Spending time relaxing in a hot tub with your friends and family is a great way to bond.
When you’re stressed out from school or work, having a fun spot where you can go unwind with people who make you laugh is a necessity.
If you want to indulge in some quality spa time, but don’t want to spend the money on private jets for everyone, what do you do?
Turns out there’s an affordable solution: inflatable hot tubs. Inflatable spas are basically portable versions of those fancy bathtubs you see at hotels.
They have the same capacity as their permanent counterparts but they’re much easier to set up – just fill them up with water and plug them into a socket – no special plumbing required.
One of the most popular choices for inflatable hot tubs is a product called “SaluSpa Miami.”
The Miami model isn’t as powerful as many permanent spas, but it does produce a steady stream of water jets that hit your back with force. If you want to know more about this kind of hot tub, whether its pros and cons match up with yours, or which different models to consider, keep reading!
The SaluSpa Miami vs Coleman is probably one of the most common questions that potential spa buyers have. Both brands are trusted names in spas, both have an excellent track record for reliability, and both come with their own sets of pros and cons.
In this article, we’ll be comparing SaluSpa Miami vs Coleman Hot Tub to help you figure out which one’s right for you.
SaluSpa vs. Coleman: Price & Maintenance Compared
The basic difference between these two products hinges on price and durability. The Coleman spa is cheaper than the SaluSpa by $300, though you do lose some powerful jets. However, the Coleman’s top is removable to make it easier to clean, so you won’t have to buy replacement tops as often.
SaluSpa Miami costs about $600 less than the Storm Legacy Tub, but its jets are more powerful. The SaluSpa also has a massage bubble system that boosts the air pressure of water jets for deeper penetration into your muscles.
If you want an inflatable hot tub that’ll last through years of fun in the sun, then go with Coleman – it’s cheaper and has a sturdier build quality compared to other inflatables on the market right now. If you want one with extra features like jets but don’t mind spending a bit more, then SaluSpa is the way to go.
Size & Dimensions
The Coleman spa measures 77″ by 70″ – a generous size for six to eight people – while the SaluSpa Miami is a little bit smaller at 71″ x 64″. The SaluSpa also comes in a compact version that’s 53″ by 52″, which would be better for couples or small families that don’t need as much space.
Either product would be able to accommodate two adults lying down with room left over for drinks and snacks, but children might find it uncomfortable.
Although both spas are 4 feet deep, the SaluSpa has a smaller water capacity of 210 gallons compared to 268 on the Coleman tub. This means you’ll have to fill the SaluSpa up for each use, which is a bit of a pain.
SaluSpa Miami’s dimensions are 71″ by 64″, slightly smaller than the Coleman tub.
Both spas are best suited for indoor use – they can handle being outside in summer but will start to degrade over time if left under direct sunlight. When storing your inflatable hot tub, make sure it’s dry and clean before folding it up or putting it away – this reduces foam deterioration and protects against mold.
As far as noise goes, both products are pretty quiet even at higher speeds, especially considering how hard their jets hit your back. You may not be able to have a conversation while one person’s enjoying a massage in the hot tub, but you’ll be able to at least hum a tune.
SaluSpa is ready for use in about 20 minutes, while Coleman needs an hour and a half before it’s ready for business. A couple of extra jets that recline on SaluSpa Miami will provide more support than Coleman’s basic lay-down models, letting you sit upright when you’re not melted into melted cheese.
Comfort & Intensity
The biggest difference between these two products is how hard their jets hit your back. The SaluSpa has 40 air jets and eight water jets, giving it a total of 480 bubble and jet combinations; this all helps with blood circulation and muscle relaxation (which comes in handy after a long day hiking or biking).
The SaluSpa has massage bubble jets that boost the power of its regular jets
The Coleman spa only features 12 water jets, which is about half as many as the SaluSpa. This means you won’t get quite the same soothing effect, but it’s still pretty decent for an inflatable spa.
Both spas are easy to climb in and out of, have lids you can open from your seat inside the hot tub, and have helpful control knobs so you don’t have to lean forward when changing jet speeds. However, if you want extra convenience features like a color LED display or separate controls for each jet type, then go with SaluSpa.
Another thing to note about the SaluSpa is that you can add up to 12 bubble jets onto your purchase; these will make it feel like you’re in one of those fancy hotel hot tubs, and they cost less than $5 per jet when bought separately.
One major downside with Coleman’s lay-down models is the presence of only one headrest. If you want to recline comfortably in a spa then we recommend getting a buildable model like SaluSpa instead; they’ll give you more options for how to lie in the water.
Coleman has fewer jets: 12 water and 5 air vs 40 and 8 on the SaluSpa Miami.
Coleman Saluspa Havana | $550-$850 | 4.4 | 71″ wide26″ high | 4 people | 104° F | 110V | 177 gallons | Affordable, low-maintenance hot tub also comes with some deluxe features. For example, it allows you to set the heat function in advance, and it has a remote control. Plus, the wicker rattan exterior gives it a posh look.See Full Havana Saluspa Review |
Performance & Maintenance
It’s important to neglect any steps when cleaning your SaluSpa Miami so the rubber doesn’t degrade over time.
SaluSpa uses a top-of-the-line heating system that comes with a digital control panel and all the bells and whistles you’d find in a Jacuzzi. It heats up to 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius), which isn’t quite enough to cook an egg on your back after 10 minutes, but it’s close.
The Coleman spa has slightly lower maximum temperature at 98 (37 C) while its heating time is 1 hour 30 minutes instead of SaluSpa’s 2 hours. Either way, both spas heat up quickly without taking up much energy; each one will only use about 220 watts when running full blast (or around 7.5 kWh for a full day).
Both of these spas have replaceable filter cartridges that last about one month, and initial water capacity between 215 to 275 gallons (700-1100 L).
The SaluSpa Miami has the heaviest weight of all inflatable hot tubs at around 60 pounds while Coleman is closer to 50 pounds when you’re carrying it empty. That’s still pretty heavy, so be sure to save some room in your car or get help with loading if you don’t want your back hurting the next day.
Both of these spas are made from puncture-resistant three-ply laminated PVC material, but our research shows SaluSpa is more durable overall. This isn’t surprising considering they’ve been in the hot tub business for well over a decade, so they have plenty of experience.
You can expect your Coleman spa to last about four years if you only use it in the summertime while SaluSpa can go for up to 10 years before needing replacement material.
SaluSpa has better materials that are more durable than what you’ll get with Coleman
One benefit that Coleman offers is an inflatable cover that will shield the water from sunlight and prevent evaporation when not using the hot tub. The SaluSpa doesn’t come with any kind of cover, though one isn’t too expensive to buy separately. We highly recommend getting one even if you want an inflatable spa because they help keep heat loss to a minimum.
Both spas are easy to set up, but SaluSpa is easier considering it only takes 45 minutes to 90 minutes while you’ll need two people to get the job done with Coleman. It’s also worth mentioning that both spas come with a 1-year warranty on any manufacturing defects and they require no maintenance besides keeping water clean and adding chemicals throughout each season.
Summary
Which one is right for me? We’d recommend getting a SaluSpa if you want more jets and durability, or if you find most inflatable hot tubs too heavy.
However, Coleman is still a good option if you don’t mind having fewer features and slightly lower overall build quality; just be sure not to overuse your spa or you might end up with a tear.
