Conventional hydrotherapy spas can be a great investment however, not everyone wants a state of the art spa pool with all the bells and whistles.
Inflatable spa v traditional hard shell spa pool? A spa owner's experience.
Want to know more about inflatable spas and if they're worth it? In this article, a spa owner explains why he bought a blow-up spa, and why he sold it 4 months later and bought a conventional spa pool.
That was initially the case with James Duggan. He and his wife and two young children really wanted a spa. However, they’d never owned one before and were wary of spending a lot of money on something they might not use or enjoy.
“Initially I didn’t think we would use a hydrotherapy spa regularly. We decided to test it out with an inflatable spa to see if we’d use it and go from there.”
After researching different options, the family took the plunge and bought an inflatable spa for around $700 (pictured below).
James says it was a great first step. Their blow-up spa was easy and enjoyable to use and they used it a lot more than they thought they would.
Unfortunately, along with the benefits of an inflatable spa, there were also a few downsides.
James says it was noisy, didn’t retain heat well and the bubbles from the jets were ineffective. Plus, it became clear early on that it wasn’t designed to last.
“We knew eyes wide open that we may get a couple of seasons out of it, but we were quite shocked to see direct sunlight made a difference to the structural components on it.”
“The other thing with the inflatable spa is there are no individual seats, just a flat bottom with a bit of foam. It wasn’t overly comfortable.”
After around four months of using the spa three to four times a week, the family warmed to the idea of a hydrotherapy spa.
“We started to get that "oh it would be nice if there were jets massaging your back and bubbles in the right place to hit your muscles!""
Before long they’d sold the inflatable spa to a new owner and replaced it with a Fisher 5D™ hydrotherapy spa (pictured below).
The new addition has already become a solid part of family fun time.
“It’s big enough for the kids to put their goggles on and swim and splash around in. Once the kids are in bed, my wife and I can hop back in with a glass of wine and have that relaxing ‘at a bar’ kind of feeling after a long day.”
Even though they only had it a short time, James is happy they tried a blow-up spa before committing to a ‘proper’ spa pool.
“If I knew what I know now, I would have bought a hydrotherapy spa to start with but the buying journey we went on was right for us,” he says.
“The inflatable didn’t have the same degree of flexibility or the same feel of sturdiness. but it served its purpose for what we wanted it for."
James is now very happy with his hydrotherapy spa.
"We’re extremely glad we upgraded to a Fisher 5D™. It’s part of our family life and life moving forward.”
Related Articles
What is an inflatable spa and should I buy one?
Thinking of purchasing an inflatable or blow-up spa in New Zealand? This article covers inflatable hot tub costs, brands, portable spas, buying options and more.
How much does a spa cost in New Zealand in 2023? (Spa prices, considerations and more)
Want to know how much a spa or hot tub costs? Wondering about price ranges and why there’s such a difference? This article fully answers those questions and more...
Top 5 reasons you should have shade over your spa pool
Do you own a spa pool or are you thinking of buying one? Love being outside in the spa but worried about the sun? One thing you need to consider is installing some shade. Here are our top 5 reasons why.
Best Spa Pools in New Zealand 2023 – Top 5 Spa Brands Reviewed
Searching for the best spa pool in Australia? Confused by all of the options? This article reviews the top 5 spa brands including price, pros and cons, plus spa owner review videos.
