Buying a hot tub can be pretty confusing, especially if you’re tossing up between an inflatable hot tub compared and a hard shell hot tub. For many people, having a hot tub in their backyard is the ultimate luxury to relax in after a hard day at work. However, there are so many options available nowadays that knowing whether you want to get an inflatable hot tub or a hard shell hot tub can be tricky. It is important to understand the differences between inflatable hot tubs and the more permanent hot tubs that have a hard exterior. This is why it is necessary to do your research before you go ahead and invest money in a hot tub.
Here are some of the key questions you will come across when debating between inflatable hot tubs vs. hard shell hot tubs.
Portability and Durability
Buying a hot tub is not a small investment. This is why the first thing to consider when buying is the durability and portability of the hot tubs.
Of course, an inflatable hot tub is going to be much easier to move around as you simply need to deflate the inflatable Jacuzzi, box it up and store it away, and inflate it whenever you want to use it. However, the challenge here is that anything which is inflatable is also prone to being punctured. This does not automatically mean that these inflatable spas are easy to puncture, but they are more likely to get punctured.
On the other hand, many people are wary of buying a hard shell hot tub as these are believed to be challenging to manoeuver around. While this is the case with most hard shell hot tubs, especially the acrylic tubs due to the heavy material, but there are some portable hot tubs also available that have a hard shell exterior. Due to their shape and design, these portable spas can fit through standard house doors. And owing to their hard exterior, hard shell tubs are, of course, more durable. Some portable hard shell tubs are made from polyethylene, which is known for its long-lasting properties and durability. You don’t have to worry about punctures, and since they have a strong base plate and frame, they can take a lot more wear and tear.
Seating
Seating is a main feature to look at while deciding between inflatable and hard shell hot tubs. You want to buy the best inflatable hot tub, but if you are not sure about whether it is a 2-person hot tub or a 4-person hot tub, spending money on it would be a waste. You can also splurge for a 6-person hot tub if you know you will be entertaining more people.
In most inflatable hot tubs, there is a lack of seating area as there is a cushioned floor. Some people may prefer having no specialized seating area in their outdoor hot tubs as this means they can easily fit more people into the blow up hot tubs. However, in hard shell hot tubs, you get molded seats within the hot tubs. This allows extra comfort and relaxation, and the seats are also a bit higher up from the ground. Hard shell hot tubs usually also have specialized jet placements, which means that every seat comes with its own message system. However, the hot tub cost for such hard shell tubs also goes through the roof.
As the popularity of Inflatable hot tubs has increased so has the range of accessories on the market. There are now a variety of seats to purchase for portable spas making them more comfortable. To view available add-ons from seats to drink holders check out article ‘best inflatable hot tub accessories in 2022‘.
Heating and Insulation
Inflatable hot tubs are known to have less insulation in them owing to the material they are manufactured from. This material is typically thinner than what the hard shell hot tubs are made from. However, this does not mean that you need to worry about having an inflatable spa as it largely depends on your individual usage of the hot tub. Most hot tubs, if not all, typically come with a cover, which helps with the insulation. However, it does become more challenging to keep inflatable hot tubs insulated during very cold temperatures.
Hard shell hot tubs provide better insulation as they are manufactured from thicker material. Many of them are made from polyethylene, which is famous for its heat-loss prevention qualities and durability. The pipework for these hot tubs, regardless of whether they are big or you have a small hot tub, is specially fitted to ensure that the water receives as much heating as possible. Many hard shell hot tubs also come with thermal covers that help prevent heat loss when you are not using the spa.
Electricity and Power Usage
There is a common misconception amongst people that outdoor hot tubs are cheap to run. They can actually run up quite a bit of a power bill, which is something you need to factor in when thinking about the hot tub prices. Many hot tubs now come with a plug and play technology. These plug in hot tubs let you run your hot tub from any standard electrical supply. If you have further questions about setting up an inflatable hot tub, check out the article ‘5 steps to setting up your inflatable hot tub‘ which addresses common concerns such as where and how to set it up, plugging it in and inflating and maintenance.
Special Features
Usually, inflatable hot tubs only come equipped with one jet type, which is the conventional feature that most people look for. This gives you a decent amount of bubbles. Many portable hot tubs also come with extra jets, lights, and separate jet controls, but this will increase the hot tub cost substantially. Hard shell hot tubs also include these features and many more that you can get customized as well.
Now let us look at some of the pros and cons of both inflatable and hard shell hot tubs.
Pros and Cons of Inflatable Hot Tubs
First, let us look at the pros and cons of inflatable or portable hot tubs.
Pros:
- They have a lower initial cost. The main advantage of inflatable hot tubs is that they cost less than hard shell hot tubs. This is usually an attractive feature for buyers who don’t want to spend a huge amount of money to enjoy bubbles in their backyard.
- They are easy to move. Inflatable hot tubs are portable. They are much easier to transport and move around than your traditional hard shell hot tub as they can be deflated and moved as per your requirement.
Cons:
- They are not as comfortable as the traditional hard shell hot tubs. Inflatable hot tubs don’t usually come with seats, meaning you have to sit on the floor. It won’t be wrong to say that an inflatable hot tub is just like a giant paddling pool filled with bubbles.
- The running cost is higher. Portable hot tubs do not have as much insulation, which is why they don’t maintain the heat as well in between uses. They also take a longer time to heat up, which means your overall power bill will also go up substantially.
- They don’t include as many features as hard shell hot tubs. The expensive ones have air blowers and light, but most inflatable hot tubs do not come with music systems, jets, and other fancy features that hard shell hot tubs come with.
Pros and Cons of Hard Shell Hot Tubs
Let us now look at the advantages and disadvantages of the hard shell hot tub.
Pros:
- These are much more durable than the inflatable ones. The materials used to manufacture a hard shell hot tub are sold, and therefore there is no need to worry about the tub getting punctured. They come with a strong frame and base plate, which is usually made from strong metal or plastic. This makes hard shell tubs much more long-lasting, and they can also take a lot more wear and tear.
- They come with a lot of features like bubbles, lights, music, jets, Bluetooth, etc. Most of these features are actually pretty standard with a hard shell hot tub. These tubs are typically more technically advanced as they have the capacity to include more technology.
- They provide better heating. Hard shell hot tubs have a superior filtration and heating system, which means they can be used during the winter months as well. This is because the material used in making these hot tubs and the insulation they provide helps retain the heat better. This also translates to mean lower running costs.
- Hard shell hot tubs have built-in seats and lounges. These provide more comfort, and you can choose from whether you want a 2 person hot tub, a 4 person hot tub, or a 6 person hot tub.
Cons:
- Hard shell hot tubs have a high initial cost as they tend to cost more. However, depending on how much you use your hot tub, they may turn out to be more economical in the longer run.
- They are not portable. Hard shell hot tubs are not easy to move.
So as you can see, there are some basic differences between inflatable and hard shell hot tubs. Depending on your personal requirements, both types of hot tubs can be a great fit for your home and let you enjoy hours of bubbly fun.
