Does anyone have a Softub? (Hot tub)

max99x

Saw one of these Softubs at a Home show at the NEC and they look great and seem according to brochures to be more economical than a traditional hot tub, but wondering if anyone has got one and can give there thoughts on it? i.e running cost, are they decent, etc

I like the fact you can move them easily if needs be, that they run off a normal plug and seem cost less to run, but also worried that they won't last that long, maybe prone to look bit rubbish after a year or so and stuff like that.

Any thoughts much appreciated and hopefully someone will have one! 

rob7475

Do you mean the inflatable Lay Z Spa type hot tubs?

We've had a few in the last 10 years or so. Running costs will be higher than a traditional hard shell hot tub as there is little in the way of insulation to keep the heat in. I did start using an insulating cover on ours last year which does help a fair bit. I only set ours up between around May and September though. I once left it running into October and as the outdoor temp gets cooler, they cost to run increases considerably.

If money wasn't a consideration, I'd buy a hard shell tub but I can't justify the outlay for one and I don't think we'd use it all year round

max99x

No they are not inflatable they are called "Softub" and they are made of a foam like thing I think, they are moveable. Apparently more efficient that a hard shell one.

Brie

Like Rob we had a LayZ spa inflatable which lasted about 3 years total.  Not bad considering it cost about £200.  The problem in the end was that the zip cover went so it would get leaves, rain, frogs etc in it and just became too big of a fuss to deal with.  Out energy and water costs have dropped dramatically since get rid (about 18 months back so good timing!).

We are however looking to get someone again - is it possible to link the softtub you refer to????

Grumpy_chap

I assume the OP must mean this
https://softub.co.uk/

Edit: they seem a lot more expensive than the Lay-Z-Spa type products.  I read this thread because we would buy the correct product if we saw a good price.  I don't think the softub could ever save enough energy to win out (financially) against Lay-Z-Spa.  We had one a couple of years ago but it was DoA so refunded and never replaced.

TadleyBaggie

We have one bought around 2000 or so, externally it looks fine but started leaking around 5 or 6 years ago and has remained empty since. 

It took around 24 hours to get up to temperature and then used to fire up for a couple of hours a day to keep it at. Can't comment on cost, as was in an era when cost didn't seem so important. 

We got probably 15 years of good service and liked it a lot.

Grumpy_chap

TadleyBaggie said:

We got probably 15 years of good service

That's probably about, or beyond, life expectancy for the type of product.