Written by Terry Smith
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Best inflatable hot tubs [UK] 2021: Pick top winter inflatable hot tubs
This article was last updated on August 28th, 2021 at 6:42 am
Do you know what, I can guarantee you the same level of excitement from the best inflatable hot tub that you’ll get from a re-mortgage type setup. My own best inflatable hot tub pick has kept the misses well happy and I have to tell you, I am seriously pleased about the fact we didn’t have to borrow silly money to achieve it. Have a look what I did for less than a grand with a Lay-Z-Spa Miami Hot Tub :
Table of Contents
Best inflatable hot tub to picks
When I was young the words Jacuzzi or hot tub conjured up images of the rich and famous sitting there in the bubbles while drinking a glass of champagne or two. It certainly wasn’t something for average folk, unless you went to stay at a fancy hotel for a night. As I grew into my teens, I started seeing them in the local leisure centres and some of the high end gyms that started opening up, but they still weren’t something that a lot of people had in their homes.
Fast forward to the present day and it’s a different story all together. Advances in material research and other types of technology have reduced prices dramatically and now made owning a hot tub very common place, all the lads in the workshop have one.
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MSpa C-TE041 Tekapo (2021 Model) 4 2+2 Person Portable Square Hot Tub |
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Best inflatable hot tub UK
I went with the Lay-Z-Spa Miami Hot Tub because of the size constraints in my garden and the sheer number of positive reviews in the UK. You can see more about my setup and thoughts at that page.
It’s nearly summertime in the UK (at the time of writing this) and one look at my Facebook feed reveals that a very large percentage of my friends and family are now spending their evenings knocking back a few cold drinks in their very own hot tub.
And who can blame them? With budget hot tubs going for as low as £500 for a decent on, they are becoming more and more affordable.
So please find my review of the best hot tubs for your garden
The reduced prices makes them more popular, and with this comes the inevitable flood of new hot tubs from a wave of new brands all trying to cash in.
For new buyers, this influx of new products can muddy the waters and make it difficult when it comes to making their mind up about which brand and model they want.
With this in mind, we decided to produce this article to help out. Here we have looked at the hot tubs currently available on the UK market and reviewed the top models for you.
To clear things up even more, we have separated them into three categories- Budget, mid-range, and high-end, so you should easily be able to find a quality product to match your budget.
Obviously there are extremely expensive models out there that cost tens of thousands of pounds, but we decided to limit our range up to around a thousand pounds.
Best Inflatable hot tubs reviews
1. Lay-Z-Spa Miami Hot Tub
Specification: Capacity: 2-4 Persons, Power source type: AC standard UK 13amp/240V, Plug cable: 7m, Size: 180 x 180 x 66 cm, Warranty: 2 years
I don’t really have much negative to say about the Lay-Z-Spa Miami Hot Tub. I went with this model because literally there are hundreds of thousands of happy customers globally and like the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Sure enough the feedback was spot on. The quick rundown is the thing sets up in minutes, if you like bubble power it has plenty. The heating is pretty quick. I don’t find myself waiting long for a comfortable water temperature and what is more. I don’t feel like my electric bills are out of control and I use this A LOT be it the Summer and Winter. I managed to put together a nice little setup as you can see in the picture that allows me to use my hot tub all year round. I set the timer so I know I’m going in at 7 and out at 9. This way I save a bundle on running the temperature all the time which many of the older models result in. The amount of time you’ll turn the heat on and forget is mad!
I place foam mats under to make sure it doesn’t puncture. It’s been a year plus already and given no grief at all in the two year warranty period which I will say Lay-z-spa are really good at being fair about their returns and warranties.
The pump it comes with ain’t bad, it’ll take about five minutes. When I first got it though I was pretty excited, those five minutes seemed like an age and longer. It probably wasn’t 😀
Overall super happy with my inflatable hot tub and easily easily the best inflatable hot tub for 2-4 people.
2. Lay-Z-Spa Paris Hot Tub with LED Lights
Specification: Capacity: 4-6 Persons, Power source type: AC standard UK 13amp/240V, Plug cable: 7m, Size: 196 x 196 x 66 cm, Warranty: 2 years
We kick off our cheap hot tub reviews with the Lay-Z-Spa Paris air jet model. Lay-Z-Spa are the number one selling company in the UK when it comes to inflatable hot tubs and have over a quarter of a million happy customers under their belt.
Like most of their products, the Paris air jet is easy to set up and requires absolutely no tools other than the provided pump to inflate it is a huge advantage. The whole process takes about 10 minutes and then you can lay back while 87 separate air jets soothe your aching muscles.
If you like your water hot, you’ll be happy with the heating system that rapidly gets the temperature up to 40 degrees Celsius, and thanks to an improved pump design, the heating, filtering and air jets can all operate simultaneously.
The heater also has a built in timer which can come in very handy and also save you on your energy bills if used correctly.
To set the mood even more, you can turn on the LED lights to give your hot tub an inviting glow in seven different colours.
Build wise, this is a solid model. The i-beam construction coupled with high quality leatheroid material and soft cushioned floor offer you a nice combination of comfort and sturdiness.
This hot tub comes with an insulated protective cover for when you’re not using it, and also a 2 year warranty.
- Low price but has some good features
- Easy to set-up
- Improved water pump design
- Seven colour LED lights for night time fun
- Well-built and sturdy
3. Lay-Z-Spa St Moritz Hot Tub
Specification: Capacity: 5-7 Persons, Power source type: AC standard UK 13amp/240V, Plug cable: 7m, Size: 216 x 216 x 71 cm, Warranty: 2 years
With rattan style garden furniture being so popular these days, it was only a matter of time and common sense before someone gave an inflatable hot tub the same look.
That hot tub is this one, the St Moritz model from Lay-Z-Spa.
Feature wise, it has the things that you’d expect from this trusted manufacturer- easy to set up, rapid heating of the water, and hard wearing tri-tech material combined with a stable construction.
The bubbles are provided by 140 air jets and the pool can be heated to 40 degrees while the bubbles operate at the same time, and you can set the heater to work on a timer to save energy. All this is managed via the soft touch controller.
The St Moritz has the easy to use Chem-connect chlorine dispenser and self-deflating system that you often see in higher end models.
- Rattan colour scheme will match rattan garden furniture
- Rapid water heater
- 140 air jets
- Easy to use chlorine dispenser
- Self-deflating system
4. Intex Pure Spa - 6 Person Bubble Therapy Hot Tub
Specification: Capacity: 6 Persons, Power source type: AC standard UK 13amp/240V, Plug cable: 2m, Size: 216 x 216 x 71 cm, Warranty: 1 year
The Intex Pure Spa is a 6 person hot tub with some nice features.
For a start it is made of robust yet comfortable fibre-tech material which is comprised of thousands of individual fibres, giving this model good longevity.
There are also 140 heated bubble jets providing you with a relaxing bubble based massage and the temperature is adjustable via the control panel.
What makes this model special is that it has an integrated hard water treatment system. It works by creating an electromagnetic field in the water which works with the minerals such as calcium to create suspended crystals and leave ‘soft water’ which is better for you skin.
This hot tub can be used both indoors and outside, and comes with a cover to keep the water warm and free of debris when not in use.
One thing I noticed about the Intex Pure Spa is that although the bubbles and heater don’t work at the same time, the hot tub does retain the heat of the water extremely well, so you don’t really notice that the water isn’t being heated at the same time as the bubbles.
Also included in the price, are a floating chlorine dispenser, filter cartridges, 3 way test strip, thermal ground cloth, inflation hose, and carry bag.
- Very durable and made of strong material
- 140 bubble jets provide a good massage
- Retains heat very well
- Integrated hard water treatment system
- Adjustable temperature via control panel
5. CosySpa Inflatable Hot Tub Spa
Specification: Capacity: 4 Persons, Power source type: AC standard UK 220-240V, Plug cable: 3.5m, Size: 165 x 165 x 70 cm, Warranty: 1 year
What I love about the CosySpa inflatable hot tub is that it is child’s play to set up. All you need to do is press a few buttons on the control panel, and the 600W external air-pump will do the rest. Things have come a long way since I used to go blue in the face blowing up air beds back in the day, I can tell you.
You can choose to go with either the 4-person or 6-person versions of the CosySpa, with the bigger one setting you back about an extra 250 quid for the tub only option. I tested out the six-person hot tub and in my opinion it was good for about 4-5 people, so I think the smaller version might be a tight squeeze for four adults who have put on a few pounds during lockdown.
With 130 air jets, there’s plenty of bubbles and it is very relaxing to spend the evening with a cold beer or glass of wine in hand, and although the rapid heating system should really just be called ‘heating system, minus the rapid, it gets the heat up in a reasonable amount of time, and keeps it up there too.
The main tub is made out of PVC, and is as strong as any other inflatable tub I’ve spent time in, and the insulating cover is laminated PVC with aluminium foil, to help with insulation.
The tub comes with everything you need, such as a filter, pump, ground sheet, etc. and there are buying options for extras like comfort sets, and drink holders. For the price, it’s about what you’d expect, and I didn’t find anything wrong with it at all, and at a time when options are a bit limited, this hot tub isn’t a bad one.
6. Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki Hot Tub
Specification: Capacity: 5-7 Persons, Power source type: AC standard UK 13amp/240V, Plug cable: 7m, Size: 180 x 180 x 66 cm, Warranty: 2 years
If you want to not only keep up with the Joneses, but make them filled with green-eyed envy, you might be prepared to fork out for the Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki hot tub.
The Helsinki now on sale, is an updated version for 2021 and features what lay-Z-Spa are calling freeze shield technology, which is supposed to help protect the tub in winter conditions. Unfortunately, we never got to test that out, so I can’t say for sure how good it is, but it’s a nice feature in theory nonetheless.
In my opinion, this hot tub is the best looking of all of them, and I just love the traditional wooden effect that makes me feel I’m in a Swedish spa, or something similar.
The Helsinki has some nice little features. Things like drinks holders on the top of the pump, and a really quick automatic inflation system that only takes about 5 minutes before you’re good to go.
The material used for the tub is really good quality, and although I’ll admit to not really understand what ‘drop stitch construction’ really means, I have been around enough hot tubs to know when one is likely to last, and I reckon this one will go the distance.
The manufacturers claim this round hot tub is designed for 7 people, but unless you all want to be playing footsie, I’d say the reality is more like 5 adults, and maybe one child, if you want to be comfortable for a long time.
180 air jets provide you with all your bubble based fun, and the rapid heating system does its job well. One of the best features is that you can set the timer, so you can come straight home from work, throw your boots off, grab a cold one from the fridge, and be soaking away your aches, pains, and stress in no time at all.
This isn’t a cheap option, not compared to some of the products out there, but it is one of the best. It looks the dog’s wotsits, has plenty of handy features, can be set up in minutes (even by my missus, and that’s saying something), and has a better build quality than most. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth the money.
7. MSpa C-TE041 Tekapo (2021 Model) 4 2+2 Person Portable Square Hot Tub
Specification: Capacity: 4 Persons, Power source type: AC standard UK, Plug cable: 3m, Size: 158 x 158 x 68 cm, Warranty: 2 years
For around 600 quid, you can soon be chilling, along with a few friends, in this lovely looking hot tub from Mspa.
With its dark charcoal grey outer layer, and shiny, light metallic blue interior, this tub is certainly a looker, and is a good choice for people who like things with a bot of a modern flair.
It doesn’t just look good though. This hot tub is also very sanitary, featuring a UV system that will kill off more than 60 disease causing microorganisms, and this gives you peace of mind as you’re lying there, enjoying the bubbles.
There are 108 air jets in this tub, although if I’m being completely honest, they’re not the most powerful I’ve ever seen. I’m not saying they’re terrible, but just not up to the same standard as the powerful ones found on models like the Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki.
With a maximum temperature of 38 degrees Celsius, it doesn’t get as hot as some of the other tubs either, but 38 degrees is still very, very warm, and nothing to be sneered at.
The Mspa comes with a handy remote control, from where you can adjust all the usual stuff like temperature and filter, and thankfully, for once it isn’t too big and sits nicely in the hand. Nor is it too complicated, with clearly marked buttons, perfect for someone like myself who isn’t the most tech-savvy, no matter what I tell the wife.
At 1.58 x 1.58 metres, I’d say there’s enough room for 2-3 people to enjoy themselves fairly comfortably, and at 0.68 metres high, the sides are just about right to rest your arms out on without it feeling forced.
Included in the price is all the usual extras: cover with buckles to keep it secured, filter and filter cartridge pack, pump, hose adaptor, etc. for the price, it is good quality, and made of the same type of PVC that all of these products are made from, so no grumbles there.
It’s a little slow getting up to temperature, and took me about 12 hours to get it to the max. If you’re new to hot tubs, you might think that’s really slow, but actually, the majority of these products take a while, it’s just the nature of the beast.
Although it didn’t blow me away, the Mspa hot tub did not disappoint me either, and I think at its current price, and when compared with what’s available, it’s not a bad lower budget option.
I hope you’ve enjoyed our review of the best hot tubs for your garden, please be sure to checkout our garden swimming pools too.