The biggest factor in the comfort of your spa is the seating design of the
shell. A wide array of seating arrangements are available so you have many
choices to consider.
Traditional seating design relies primarily on bench seating. This type of
seat is most often found in round or octagonal shaped spas and provides maximum
seating capacity. A spa with bench seating has an open feel to it and is great
for entertaining and conversation. If you’ve ever used the spa at a hotel,
resort or health club, it most likely had bench seating.
A spa for home use, however, should be more focused on comfort and contour.
This is where an acrylic spa really stands out, because it can be formed into
unique and intricate contours that are more comfortable and more accessible.
Because there are so many shapes and sizes of contour shells, you should spend
some time trying out different types of seats. Most spa retailers encourage you
to climb right in to empty spas so you can better gauge their comfort and size,
and they often have one or two spas that are filled with water for “sit tests”
by serious buyers.
Here are the most common seating types you’ll find in today’s spa designs:
Lounge Seating. This seating design limits the seating capacity of
a spa, but most people prefer having at least one lounge seat because it’s
extraordinarily comfortable. In a lounge seat you can lay back, reclining the
body for complete relaxation, and the addition of specialized jets or other
lounge features can make it well worth the extra space it occupies.
Lounge seats come in all shapes and sizes, and spa manufacturers have come up
with many creative ways to make them even more comfortable. Some spas feature
double wide lounge seating so two people can sit side by side (great for
spending time with your significant other), or when bathing alone you can
stretch out and enjoy the extra space. Reversible lounges are also gaining in
popularity because they allow two bathers to face each other while reclining.
Many people really like this design because they get the comfort of a lounge
combined with the ease of conversation. You can even get lounge seats with
built-in pillows, cup holders, and other amenities.
Therapy Seats. This seating design is the most sought-after in the
spa industry. It’s a top priority for most spa buyers and usually ends up
being one of the most used features of a spa. This is especially true because
most spas are no longer used just for entertainment purposes, but are also
used for specialized hydrotherapy for different parts of the body. We highly
recommend buying a spa with at least one therapy seat.
Therapy seats are designed to support the body while providing all-over
massage. A single therapy seat can be customized with a variety of jets that
can massage you neck, back, shoulders, arms, thighs, knees, calves and feet.
You can even get captain’s chair style therapy seats that support the entire
body and often include wraparound arm rests with specially designed jets. Look
for a seat that focuses special attention on the neck and shoulders, or even
one with a pillow or separate jets above the water line.
Footwells. Another important consideration is the size and depth of
the footwell in relation to the size of the spa. For example, if a spa has
seating capacity for four or five people you should also check to make sure
the footwell has enough space for that many feet. You should also consider
footwells that have special jets to massage your feet and calves, especially
if you spend a great deal of time on your feet each day.
We recommend that you look at spa manufacturers who offer a wide range of
seating designs so you can find a spa that’s just perfect for your needs.
