaching of the max temperature – 70% of users report that the hot tub reaches 104°F; Extra perks – has 2 cupholders. Jump to the detailed review |
Coleman Ponderosa SaluSpa Winner in the category The most efficient massage | Characteristics Amazon rating: ⭐️ 4.3 Max temperature: 104°F Capacity: 2-4 Number of jets: 120 AirJets Material: PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a colorless, transparent plastic. What makes it the best The most efficient massage – a more powerful pump and 120 Air Jets provide a massage effect like a regular hot tub; The best cover – consists of two tiers that allow rainwater to drain and not accumulate; The easiest to assemble – 50% of users report that it requires about 20 minutes to install; Reliable material – 3-ply PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a colorless, transparent plastic. protects it even from pet claws; Fast heating rate – heats water in 11-27 hours. Jump to the detailed review |
Intex Simple Spa Winner in the category The best at maintaining temperature | Characteristics Amazon rating: ⭐️ 4.2 Max temperature: 104°F Capacity: 4 Number of jets: 100 AirJets Material: PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a colorless, transparent plastic. and polyester mesh What makes it the best The best at maintaining temperature – when jets are turned off, it retains 98% of heat; The most comfortable – allows sitting comfortably on a soft floor and lean on soft walls; The most extensive kit – contains thermal ground cloth and test strips; Fast water filtration – filter up to 460 gallons of water per hour; Easy to carry – just deflate it and pack it in the bag, which comes with a hot tub. Jump to the detailed review |
We used QC or Quality Criteria means the minimum standards expected of a participant when providing services, products, or works. to select the top four blow-up hot tubs. To apply this, we read 500+ comments on 10+ models, identified 24 criteria, and, based on them, created a rating of the best products.
Inflatable or blow-up hot tubs are hot tubs that are made of flexible and durable materials such as latex, vinyl, or drop stitch, which can withstand many inflations/deflations or stay folded for a long time. Accordingly, their main difference from hard shell hot tubs is their soft form.
Blow-up hot tubs do not require a time-consuming installation, as the user should inflate it, fill it with water using a regular garden hose, and plug it into a 110-120V outlet.
Moreover, the blow-up hot tubs also have air and hydro jets, heaters, filters, pumps, LED displays, Wi-Fi modules, and remote controllers.
An ability to inflate/deflate blow-up hot tubs is the main cause for pros and cons. Below we will describe them so that you will be 100% aware while buying a blow-up hot tub.
It’s time to explore the four best blow-up hot tubs. We have highlighted four of the most important criteria due to users’ reviews and for each chosen the most suitable models.
Let’s start choosing!
The most efficient heater
| Extended characteristics | Amazon rating: ⭐️ 4.4 Max temperature: 104°F Heating rate: 3°F/hour Capacity: 4-6 (4 for maximum comfort) Number of jets: 114 Air Jets Water flow: 320 gallons/hour Material: PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a colorless, transparent plastic. Item Weight: 88.9 pounds Product Dimensions: 77 x 77 x 28 inches Water capacity: 242 gallons Rating: 110-120 volts, 60Hz, 12 amps at 68°F |
| Kit | Cover Inflation hose Air pad protector Chemconnect™ dispenser 2 VI filter cartridges Repair kit |
Coleman SaluSpa is a blow-up hot tub with the most efficient heater. Its water heating rate is 3°F, which is 50-300% faster than other models. You can see the difference between hot tubs in the graph below.
So, when heated from 50°F to 104°F, the Coleman SaluSpa needs less than a day, while the Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki needs two and a half days.
Also, this hot tub uses the ChemConnect system, which automatically controls the chlorine level in the water. You can place up to four time-release chlorine or bromine tablets so that the dispenser distributes the sanitizer evenly and keeps the hot tub free of bacteria.
Moreover, the Coleman SaluSpa, like the Coleman Ponderosa SaluSpa, is made from DuraPlus material. It consists of three layers that provide flexibility and solidity, so you will not find punctures even after hundreds of deflating/inflating the tub.
The best for winter relaxation
| Extended characteristics | Amazon rating: ⭐️ 4.1 Max temperature: 104°F Heating rate: 1-2°F/hour Capacity: 5-7 (4-6 for maximum comfort) Number of jets: 180 Air Jets Water flow: 320 gallons/hour Material: PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a colorless, transparent plastic., Drop stitch Item Weight: 67.3 pounds Product Dimensions: 71 x 71 x 26 inches Water capacity: 292 gallons Rating: 110-120 volts, 60Hz, 12 amps at 68°F |
| Kit | Cover Inflation hose Air pad protector Chemconnect™ dispenser 2 VI filter cartridgesRepair kit |
Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki is the best for winter relaxation. It features innovative Freeze Shield technology that prevents internal components from freezing and failing. This system monitors the outside temperature and starts automatically heating the hot tub components when it drops below 42°F.
We can confirm that it is the best for winter relaxation using statistics: 70% of users note the effectiveness of this hot tub when operating at temperatures below 42°F, which is 20-40% more than others.
Another feature of Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki is the thinnest walls, which are made from drop-stitch material to provide durability. Moreover, they make Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki one of the most compact and spacious, as the thin walls reduce the overall hot tub size by 10% while internal size is still the same as other models have.
Also, due to the above-described feature, Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki accommodates up to seven people, which is one more person than Coleman SaluSpa can.
The most efficient massage
| Extended characteristics | Amazon rating: ⭐️ 4.3 Max temperature: 104°F Heating rate: 2-3°F/hour Capacity: 2-4 (2-3 for maximum comfort) Number of jets: 120 AirJets Water flow: 350 gallons/hour Material: PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a colorless, transparent plastic. Item Weight: 57 pounds Product Dimensions: 71 x 71 x 26 inches Water capacity: 192 gallons Rating: 110-120 volts, 60Hz, 12 amps at 68°F |
| Kit | Cover Inflation hose Air pad protector Chemconnect™ dispenser 2 VI filter cartridgesRepair patch |
Coleman Ponderosa SaluSpa is a hot tub that delivers the most effective massage. 40% of the surveyed users state that 120 Air Jets help to relieve stress and tension, which is 20-30% more than other models.
Also, it is worth noting that air jets release thousands of bubbles from the bottom, which creates the whirlpool effect. It combines with a heating temperature of 104°F and makes a bubble massage. As a result, such massage help to treat the following problems:
Also, Coleman Ponderosa SaluSpa has the same small size as Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki, but it is more lightweight – 57 pounds vs. 67.3 pounds. It makes the Coleman Ponderosa SaluSpa the most portable and easy-to-install hot tub because even one person can carry such a weight.
The best at maintaining temperature
| Extended characteristics | Amazon rating: ⭐️ 4.2 Max temperature: 104°F Heating rate: 1-2°F/hour Capacity: 4 (3 for maximum comfort) Number of jets: 100 Air Jets Water flow: 460 gallons/hour Material: PVC or Polyvinyl chloride is a colorless, transparent plastic. and polyester mesh Item Weight: 89.9 pounds Product Dimensions: 77 x 77 x 26 inches Water capacity: 210 gallons Rating: 110-120 volts, 60Hz, 12 amps at 68°F |
| Kit | Cover Inflation hose Thermal ground cloth Carry bag Floating chlorine dispenser 2 VI filter cartridges Repair patchTest strip |
Intex Simple Spa is the best at temperature maintenance. This hot tub heater saves up to 98% heat, losing up to 2°F in half an hour with the jets off and up to 4°F with jets on. Moreover, users note the effectiveness of maintaining the temperature 10-20% often, which is displayed in the chart below.
Also, 40% of users note that Intex Simple Spa is the roomiest hot tub, which is 20-30% more than other models. The design allows up to four adults to sit comfortably on the soft floor and lean on soft walls.
Another distinguishing feature of Intex Simple Spa is the most extensive kit. Unlike the Coleman Ponderosa SaluSpa, which only has a cover, two filters, an inflation hose, and a repair patch, it also contains thermal ground cloth, a carry bag, and test strips. For this reason, you do not have to spend extra money to purchase these accessories.
Blow-up hot tubs last approximately five years, but you can extend this period with proper maintenance. Therefore, below we list four tips that will be handy for you.
To keep the water clean in the blow-up hot tub, you should use a certain set of chemicals. Below we provide a table with those that are needed for regular care. In addition, you can check which other chemicals for a hot tub care you may need in another article.
pH adjustment products | You need to keep the pH between 7.2 and 7.6 so that the water doesn't become too acidic to cause corrosion processes or too alkaline to scale up and clog the filters. |
Sanitizer | Its purpose is to kill bacteria that can get from the environment and feed on garbage, exfoliated skin, lotions, etc. |
Hot tub shock | Its purpose is to eliminate large numbers of bacteria and algae at once. It is recommended to use 2-3 times hot tub opening/closing and 1-time dose once a week to keep the water clean. |
Calcium hardness adjuster | Its purpose is to regulate the levels of calcium and copper in the water. Their incorrect levels can cause cloudy and green water, in which bacteria and algae can actively multiply. |
You can turn your blow-up hot tub into a 5⭐️ relaxation complex with just a few accessories. Therefore, below we have selected four main ones to consider when buying a hot tub.
Seats | |
Headrests | |
Cupholders | |
Cleaning set |
Blow-up hot tubs combine simplicity, portability, and comfort. Moreover, you can install them at home, outdoors, or in your basement in minutes. It is a great deal for their cost.
Such hot tubs are popular among both newcomers and regular users. Therefore, we analyzed the most popular models on marketplaces, read user reviews, gathered a comparison table, and chose the four best blow-up hot tubs (check them again if you haven’t chosen your favorite yet).
See you in the next reviews!
Although blow-up hot tubs are made of puncture-resistant material, they last 5-7 years, unlike hard shell hot tubs, which last about 20 years.
You can place a hot tub basement to protect your blow-up hot tub from punctures.
If you use a blow-up hot tub more than three times a week, you’d be better off leaving it on because your electricity bills will be lower than if you turn the heater on and off all the time.
We recommend changing the water in a blow-up hot tub every 3-4 months. Otherwise, the chlorine may become ineffective and settle on the bottom.
If your blow-up hot tub runs all the time, your electricity bill will be about $130/month. If you turn on the heater and pump 50-75% less often, your electricity bill will be $65-98 less.
Goto, Y., Hayasaka, S., Kurihara, S., & Nakamura, Y. (2018, June 7). Physical and mental effects of bathing: A randomized intervention study. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6011066/
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