Inflatable Hot Tubs: The Good, The Bad, and the Potentially Punctured Bottom

Read on to learn the Pros and Cons of Buying an Inflatable Hot Tub.

Inflatable hot tubs are a great way to enjoy the relaxing benefits of a hot tub without breaking the bank. They're also portable and easy to set up, so they don't have to be a permanent feature in your garden. But before you commit to a blow up hot tub, there are a few things you should know.

INFLATABLE HOT TUB PROS:

Affordable: Inflatable hot tubs are much cheaper than traditional hard side hot tubs.
Portable: You can easily move your inflatable hot tub around your yard, or pack it away for the winter season.
Easy to set up: It only takes a few minutes to inflate and connect your inflatable hot tub.
Cushioned: The inflatable sides of an inflatable hot tub provide a soft and comfortable place to soak.
Jets: Many inflatable hot tubs come with built-in air pump jets to massage your muscles.
Try before you buy: We usually recommend inflatables to customers who can't decide if they would enjoy a hot tub or not. Inflatables are a great way to get a taste of the spa-life before committing to a more permanent hot tub - and most of our customers end up replacing their inflatable with a Hydropool within the year.

INFLATABLE HOT TUB CONS:

Not as Durable: Inflatable hot tubs are not as durable as traditional hot tubs. They can be punctured or torn- which is inevitable especially if you're packing it up and moving it often. They may not last as long, as the pumps aren't as high quality as hard side hot tubs. If you plan on packing it away for the season, there's risk of the vinyl body going brittle and cracking, and they're a lot more susceptible to damage from hot tub chemicals.
No Massage Jets: Inflatable hot tubs are all bubble and heat without any of the token hot tub massage jets, or they have massage jets but they don't stack up to traditional hot tub jets as they just don't have enough power behind them.
Air Only Option: Having air as an additional massage option is great but, pumping cold air into your spa as your only means of massage cools the water down very, very quickly - meaning your soak time is limited.
Not as big: Inflatable hot tubs are smaller than traditional hot tubs. They look comfortable at first glance but on most models you're actually just sitting on a thin sheet of vinyl on the floor! There aren't dedicated bucket seats, so you can squeeze people in, but beware of popping it!
Requires more maintenance: Inflatable hot tubs require more maintenance than traditional hot tubs, as they have tiny filters not capable of taking consistent and heavy bather loads. This means cleaning and replacing filters far more frequently to keep your water clean.
Can be Noisy: The jets in an inflatable hot tub can be noisy because they are out in the open (think vacuum cleaner beside the bath), not housed like in a hard side tub. This may be a problem if you live in a quiet neighbourhood, or if you want a calm and relaxing hot tub atmosphere.

SO SHOULD I BUY AN INFLATABLE HOT TUB??

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy an inflatable hot tub is up to you. If you're looking for a cheap, portable, and easy-to-set-up hot tub, then an inflatable hot tub is a good option. Just be aware of the potential drawbacks before you buy one. Think critically about the reasons you want a hot tub, consider investing in a more permanent feature. Ask yourself, is a little bubble worth lots of trouble? If you want a stress free solution, consider a more permanent garden investment and check out our Self-Cleaning Hot Tub Collection. It's worth a gander!

Happy Hot Tubbing!