Yes, with a few trade-offs. A swim spa can be heated warm enough for a relaxing soak, and many models include hydromassage seats. Endless Pools swim spas can be heated up to 99 degrees Fahrenheit, a few degrees below the 100 to 104 degrees most people prefer for a classic hot tub soak. If you want a true hot tub experience and a swim area in one unit, a dual-temperature swim spa gives you a separate spa section that heats up to 104 degrees. Here is how to decide whether one swim spa can cover both jobs for your backyard.
Swim spa vs hot tub: what is the difference?
A hot tub is built for soaking. It holds a few hundred gallons, heats quickly to 100 to 104 degrees, and is designed around contoured seats and massage jets. A swim spa is built for movement. It is long enough to swim, walk or exercise against a current, holds far more water, and is usually kept cooler for activity. Many swim spas also include seating and jets, which is where the overlap comes in.
| Hot tub | Swim spa | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Soaking and massage | Swimming, exercise and play |
| Typical temperature | 100 to 104 degrees | Around 78 to 86 degrees for exercise; up to 99 degrees on Endless Pools swim spas |
| Water volume | Hundreds of gallons | Thousands of gallons |
| Heat-up time | Faster | Slower, due to more water |
| Footprint | Compact | Longer, often 12 to 20 feet |
How warm can a swim spa get?
Endless Pools swim spas can be heated up to 99 degrees. That is warm enough for a comfortable, relaxing soak, especially on a cool Inland Empire evening, but it is a little cooler than the 102 to 104 degree soak many hot tub owners love. For swimming and exercise, most people keep the water much cooler, often in the low to mid 80s, so they do not overheat while they move.
That is the core trade-off: the temperature that feels great for a workout is too cool for a long soak, and the temperature that feels great for a soak is too warm for a hard swim.
Option 1: One swim spa, one temperature
If you mostly want to swim or exercise and occasionally soak, a single-zone swim spa can work well. Some owners keep it in the low 90s as a compromise. Others warm it up for evenings and weekends and cool it back down for workouts, though with thousands of gallons of water, temperature changes take time and planning. Our Endless Pools Fitness Systems, SwimCross Exercise Systems and RecSport Recreation Systems cover a range of swim, exercise and family play needs.
Option 2: A dual-temperature swim spa
Endless Pools makes dual-temperature models, the E2000 and X2000, that pair a swim and fitness area with a separate hot tub section. The spa section can be heated independently up to 104 degrees, so you can swim in cooler water up front and then move to the back for a true hot tub soak. If you want both experiences without compromise and have the space for a 20-foot unit, this is the most complete answer.
Option 3: A swim spa and a separate hot tub
Some families choose a swim spa for fitness and a compact hot tub for soaking. This gives each activity its ideal temperature and lets two people use them at the same time. It takes more yard space and two sets of water care, but it is the most flexible setup. Browse our Hot Spring hot tubs if you are considering this route.
What about energy costs?
A swim spa holds far more water than a hot tub, so keeping all of it near 99 degrees uses more energy than keeping a few hundred gallons at 104. Endless Pools swim spas are insulated and come with covers designed to help hold heat, and keeping the cover on whenever the spa is not in use makes a big difference. If running cost is a deciding factor, our post on what it costs to run a hot tub in the Inland Empire is a helpful baseline for comparison.
Can you use a swim spa in the winter?
Yes. Endless Pools swim spas are designed for four-season outdoor use, with insulation and locking covers to hold temperature. In the Inland Empire, where fall and winter evenings get cool but rarely freeze for long, a warm swim spa can be used year round.
Do swim spas have jets like a hot tub?
Many do. Depending on the model, swim spas can include hydromassage seats along with the swim current. Dual-temperature models like the E2000 and X2000 include a dedicated spa area with hydromassage seating.
Is a swim spa or a hot tub better for relaxing?
For pure relaxation, a hot tub is hard to beat because it heats to 104 degrees quickly and is built around soaking seats. A swim spa is better if you want exercise and family play too. A dual-temperature swim spa covers both.
How long does it take to heat a swim spa?
Longer than a hot tub, because there is much more water to warm. That is why most owners pick a steady temperature and leave it there rather than making big swings day to day.
Try it before you decide
The best way to know whether one swim spa can be your hot tub too is to get in the water. We offer test soaks and swims so you can feel the current and the temperature for yourself. If you are new to swim spas, start with what an Endless Pool is and how it works, or compare a swim spa vs a pool. Then visit our showroom at 27180 Eucalyptus Ave in Moreno Valley, call (951) 924-7030, or explore our swim spas online.
