Tuesday, March 21st
2023 Hot Tub Reviews
Caldera Spas
- Energy-efficiency
- Can seat 2-8 people
- Optional salt-water sanitation system
- Adjustable jet pressure
If you would like your buying experience to be as stress-free as your spa experience, Caldera Spas offers only three series of tubs, eliminating the complication of lots of series, lots of models in each series, and lots of add-ons. If simplicity isn't what you're looking for and would rather have a plethora of models, features, and add-ons, you may want to check out some of the other spa companies in our reviews.
Why Caldera?
They focus on the curves and contours of the body; their shape meets your shape. You can control the flow of water for a deeper or a gentler massage. Their Advent screen panel controls the spa functions, and you can run their jets through a pre-set circuit or choose to concentrate jet flow where your body needs the most attention.
They are energy efficient
Caldera boasts that they have some of the most energy-efficient hot tubs on the market, meeting the energy standards set for portable spas by the California Energy Commission. Their insulation, covers, heaters, and pumps all work together to make an energy-efficient product and to help keep your utility bills under control.
From entry level to luxury
Here's what you can expect from each Caldera series:
- The Vacanza Series has three entry level tubs which have between 35 and 45 jets, and can seat 2-7 people. You can choose your cabinet color and your cover color. They have foot-wall massage, contoured pillows, interior lighting, and a light for diagnostics. They also include a Fiber-Core insulation, a sound-dampening design, and an insulated cover.
- The Paradise Series has six models to choose from, seats 3-7 people, and includes all of the above and adds Euphoria Jets, handrail assist, and a backlit waterfall. Their digital panel is a higher-end model than that of the Vacanza. This model has a salt-water system, an EnergyPro Circulation System, and a titanium heater.
- The Utopia Series, which is their luxury line, has six models, seats 4-8 people, and can include up to 74 jets in the 8-seat model. This line includes all of the above plus hip, wrist and neck jets, exterior lighting, diagnostic lights, a touchscreen control panel, and an auxiliary control panel.
Cleaning options
Caldera's higher models offer an upgradeable salt-water sanitation system, which minimizes the upkeep of your spa. They don't offer UV-C or ozone sanitation options.
Looking for more bells and whistles?
Additional accessories offered include cover lifters so one person can remove the cover more easily, exterior handrails, umbrellas, towel trees, and a cooling system for when the weather is hot and you'd like to cool down the tub for use.
Less is not more
Caldera seems to offer a lot of options and variety when you look at the list above at which features each series includes. However, when you compare Caldera's list of offerings to other brands out there, Caldera falls short. Many rival hot tub companies offer waterfalls, with and without colored lights, cup holders, and smart technology to monitor and control your tub from a distance.
Hot tub costs
- Vacanza Series: $5,000-$8,000
- Paradise Series: $7,000-$9,000
- Utopia Series: $11,000-$18,000
Pricing not offered on the website or brochure
The website offers minimal information, but you can download their brochure for more. However, to download the brochure, you are required to give them your email address as well as a mailing address. The brochure has many photos but little information. You'll need to look up a dealer in your area to fill in all the details including price, so for easy-access to details, Caldera leaves you hanging. Because pricing could depend on the dealer and where you are located, we're wondering, especially on the higher-end spas, if they might be willing to work with you on the final price.
Better for entry-level and mid-level shoppers
Although Caldera has collections for entry-level, mid-level and luxury models, their offerings for the mid-level and luxury models just aren't there. The features included in Caldera offered in their luxury models are nowhere near what other brands offer in their luxury or even their upper mid-line models.
Fewer features means simplified decision making
With few options to choose from, making a decision within the Caldera collections, especially for features found in an entry-level hot tub, should be an easy one. If, instead, you have shopped with a different company that may have several series with many, varying features per series plus a plethora of costly options to add, you might have just put your hands up and given up out of overwhelm. If too many series and too many options is too much, stick with Caldera.
Not our top option
With Caldera, what you see is what you get, and three levels of hot tub series with fewer options could make your decision-making easy and less time-consuming. While choosing a hot tub is streamlined, Caldera complicates the process of actually getting detailed information and pricing. If you're looking to customize and add some bells and whistles, peruse other brands that we have rated more highly.
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The 10 Best Hot Tubs
Where Can You Find the Best Hot Tubs?
Do the mere words hot tub give you the dreamy feeling of sinking down in a pool of warm water, relaxing, closing your eyes, feeling the healing massage of the hydro jets on your back and neck, and letting the world slip by? Or perhaps you associate hot tubs with friends or family relaxing together, enjoying a little social time in the warm, bubbly spa.
If you've dreamed of enjoying the relaxation and muscle relief that a spa can offer, and having it in your own yard, we have information for you on the best hot tubs out there. Just sit back and relax. Hot tubs can come in a variety of colors and styles. You can choose the standard model, or you can go up in levels where they add waterfalls, colored lights, and perhaps smart capabilities.
Hot Tub FAQ
Continued from above...
Even still, you can customize by choosing a level that best suits your needs and then add on features to make your spa into your own style. Prices often start around $3,000 and with more luxury and more add-ons, you can reach a price tag of over $20,000. Remember that the price may not include delivery and probably does not include installation. In fact, some spa companies don't offer installation, which may mean you'll have to hire out.
As you shop around for a hot tub, there are so many things to consider! It can be overwhelming trying to understand all of the options and which spa design is going to be the ideal fit for what you've pictured in your mind for fun and relaxation. You can focus your search more effectively by knowing what you prefer in these areas:
- Size. Hot tubs can vary in size from three to ten seats, so think about how many people you'll want to have in your spa at once. If you're looking for small and intimate, and perhaps have limited space, consider a tub that seats 3-4 people. Larger tubs can seat 7-10 people; these will have a larger footprint in your space and take longer to heat, which means more stress on your utility bill. There may also be an option for lounge seating in your tub. You would sit more reclined, and there would be more jets along the length of your body. It's a great feature, but each lounger can take the spot of two regular seats, so plan accordingly.
- Type of hydromassage. Some brands offer a gentle, low pressure, all-water massage and others have a powerful half-water/half-air jet stream for a deep massage. There are other jet options to choose from for your comfort, such as leg, feet, and neck jets, or a wrap-around-the-side body stream for more of an all-over effect.
- Location and environment. Plan where you will like your spa. Is there room enough for the size you are considering? Most tubs are about 7' x 7', but yours will be bigger if you want to seat more people. The factors to consider for weather are the cover and insulation. The full-foam insulated covers help keep the interior from the elements and extreme temperatures, as most of the heat is lost through the top of the tub. The insulation helps keep the heat inside and prevents the heater from overworking itself.
- Local availability. Can you visit a dealer in person to see the hot tubs on the showroom floor, or even get a "wet test" where you can try it out with water in it? You can see how strong the jets are and how it feels when you adjust them to your body.
- Reputation. It's always a good idea to see what other customers have to say about the hot tub company. Keep in mind that the installation and servicing may be done by a third-party business, so you'll want to look into their track record as well.
TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked the most popular brands of hot tubs on the market today. We're confident that this information will help you find the spa that will deliver the ultimate in relaxation and fun for many years to come!
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