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  The Best Swim Spa: How to Grab The Best on the Market

  Back to the Learning Centre How Can I Buy the Best Swim Spa on the Market? By Jon Filson Hydropool Hot Tubs and Swim Spas Published Jun 09, 2025 If you haven’t bought a swim spa before, one of the tricky parts is not knowing what you COULD have. You know, for example, that cars can come with air conditioning, and you likely want that.But if you’re like most people, you don’t know what to look for when looking at spa models, because it’s a far less frequent purchase. That makes it hard to figure out which swim spa is the best for you.“Although swim spas have been around since the 1980s, many customers are learning about them for the first time through the Internet or through seeing them in the store when they come in to look at hot tubs,” says Jeff Fox, director of swim spa sales at Hydropool. “While every good swim spa company gets repeat business, about 95 per cent of Hydropool customers are first-time swim spa buyers.”So it’s okay if you don’t know what you could have. That’s why we wrote this article. (If you’re not entirely sure what a swim spa is, we can help: Start here, with “What is a swim spa?”)We wanted to write this article to let you know what to look for when shopping for a high quality swim spa, so you can spot a good one when you see it and feel good about your purchase as a result. We want you to know what is the best swim spa you can buy.We have also been in business for 40 years, so we know a good swim spa when we see one! So we think we can help.So in this article, we will cover:What’s the best swim spas?What should I look for when shopping for a swim spa?What should I look for when it comes to swim spa maintenance?How much does a swim spa cost?Hopefully, by the end, you’ll have a better sense of what you’re looking for! What’s the Best Swim Spa?Just like there is no one best car, there is no one best swim spa. This is because swim spa are designed for different purposes.Some swim spas are actually meant to function as large hot tubs or traditional swimming pool replacements. They may have swimming or fitness equipment but that’s not their primary focus. In this category, one tip is that if you see a swim spas with a lot of bench seating then the priority likely isn’t swimming or fitness. Instead, it’s to make sure everyone at the party or in the family has a spot inside the swim spa. Hydropool’s AquaPlay FFP is an example of this. We are candid about it: the FFP stands for Family Fun Pool. So if you’re looking for swim spas aimed at families and fun, or as a pool substitute, they are out there.Some swim spas are meant to offer a bit of everything. You will often see manufacturers pitch their products as “aquatic gyms” or “home fitness centres” (some sell optional underwater treadmills and bikes). If so, then they are aiming for people who want to run in place in water, or row, or even perform muscle-building workouts in the swim spa, as well as swim. So health benefits are emphasized in these models and they are built to offer a range of aerobic activities. These swim spas will also have hot tub elements for massage, so these athletic types can cool down. These swim spas are also good for hosting parties or having family in them as well – they are meant to be versatile and adaptable swim spas. Hydropool’s Aquatic series is an example of this style.Some are elite swimming machines, aimed at athletes and high performers (here’s a quick page on how a couple of elite rowers used a swim spa as part of their training program to get themselves across the Atlantic). This is where the industry actually started, before broadening out to pool and gym replacements. That being said, not every swim spa manufacturer has a model in this category, because it’s a smaller market than the others. Hydropool, as one of the original swim spa builders back in the 1980s, does have an elite swimming unit with the Executive Trainer series, which has a tether-free, adjustable swim, capable of training elite swimmers and triathletes. Hydropool’s Swim Spa Lineup What Should I Look for When Buying a Spa?To some extent, this will depend on what you’re looking for: a place for the family to frolic with a large swim area, an aquatic home gym you can swim in or a place to swim your heart out in. But every swim spa should have the following components:Can You Swim in a Swim Spa?Swim system: Look for a versatile, adjustable swim current. You will want to be able to set your swim system for a beginner, middle-of-the-road and elite swimmer. You may get better as you use the swim spa, or you may have multiple people using the swim spa of different abilities. You want to make sure your swim spa allows for all options. You also don’t need to buy any swim spa that requires a tether, as there are many swim spas out there where you don’t need one to swim in them.Can I Work Out in a Swim Spa?Look in-water fitness equipment and options: Fitness kits are part of good swim spas: You should have optional ways of working out if you want them. A series of videos should also be available so you don’t need to teach yourself how to use them swim spa once you have it.Is a Swim Spa Like a Pool?It sure should be. Look for a big enough tank to hold everyone you will want it to. A swim spa is a small pool, except you can use it year-round. Any spa you buy should be capable of hosting family and friends in a pool party of the size…

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  Your Ultimate Swim Spa Buying Guide

  Back to the Learning Centre Your Ultimate UK Swim Spa Buyer’s Guide If you haven’t bought a swim spa before, one of the tricky parts is not knowing what you COULD have. By Jon Filson Hydropool Hot Tubs and Swim Spas Published May 02, 2025 So, you’ve heard about swim spas and thought, “Brilliant! It’s like a hot tub, but with all the cool aspects of a pool, and I can use it year-round. I need one!” Then you hit Google, and you’re bombarded with companies wanting to sell you a swim spa, but not a lot of info on what you need to consider before taking the plunge. We get it – it’s a tough spot. You want to buy, but you’re not sure how, and you definitely don’t want to be taken for a ride. We see people come into our stores in this position all the time. They have done as much research as they can, but still not sure how to proceed on purchasing a swim spa. Despite being around since the 1980s, most swim spa purchasers are first-time buyers. That’s why we’re here to spill the beans on swim spas. Hydropool was one of the original developers of swim spas in Canada nearly 40 years ago. We want people to know what they need to before deciding on specific models. We hope this article can be like a swim spa buyer’s guide, so you know everything you need to. With that in mind, this article will include: Swim spa upfront costs   Swim spa monthly costs   Finding the right place for your swim spa   Using a swim spa   Swim spa currents   Swim spa maintenance    Options and accessories   Testing potential swim spas   Where to buy from    With that, we hope you’ll have a guide to the information that most people want before buying a swim spa. Let’s dive in! How Much Does a Swim Spa Cost? At Hydropool, our customers typically spend between £25,000 and £50,000 (if you want the average, it’s around £38,000, for a full story on pricing, click here). This includes all the essentials to get your swim spa up and running. (For reference, our most affordable swim spa is around £21,500 in 2024 pricing.) A few factors to keep in mind: All swim spas need a 220V electrical hookup and a concrete pad. Swim spa delivery and placement, often done by crane, can vary based on your location and how tricky it is to get to your chosen spot. Additional features like steps, decks, or sinking the swim spa into the ground aren’t included and need to be sorted out separately for your specific site. We encourage you to speak to a retailer directly in that case, who you can find here. What Are Monthly Swim Spa Running Costs? In 2024, we estimate the monthly cost to be about £180 a month, or roughly £6 a day. Running costs depend on factors like usage, location, and winter temperatures. There are two main costs: energy to keep the water warm and chemicals to keep it sanitized. Your actual expenses will vary, as this is an average. For a complete breakdown on running costs, we encourage you to head here for a full story. What’s the best swim spa I can buy? Where’s the Best Spot for My Swim Spa? Practicality is key with placement. You’re going to want it in a spot where you can easily use it! Place your swim spa near a door, especially in the UK where winter use is on the table. Easy access means more enjoyment. Leave about a metre of space around it (2-3 feet) to allow access for future repairs. Aesthetics matter too – our swim spas blend into classic gardens, so choose a spot that looks good as well as provides easy access. Think about entry points and viewing lines when seated in the hot tub portion of the swim spa. You don’t want to be staring into a fence if you can avoid it. Swim spas can be installed on top of the ground, partially submerged or completely in the ground. Each approach requires its own design finesse. Indoor options are also possible. For a full article on this subject, try here. If you have something specific in mind, check with a local retailer. How Can I Use a Swim Spa? Swim spas are versatile. They can be: A hot tub: A swim spa should come with hot tub capabilities, for as many people as you think will regularly use them.  You can get swim spas that hold as few as two to as many as 20, with bench seating down the sides, and everything in-between. A pool replacement: Want to have a backyard pool party? Swim spas can handle that. At eight feet by about 14 feet for the average model, a swim spa is a lower-cost pool replacement. You can get swim spas with separate hot tubs as well, so you can have two temperatures at the same time. A family fun space: Your kids will gravitate to using the swim spa as much as you will. We’ve seen it happen! An aquatic fitness center: You can work out in a swim spa in multiple ways. See them all here. A place to swim: Swim spas are great places to swim, which Harvard University says is one of the best exercises you can do. Our advice: Figure out your priorities before buying to match the right swim spa to your needs. What Swim Spa Current Do I Need? For serious swimmers, a swim spa with adjustable digital currents, akin to a treadmill, is a game-changer. Avoid excessive spray – also called “rooster tails” – as stability is key with a swim spa – unless you like the feeling of swimming into white water. What to look for is a wide, strong current that allows you to swim in place and that can be adjusted as you improve. Although we have a range…