Choosing a hot tub is about much more than counting seats and jets. Think about how you actually want to use it.
Are you looking for powerful hydrotherapy after training or a long day at work? Somewhere to relax with your partner? A hot tub the whole family can enjoy? Perhaps you want a lounger where you can stretch out, or enough space to entertain friends at the weekend.
The right Sundance® hot tub will depend on your lifestyle, the space you have available and, most importantly, what you want to get from your time in the water.
At London Essex Outdoor Living, we supply the Sundance® range across London, Essex, Hertfordshire and the Home Counties. Here is our guide to finding the right Sundance hot tub for you.
First, ask yourself why you want a hot tub
Before comparing models, start with one simple question: What do I want my hot tub to do for me?
For some people, the answer is relaxation. For others, it is targeted hydrotherapy, muscle recovery, family time or entertaining.
That matters because two hot tubs with a similar number of seats can offer very different experiences.
Sundance® spas are designed around a variety of hydromassage experiences, with different jets targeting different areas of the body. Depending on the model, these can provide everything from gentle soft-tissue massage to muscle release, pressure-point massage and more powerful deep-tissue hydrotherapy.
So, rather than asking which Sundance hot tub is “the best”, ask which one is best for you.
Best Sundance hot tubs for hydrotherapy and muscle recovery
If hydrotherapy is your main reason for buying a hot tub, we would start with the Sundance 880™ Series.
The 880™ Series is designed for premium comfort and more advanced hydrotherapy, with patented Fluidix® jets and up to 10 massage varieties depending on the model.
It also features the Fluidix® PT™ Jet, which produces a focused percussive massage with 360-degree rotation. This is designed to target key back muscles with a massage experience similar in principle to the focused action of a massage gun.
Every 880™ model also features FocusRelief® jets for calf therapy, while different seats and jet configurations target areas including the neck, shoulders, back, hips, legs and feet.
Our picks for hydrotherapy
A brilliant choice if massage is the priority but you do not want a lounger. The Optima has varied seat heights, an Accu-Ssage™ Therapy Seat, extensive neck and shoulder jet coverage and a jetted foot dome. It is particularly well suited to households where different people want different massage positions.
If you want advanced 880™ Series hydrotherapy and a full lounge seat, look at the Cameo. It combines seating for around five to six people with a lounger and up to 10 massage varieties.
For a larger household or anyone wanting plenty of room without sacrificing serious hydrotherapy, the Aspen is one of the stand-out options. It is the largest spa in the 880™ Series and provides full-body Fluidix® massage seating across a spacious open-seat layout.
Best for: muscle recovery, regular hydrotherapy, active lifestyles, targeted massage and customers who want massage performance to be one of the main reasons for owning their spa.
Want a lounger? Start here
A lounge seat allows you to recline with your legs extended rather than sitting upright.
For some people, that is exactly how they picture relaxing in a hot tub.
If a lounger is high on your wish list, Sundance offers choices across several series.
Premium lounge options
Claremont® 980™ Series
A luxury five to six-seat hot tub with a lounge seat. This is a great choice if you want a premium garden centrepiece that combines hydrotherapy, relaxation and entertaining.
Cameo® 880™ Series
Five to six seats, advanced 880™ Series hydrotherapy and a lounge seat. A strong all-round choice when both massage and reclining comfort matter.
Altamar® 880™ Series
Another five to six-seat lounge model, but with a slightly smaller 214 x 214 cm footprint than the Cameo.
Marin® 880™ Series
A lounge model for around four to five people, making it worth considering when you want 880™ Series hydrotherapy but do not need a large family-sized spa.
Capri® 880™ Series
One of the most interesting choices for couples and smaller gardens. It offers a lounge seat and 880™ Series hydrotherapy in a compact 176 x 209 cm footprint.
Loungers at a different price point
You do not have to move straight to the 880™ or 980™ Series to get a lounge.
The Hamilton™, Bristol® and Montclair™ in the 780™ Series offer lounge configurations at different sizes, while models including the Peyton™ and Alicia™ bring lounge-style options into the 680™ range.
Best for: couples, long evening soaks and anyone who prefers reclining to upright seating.
One important tip: try the lounger before you buy. Your height and body shape affect how comfortable a lounge seat feels and whether you stay comfortably positioned once the spa is full.
Choosing a Sundance hot tub by number of seats
The advertised capacity is useful, but do not choose your hot tub on that number alone.
Think about how many people will use it most of the time, then consider how often you will have additional family or friends joining you.
For couples and smaller spaces
If it will mainly be one or two people using the spa, there is little reason to automatically buy a seven-seater.
Consider:
Capri® 880™
Compact, premium and equipped with a lounge seat.
Dover™ 780™
A compact 176 x 209 cm option that gives you Sundance hydrotherapy in a smaller footprint.
Alicia™ 680™
A compact option for buyers who want the Sundance experience without the footprint or features of the larger premium models.
These models can work particularly well in smaller London gardens, courtyards and more restricted outdoor spaces.
For four to six people
This is where you will find some of the widest choice.
Models such as the Claremont® 980™, Cameo® 880™, Altamar® 880™, Hamilton™ 780™ and Bristol® 780™ provide different combinations of lounge seating, hydrotherapy and features.
The question becomes less about capacity and more about how you want those people to sit.
Do you want a lounger?
Would you rather have open seating?
Do you need different seat depths for different members of the family?
Those details will make a much bigger difference once you start using your spa regularly.
For larger families and entertaining
If your hot tub is going to become the social centre of the garden, look towards larger open-seat models.
Kingston™ 980™ Series
One of our top choices for entertaining. The Kingston offers generous seating, luxury 980™ Series styling, advanced hydrotherapy and the distinctive lounge deck with integrated SunCooler™ storage.
Aspen® 880™ Series
A fantastic option for larger groups who also want serious massage performance.
Optima® 880™ Series
One of Sundance’s most popular non-lounge models, with varied seat heights that work particularly well when several different people will use the spa.
Chelsee® 780™ Series
A spacious open-seat option for families who want strong Sundance hydrotherapy and comfort without stepping into the 880™ or 980™ Series.
Best for: families, socialising, garden parties and anyone expecting several people to use the spa regularly.
If entertaining is the priority, look at the 980™ Series
If you want your hot tub to become a feature of the garden as well as somewhere to relax, the Sundance 980™ Series deserves a closer look.
The 980™ Series has been designed with both relaxation and entertaining in mind.
The Kingston™ and Claremont® measure approximately 234 x 254 cm and feature a low-profile design for easier entry and exit. The range also includes stylish exterior cabinetry, interior and exterior lighting, a lounge deck and an integrated SunCooler™ insulated storage area for keeping drinks within easy reach.
Choose the Kingston™ if you favour a larger open-seat social layout.
Choose the Claremont® if you want the luxury and entertaining features of the 980™ Series but prefer a dedicated lounge seat.
Best for: luxury gardens, entertaining, socialising and customers who want their hot tub to make a statement.
If you want a great balance of features and value, look at the 780™ Series
The 780™ Series sits in a very attractive position within the Sundance range.
It combines patented Fluidix® jets with up to seven massage varieties, MicroClean® Ultra II Lite filtration, ClearRay Active Oxygen®, SmartTub® technology and comfortable seating across a good selection of sizes.
There are open-seat and lounge configurations, so it is particularly versatile.
Consider the Chelsee® if you want a larger open-seat spa.
Choose the Hamilton™ if you want a similar 226 x 226 cm footprint with a lounge.
Look at the Bristol® for a slightly smaller 214 x 214 cm lounge model.
And if space is tight, the Montclair™ or Dover™ could be a better fit.
Best for: families, everyday relaxation and buyers looking for a strong balance between hydrotherapy, comfort, technology and price.
If value and the essentials matter most, look at the 680™ Series
Not everyone needs every premium feature.
The 680™ Series is a great starting point for people who want Sundance build quality, comfortable ergonomic seating, hydrotherapy and modern water-care technology in a more streamlined package.
Depending on the model, you can choose between compact spas, family-sized open seating and lounge layouts.
This makes the 680™ Series particularly attractive to first-time hot tub owners and anyone who would rather spend their budget on the essentials than features they may rarely use.
Best for: first-time buyers, smaller households, value-conscious buyers and anyone looking for a simpler route into Sundance ownership.
Think about where you want the massage
One of the biggest mistakes when buying a hot tub is focusing only on how many jets it has. More jets do not automatically mean a better massage.
The type of jet, its position, the seat design and whether it targets the part of your body that matters to you are much more important.
If your shoulders are where you carry tension, sit in a seat designed to work the neck and shoulders.
If your lower back is your priority, find the therapy seat that targets it properly.
If you spend all day on your feet, look for foot and calf therapy.
If you exercise regularly, explore the deeper and percussive massage options available in the 880™ Series.
This is one of the reasons we recommend experiencing Sundance hydrotherapy rather than choosing a model from a specification sheet alone.
Open seating or lounger: which is better?
There is no right answer.
A lounger is brilliant if you love stretching out, want more full-body contact with the water and expect to spend long periods reclining.
Open seating can be better if several people regularly use the spa. It creates a more social layout, makes it easier to move between different therapy seats and often provides more flexibility for different heights and body shapes.
If entertaining is important, an open-seat Kingston™, Aspen®, Optima® or Chelsee® may make more sense.
If your idea of the perfect evening is lying back and switching off, look towards the Claremont®, Cameo®, Altamar®, Marin®, Capri® or one of Sundance’s other lounge models.
Consider the size of your garden, not just the size of the hot tub
Before falling in love with a particular model, make sure it works with your outdoor space.
You need to consider more than the dimensions of the spa itself. Think about access for delivery, the base it will sit on, electrical requirements, access for future servicing, steps and how people will move around the hot tub.
A compact model such as the Capri®, Dover™ or Alicia™ can bring the Sundance experience to spaces where a large family spa simply would not make sense.
At the other end of the scale, a Kingston™, Claremont® or Aspen® can become a real focal point in a larger garden.
Think about maintenance and running costs too
The best hot tub is one you will actually enjoy owning.
That means water care, energy efficiency and everyday maintenance should be part of your decision.
Across the Sundance range you will find water-care technology including MicroClean® filtration and ClearRay Active Oxygen®, designed to help simplify maintaining clean, clear water.
Depending on the series and model, Sundance spas also offer SmartTub® technology. Through the system you can monitor and operate your spa remotely, adjust settings, receive maintenance alerts and track energy use.
SmartTub® also includes Smart Heat Mode, which can optimise heating around how you use your spa, including taking advantage of off-peak periods.
If you plan to use your hot tub throughout the year in the UK, insulation, the spa cover and intelligent temperature management are worth discussing before you buy.
Don’t underestimate comfort
Specifications can tell you how many seats a hot tub has.
They cannot tell you whether you find those seats comfortable.
Seat depth, legroom, shoulder room and jet position all change from one model to another. Different seat heights can also be valuable when people of different heights will regularly use the spa.
This is particularly important when choosing between a lounger and an upright seat.
The Sundance Buyer’s Guide recommends trying the different therapy and lounge seats, checking legroom, considering the water level around your shoulders and making sure the jets actually reach the areas where you want relief.
That is excellent advice.
The best way to choose? Wet test your Sundance hot tub
You wouldn’t buy a car without sitting in it.
A hot tub deserves the same consideration.
A wet test allows you to experience the spa with the water heated and the jets running. You can move between seats, compare massage styles, adjust jet pressure and find out whether a lounger actually suits your body.
It can completely change which model you prefer.
Someone who walks into our showroom convinced they need a seven-seat hot tub may discover that they actually value a particular therapy seat far more.
Someone determined to have a lounger may find they prefer the freedom of an open-seat layout.
That is why we encourage customers to choose their Sundance hot tub based on the experience they want, rather than a list of specifications.
Quick guide: Which Sundance hot tub should I choose?
I want the strongest focus on hydrotherapy and recovery
Start with the 880™ Series, particularly the Optima®, Cameo® or Aspen®.
I definitely want a lounger
Consider the Claremont® 980™, Cameo®, Altamar®, Marin® or Capri® 880™, or lounge models within the 780™ and 680™ Series.
I want a hot tub mainly for me and my partner
Look at compact models such as the Capri® 880™, Dover™ 780™ or Alicia™ 680™.
I want something for the whole family
Consider the Optima® 880™, Chelsee® 780™ or one of Sundance’s other larger open-seat models.
I want plenty of space for entertaining
Start with the Kingston™ 980™ or Aspen® 880™.
I want luxury features and something that makes a statement in the garden
Explore the 880™ Series.
I want a balance of features, hydrotherapy and value
Explore the 780™ Series.
I want Sundance quality at a more accessible starting point
Explore the 680™ Series.
Find your Sundance hot tub at London Essex Outdoor Living
There is no single Sundance hot tub that is right for everybody.
The right model is the one that fits your body, your garden and the way you want to use it.
Whether you are looking for targeted hydrotherapy, a relaxing lounger, a family hot tub or a luxury spa for entertaining, our team at London Essex Outdoor Living can help you compare the Sundance range and find the right fit.
Visit our Barnet hot tub showroom to see Sundance spas in person, experience the seating and hydrotherapy, and talk through everything from model selection and garden positioning to delivery and installation.
Better still, book a wet test and experience the difference for yourself.
