I Tried the Coleman SaluSpa Inflatable Hot Tub—Here’s My Unbiased Review
Updated: Jul. 30, 2024
Want all the perks of a hot tub without the cost or hassle? Try the Coleman Saluspa inflatable hot tub for soothing, bubbly relaxation at a fraction of the price.
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True story: My partner and I were hemming and hawing about getting a hot tub for years. Each time we approached the conversation, the same questions would arise: Would we use it enough to make it worth the cost? Will we have to hire an electrician? And, last, will it be easy to maintain?
We went around and around until the perfect solution arose—the Coleman Saluspa inflatable hot tub. After months of testing, it’s safe to say that this portable hot tub is a great low-cost way to dip your toes into hot tub ownership.
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What is an Inflatable Hot Tub?
Inflatable hot tubs are a portable alternative to traditional hot tubs, as they can be inflated and deflated as needed. They can heat up to steamy temps and even have jet-like bubbles to provide ultimate relaxation. And don’t let the fact that they’re inflatable fool you into thinking they’re flimsy. Unlike blow-up kiddie pools you may purchase for a season, inflatable hot tubs are made from layers of thick and durable PVC that make them scratch-resistant and built to last.
“Inflatable hot tubs are a great starter option for those looking to try out the spa lifestyle,” says Kim Tokarski, Category Director of Pool Lifestyle Products at Leslie’s. “Priced between $300 and $1,200, inflatable hot tubs are much less expensive than the more luxurious hard-sided models that can cost upwards of $3,000–$15,000, or more.”
This makes an inflatable hot tub, like the Coleman model I tested, a good alternative for renters or those wanting to test out hot tub ownership before committing to a more permanent fixture.
NICOLE DOSTER/FAMILY HANDYMAN
I Tried It
Coleman Saluspa Inflatable Hot Tub
Reach the height of relaxation without a huge commitment with this inflatable hot tub.
Coleman Inflatable Hot Tub Features
The Coleman SaluSpa is a budget-friendly inflatable hot tub. It’s 77 inches in diameter and 24 inches tall—hitting about knee height. This size is perfect for a small patio or deck. It includes a heater attachment with a folding touchscreen panel that doubles as an air pump during setup. Its inflatable cover affixes to the base using six snap-on safety locks. The hot tub also included a chemical cartridge, a filter cartridge and two filters. Notable features include:
- Durable construction: The hot tub is made of durable “Tritech” material, which is composed of a polyester mesh core encased in two layers of PVC. In lieu of built-in seating, it has a cushioned padded floor for comfort.
- Relaxing design: The hot tub can hold about 210 gallons of water when filled to its recommended level, reaching about chest height when seated for a relaxing dip.
- Two-person capacity: While it’s touted as having capacity for four, this is incorrect. After testing, the spa will only fit two adults while lounging or three adults if you’re sitting on your knees.
- Steamy temps: The hot tub has a maximum temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. It takes around 24 hours to reach the maximum temperature from an initial fill, depending on the temperature outside
- Strong bubbles: The hot tub features a ring of bubble jets around the bottom, creating a deeply relaxing massage effect.
- Precise controls: The touchscreen control panel allows you to adjust the temperature and turn on or off the bubble jets, pump and heat. It also allows you to set a timer on the heater for up to 999 hours (or about 40 days) for energy efficiency.
How We Tested It
I extensively tested the Coleman SaluSpa Palm Springs inflatable hot tub in Florida for two months during the spring. Throughout this time, I inflated and deflated the hot tub several times, assessing its durability, ease of setup and heating/spa capabilities. Truthfully, I was a bit doubtful going into this test that an inflatable hot tub would perform just as well as a standard hot tub—and that the product would end up as a heap of plastic destined for the dump. I was pleasantly surprised by the results.
Coleman Saluspa Inflatable Hot Tub Setup
The hot tub was delivered in a large, heavy box weighing close to 100 pounds. I recommend getting help from a friend when moving it to your ideal location for unboxing and set-up. While the box was on the heavier side, it was a whole heck of a lot easier than paying a professional mover for a standard hot tub.
Once unboxed, I was pleased with how painless the hot tub was to set up. On my first try, it took a total of 27 minutes to inflate the hot tub and cover, install the pump and plug in the machine. The instructions in the user manual were a bit too simplified for my liking, with only tiny visual diagrams explaining each step. However, with some trial and error, the tub was easy to set up. Best part? Zero tools were required.
Installation tips:
- Be sure to lay the hot tub base on the surface where you would like it to live before inflating. It’s difficult to move after inflating without risk of damage.
- The pool pump doubles as a really handy air pump. The kit includes a hose that connects to the pump via a large plastic threaded coupler and then connects to the air valve at the base of the tub. Double-check to ensure the hose is latched correctly to the air valve before turning on the air, as the connection can become loose. To start the air pump, press the “bubbles” button. The hot tub will take less than 10 minutes to inflate.
- Be sure to place the inflatable insert inside the cover before inflating it; otherwise, it will be impossible to squeeze in.
- Attaching the pool pump to the hot tub can be a bit tricky. It took me a few tries to get the valves to align properly to the gaskets. While no tools are needed, it’s nice to have a second person on hand to help.
- The filter cartridge screws into the lowest valve inside the tub while the chemical cartridge screws on right above it.
- After set-up, cover the hot tub in soapy water to check for any air escaping the inflated tub.
The hot tub can hold up to 240 gallons of water and took me about 40 minutes to fill using a garden hose. The interior lining has convenient minimum and maximum fill guidelines so you don’t overfill or underfill the tub. Since the inflatable hot tub is plug-and-play, it plugged right into my outdoor outlet with ease.
Total set-up time: 1 hour 7 minutes
Total time to inflate: 27 minutes
Total time to fill: 40 minutes
Durability
After filling the tub with air and water, I examined its strength and durability by applying pressure to its sides. I was surprised with how sturdy the inflatable base was—as it felt almost rock hard. I learned this was due to the built-in beams constructed into its triple-layered PVC walls.
The cover secures onto the base with straps and locking buckles. While the buckles are a great safety mechanism, I will admit that I struggled to unlatch them without pinching my fingers, which was inconvenient when trying to access the hot tub quickly.
After testing for holes with soapy water, I realized that my hot tub had a thin puncture upon delivery, less than the size of a dime. This was very disappointing, as it leaked enough air to deflate the tub slightly after several days of use.
Luckily, the hot tub included a small repair kit with a vinyl section to patch holes like mine. Using a vinyl repair sealant (not included), I was able to patch the hole in under ten minutes. The hot tub worked perfectly without any additional leaks after that instance.
Spa Settings
After the initial set-up, it was time to heat the hot tub. I found that you can control the tub’s temperature using the digital-read display panel, and you can set it anywhere from 68 to 104 degrees. Since I prefer my hot tubs to be on the warmer side, I set it to the maximum temperature.
The tub took about 24 hours to heat up to 104 degrees. Like traditional outdoor hot tubs, the time it takes to heat up depends on the ambient outdoor temperature. I live in Florida, where in the spring, the temperatures range from a high of 80 to a low of 60 degrees, but in cooler parts of the country, the hot tub may take longer to get up to temperature.
The cover also helped insulate the temperature. Like a standard tub, once you remove it, the temperature can drop a few degrees during use. When I tested it on a 65-degree night, the hot tub’s temperature dropped to 102 degrees after 20 minutes of use without the cover on.
The Coleman Saluspa has a few different settings to control the pump, heat and jets. I was especially impressed with the jet setting via an “airjet” ring built into the base of the hot tub. When activated, thousands of tiny thunderous air bubbles spill out from the ring, creating a massaging effect that’s really relaxing. I was surprised by just how powerful the bubbles were—and actually preferred it to a traditional hot tub, which only targets a few places on your back. However, because the setting uses air instead of heated water, I found that the jet setting also cooled the tub by 1-2 degrees during use.
Comfort
I was truly delighted at how warm and relaxing the hot tub was. After a long day, plunging into steamy water is the cure for built-up tension. Within minutes after my first dip in the tub, I exclaimed out loud, “I am OFFICIALLY a hot tub person now!” And it’s true. I continued testing the hot tub almost every night through the next two months.
To test for comfort, I recruited my very tall partner, who is 6’3″, to comment on its size while lounging. “I can get fully submerged,” he said as he stretched out in the hot tub. He also noted that the cushioned base at the bottom of the tub was a great feature. “Even normal hot tubs aren’t as comfortable.”
During my season with the hot tub, I also tested the seating capacity. The Coleman Saluspa is marketed as fitting up to four adults, which is laughably incorrect. After inviting my mother in to test, we found that we could squeeze three average-sized adults if someone sat on their knees. I’d confidently say that the hot tub only comfortably fits two.
Maintenance
The built-in filtration system works fairly well to pick up dirt and hair that accumulate after use. I found that I had to clean out the filter at least once or twice a week. I also had to clean the hot tub frequently using a small pool vacuum (I used a budget-friendly cordless vacuum from Intex) as debris would build up around the air jet ring at the base of the tub.
Like a typical hot tub, portable hot tubs require chemicals for safety and regular check-ups to ensure the water is at the appropriate levels. After researching, these are the chemicals and cleaning supplies that worked best for us to keep our hot tub clean for weeks on end:
- Pool test strips
- Bromine tabs (I found that bromine has a less harsh smell than chlorine.)
- Defoamer
- Water clarifier
- pH increaser
- Handheld leaf skimmer
Of course, the beauty of an inflatable hot tub is that it can be drained and deflated when not in use. I drained the hot tub twice during testing, once while we were on vacation and the second time when summer hit, and it became unseasonal to use. To drain, you’ll need to pull the plug at the base of the hot tub. I found this to be a little fickle as the plug kept wanting to get sucked back into the drain. To prevent this, fold the tab sticking out of the top of the tab backward onto itself. After that was secure, I simply connected my garden hose to the exit spout at the base of the tub. It took a few hours to drain.
I also found the hot tub simple to deflate. I simply unscrewed the valve used to inflate the hot tub, and in minutes, most of the air was released. However, when looking for long-term storage, it took patience and a bit of manpower to compress the tub to release all the extra air from the base.
Pros
- Efficient and effective heating
- Easily inflated and deflated
- Tool-free set-up
- Strong, relaxing bubbles
Cons
- May require puncture repair
- Challenging child locks
- Seats only two comfortably, despite marketing claims
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
I originally heard of this product a few years back from Caroline Moss, an influencer and host of Gee Thanks, Just Bought It! podcast, who frequently touts how much she loves this inflatable hot tub to her followers. “I know the word inflatable will throw you off,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “This thing is really, really durable. I have never once deflated mine, and I’ve had it for over three years. I’ve also never had a leak.”
Amazon reviewers, however, have mixed feelings. “It’s a great value for the amount of money spent. No special wiring needed,” says Amazon customer Linda, in a five-star review.
Customer Konnie Knight left a two-star review citing issues with water leaks, “I received this as a Mother’s Day gift and within the year, the pump started leaking.”
Product Comparison
Bestway (the creator of the Coleman Saluspa) and Intex are the leading manufacturers of inflatable hot tubs. Both brands offer models ranging from budget-friendly to premium.
Most Bestway Saluspa products are relatively similar in terms of features and benefits but come in various colors and sizes. At 77 inches in diameter, the Coleman Saluspa Palm Springs I tested is one of their mid-sized models. Comparatively, the St. Lucia model is their smallest at 66 inches in diameter, and the St. Moritz is their largest at 85 inches in diameter. While most inflatable spa models are circular, the Coleman Saluspa Miami is square, giving a few additional inches of room.
The brand also sells energy-efficient models that are APSP-14 and Title 20 compliant and a line of spas that can be connected to smartphones.
Intex sells models that are very similar to Bestway, with the PureSpa portable hot tub being the most comparable to the Coleman Palm Springs in terms of its size and features. While the PureSpa is slightly pricier, it includes a few cool accessories like headrests and a ground cloth, which Bestway sells separately.
Final Verdict
If you’ve been waffling about investing in a hot tub, an inflatable hot tub like the Coleman Saluspa is an excellent option that gives all the perks of a standard hot tub for under $600. While the hot tub I tested had a few glaring drawbacks—like punctures upon delivery and incorrect marketing claims—the benefits are definitely worth it if you don’t mind the risk of minor repairs and only plan to use it with one or two people.
By far, the best benefit of the Coleman Saluspa was the perk you’d get with just about any hot tub: a space to relax without any screens or devices. The hot tub created a distraction-free space to spend quality time with my partner, family or even just a good book. I’ve turned into a hot tub person, and I’d highly recommend you take the leap, too.
Where to Buy the Coleman Saluspa Inflatable Hot Tub
NICOLE DOSTER/FAMILY HANDYMAN
I Tried It
Coleman Saluspa Inflatable Hot Tub
Reach the height of relaxation without a huge commitment with this inflatable hot tub.
You can find the Coleman Saluspa Inflatable hot tub on Amazon, Walmart, Target and other major online retailers. The Palm Springs model I tested varies in price from $565 to $650, but can sometimes be found discounted during major sales events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.
Originally Published: July 10, 2024
