Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: wmccall on January 25, 2019, 07:23:35 am

Title: Your coldest soak?
Post by: wmccall on January 25, 2019, 07:23:35 am
Long range forecasts are calling for -10F next week, so what is your coldest soak ever in the hottub?  Fortunately, we have big heavy Sundance Robes and the tub is 5 ft from my back door (ok, maybe 10) The all time record low in Columbus Ohio was -23F, but that was long before I got my first hottub.    It's rarely that cold in the years since then, but for awhile, 4F was my coldest.  A couple of days it was colder, but the wind was fierce.  This year the night of the eclipse the wind was still and it was -2F while I was in the tub.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bud16415 on January 25, 2019, 08:03:34 am
The coldest I have seen it here in Cambridge Springs Pa. was a couple years ago it was –34f in the morning. I did not go in the tub that morning.

It is funny as we were just talking about this the other day. When the temp gets below 30f we have a big basket of stocking caps we grab one for the tub. Our tub is even closer to the back door it is one step to the hot tub stairs. I go out with winter gear on and clear ant snow away and then often put the jet on the 10’ hose I have with 150-160f hot water and de-ice the cover and the steps and the few feet between the door and the tub. I remove the jet nozzle and make sure the short hose is drained, open the tub and go back in and loose the clothes and grab a cap and in we go. The cold air for those few seconds really wakes you up and makes the water feel extra hot for about 10 seconds. Getting out is the funny part if its really cold the tub is 103-104 and when we get out she runs for the door but I like the cold air to help bring my temp down for a few minutes. It doesn’t feel cold at all. Then go in dry off put warm stuff on and go out treat the tub and close it up.

Coldest I have been in was –10f. That’s a little cold for my liking but zero and above is no problem.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bachman on January 25, 2019, 10:14:09 am
Good topic.
Been thinking for a while about mentioning soaks here this winter but no bragging rights at all. I've had plenty of chances to dip in the single digits and at least two or three at just minus zero by a few marks. Have not done so yet though. I'd say it wasn't a conscious decision against cold temps but just some plans or other things going on that didn't spare my normal 20 minute soak and a few extra minutes of dress down, cloths back on and shower in between.
In fact, I'd say it was a conscious temptation since I knew I'd be hitting a milestone of sorts had I ventured in. Part of it is I'd like to measure that time along with my wife joining me too. We almost always tub together but those nights in particular, I recall it would probably just been me.
Maybe we'll make a special plan of it and toast with some wine,  dinner out or something special ordered in. That would help make it memorable too. As of now, I can say we've been regularly tubbing over the past three months in temps between 19*f and mid twenty's often since 630 to 730 pm is our usual time.
There have been plenty of 30's and 40's too but I don't find any of these temps noticeably different. I soak up to my neck, our tub is 18 feet left of our patio door and when I get out my core is toasty. Inside the house, that core temp stays awhile so I'm apt to be fairly under dressed for the evening.

I'll talk it over with my wife but I think she'd agree if we are going for single digits we may as well hold out for something in the official minus segment. It's not all that different.
Wind ? Nope not going to get excited about being in the wind if it's sub freezing outside.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: BullFrogSpasMN on January 25, 2019, 11:45:07 am
It's supposed to be -22 here next week, maybe I'll give it a go!  :D :D I don't mind below zero temps, it's the wind that sucks
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Tman122 on January 25, 2019, 04:58:06 pm
I was repairing my snow plow hydraulic hose this morning at -23f

BFSM want to see some snow? Come north a hundred miles or so.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: BullFrogSpasMN on January 25, 2019, 05:55:10 pm
I was repairing my snow plow hydraulic hose this morning at -23f

BFSM want to see some snow? Come north a hundred miles or so.

I make it a point not to travel North of Maple Grove this time of year lol...I do own lake property Waaay up north though so I head that way often in the summer
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Tman122 on January 26, 2019, 07:40:49 am
I was repairing my snow plow hydraulic hose this morning at -23f

BFSM want to see some snow? Come north a hundred miles or so.

I make it a point not to travel North of Maple Grove this time of year lol...I do own lake property Waaay up north though so I head that way often in the summer

I'm on Island lake in the town of Sturgeon lake. But I am actually closer to the town of Moose Lake. LOL that sounds confusing. 21" of ice yesterday. Should make a bunch of good ice the next week. -26F right now.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bachman on January 27, 2019, 05:05:45 am
I'm on Island lake in the town of Sturgeon lake. But I am actually closer to the town of Moose Lake. LOL that sounds confusing. 21" of ice yesterday. Should make a bunch of good ice the next week. -26F right now.


I'm originally from MI but a bit down-state by the 'thumb' for 32 years - although moved to CO in '93.

Your proximity looks to be the equivalent of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a place I rarely ventured to but has hellacious winters and seasonal snowfall amounts.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Tman122 on January 27, 2019, 07:56:54 am
The big lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron) actually help so it's not so cold over there. 40 miles north of me in Duluth it is common to see 10 or more degrees difference.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Hottubguy on January 27, 2019, 10:43:36 am
-23 is cold!  Gets in single digits here and I don’t use my tub. I live about about 25 miles south of Boston and the beginning of the week it got down to 0 out and that was way to cold for me. I skip going inwhen it gets to 10
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Tman122 on January 27, 2019, 11:29:16 am
The big lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron) actually help so it's not so cold over there. 40 miles north of me in Duluth it is common to see 10 or more degrees difference.

Not so cold is relative, 20 below or 30 below who cares.......cold
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Chas on January 27, 2019, 10:13:14 pm
I remember a particularly chilly night: must have been in the low fifties.
Yeah, maybe as low as 51 or 52. If my tub wasn't indoors, I might have just canceled.

 8)
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: kies1 on January 27, 2019, 10:22:13 pm
Was just in at -17 celcius equates to about 1degree F. Was nice
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: wmccall on January 28, 2019, 08:54:06 am
The big lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron) actually help so it's not so cold over there. 40 miles north of me in Duluth it is common to see 10 or more degrees difference.

True, I grew up on Lake Erie, so I consider it a big one!    100 miles further south it is usually colder than along the lake, at least until it freezes over, which it doesn't to every year.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Tman122 on January 28, 2019, 01:48:38 pm
True, I grew up on Lake Erie, so I consider it a big one!    100 miles further south it is usually colder than along the lake, at least until it freezes over, which it doesn't to every year.

Erie is also a big lake just not bordering on the UP. They get a ton of snow around the great lakes, and they also keep the shore and 20 miles inland slightly warmer in the dead of winter and slightly cooler in the summer.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: wmccall on January 29, 2019, 01:17:14 pm
Tomorrow may be my coldest soak ever, we will see.   My backyard weather - https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KOHCOLUM189 (https://www.wunderground.com/personal-weather-station/dashboard?ID=KOHCOLUM189)

I will definitely add chlorine tonight in case I don't get to the tub for a few days.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Spatech_tuo on January 29, 2019, 01:45:41 pm
Growing up in Upstate NY you don't let the weather bother you to the point of hibernating until it clears up so I'm not sure what the coldest temp was that I went in.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bachman on January 29, 2019, 02:25:00 pm
Chatting with my parents yesterday, dad cleared the driveway 3 times Monday, 7" total of snow. He's 79.
I think their high temp for Weds is showing a predicted 2 above zero- Just south of Midland, MI and well down the state from " up north".

Here in C Springs last night our low was 11 on the north end. My night work takes me outdoors between midnight and 4 am for a few checks and readings.... it felt quite hospitable ,,, No wind. Growing up in MI helps and much of Colorado feels like the banana belt in comparison. Low teen nights are easy when the daytime swing is into the 40's or better and this happens a lot. Sunday was 55, maybe warmer as the official temp for town, Monday was snow most of the day and a high of 24. Sometimes it works backwards .... lol. Mid winter sunny and 45 plus, I'll use the opportunity to get a coat of wax on my cars.  8)
My house showed 6 degrees at 7am and if not for grampa day care and some needed sleep before the kids were dropped off, I'd have tubbed today and at least recorded a respectable low temp soak.

Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: kies1 on January 29, 2019, 07:23:03 pm
Supposed to hit -22 celcius tonight with windchill -35 celcius. Might try a dip before it reaches those temps. Lol
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: mpkelley20 on January 30, 2019, 03:06:40 pm
At what point does your hot tub struggle to maintain temperature?  Lowest I've been in mine was 17 degrees and I lost about 2 degrees of temp in the 30 minutes or so I was in it.  I have a Marquis promise. 
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bud16415 on January 30, 2019, 04:55:47 pm
At what point does your hot tub struggle to maintain temperature?  Lowest I've been in mine was 17 degrees and I lost about 2 degrees of temp in the 30 minutes or so I was in it.  I have a Marquis promise.

We are going down sub zero tonight and if I were planning on using it I would go out this afternoon and set it on 104 maybe even 105. It’s a Caldera Geneva. Any tub will take a hit when it’s that cold and open to the air. Jets will cool it faster and running the air pump for bubbles will cool mine fast at zero or below.

Mine has a roof above and in the winter I run a tarp around 2 sides away from the house as a snow and wind break. Wind is way worse than the cold IMO. A warm cap is a must below zero.

I would say at zero with a half hour soak I would loose about one degree f. 
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: swilly1000 on January 30, 2019, 09:50:18 pm
In Toronto and was going to go in last night but didn't want to fight the snow. 

It's -21 degrees celcius and preparing to go in now.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Tman122 on January 31, 2019, 04:41:16 pm
I had -37 this morning in Sturgeon Lake Mn.

For me I preferred above 0 temps for soaking. But I think I have soaked in -20's. Been so long with no tub in my yard :(

Wear a winter hat.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bachman on January 31, 2019, 05:51:16 pm
Well, be careful all.
It's not cold like that here at all but I'm always trying to be mindful of how easy slips and falls are.

If you clunked your head in those temps, you could lay there a while and be exposed to deadly temps in just minutes.

:o
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: kies1 on February 01, 2019, 06:20:56 am
Got in last night at -24 degrees celcius. My coldest soak yet.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bud16415 on February 01, 2019, 08:07:41 am
Got in last night at -24 degrees celcius. My coldest soak yet.

You will be receiving your 2019 Polar Bear trophy in the mail within the next 4-6 weeks.    ;)
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: wmccall on February 01, 2019, 09:21:20 am
When i got home Wednesday night it was -2F, but the wind stopped, so I got my newest record for cold soak.   It helped that I have some new medicine that I found works best in the hottub, so I was out there 30 minutes.  I did put a hat on.
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Hottubguy on February 01, 2019, 12:48:27 pm
At what point does your hot tub struggle to maintain temperature?  Lowest I've been in mine was 17 degrees and I lost about 2 degrees of temp in the 30 minutes or so I was in it.  I have a Marquis promise.

My tub the wind effects it more then the cold.  It can be windy and 20 or so out and my tub loses a few degrees.  If its cold and no wind it loses a degree or so in a half hour.  I've been sitting in my tub without jets more often lately.  Just enjoying the hot water and some good music
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Hottubguy on February 01, 2019, 12:50:42 pm
I went in last night.  Was my coldest soak I remember.  5 degrees.  Was in for about 20 minutes
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: kies1 on February 01, 2019, 02:05:43 pm
Last night at the above posted temp I was in for about a half an hour and tub only went down one degree. Was pretty impressed
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: kies1 on February 01, 2019, 02:06:42 pm
Got in last night at -24 degrees celcius. My coldest soak yet.

You will be receiving your 2019 Polar Bear trophy in the mail within the next 4-6 weeks.    ;)

Too funny
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bud16415 on February 02, 2019, 08:13:06 am
When i got home Wednesday night it was -2F, but the wind stopped, so I got my newest record for cold soak.   It helped that I have some new medicine that I found works best in the hottub, so I was out there 30 minutes.  I did put a hat on.

You will receive an honorary mention certificate and a sub zero Polar Cub trophy, within the next 4-6 weeks.    ::)
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: Livefast on February 10, 2019, 11:50:30 pm
Not sure what the temperature really was but my digital thermometer only read -40C it was still sitting at -40C in the morning as well.  Think it only goes down to that.  Was great out there.  Live in manitoba canada
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: bud16415 on February 11, 2019, 08:12:58 am
Not sure what the temperature really was but my digital thermometer only read -40C it was still sitting at -40C in the morning as well.  Think it only goes down to that.  Was great out there.  Live in manitoba canada

That qualifies you to receive the Brass-monkey trophy and it will arrive in the spring.

Incidentally –40c = -40f the only number that is the same for both scales. 
 :)
Title: Re: Your coldest soak?
Post by: kies1 on February 11, 2019, 10:41:57 am
I think you might have a record here