I reviewed this Bestway SaluSpa Fiji inflatable hot tub – and here's how it performed in winter

When I was a kid, my parents were considering whether to build a pool or buy a hot tub. While my parents and brother voted for a pool, I was the only one to vote for a hot tub – because I love them. 

Back in 2021, I finally got my own hot tub when I was asked to test the Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki Hot Tub. Then a few months later, I was able to test the Bestway SaluSpa Hawaii Hot Tub. Talk about a childhood dream come true! 

For almost two years now, I’ve been managing at least one of the best inflatable hot tubs at my house. Not only have I enjoyed the benefits of a long hot soak every morning and night, but I’ve also learned a lot about inflatable hot tub maintenance at different times of the year. When my editor asked me to test the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub, I jumped at the opportunity to try another one of the best hot tubs.

A quick look online showed me that the Fiji AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub had similar features to the other two hot tubs I’d tested. Would there be anything new to experience? Anything insightful to write? The answer was yes. 

Read on to see how I discovered that the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub may just be the best type of inflatable hot tub for me. 

Saluspa Fiji Airjet Hot Tub: Setup

I’ve set up two other SaluSpas in the past, so I felt confident in my ability to set up the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Hot Tub. The box that it came in was heavy at a little over 70 lbs., so I used a dolly to move it from the front porch to the back porch. If I lived with someone else, we could have easily carried it with the handles that were placed on either side of the box. Once on the back porch, I removed the items from the box and laid out a thick tarp on the concrete. 

In the past, the inflatable hot tubs I’ve tested have been made with PVC, but I was glad to see that the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Hot Tub was made with DuraPlus, a type of three-layer material that is 33 percent more tear resistant and 56 percent more stretch resistant. Even so, I thought it best to lay down the tarp to prevent any possible tears from the rough concrete of my back porch. 

The SaluSpa Fiji Airjet Hot Tub is designed to fit up to four people, so it’s fairly small in terms of inflatable hot tubs. I liked this aspect because it made removing the items from the box and the set up a lot easier for a solo woman like me. 

To air up the spa, I plugged the pump into an outlet and connected the provided tube to the pump. Unfortunately, this is where I ran into trouble. The hot tub seemed to air up considerably over the course of 10 minutes, but at about 15 minutes, I realized that the hot tub wasn’t being aired up any longer. It was almost done, but the top of the spa still had some give. I couldn’t figure out what was happening, so I took a break and aired up the cover. It took a few minutes for the cover to start to inflate, and just like the hot tub, at a certain point, I realized that the cover wasn’t inflating any more. 

I took a break and when I tried to air up the hot tub again – it worked. I don’t know what I did differently that last time, but I’m glad it worked in the end. 

After completely airing up the spa, I connected the pump and chlorine chemical dispenser, then began filling up the hot tub with a water hose. I filled up the spa between the minimum and maximum line and then hit the filter and heating buttons on the pump. I set the temperature to 104 degrees and put the cover on. 

It was about 6 p.m. by the time I finished setting everything up. It took until 9 a.m. the next morning for the hot tub to reach 104 degrees. 

Saluspa Fiji Airjet Hot Tub: Performance

Before getting into the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Hot Tub for the first time, I unlocked the cover from the hot tub. The snaps that lock the cover in place have a child lock design that required me to press a button on the top of the snap at the same time that I pressed the sides together. It can be a bit confusing to figure out how to unlock the cover, but it’s a great safety feature, especially for those who might have children around the hot tub.  The cover fitted snugly on the top of the sauna and seemed to do a good job retaining heat. 

I love the feeling of getting into a 104-degree hot tub, especially in the mornings and the evenings when the weather is cooler. The first thing I noticed when I stepped into the SaluSpa Fiji AirJEt Hot Tub is how padded the bottom of the hot tub is. It’s very squishy and more comfortable than the two other hot tubs I tested. Because this inflatable hot tub does not have seats, I was glad for the extra comfort. 

The SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Hot Tub is said to fit 2-4 people, but I do not believe you could fit more than three average-sized people. To get three people in the hot tub would require some maneuvering so that your legs are not on top of one another. I would also imagine that three adults would likely cause water to spill out, especially if the water level was anywhere between the minimum and maximum water lines. In my opinion, this hot tub is best sized for a single adult, two adults, or maybe two adults and a child. 

I should note that I’m five foot and five inches tall. When my back is placed against the side of the hot tub, the water level comes to about the bottom of my shoulder and my feet are about five inches from the opposite side. I would imagine that someone who is 6 foot tall or taller might have to bend their legs while in this hot tub. 

The SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Hot Tub has an AirJet system, which means that there are holes that line the edge of the inside of the hot tub. When I turn the AirJets on by pressing the massage system button on the pump’s digital pad, the pump shoots air through the holes to create a bubbly hot tub experience. The AirJets are a nice feature, but they don’t really provide a massaging experience if that’s what you’re looking for. I do like that the AirJet system has a 30-minute auto-shut off feature.

I tested the power-saving timer, and it seems to work in great order. This feature lets you save some power throughout the day or night, by letting you set how many hours from now you want the heater to begin running. So, for instance, I don’t need the hot tub to be heated all night. Instead, I can hop out of the hot tub at 8 p.m. and set the timer for 12 hours. By 8:00 a.m. the next morning, the hot tub will be heated to 104 degrees, and I can jump right in with the knowledge that I saved some power and electricity overnight. 

Saluspa Fiji Airjet Hot Tub: Winter Use

Let me first start by saying, you can’t use the inflatable spa if the temperature reaches 14 degrees or lower. At that temperature, the spa must be deflated and stored away until the weather becomes warmer. 

That said, the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Hot Tub is equipped with Freeze Shield Technology which allows you to keep the spa on when the temperature is less than 42 degrees and higher than 14 degrees. With the Freeze Shield Technology, it will keep the water temperature between 42.8- and 50-degrees Fahrenheit at any time, so the water doesn’t freeze and ruin the pump or the hot tub. All you have to do is keep the spa heater on for the Freeze Shield Technology to work. 

Of course, this system isn’t without its faults. The instructions note that you’ll have to check the spa if the temperature drops below 42.8 degrees. It is also suggested that if you’re gone for a long period of time from your home and you expect the temperature to be below 42.8 degrees during that time, you should disassemble the spa and store it. 

Here is where some issues might arise. The instruction manual reads: “Any damage as a result of using the spa in these conditions is the responsibility of the customer.” Such a statement indicates that if SaluSpa’s Freeze Shield Technology fails, even when using it within the temperature range that the company suggests, it is not SaluSpa’s responsibility. This is unfortunate, however, I can attest that the Freeze Shield Technology of the Fiji AirJet Hot Tub has worked in good order as I’ve tested it through the months of December and January. And for good measure I should note that I didn’t have any issues with the Freeze Shield Technology when previously using the Bestway SaluSpa Hawaii Hot Tub.

As I mentioned, I’ve been testing the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Hot Tub during the winter months. I live in Texas and the weather so far this winter has been fairly mild. For instance, I set up the Fiji AirJet Hot Tub on a day when the temperature was in the 60s. 

If you want to set up the Fiji AirJet Hot Tub in the winter and the temperature is below 50 degrees in your area, you will have to take some extra steps which are outlined in the manual. For instance, when the hot tub arrives in its package at your door, it should be kept indoors where the temperature is above 59 degrees for at least two hours before inflation. The spa then must be removed and inflated in that same room where the temperature is above 59 degrees, before it can be taken outside and filled up with water. Remember, this is only relevant to those who want to set up the hot tub when the temperature in their area is below 50 degrees. 

As you know, in the winter, the temperature drops at night. For me in Texas, that means that the nightly temperature could be anywhere from 20-50 degrees. Because of that temperature drop, the Fiji AirJet Hot Tub and its cover deflate more often than it would in the summer. Think of it like the tires of your car and how they slightly deflate after a cold night. It’s the same with inflatable hot tubs. (I will say that the Helsinki Hot Tub didn’t seem to deflate as much as the Hawaii Hot Tub or the Fiji Hot Tub, though its cover deflated at the same level as the other two.)

Even though the Fiji AirJet hot tub might slightly deflate during cooler months, it’s made of materials that keep it pretty sturdy overall, so I don’t have to air it up every day. I wish there was an easier way to air up the cover and the hot tub without having to remove the pump from the hot tub and then attaching the hose to the pump. It’s a bit cumbersome of a task and one that I don’t like to do because even though I use caps provided to prevent water from flowing out of the hot tub, no matter how quick I am or hot tight I put the caps on, water does leak out and I have to refill the hot tub with some water when I’m done airing it up. 

Saluspa Fiji Airjet Hot Tub: Maintenance

An inflatable hot tub is not much different than a regular hot tub when it comes to maintenance. 

SaluSpa provides two filters with the purchase of the Fiji AirJet Hot Tub. You only use one filter at a time, but every few days, you need to remove the filter and cleanse it with hard running water. After a while, you’ll need to replace the filter completely. 

A few days after setting up the hot tub, I went to a pool and hot tub store and had my water’s ph tested so I could add the right types of chemicals to prevent bacteria from growing. Because I’ve tested a few hot tubs in the past, I had most of the chemicals – chlorine, calcium, alkalinity increaser/decreaser, etc. – on hand. If you are just starting out with a new inflatable hot tub, keep in mind that you will have to spend a decent amount of money on chemicals and air filters to maintain the spa and keep it clean. 

Beyond managing the hot tub’s ph levels with chemicals and cleaning the filter, there are times where you will have to empty out the hot tub. For instance, no matter what, you must replace the water a few times a year. I’ve also had to replace the water because too many leaves, twigs, or other green debris fell into the spa and I was unable to remove them by hand. Other times, it’s been too hot in the summer or gotten to freezing temperatures in the winter which has made removing the water and storing the hot tub necessary. 

No matter the case, it is not always an easy task to empty, deflate, and store a hot tub, especially if it is designed to fit more than four people. As a solo woman, I struggled with this aspect with the Helsinki and Hawaii Hot Tubs. They were simply too large for me to easily move around on my own, and that resulted in strained muscles and a few tears in the hot tub material that needed to be patched up. 

I can tell now that I’m not going to have the same issue with the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub. The hot tub and the pump are considerably smaller in comparison to the other two that I’ve tested. In the past, I’ve put off emptying the hot tub, cleaning it out, or moving it to storage because it was such a cumbersome task. With the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub I don’t have the same concerns. It’s less than 60 lbs. when deflated after all. 

Saluspa Fiji Airjet Hot Tub: How does it compare?

As far as inflatable hot tubs go, I’ve tested the Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki airjet inflatable Hot Tub and the Betsway SaluSpa Hawaii Hot Tub. These two hot tubs are considerably larger than the SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub, meaning they can fit a lot more people. If you live with a partner or you live alone, the Fiji AirJet Hot Tub is the smarter way to go as it will be easier to manage in terms of maintenance. 

Like the SaluSpa Fiji Hot Tub, the Bestway SaluSpa Helsinki is only equipped with AirJets, while the Hawaii Hot Tub has the added benefit of two back massage jets in every single corner. These additional jets provide a more relaxing spa experience. One the other hand, the Bestway Maldives Hydrojet Pro is a step up from the Hawaii Hot Tub in that it is equipped with LED lights, built-in seats, and a foot massage system. 

If you’re looking for something that is comparable in size to the SaluSpa Fiji Hot Tub, you could go with the SaluSpa Zurich Airjet Inflatable Hot with EnergySense Cover, as it has an insulated cover that is 40 percent more energy efficient than other covers. There is also the SaluSpa Madrid AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub With App Control. It is compatible to the Bestway Smart Hub App which allows you to control the hot tub’s temperature, timer, filter, and massage system. 

Saluspa Fiji Airjet Hot Tub: Verdict

The SaluSpa Fiji AirJet Hot Tub is a great portable hot tub that provides a relaxing experience at an affordable price. If you’re a single person, couple, three-person family, or two roommates living together, I’d absolutely suggest this hot tub. 

It’s not so big that it requires a lot of room to set up or store, and because of its smaller size, it’s a lot easier to do maintenance, clean out, and move around. Size aside, it offers the same kind of hot tub experience provided by all SaluSpa hot tubs. Not only can it heat the water to 104 degrees, but the hot tub has AirJets for a bubbly hot tub experience, a power-saving timer, and Freeze Shield Technology that lets you use it for most of the year. 

If you don’t have the funds to buy a permanent hot tub, want to take your hot tub on vacation, or would like to try your hand at a heated water experience, the Fiji AirJet Hot Tub is well worth the buy.