Swim spas are a great option for those looking to swim all year round. When it comes to their performance in winter, however, not all swim spas are created equal. With so many swim spa brands on the market today, finding the best one to use during the winter can be quite a challenge. To help you out, we’ve come up with our picks for the best swim spa brands for use in Canadian winters.

How Did We Determine Which Swim Spas Are Best For Winter?

There are many potential factors to weigh when determining which swim spas will be good in winter and which won’t. Here are a few of the most important that we used to build our list.

Insulation

A good insulation system is critical to a swim spa’s performance in the winter. If the swim spa’s insulation is not up to scratch, the swim spa’s running costs will quickly get out of hand in the winter. To truly be winter-ready, the swim spa must be insulated on all sides as well as the floor. The swim spa cover must also offer good insulating value.

Energy Efficient Equipment

When determining the running costs of a swim spa, insulation is only one part of the equation. The swim spa manufacturer must also utilize energy efficient pumps and heaters to keep their running costs under control. The efficiency of the pumps and heaters are especially important during the winter as they will need to run for much longer to keep the water properly heated.

Available Features & Options

While energy efficiency is important (especially in the winter), to truly be considered a top quality swim spa you need more. To make our list of the top swim spas for winter the manufacturer must also offer quality features and options that allow their customers to use the swim spa in a variety of ways; from swimming and fitness to relaxation and fun.

Quality Components

The best swim spa brands use quality components with a proven track record of performance and reliability. They will also back their swim spas with lengthy warranties that cover all common wear items. Reliability is especially important in the winter as the potential for freezing means that lengthy downtimes can lead to permanent damage to the swim spa.

Reputation

When ranking the different swim spa brands available in Canada, we also considered the reputation of each brand. This includes the number of years the brand has been active, customer reviews & feedback, and their reputation within the industry.

Our Pick For The Best Swim Spa Brands For Canadian Winters

After looking at these and a few other factors, here’s our shortlist (in no particular order) for the best swim spa brands for use in Canadian winters.

Endless Pools

Endless Pools is an American swim spa manufacturer that is famous for their swim current system. They also offer other fitness options like their Aquabike and Underwater Treadmill. Endless Pools sells acrylic swim spas, build your own vinyl liner steel framed swim spa kits and their Fastlane swim systems that can be added to traditional in-ground pools.

Their focus on their swim system and other fitness features should make them a serious contender for people looking for a small fitness pool, though they could improve their massage therapy and energy efficiency.

Arctic

Arctic Spas is a manufacturer or hot tubs and swim spas that is based in Alberta, Canada. Their claim to fame is their FreeHeat insulation system. This system totally insulates the cabinet and floor of their swim spas, greatly increasing their energy efficiency. They also offer top quality massage therapy seats, though their swim current system leaves something to be desired.

Those looking for a basic plunge pool with a good massage will like Arctic’s swim spas. They also offer a great range of available options, including their OnSpa control system that allows you to control your swim spa from your smart phone. Those looking for a top quality fitness pool might be disappointed, however.

Hydropool Swim Spas

Hydropool are a hot tub and swim spa manufacturer based in Ontario, Canada whose claim to fame is their energy efficiency and their AquaPro swim system. Their HydroWise insulation system works much the same as Arctic’s (insulating both the cabinet and the floor of the swim spa) while their Self-Cleaning filtration system provides the most effective and efficient filtration of any major swim spa brand. Their AquaPro swim system also provides one of the widest, deepest and most powerful swims in the industry while their therapy seats provide a strong, relaxing massage experience.

Overall, Hydropool swim spas offer a great balance of fitness, massage therapy and energy efficiency. They also offer great flexibility with a number of different options and packages that can be used to customize your swim spa to meet your requirements, including fitness packages and smart phone powered control systems.

Master Spas

Master Spas is an American brand of hot tubs and swim spas which are known for their wave propulsion system and their signature line of swim spas backed by former olympian Michael Phelps. They’re also noted for their quality construction and a wide range of options.

Similar to Endless Pools, Master Spas’ focus on their swim system and fitness options makes them great for those looking for fitness pools. They could improve when it comes to their massage and energy efficiency, however.

Swimlife

Swimlife is a Canadian swim spa brand that is relatively new to the industry, at least compared with brands like Endless Pool and Hydropool. This relative lack of track record doesn’t mean a lack of quality, however, with Swimlife being noted for their build quality, energy efficiency and swim quality.

Their insulation and filtration systems are similar to Hydropool’s and Arctic’s while they also offer a good variety of different swim intensities. They do suffer a bit from a lack of track record and don’t have the same history of innovation as some of the other brands listed, however.

So Which Swim Spas Are Best For Canadian Winters?

In our opinion Hydropool make the best swim spas for year round swimming. Their mix of energy efficiency, build quality and features make them ideal to use in Canadian winters. They have three different classes of swim system as well as many different and innovative options and packages; allowing you to completely customize your swim spa to meet your needs, without having to pay for features that you don’t want or need.

Hydropool are also one of the largest manufacturers of swim spas in Canada and have a proven track record of top quality service and reliability. It’s for these reasons, and many more, that we decided to carry Hydropool swim spas above all other brands. To learn more about these incredible swim spas, check out our available swim spas models, or talk to one of our swim spa experts!