0

Soft Hot Tub Covers vs Hard Hot Tub Covers

Covering up a hot tub can serve a variety of purposes. It keeps the insects or small critters out of the hot tub. A cover also keeps dust, dirt, or debris from falling into the hot tub. Most of all hot tub covers are useful when heating up the water as they keep the heat trapped inside the cover and ensure the water heats up quickly. Hot tub covers are available in different types, materials, and shapes. Choosing a hot tub cover usually boils down to two simple choices. Whether you want a soft hot tub cover or a hard hot tub cover. There are also times when users own both these covers and use them as needed.  

View on Amazon

Hot tub owners often face confusion regarding which type of hot tub cover they should buy because a soft or a hard cover does not seem like very different to them. But there is a world of difference between these types of hot tub covers. These covers are used for very different purposes and their designs as well as their construction is also very different from each other. (1)

Both types of covers have their advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the features of soft hot tub covers and hard hot tub covers. We are also going to look at how you can make the best choice for the kind of hot tub cover you want for your hot tub. 

Soft Hot Tub Covers

View on Amazon

Soft covers as the name mentions are made of soft or lightweight materials. These covers might or might not have double ply features and most of the times, these are simply meant for covering purposes. These covers are lightweight and easy to move around without any hassle. You can also wrap these covers up and store them as needed. Users often use an inflatable cover inside a soft hot tub cover to prevent the cover from sagging and touching the water. For casual hot tub use or indoor hot tub use, these are the ideal type of covers(2).

Advantages of Soft Hot Tub Covers

Using a soft cover for your hot tub can be really helpful if you’re using your hot for a casual hot soak every now and then. Here are some advantages of soft hot tub covers.

1) Economical – Soft hot tub covers will cost less as compared to hard hot tub covers. If you’re simply looking for a way to cover your hot tub without spending too much money, then choosing a soft hot tub cover will be the best option for you.

2) Lightweight – If you feel that hard hot tub covers will be hard to move for you, then getting a soft hot tub cover is the best choice for you because these covers are easy to pick up and move as required. If you move your tub from place to place, these covers can also be moved with the tub with ease.

3) Compact – The soft hot tub covers are easy to manage and carry around as these can be folded up easily for storage or moving around.

Disadvantages of Soft Hot Tub Covers

While soft hot tub covers are great for certain uses, there are certain disadvantages of soft hot tub covers are well. Here are some of these disadvantages.

1) Low Durability – While soft hot tub covers are useful for covering up the hot tubs, these are not meant for long term usage and their durability leaves much to be desired when they’re exposed to outside elements.

2) Low Heat Insulation – Soft hot tub covers need to be supplemented with another cover or a floating cover to add to their heat insulation properties. By themselves, these covers do not offer great heat insulation.

3) Less Protection – The soft hot tub covers offer less protection from the elements as well as other critters or small animals that might get inside the tub.

When are Soft Hot Tub Covers are Ideal

View on Amazon

Soft hot tub covers are not the best choice for everyone, but in some cases, these covers made a great choice for users. Here are some situations where soft hot tub covers are ideal.

1) For Custom Shaped Tubs – If you’ve got a tub that has a custom shape, it’s best to get a soft hot tub cover that will fit the shape of your tub. You can also order soft hot tub covers that are designed especially for your hot tub.

2) When You Have A Portable Hot Tub – If you move your tub from place to place in your house a soft hot tub cover is the ideal choice as it is easy to move this cover too. The cover is lightweight and it can be folded up to store or move to the desired place.

3) If You’re Looking for An Affordable Solution – A soft hot tub cover is the ideal solution if you’re looking for an affordable cover solution after spending money on a hot tub. These hot tub covers don’t cost as much as high end and heavy hot tub covers.

4) You Have Problems With Lifting Heavy Covers – Often people find it difficult to move heavy covers because of health problems. In such cases, a soft hot tub cover is the ideal choice as it is easy to pick and move around.

Videos of Soft Hot Tub Covers

FAQs About Soft Hot Tub Covers

Customers often have questions about soft hot tub covers. Here are some of the frequently asked questions about soft hot tub covers.

Conclusion for Soft Hot Tub Covers

For users with indoor hot tubs, getting soft hot tub covers is a better choice as the hot tub will anyway be protected from the elements. The soft hot tub covers are easy to install and you can choose these in various shapes and designs. If you’re looking for a budget solution that will offer your hot tub protection from small insects, critters, dust, dirt, and debris, a soft hot tub cover will best suit your requirements.

Hard Hot Tub Covers

View on Amazon

Hard hot tub covers are heavy and made from high quality materials to offer the tub protection from all kinds of external elements. These covers are often large in size and removing or adding them to the tub requires help from another person or a hot tub cover remover. Most of these hot tub covers have a foam liner in them that keeps the insulation to the maximum degree. You can also buy hard hot tub covers that come with latches and locks for additional security. If you use your hot tub regularly and keep it in the same place, you can consider looking for a compatible hard hot tub cover.

Advantages of Hard Hot Tub Covers

Hard hot tub covers are useful for areas that face a lot of exposure to elements. Here are some of the advantages of hard hot tub covers.

1) Durable – Hard hot tub covers are made from high quality materials(3) such as aluminum, molded plastic, fiberglass, or metal. These hot tub covers can last for years with minimal care and maintenance.

2) Protection – As these hot tub covers are large in size, these offer a greater degree of protection from the elements such as rain, sunlight, snow, and hail. These covers also prevent small animals and critters from getting inside the tub as these can be locked to the sides of the hot tub.

3) Better Insulation – Hard hot tub covers offer a better way to keep the water in the tub hot as these are thick enough to offer a high degree of insulation. These hot tub covers keep the heat inside while letting steam escape through the vents so that the water remains at an optimum temperature with minimal heat loss.

Disadvantages of Hard Hot Tub Covers

While hard hot tub covers are useful for many, there are certain disadvantages of these hot tub covers as well. Some of these disadvantages are mentioned as below.

1) Heavy – Hard hot tub covers are really heavy. To remove or place them on the hot tub cover, you will need the help of another person or you will need to install a hot tub cover lifter mechanism(4) that makes it easy to roll the covers off and on the hot tub.

2) Expensive – As these hot tub covers are made of quality materials and also have foam and proper insulation in them, these tend to be on a pricier side.

3) Difficult to Maintain – One of the most common criticisms of hard hot tub covers is that these tend to soak in moisture and then it can be really difficult to move them. As they soak up moisture in the foam, the insulating capabilities of these hot tubs also reduce with time.

When are Hard Hot Tub Covers are Ideal

View on Amazon

There are certain instances when a hard hot tub cover is the ideal solution to the needs of the customers. Here are some instances when a hard hot tub cover is a must(5).

1) For Large Tubs – Hard hot tub covers are ideal for large sized tubs as these can completely cover up the tub while also providing protection from the sides with the skirt of the hot tub cover.

2) For Places With Extreme Weather – Users in places that get excessive wind, snow, or rain can benefit from using hard hot tub covers as these protect the tub from external elements.

3) For Custom Tubs – Often, users own hot tubs that do not have a regular shape as these are designed as per the needs and requirements of the users. For such hot tubs, it’s best to get a hard hot tub cover that can provide complete protection to the tub’s water as well as its construction.

FAQs about Hard Hot Tub Covers

Customers often have questions or queries regarding the use of hard hot tub covers. Here are some of the frequently asked questions.

Q1) Do I really need to add a roller mechanism for my hard hot tub cover?

Ans. Hard hot tub covers are already heavy and with time, these tend to soak up moisture from the hot tub and get even heavier. If you’re not keen on lifting and putting back a heavy cover every time you want to use the hot tub, a roller mechanism is your best choice as it makes it much easier to remove and place the hot tub cover.

Q2) How can I make sure the hard hot tub cover remains in good shape once I start using it?

Ans. You can get an external cover for your hard tub cover that will protect the cover’s surface from the elements. These covers are really affordable and they offer protection from sunlight and elements which can damage the color and texture of your hard tub cover. Also, make sure you take off the hot tub cover from the tub every now and then. Clean it with a solution of soap and warm water and let it dry out in the sun before placing it back on the hot tub.

Q3) I live in an area faces snowfall for a large part of the year. How can I make sure my hot tub cover doesn’t get affected by snow?

Ans. Most hard tub covers offer a slightly elevated position so that the snow is not able to stick to the cover. You can also clean the cover from time to time so that there is no build-up of snow. There are special reflective covers available that can help in meltdown of the snow in an easy manner and prevent any buildup.

Conclusion

Hard hot tub covers are great for people who want to keep their hot tubs outside and still get the full benefits of a hot soak. These hot tub covers keep the water warm for a considerable amount of time and also prevent the water from getting contaminated by the external elements. While these hot tub covers can be expensive, the amount of protection and ease of use offered by them makes up for their price. If you’re looking for a long term solution for your hot tub coverage needs, get a hard hot tub cover today.