We tried the Lay-Z-Spa inflatable hot tub – that’s how it went
Nothing wins summer nights in your garden. The smell of food on the BBQ, the lingering warmth in the air and the beautiful long nights that make you forget about winter are even the thing – complete bliss!
As these warm months approach, we are all looking for ways to improve our outdoor space. Whether it’s improving the BBQ, investing in some new garden furniture or even treat yourself to a fun new edition.
One of the best versions for any garden is of course the hot tub. What can you compare to the complete luxury of sitting in your own hot tub and watching the stars?
But of course, hot tubs are definitely top notch in luxury, and most people can’t afford them. Hard shell hot tubs can cost over £ 2,000, which is not ideal.
So what inflatable hot tubs? They are much cheaper to buy and easy to install. But are they worth it?
We decided to put them to the test! We tested the Lay-Z-Spa model, one of the top rated suppliers of inflatable hot tubs, here’s what we thought.
Helsinki Lay-Z-Spa
Configuration
Lay-Z-Spa has an effortless set-up, and I have to say that the ease with which I was able to set this up made me rethink my journalism career and question technology instead (okay, maybe not quite, but it really was simple).
All products were packaged safely and easy to install. Instructions and the accompanying videos helped.
The instructions are image-based, which can be a bit challenging, but combining them with online videos really helped.
In the box you get everything you need for installation: the bath itself, the pump, the inflatable lid and all the filter accessories.
The tub itself filled in seconds, and then it just arranged the pump and filters.
To protect the tub, I put it under a protective mat. Lay-Z-Spa has a few varieties of these and it made me feel much safer when I installed a bathtub in my garden.
The rug fits together like a children’s play mat, comfortably and easily. Also when you have a zooming puppy with you.
The puppy stored safely inside, next had to fill it! The whole installation process took less than 30 minutes, and then the hose was left to fill the tub, which took less than 4 hours.
Lay-Z-Spa advises that it can take 12 to 24 hours for the pools to warm up for the first time. Since mine was set up on a fairly ordinary cold Scottish day, it lasted closer to 24 hours.
Once filled, I sorted out a shock dose of chemicals (this is done to break down organic waste and contamination), which is highly recommended when you fill your tub for the first time.
Success! The bath was full and I have to admit I was very proud of myself. If I can set it, anyone can …
We appreciate the ease of installation 4/5!
Design
The Helsinki model is one of the brand’s most popular bathtubs, and we can see why! Despite being inflatable, its charming drop stitch pattern gives it a hard shell look that suits any garden.
Its unique Nordic design gives it a realistic wood print design, you would never know it wasn’t a hard shell tub.
The material is also sturdy and durable. If you have a fairly busy garden space, you don’t have to be nervous about damaging the pool or tearing the material.
There are also two handy drink holders on top of the hot tub pump, so your drink doesn’t overheat when you’re frying in hot bubbles.
Its beautiful design adds character to the garden, so we give Helsinki Design a rating of 5/5.
Bath heating
We want to spend our nights relaxing in the bubbles, so we decided to put the Bathtub up in March, Scotland in March, when the temperature was soothing around 10 degrees Celsius.
Despite the low temperatures, heating the tub did not last as expected.
The first filling took 24 hours before the water temperature rose from 6 degrees to 35 degrees. The tub was then held at 35 degrees and raised to 39 (maximum is 40) with these cool night dips.
When the tub was not in use for a week, the tub was adjusted to 20 degrees for energy efficiency. Warming it back to enjoyable temperatures took only a few hours to prepare, even in colder weather.
The insulated lid of the bathtub is definitely worthy of this. The inflatable lid helps keep the water temperature when the pool is off and speeds it up.
Heating the Helsinki pool turned out to be incredibly simple, so we give it a rating of 5/5.
In the bathtub
After waiting 24 hours after the recommended dose and getting the temperature at a mild 37 degrees, it was time for the first dip! And the timing was perfect when my husband and I had a positive Covid-19 test an hour earlier, what else should we have done but enjoy a long, relaxing rest?
Lay-Z-Spa has an amazing selection of accessories to make your hot tub experience much more enjoyable. We chose the hot tub light to add to the atmosphere of the evening.
The control panel on the Lay-Z-Spa hot tub touch panel is so easy to use, which makes the whole process much more enjoyable. The instructions are completely helpful for all tools related to heating and sanitation.
I’ve been to several hard shell hot tubs before this, I wasn’t sure what an inflatable would feel without hard seating areas and larger machines. However, I was immediately pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the tub and the power of the showers!
Although the Helsinki floor looks clean and small, it is very padded and very comfortable, and the stiff sides provide excellent comfort for resting without taking up too much space. The bathtub is advertised for 4-7 people and this is definitely an accurate sizing.
Helsinki uses an air jet system to create bubbles. And it’s different from any other hot tub I’ve ever been to. The 180 Airjet Massage System is incredibly effective and relaxing, with therapeutic bubbles that run throughout the tub. It was bliss!
With such an efficient system, we were afraid our neighbors would get angry, but when one of us returned inside, the sound was barely even noticeable, so we enjoyed in the tub for much longer without disturbing our neighbors.
We make it easy to use 5/5!
Overall
If you are looking for a hot tub but do not want to splash too much due to the hard shell, we warmly recommend Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki. Its aesthetic design would suit any garden and the high power of the Airjet system makes you wonder why you didn’t buy it before.
Customer reviews on the website give it a whopping 4.6 / 5, and we can totally agree.
If you are looking for a great hot tub without a hard price tag, Lay-Z-Span Helsinki is right for you.
Dimensions:
- Height: 66 cm
- Width: 180 cm
- Width with pump: 223 cm
- Filled weight: 796 kg (1,775b)
The The Helsinki Lay-Z-Spa hot tub can be purchased on the website, At B&Q or Area. To pamper yourself with fun extras (lights, cup holders, pillows) visit the Lay-Z-Spa website.
When you order from the Lay-Z-Spa website, you also get a free Gold Starter Kit worth £ 99.99.