In my grand opinion, the only type of swimspa worth owning is the type which moves the entire body of water, to actually make you swim. The ones which use a hydro jet or group of hydro jets simply move too little water to do what should be considered 'swimming.' They are more like jogging in place or leaning against a breeze.
Though I don't expect you to be totally aware of the operation and function of these swim spas as you don't sell them Chas, your perception of what is needed is incorrect. It lends itself to the same philosophy as a spa needing 80 jets in order to be therapeutic. Let me explain;
The act of swimming for exercise is something we would want in a way that allows us to maintain a strong, steady stroke. One of the largest complaints in some of these swim spas is the amount of turbulence they generate. A properly designed swim spa will offer a powerful stream designed at hitting you at each shoulder and under your chest and divert the water to the massage seats and eliminating the backwash that many paddlewheel swim spas have. It will give the water the ability to move in a way that doesn't inhibit the swimmers stroke and allows them to stay centered in the spa. I don't blame you for being unaware of the principles as I was to prior to becoming a Hydropool Rep.
I have seen many of these types of units on display at trade shows being demonstrated by one person all day. They use a very slow crawl stroke with no flutter kick and can easily out swim the 'current.'
A very strong swimmer could out-swim any swim spa initially. That's not the point. These are designed for exercise and if I put you in a Hydropool swim spa and you swam for 10 minutes, you would be exhausted by the end of it as most of us couldn't last longer than 15 or 20 minutes. After 5 minutes, you couldn't out swim them if you tried unless you were an athlete of sorts. Hydropool has many units that are used by professional sports teams (2-Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Nicks) and are used by a number of Olympic athletes for training purposes. If what you had mentioned was true in any way, these professionals wouldn't be indorsing them nor using them in the capacity in which they are.
But then you get to another display, this time a unit which moves the entire body of water via a paddlewheel or something similar, and you see a demonstrator actually working hard with a full stroke and flutter kick just to keep in the middle of the unit.
Exactly my point. This exercise should be no different than swimming laps in a pool and not similar to swimming in a tsunami.
To give a true comparison to the swimex model, I’ll give you this.
-Hydropool has 2 therapy seats in the back corners of the swim spa with 8 therapy jets each. Swimex does not though it is optional.
- Our amp draw requires a 50 amp service. Swimex is either 85, 105 or 135. Ouch…
- Hydropool has a topload pressurized filtration system used by all swimming pools today. Swimex does not.
- Hydropool offers a complete cedar cabinet for above ground installations. Swimex does not.
- Hydropool comes standard with an underwater light. Swimex does not.
- Hydropool has an optional insulated, lockable hardcover. Swimex does not.
- The base price of a Hydropool starts at $15,700 US. Swimex base model is $21,900.
It’s interesting when you really get fully trained on these things and though it has similarities to what we know in spas, the technology is much different and the concept of creating a true swim lane can really be misunderstood. Thanks for bringing this topic up Jakeman and if there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know. I’m in the business of swim spas and can provide the information you will need to make this a great purchase. I look forward to hearing from you.
Learn even more about Hydropool’s Swim Spas (http://www.hydropoolhottubs.com/swimspas.html
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Steve
Well then, I guess everything I said was completely wrong, deceptive, misleading and inaccurate...I apologize. :-/ ::) You're right, it has nothing to do with the quality of the swim and less turbulance in the water...it's more about the really BIG water it moves and ya gotta admit...that wheel is sooooo cool to watch!. ::) I mean sheesh...if you can outswim those with a constant 100% effort for like 20 minutes...what's the point? ??? Makes sense and I thank you for steering me straight there.
In closing, I agree with all those people that want 100+ jets for at least some degree of therapy… Those one's with 50 or 60 jets are just child’s play. Oh…and don’t forget a blower…YEH…they move the water around like CRAZY. Must be good! WhooHoo :D
signed,
Tim Taylor wannabe :-[ ;D[glb] ;DWatch for the new Binford 6000 Swim Spa Coming Soon! ;D[/glb] ;D
P.S. Sorry Bill, which swim spa did you say you owned? I missed the part about your experience with them. I did get that the kids are really good swimmers (and that you own a HS spa) but if you can expand on that, it would be great..thanks!