Very Impressive Hot Tub

Only had it one week but am very impressed. I am research obsessive in all I buy, want inimal risks and top quality/price. So after looking into all brands of smaller hard tubs and competitive inflatable soft tubs, the Intex looked the best in all respects. It on our front covered wood porch, and has just one inch to spare. The quality of the packaging materials, hardware (controls cabinet), tub outer and inside vinyl, cover vinly, and electronic controls are excellent. The power cable is very heavy gauge and about 12 ft long with the GFCI test box about 6" from 3-prong plug so does not interfere with using other outlet. I at 185 lbs can sit on the tub side without almost no deflection. The tub walls and floor are very comfortable (firm and not squshey) and has perfectd friction to keep your feet from sliding out if you don't want. At 6'0" tall, I can scooch down and rest my head/neck on the upper wall and my foot toes can press against the opposite side....plenty. With just my wife and I inside, there is plenty of room for 2 or more if legs not fully extended. Sitting indian style, we could easily fit 5. My wife at 5'3" was afraid it would be too deep but sitting, the bubbling comes up to her chin and without bubbling, upper chest. The power of the bubbling action is very strong/vigorous and you can feel and hear it very much. The heater did as claimed, 2.5 deg/hr (says 2-3deg/hr), our ground water was 53 deg. I was suspicious of the quality since there was only one reviewer and not made in USA like the hard hot tubs, but it is really well made of very tough material like a boat tender. VM Innovations did not know much info on the tub but you can get Q's answered from Intex which is direct to China customer service. I had heard that model 28401 and 28403 had diff material, but that is untrue. On the later model 28403 (mine), the GFCI box is nicer and hangs below the elect plug and there is an On/Off button on the console which I use. This model also has an extra wattage unit that prevents/reduces matter buildup on the heater element (can see it), a smart improvement. I like the spa almost perfectly but nothing is perfect so here are some minor negatives. The red digital readout is not easy to read during daytime unless directly in front and close, the buckle clips for the cover and difficult to release (have to squeeze both sides and pull and not easy). I had to add air to the cover under air chamber after one week, maybe I did not push the vinyl knob hard enough into the hole....of style like on an air mattress. And I think it is not of the kind where it is a check valve to prevent air from escaping when you pull knob out....but not sure. The vinyl ground cover has little air bubbles on the under side; unit is thin and very lightweight but maybe OK, easy to add thicker ground piece if needed or even closed cell foam, inexpensive. My porch is about 5/8-3/4" unlevel but it does not seem to matter. With two of us in tub with bubbling turned on, the water is about 4" below seam at top of inner wall....no problem. We have the tub filled to mid way between min and max. So far I have tried 98 deg and 101 deg (hot enough for us) and unit has no problem with maintaining it and loses only about 2-3 (with bubbling) when we get out. It is also nice to just enjoy without bubbling with only the quiet heater jet moving the water. Like I said, I am very impressed and pleased and enjoying it. I have been looking at hot tubs for 15 years but did not like the heavy weight, needing a 220v circuit, the huge price (at least 10x this tub), the heavy cover, and no flexibility to move it. When winter comes, we might (?) move this unit into our garage, easy to make room for it at only 75" dia. And VM Innovations are super to work with, very customer focused. Oh, also watch out for friction pump heaters in the hard tubs....used in the lowest cost tubs....customer service at major US mfg'er of 10 brands said only someone who lives in CA or FLA should get one because it barely can put out 1 deg/hr....not good. Also when the hard tubs are used on 110v instead of 220v, the heater and pump are similar output of the Intex. Good luck on your decision. Hard tub dealer will say inflatable tubs are crap and not last one year and laugh at you considering one.

Would I recommend this to a friend or family member? Yes

Pros Easy to Use

Simple to Set Up

Looks Good

Sturdy

Quality Construction

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