Best Wood-Fired Hot Tubs This Year!
Looking to upgrade your back garden or rental space? Adding a wood-fired hot tub is well worth considering if you're looking to create a luxurious, spa-like space. Offering all the relaxation benefits of the conventional, electricity-powered designs but with a more organic look, they are guaranteed to take your outdoor living up a notch with no electric bill! At Calido, we want you to have all the information you need before purchasing any of our products. That’s why we have put together a complete guide for wood-fired hot tubs, information on the wood that is appropriate to use for each tub and a list of the best wood-fired hot tubs on the market. 
How does a Wood Fired Hot Tub work?
Going back to basics by using wood to heat the water instead of electricity, you will be pleasantly surprised by the warmth and steam that your hot tub will provide. A submersible stove and an external stove are the two types of stoves used to power a wood-fired hot tub. A submersible stove is placed within the hot tub, giving you less room to soak but will heat the water faster, whilst an external stove is external to the tub. Compared to ordinary electric hot tubs, these wood-fired tubs are a more environmentally responsible option because of their lower operating costs, quick heating, and decreased carbon footprint. In light of this, let's take a closer look at some of the best wood-fired hot tubs that are available on the market.
1. Kirami Hazy Hot Tub - Kirami Tub
Coming in at number 1 on our list is the Kirami Hazy Hot Tub in Dark Walnut. Grab yourself a glass of champagne and soak up the stars in this premium wood-fired hot tub. This tub is huge as it has an external heater, meaning there is more than enough room, boasting a 4-6 people capacity. Kirami has been in the business of Wood Fired Hot Tubs for over 20 years, and they take care and pride in crafting each of these handmade luxurious tubs. Need something a little smaller? Kirami has got you covered as they offer other fantastic variations depending on size, such as their intimate Kirami Tiny Hot Tub designed for 1-2 people or their Kirami Family L Thermowood Hot Tub perfect for 6-8 people. Benefits:
- All Kirami hot tubs are made by hand.
- Easy to load logs into the stove.
- Designed to be super easy to clean.
- Easy to operate.
- Ash and dirt do not enter the hot tub when fuel is added into the heater.
- Heat abuse will not compromise the tub.
- Kirami LDPE plastic interior is the same material used to make kayaks/canoes. This means it is very durable and can be heated and manipulated thousands of times with no issues.
Disadvantages:
- The only minor downside to having the heater come with the tub is that it will make it heavier to carry. It can make moving the tub trickier!
The best wood to power this tub: We recommend using our Kiln Dried Birch to power this hot tub. Kiln-Dried Birch is notoriously great as a hot burning wood as it is ideal for getting hot tubs up to temperature quickly. The Spec: Go to our website to find out all the Kirami Hazy Hot Tub specifications or click here to fill out an enquiry form.
2. Burford Hydro Deluxe - Cotswold Eco Tubs
Coming in at the second spot on our list and by far the most expensive is the Burford Hydro Deluxe by Cotswold Eco Tubs. This tub is ideal for a cosy date night as these handcrafted tubs come with a built-in wine cooler to really set the mood. These handcrafted tubs are great for people that want an intimate experience. It comes with an external heater, meaning the small bathing space can be enjoyed by yourself, or with you and one other, without anything in the way. However, we believe that the Kirami Tiny Hot Tub, although lacking a wine cooler, is superior to the Burford. This is due to there being no insulation under the Burford, meaning the tub is open to the ground under the liner so it could lose heat more quickly than any of the Kirami tubs. Benefits:
- All Burford tubs are handcrafted
- Comes with a wooden drinks bar with a wine cooler.
- Designed to be easy to clean
- Easy to operate
- Lightweight in design and easy to move around.
Disadvantages:
- One major disadvantage is that there is no heat protection on the bottom of the flue outlet from the heater, which could prove dangerous to smaller people.
- There is also no insulation under the Burford, meaning it is open to the ground under the liner so will lose heat more rapidly than other tubs.
The best wood to power this tub: We recommend going with a Kiln-Dried Ash to power this tub. Kiln Dried firewood is perfect for hot tubs as it is less likely to spit, making your tub stay in pristine condition all year round. Visit our website to view all our Kiln Dried firewood options. The Spec: To find out more about the specifications of the Burford Hydro Deluxe, click here to go to the Cotswold website.
3. Spruce Standard package - Royal Tubs
Rounding off our list is the Spruce Standard package, which is a great tub for people on a budget. If you’re looking for a tub that doesn't have all the bells and whistles, the Spruce from Royal Tubs is the best on the market. You will love bathing in this eco-friendly tub, built from entirely sustainably sourced timber and materials. This is the only example on our list that has an internal heater, which could impact its longevity. Spending that extra money on a Kirami tub over the Spruce may pay off in the long run as internal heaters are hard to fix or replace if something goes wrong. Benefits:
- Cheapest on our list.
- Comes with a Mini bar/ drinks holder.
- Built from sustainably sourced timber and materials.
- Lightweight design.
Disadvantages:
- One huge downside of internal heaters is that they are hard to replace or fix, if the heater goes then the whole tub may be ruined.
- Heat abuse due to lack of water can be a common issue and may compromise the integrity of the tub.
- The heater takes up bathing space as it is within the already tiny tub.
Wood that is perfect to power this tub: To power this tub, we advise using a Kiln Dried Birch. All our Kiln-Dried firewood is ideal for hot tubs as it won't spit like traditional wood, keeping your tub in immaculate shape. Visit our website to view all our Kiln Dried firewood options. The Spec: To find out the full list of specifications on the Spruce Standard package click here to go to the Royal Tubs website. If you’re ready to take the plunge into one of our Wood Fired Hot tubs, visit our website to view all our Kirami Hot Tubs in stock or click here to fill out an enquiry form.
About the author: John Farrell is a qualified forester with over 10 years of experience in sustainable timber and firewood production. He founded Calido Logs to bring premium quality firewood directly to homes across the UK.
