How to Choose a Swim Spa: What you REALLY need to know

If you’re looking for a swim spa, you’re rapidly going to find there are several to choose from. Every company will say theirs are the best. Many places will promise you the best deal. It can become confusing rapidly.

What to do then? How to decide what swim spa is right for you?

Great question. A swim spa is a new product for most people who buy it. At Hydropool, we have been selling swim spas since the 1980s. So we do get repeat customers for sure. But most people, more than half, are buying a swim spa for the first time. So we understand why it’s a point of confusion for people. And given the cost of a swim spa, it’s the kind of thing you want to get right.

In this article, we’re going to break down the key questions to ask so you know how to choose a swim spa. They include:

• What size do you have to work with for your swim spa?
• How many people will use it?
• What will you use your swim spa for?
• What’s your budget?
• Where can you purchase it?
• Can you test the swim spa?
• Does it have the features you want?

Anyone who is able to answer these questions will be able to feel confident that they are about to buy the best swim spa they can!

What space do you have for a swim spa?

This is the first factor that must be addressed.  Can you actually get one in your backyard or in your house (if you want one indoors)? Here’s how you tell if you have sufficient space for a swim spa: Measure the space you have and then add two feet on each side. You need to leave two feet around the entire swim spa, in case it ever needs servicing down the road.

In terms of delivery, Hydropool delivers all swim spas by crane (we find it’s safest, and has the least risk of damaging the swim spa and surrounding property). But other companies may use forklifts or dollies. If you have any concerns about accessing your property for delivery, it’s best to get that out of the way early by talking to a local retailer.

How many people will use your swim spa? What will they use it for?

Who will use your swim spa will have a major impact on your budget. Consider the following:

• If you want a purely recreational swim spa for you and your family – essentially a large hot tub – then a model like the 13-foot Hydropool AquaPlay 13FFP would suit you well (it’s our bestseller for this reason).
• If the swim spa is really a pool replacement and you intend to hold parties or have an extended family or many grandchildren, you may want to go larger. You can buy swim spas from 13 feet long to more than 20 (most swim spas are around eight feet wide). You can also get swim spas that have a separate hot tub.
• Do you intend to swim in it? If you do, then you will want one at least 14 feet long, so that you have space to extend your limbs. If you’re taller than six feet, we’d suggest potentially going longer than that.
• Do you want to swim in it and use it recreationally or just swim in it? Because there are swim spas for elite swimmers and there are swim spas that are built for multi-purpose reasons.
• If you intend to swim in it, how strong of a swimmer are you? You will want a swim spa with a current strong enough for you to swim in now, with some left over so as you improve you can keep swimming and developing. Triathletes do better on superior models, such as our Executive collection.

Consider all these points. Remember, you can always try before you buy! A good retail store will have swim spas you can test in advance.

What’s your budget?

Now that you have assessed your space and thought about what type of swim spa you need, you have actually done the homework to create a realistic budget.

Swim spa prices range from about $20,000 to about $60,000 (all prices Cdn). 

For a full breakdown on swim spa pricing, read this article.

The two main factors in determining the initial cost of a swim spa are the size of it and its usage.

• The larger the swim spa, the more you pay and the more advanced swim system, the more the swim spa will cost.
• If you intend to use it to swim in, buying on the cheap will mean a swim system that you outgrow, or worse, that simply blasts water into your face like a fire hose. What you want is a strong, smooth, wide current.

Where can you purchase your swim spa?

You may be blessed to live in an area with multiple retailers so that you can shop around. You may not live in such an area and may be heading to the only hot tub and swim spa store in town. You may be tempted to head to the internet and order one online. We don’t recommend that route, because you will end up with a swim spa dropped on your front lawn and a headache on your hands when it comes to setting up and servicing it down the road.

Buy from a local retailer. We admit we’re biased here: We only sell swim spas through a local retail network. But it’s the best place you can shop, guaranteed.

Can you test the swim spa before you buy?

A good local retailer will allow you to test a version of your swim spa. Called a wet test, this will allow you to swim in the spa, get a sense of the seating for massage and see how many people it will hold (bring the whole family!).

You don’t need to wet test it, but at the price points of swim spas we don’t think it’s a bad idea. If you’re going to swim in it, we’d strongly recommend you try swimming in it. You will want to make sure it works for you.

Does the swim spa have the features you want?

You can get a stripped down swim spa with nothing on it – essentially a big tank for you and the kids to hang out in. You can get one with elite lighting packages, an app so you can control it with your phone, steps, fountains … there’s a reasonable list of possibilities. Have a look at this video to see what all you can get as an option for your swim spa:

Options can add up, but at the same time if you’re buying a relative luxury product such as a swim spa, you don’t want to skimp when it really matters. So decide what you need and what you can live without in advance, before the salesperson lays on the tactics.

Which swim spa is right for you?

A swim spa that:

• fits in your yard
• does what you want it to do
• that you can afford

is what you should be looking for first of all. If you can figure out those parts first, you’ll be able to recognize the right swim spa once you go shopping for actual models.

Don’t listen to anyone who says there is a one-size-fits-all swim spa, even if the swim spa is billed as multi-purpose (this is Hydropool’s Aquatic line for example). But while there are multi-purpose swim spas, not everyone will want one of those. Some will want to focus on swimming or entertaining or having one as a pool replacement.

Whatever reason you have, there is a swim spa out there for you. We hope you find it, and if you want to start, click here to reach out to your local Hydropool retailer.