Everyone needs pampering every now and then, but not everyone can afford the time to visit the spa ever so often. Sure, you can create your own little spa at home, but that would require a hot tub, which isn’t exactly a cheap investment. Home jacuzzis are a luxury within their reach in the form of an inflatable hot tub, which has all the comfort of standard tubs without the cost and commitment!

Let's find out which inflatable hot tubs are worth investing in.

Backyard Boss Top 5 Inflatable Hot Tubs in 2021

PRODUCT

FEATURES

Bestway SaluSpa Vancouver AirJet Plus - $$title$$

Bestway SaluSpa Vancouver AirJet Plus

  • Size: 61 x 24 Inches
  • Max Capacity: 3-5 People, 213 gal Water
  • Warranty: 12 Months Limited

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Bestway SaulSpa Hawaii HydroJet Pro - $$title$$

Bestway SaulSpa Hawaii HydroJet Pro

  • Size: 71 x 28 Inches
  • Max Capacity: 4-6 People, 210 gal Water
  • Warranty: 12 Months Limited

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Coleman SaluSpa AirJet - $$title$$

Coleman SaluSpa AirJet

  • Size: 77 x 28 Inches
  • Max Capacity: 4-6 People, 242 gal Water
  • Warranty: 12 Months

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Intex PureSpa Plus - $$title$$

Intex PureSpa Plus

  • Size: 85 x 28 Inches
  • Max Capacity: 6 People, 290 gal Water
  • Warranty: 12 Months

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Bestway SaluSpa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub - $$title$$

Bestway SaluSpa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub

  • Size: 71 x 26 Inches
  • Max Capacity: 2-4 People, 177 gal Water
  • Warranty: 12 Months Limited

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Why You Can Trust Us

We love to pamper ourselves after a hectic day, and hot tubs are the best way to do it. Since we don't have enough space, we bought inflatable hot tubs!

Using personal experience and expert advice, we gathered five hot tubs well worth your time and included some advice for using them in the cool season. For transparency, we’ve linked all our sources in case you want to check them out yourself.

Best With Air Jets

Bestway SaluSpa Vancouver AirJet Plus

    This compact tub uses 140 AirJets with two intensity levels. The innovative design makes for relaxing bubbly soaks for years to come!

      Pros:

    • Phone app for tub controls
    • Control panel with 40-day timer
    • Rigid walls
      Cons:

    • Short tub walls
    • Incompatible with cool temperatures
    • Insulation needs improvement

Why We Like It: This compact tub is made with rigid inflatable walls that allow it to be thin and sturdy. You can control it using the Spa Pump controls or the Bestway Smart Hub App. A remote control app is a feature rarely found in portable hot tubs.

The accessories it comes with include: cover, spa & hand pump, ChemConnect dispenser, two filters, and repair patches.

Who Should Buy It: This is great for those looking for top-of-the-line jacuzzi features that can be brought along on vacation.

Best With Water Jets

Bestway SaulSpa Hawaii HydroJet Pro

    This hot tub cleverly uses a combination of HydroJets and AirJets for a soothing spa experience.

      Pros:

    • Tritech tub walls with internal beams
    • Control panel with 72-hour timer
    • Compatible with cold weather
      Cons:

    • Difficult customer service
    • Tricky pump repairs
    • Filter needs to be switched often

Why We Like It: This hot tub uses a clever mixture of HydroJets and AirJets for the ultimate spa experience. The HydroJets pump out both air and warm water for more powerful jets to target and soothe specific muscle aches while keeping the water temperatures high. This durable and fortified tub uses eight HydroJets and 114 AirJets, making it great for colder climates!

The accessories it comes with include: cover, spa pump, ChemConnect dispenser, and two filter cartridges.

Who Should Buy It: HydroJets are particularly useful for cooler climates since they’re able to maintain warmer temperatures.

Best Coleman Model

Coleman SaluSpa AirJet

    This Coleman tub comfortably massages occupants and works great even in cooler temperatures.

      Pros:

    • Tritech tub walls with internal beams
    • Control panel with 72-hour timer
    • Compatible with cold weather
    • Cushioned floors
      Cons:

    • Incompatible with unreinforced decks
    • Filters clog quickly

Why We Like It: This Coleman inflatable jacuzzi is hard to beat, able to seat six people, and heat water efficiently. Their pump heats water 2 degrees every hour, reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit in two days and automatically shutting off by the 72nd hour to save energy, which is great for its size. Its floors are also cushioned, making it even more tempting to soak in the tub all day.

The accessories it comes with include: cover, spa pump, ChemConnect dispenser, and two filter cartridges.

Who Should Buy It: People who live in areas prone to lower temperatures would benefit from Coleman’s powerful water heating system.

Best for Families and Friends

Intex PureSpa Plus

    This hot tub is complete with all the accessories you’ll ever need for a great soak.

      Pros:

    • 170 bubble jets
    • Fiber-Tech Construction for durability
    • Built-in hard water treatment
    • Covered digital control panel
      Cons:

    • Filters need frequent changing
    • High energy consumption
    • Lacking customer service
    • No power-saving timer

Why We Like It: This six-person tub is great for entertaining, coming with great accessories like headrests, a colorful LED light, an insulated cover, and ground cloth, and a carry bag, so you won’t have to look for them yourself. It’s powered by 170 bubble jets, built with Fiber-Tech walls, and has a hard water conditioning system to help the tub work amazingly and last long.

The accessories it comes with include: insulating cover and ground cloth, pump, floating chlorine dispenser, two filters, two headrests, color-changing LED light, and a carry bag.

Who Should Buy It: Anyone who plans to entertain their friends and family would undoubtedly enjoy spending time here.

Best for Couples

Bestway SaluSpa Miami Inflatable Hot Tub

    This tub is great for smaller spaces since it works just as great as others on this list but comes in a much smaller size.

      Pros:

    • 60 bubble jets
    • Tritech tub walls with internal beams
    • Control panel with 72-hour timer
    • Accessible pump parts
      Cons:

    • Incompatible with cool climates
    • Shallow tub area
    • Difficult to disassemble and change the water

Why We Like It: Jacuzzis make for great bonding between couples and this small tub is perfect for that! It’s equipped with 60 air jets and built with fortified walls with internal beams for added durability and comfort. Thanks to its size, it doesn’t take as long to assemble, heats up, and pack away for effortless at-home date nights.

The accessories it comes with include: cover, spa pump, ChemConnect dispenser, and two filter cartridges.

Who Should Buy It: Couples will love to snuggle with their partners in this after a long day.

What to Look for in an Inflatable Hot Tub

Woman In Wooden Hot Tub In The Woods

Peter Schulz via https://unsplash.com/photos/OXU898V4WWg

As with every other product that you spend money on, you should know what its features are beforehand. Researching will help you understand how you can spot a product that caters to your needs. In the case of the best hot tubs, the main things you should inquire about are the following.

Capacity

The capacity of an inflatable hot tub is measured by how many people can fit inside. If it’s just you or if you have a partner, a hot tub for two should suffice. There are also bigger models out there, which can fit up to six people. That is, however, a stretch, because a hot tub with six people is pretty crammed up, and you want to be able to stretch your legs.

Heating System

These put the “hot” in “hot tubs”. You want a heating system that follows the same standards as the ones found on traditional hot tubs. The safe temperature is 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and that’s what you should aim for.

Pumps

Hot tubs have pumps, which are at the very core of what makes these products so awesome. Pumps are responsible for making the water circulate, and they have built-in air blowers for jet power and hot tub inflating. Generally speaking, the pump and the heating system of a hot tub are located in the same spot, and they should be protected to avoid water from reaching the electrical parts.

Control Panel

The control panel should allow you to operate the hot tub’s basic functions, such as temperature adjustment, heater timer, and a power switch for the jets. For more convenience, you might want to look for a control panel that can be accessed while you’re in the hot tub.

Cover

The cover is a very important hot tub accessory because it keeps the tub clean while you’re not using it. Different models come with different covers, which can be made from leather, be insulated, or have a combination of different features. If your inflatable hot tub is not equipped with a cover, there’s no need to spend extra money on one unless you plan on keeping your tub inflated for longer.

Shape

The majority of inflatable hot tubs found on the market are round. While the shape is a matter of personal preference, we have come to discover that square tubs have a lot more legroom compared to others. Also, shape matters when it comes to moving the unit. Be sure you know the best way to move a hot tub and see if it will work with your space.

Important Buying Considerations

Wooden hot tub with greenery in background and rustic privacy fence

Image Credits: Pezibear from Pixabay

Inflatable hot tubs are neat, but they’re not without flaws. Because we believe in informing our readers transparently, here are some of the downsides of this kind of product, most of them being things you could probably get over, considering the comfort and relaxation that a hot tub can provide:

  • Hot tubs are generally noisy, and inflatable hot tubs make no exception. However, they do have one added noise component that will kick in every time you want to inflate the tub. The pumps on these babies are equipped with air blowers that tend to make a lot of noise until the spa is fully inflated. But the bubbles are pretty noisy as well. But it’s nothing that your favorite background songs can’t fix.
  • Unlike a conventional hot tub, these inflatable versions don’t have seating. That means that you need to look for models that have comfortable bottom cushioning. Inflatable hot tubs are typically designed with padded floors so that you won’t feel like you’re sitting directly on the ground. However, the concept may not work all that well when it comes to children, because the water level might turn out to be too high for them to sit comfortably inside the tub. The good news is that you can always buy extra padding for the tub if need be.
  • One of the best things about inflatable hot tubs is that their filters are easy to clean. You just have to remove them every other day and hose them down, then put them back in their original place. But, while conventional hot tubs have filters with a lifespan of years, the filters on an inflatable hot tub might require replacing every two weeks, depending on the frequency of use for the hot tub. Another important thing about filters: you might want to buy a tub that has a filter located next to the heater or the pump because this allows quick access to it. If the filter is located in the bottom portion of the tub, you’ll have more difficulty accessing it.

Can You Leave an Inflatable Hot Tub Out in Winter

Man In Hot Tub In The Snow

Jamie Fenn via https://unsplash.com/photos/spBJSPLeA0k

Although most people close their pools for the winter, this doesn’t have to be the case for inflatable hot tubs. Whether an inflatable jacuzzi can be left out and used in the winter will depend on the area’s temperatures. Most companies advise against using it in below 40 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures but, even with this, it has become common practice to keep them running even when temperatures drop.

That said, hot tub performance will be affected, especially as most inflatable units use the motorized spa pump that cannot heat and power air jets simultaneously. Considering that air jets are built to pull in outside air and release it into the tub, a winter breeze will quickly lower jacuzzi temperatures. This issue is lessened with water jets but not eliminated.

If you decide to keep your hot tub open in the winter, be ready to make some additional purchases to help it work near its usual performance despite the low temps.

Reinforce Insulation

Chances are that your tub would already have a layer of ground insulation but additional foam insulation would help its winter performance. Adding a foam floor mat or simply cutting up foam board beneath your tub would help it keep its temperature. For additional insulation, you can also wrap the walls, tubes, and spa pump with additional insulation, such as rolls of reflective window insulation.

Attach an Additional Heater

This is a somewhat complicated process that will bring an alternative heat source for your jacuzzi. You’ll need a tankless heater, which can be electric, propane, or butane-powered, and connect it to the pump with a hose. The pump should then be attached to an adapter using a wired 12 Volt switch. To power the system, a Kaster 12 Volt plugin will help everything run smoothly. Some tech knowledge would be helpful but not required for a successful installation.

If an alternative heater isn’t an option, you can instead keep your insulated hot tub running throughout the season. The insulation will keep water temperatures high but you would also risk a much higher electric bill.

How We Picked

While looking through inflatable hot tub options, we noticed all their shared qualities, like the standard 104 degrees Fahrenheit max temperature, the UV-resistant PVC materials, and even the portability features. This would make it difficult and intimidating for most consumers to choose just one since it’s hard to differentiate between them.

To help, we followed a strict standard to find specific features that set tubs apart by examining their practicality, durability, and uniqueness. We chose our final five after listening closely to unbiased consumer reviews of each tub, which helped us find jacuzzis that deserve a place in your home!

Our favorite inflatable hot tub would have to be the Bestway SaluSpa Vancouver AirJet Plus, which comes with incredibly unique features, particularly the tub construction and phone app controls, that all make perfect sense. It’s a wonderful blend of functionality and innovation that will make great jacuzzi experiences.

That said, it’s a small unit and comes with limitations. Other tubs might be better for your needs, especially with jet preference and size. At the end of the day, we’re confident that we’ve done everything we can to help you choose and now the decision is yours!