What is the Best Swim Spa for Families? Your COMPLETE guide
A swim spa can be used for swimming, recreational fitness, just plain fun or massage, relaxation and wellness. The best swim spa for families has to keep these elements in balance. It should feel like you’ve brought the community center right to your backyard.
Let’s break those factors down a little further:
- Swim Success: The ability to swim comfortably is key if many people are going to be using a swim spa. The spa also needs to be able to have the swim be adjustable for different levels of swimmers.
- Massage Capabilities: A great massage function is key to unwinding after a long day. A swim spa combines the best of a hot tub and a pool, so you want the hot tub part to work as well as the more active elements.
- Fitness Features: Beyond swimming, a variety of fitness options can keep the whole family active. A big perk of swim spas is that they are easier to work out in because the water supports your joints.
- Fun Factor: Swim spas should be engaging for both kids and adults.
- Affordability: Striking a balance between features and cost is crucial for family budgets. Cost matters!
In this article, we will have a look at several swim spa companies that aren’t owned by us or our parent company. We know that might seem strange as companies don’t usually discuss each other’s products. But we’re doing it because we know people want to compare models and there’s nothing really out there that lets you do it. So with that in mind, here’s our best shot at an unbiased, clear assessment of the best swim spas for families.
The models below are not listed in any order but an overall list.
Jacuzzi PowerActive 14
Swimming: Offers swimming capabilities that cater well to everyday athletes.
Massage: Unique 360-degree stand-up massage sets it apart.
Fitness: Comes with exclusive workout programs to enhance your exercise routine.
Fun: Features like the boogie board tether and a lazy river design make it fun for kids.
Affordability: Jacuzzi doesn’t post its prices online from what we could see, so we don’t know exactly what it costs. But we know it’s not the most expensive or the least expensive that Jacuzzi sells, but it represents good value within the Jacuzzi lineup.
Bullfrog S150
Swimming: Equipped with a bio-aligned swim system using Riverflow jets, it offers a solid swim for casual athletes.
Massage: Bullfrog is deservedly well-known for its JetPak system allowing customizable massage experiences.
Fitness: Available workout kits provide options.
Fun: The “Splash Pad” is a highlight, featuring fountain jets and a hammock to lounge over the water. It’s a great idea for relaxing or playful fun.
Affordability: Priced similarly to Jacuzzi, it’s a mid-range option in jetted swim spas.
Arctic Ocean
Swimming: The jet system offers a unique swim experience suitable for everyday swimmers, that is adjustable both vertically and horizontally.
Massage: Known for exceptional massage options, the company says “it is ideal for those looking to experience spacious, and intense hydrotherapy” on its website.
Fitness: Primarily focused on tethered exercise which offer a solid workout.
Fun: Includes spouted jets and lights for visual fun.
Affordability: Emphasizes energy efficiency with a unique heat capture system with its insulation, Arctic is a strong contender in terms of insulation and the long-term savings that come with it.
The Hydropool Aquatic Sport has swimming, a large swim tank, plus seats for four.
Hydropool 14 Aquatic Sport
Swimming: Features AquaFlow jets with adjustable speeds and buoyancy support for a comfortable swim.
Massage: Offers four distinct massage seats with integrated wellness programs.
Fitness: The 21-Day Wellness Challenge showcases the range of fitness options available.
Fun: Equipped with a new Master Blaster jet system, you can attach water guns or fountains and never run have to reload. A swim-up bar attachment is more for the adults.
Affordability: We have prices! Hydropool’s Aquatic Sport starts at under $40,000, which include Hydropool’s self-cleaning system. For the current price and more info, click here.)
Master Spas H2X Trainer
Swimming: It's known as an elite swimming machine.
Versatility: Known for a vast range of models including multiple 12, 13, and 17-foot options.
Family Features: The H2X Trainer series is an excellent family unit with decent swim capabilities, varied lights and jets, and multiple fitness and fun tools.
Hydrotherapy Options: Offers a variety of seating and hydrotherapy choices, ensuring comfort for everyone.
Affordability: We looked but couldn’t find Master Spas pricing online without having to fill in a form.
TidalFit DTL- 8
Swimming: Features a “true variable swim system” for multiple users.
Versatility: Offers the ability to pair an eight-foot hot tub with a 14-foot swim spa in various configurations for maximum versatility. It is the only dual hot tub and swim spa combo on this list (they are known as dual temps) but we wanted to flag it because it was so unique.
Family Features: Dual temps are great because you can keep the kids in one part and adults in another, without bothering each other (Hydropool offers a dual temp but like most of them, it is all one unit, see here)
Hydrotherapy Options: With a separate hot tub, this model stands alone in this list. It will have the most space and give you the most privacy.
Affordability: Because it’s a separate hot tub and a swim spa, it will be more expensive than most on this list (Tidalfit doesn’t list the prices). The website promises that its semi-in-ground versions offer maximum efficiency, but we know that going in-ground costs more as well. Trade offs! Each family has to decide what is worth paying for.
What’s the Right Swim Spa for Your Family?
Choosing the best swim spa for your family involves finding the right balance of features that cater to swimming, fitness, relaxation, and fun.
At Hydropool, we understand the importance of versatility and value in a family swim spa. Whether you’re considering the reliable options from Jacuzzi, the customizable features of Bullfrog, the energy efficiency of Arctic, or the well-rounded Hydropool 14 Aquatic Sport, there’s a family-friendly swim spa to suit your needs.
With careful consideration, you can transform your backyard into a beloved aquatic retreat for the whole family.
We hope we answered all your questions here about the best family swim spas, but if we missed any, don’t hesitate to reach out to a local retailer.
Disclaimer: In this article, we’ve used brand names not affiliated with Hydropool or Jacuzzi Brands LLC, the parent company of Hydropool. All information, including pricing and product details, was accurate at the time of writing and may change without notice.
