10 Reasons Why A Triathlete Should Own a Swim Spa

Fed up of competing for space down at your local pool?

Unable to access a lake or sea for endless swimming?

There's a lot to consider when deciding if a swim spa is right for you or if the benefits outweigh the cost.

If you're weighing up whether this new training tool is worth the investment, we've summarised our favourite swim spa benefits for you.

1. Endless swimming

Even a larger Olympic-sized swimming pool requires you to touch a wall and turn.

The main benefit of a swim spa is that you can swim continually without the distraction of turning, similar to being in the open water. 

This is particularly helpful for intense sessions that require all out effort for a specific time period, or slower and longer sessions where getting into a state of flow is critical. 

2. Variety of training options

Most modern swim spas have the ability to change the speed of the swimming jet to provide you with options in your training.

Some can go a step further and provide workout guides, including interval settings and pyramid sets or even allow you to customise your own program. 

3. Compact alternative 

If considering buying a swimming pool for your home training, you would need to look at a pool that is sizable enough for you to do effective lengths.

This typically means you are looking at a minimum pool length of 18m, which is still on the shorter side compared to your local swimming pool (usually 25m).

A swim spa in comparison has an average length of 3-6m and a width similar to an average pool lane of 2-3m.

4. Simple maintenance

Generally, once connected and filled with water, swim spas are simple to maintain and don't require trips to a dealer.

Like a hot tub, there are recommended checks every 3-6 months, including a partial empty and top-up of water to refresh the system, as well as a test of the water quality and chemical balance.

Every 12 months it’s recommended that you completely empty the swim spa and change the water filters. 

Between these major checks, you just need to keep your swim spa clean and clear of debris that has been caught by the filters.

5. Your own swim lane

Most avid swimmers or aspiring triathletes have been there. Staring at your phone during the early hours of the morning and seeing a tough 30-minute interval session down at your local pool. 

Asking to yourself: will it be busy today? Will I get kicked in the head again? Or even just thinking about the smell of the changing room. 

You can enjoy your own space to train in your swim spa without the fear of going too slow in the fast lane or having to wonder if it’s acceptable to overtake in the medium lane. 

6. Accessible for coaching 

If you’re looking to recruit the experience of a coach to help you with your swimming training, having a swim spa available makes it much more efficient for a coach to evaluate your form.

Your coach will be able to review your form from an arms length away and easily give advice from outside of the spa.

7. The best of both worlds

When the swim spa is not in use, you have an array of hydrotherapy jets that turn it into a hot tub. This means you can enjoy it as a social feature with friends and family and not just a training tool. 

A majority of modern swim spas have LED’s, Bluetooth and speakers embedded in them, which further add to their entertainment value.

8. Year-round use

Most swim spas currently available in the market have integrated heaters, which means you can enjoy a comfortable swim all-year-round. Some can even bring the water to hot-tub-level temperatures for you to relax in.

If you’re a keen open water swimmer but can’t face the cold water during the winter months, then this is definitely a point to consider. 

9. Close to home

Having your swim spa within walking distance is an obvious benefit, but one that shouldn’t be overlooked. 

Particularly during periods of low motivation in your training, when a car journey or forgetting your towel could be the deciding factor to committing to your planned session.

By owning a swim spa, you won't even need your car for a trip to the local pool. Another win for the environment.

10. You don’t just have to swim 

A swim spa does not always have to be a tool for swimming. The resistance current can be used for in-water walking or running which is another low-impact form of cardio and resistance training. 

The heated water also provides a great space to work on your mobility and stretching, as it increases blood flow to stiff muscles.

Summary 

If you want to chat through more benefits with the team, give us a call on 0800 031 4364 as we'd be delighted to discuss further.

If you want a breakdown on the types of swim spas available in the current market, check out our 2024 Buying Guide.

Unsure on what happens next when buying online? We've created a step-by-step Delivery and Installation Guide.

Perhaps you've seen a few models online but are looking for a recommendation that will suit your training needs. Check out our Swim Spas For Triathletes.

 Thanks and speak to you soon!