Bullfrog Spas vs. HotSpring Spas: A Comparison Guide
One of the hardest parts of making a major decision like which hot tub brand is best for you is getting your hands on all the important information that helps you break down the differences between each one. In an effort to help customers make an informed decision about their purchase, we did a side-by-side comparison of Bullfrog Spas® next to HotSpring® Spas.
Hot Tub Features and Jet Therapy
HotSpring®
HotSpring® Spas presents a jet massage option called the Moto-Massage® DX. From the HotSpring® website: “This unique moving jet delivers two powerful streams of water that sweep up and down the length of your back. This one-of-a-kind back massage is only available from HotSpring® and is included on select models.”
They offer a variety of Jets that are specialized to HotSpring®, such as the Soothing Stream® Jet, the Jetstream® Jet, and the Rotary Hydromassage Jet, all placed strategically. From the HotSpring® website: “Our innovative patented jets are designed for specific muscle groups, and deliver powerful streams of water that you can customize to your desired pressure.”
The downside is that these jets are fixed in place, and cannot be moved from seat to seat. If you want to use any of these features, you have to use them in the exact place where they’re located.
Bullfrog Spas®
Bullfrog Spas feature the patented JetPak Therapy System®, which allows spa owners and users to choose from up to eighteen different massage options, which can be interchanged, moved around from seat to seat, and upgraded at any time in any of the spas that have been created with JetPaks™. This allows each buyer to personalize their spa according to their needs and desires, and to use the massages they like best, in whatever seat they prefer.
You can “relax in a premium lounger, enjoy a full-body massage in a deep seat, or hang out in a shallow seat to avoid getting your hair wet. With varying seat types and depths, your whole family can enjoy the spa together. Just place your favorite massage in your favorite seat and start relaxing.”
JetPak options cover every possible back, neck, and shoulder muscle group and massage type that a jet can create, each one focusing on a different style of hydromassage experience that varies in power and intensity.
Quality and Reliability
HotSpring®
HotSpring® Spas take pride in selling a product that offers “Quality that is made to last.” And while they don’t give as many details about the construction of the interior of their spas, they do claim to use a high-end insulation system called FiberCor®, which, “fully insulates the spa cabinet to a density 4x greater than typical ½ lb. Foam.” But keep in mind that only some of their spas are outfitted with FiberCor®.
Each HotSpring® Spa comes with a “comprehensive warranty backed by a manufacturer you can trust.” And we all know that a good warranty is a big deal.
Bullfrog Spas®
Part of what makes the Bullfrog Spas jets so powerful is the way they are plumbed. Since each individual JetPak is designed to be self-contained, Bullfrog Spas are able to use significantly less plumbing than conventional spas. This means more reliability and fewer chances for leaks or other potentially costly plumbing fixes down the road. Fewer fittings and hoses = fewer potential failure points.
Another notable Bullfrog Spas feature that is different from other spas is the transparency in the way each spa is made. They show the materials and processes used for each part, from the ground up. For instance, if you’re wondering about the base and frame of the spa, Bullfrog Spas are all made using patented ABS molded EnduraBase™, EnduraBeam™, and EnduraFrame™, which are put together to create a long-lasting, weather-proof, high-end spa. Bullfrog Spas are also fully insulated to keep heat in and cold out.
Because of the way they’re made, Bullfrog Spas offers one of the strongest warranties in the industry.
Energy Efficiency
HotSpring® claims that their spas are considered super-efficient due to the use of advanced Energy Smart features that can’t be found anywhere else. At the time this article was written, the Hot Spring website did not show statistics or specific numbers going into more detail on this topic, but it does state: “We have created a complete Energy Smart® System that reduces energy consumption to save you money.”
The Bullfrog Spas website features a data chart from the California Energy Commission that shows that Bullfrog Spa models are among the most efficient hot tubs in their class. Every single Bullfrog Spa model meets or exceeds the stringent energy guidelines of the California Energy Commission (CEC).
Style and Design
HotSpring® spas are offered in a number of options for cabinet and shell colors, as well as a few cover color options. Most models come with some type of water feature, interior and exterior lighting, and a fair variety of different jets which are fixed in place but target slightly different massage areas in each jetted seat. There are two tiers of spa lines available. The HighLife® or LimeLight® model spas.
Bullfrog Spas® are also offered in different style and color options, depending on the model, as well as multiple options for Patio Performance™ covers. These spas all come with a built-in water feature, interior and exterior lighting, and a number of optional upgrades, such as a sound system, etc. Each Bullfrog Spa comes with some fixed-in-place jets, but in addition to those, five of the six lines are outfitted with a JetPak Therapy System®, which allows specific jets to be moved from seat to seat, and interchanged, swapped out, or adjusted according to each individual person. This potential for personalization is only available in Bullfrog Spas.
Consumers are able to choose from six tiers of different spa collections, all of which have a variety of models from which to choose, including a Swim Series option, and the X Series, which does not feature JetPak™ therapy.
Water Care
Water care is another area where these two brands find a significant difference.
HotSpring® offers two separate water care systems. Their FreshWater® Salt System is “a simple way to keep water clean, clear, and sanitized for up to a full year.”
In addition, they also offer a chlorinated system that is similar to the one used by Bullfrog Spas, FROG® @Ease® with SmartChlor™.
Salt systems are basically chlorine or bromine systems that use electricity to separate out the chlorine from a salt that is added to the water. Salt-based chlorine generation systems can sometimes produce high levels of chlorine that can be damaging to human skin and lungs over time. In addition, salt-based chlorine systems can cause negative side effects to the spa, such as the corrosion of components, such as heaters, pumps, and the probes and sensors that make the system run. These systems don’t often last the lifetime of the spa, so there’s a high probability that you’ll have to replace the whole system or use another water care system over time.
Bullfrog Spas also uses FROG® @Ease®, and in addition to the EOS™ O3 Enhanced Ozone System, a revolutionary automatic water purification system that eliminates impurities using the powerful oxidation properties of O3 gas.
In addition to the above two options, Bullfrog Spas also offers the dedicated Wellspring filtration pump, which is a quiet, vibration-free circulation pump that is more than eight times as effective as standard filtration pumps. Your spa will filter better while consuming up to 60% less operating energy.
Hot Tub Model Comparison
2022 HotSpring Spa Collections
Highlife® Collection: 9 spa models, ranging from 3-7 seats
Limelight® Collection: 5 spa models, ranging from 4-7 seats
Hot Spot® Collection: 6 spa models, ranging from 2-7 seats
2022 Bullfrog Spas Series
Swim Series – Performance Class: 2 spa models, ranging from 9-13 seats
M Series™ – Elite Class: 4 spa models, ranging from 7-10 seats
STIL™ – Modern Class: 2 spa models, ranging from 4-6 seats
A Series™ – Luxury Class: 9 spa models, ranging from 3-9 seats
R Series™ – Premium Class: 7 spa models, ranging from 3-8 seats
X Series™ – Comfort Class: 7 spa models, ranging from 3-8 seats
Pricing Comparison
Since both brands are competitively priced with spas of similar size and class, we suggest that you visit your local dealers to find out the differences in spa pricing and other additional costs, such as delivery fees and ongoing maintenance. This is an area where both of these brands fall into a similar price point and category.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing a hot tub that is exactly what you’re looking for, it can be a tough decision. Be sure to ask yourself helpful questions such as, “For what purpose am I making this purchase?” and, “What are my must-have features? What are my deal-breakers?”
If you can answer these questions before you visit dealers, it might help you know what details to investigate further, and which points are perhaps less important to you. And of course, there’s always the knowledge you can gain from reading customer reviews. Who is happy with their purchase and why? Who is unhappy? What is the cause of their disappointment? The best reviews to look at are the ones that fall in the middle. They aren’t usually completely positive or 100% negative, and usually give the best explanation of the reviewer’s experience.
Best of luck with your hot tub purchasing investigation. We hope this information helps!
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