A hot tub is an amazing addition to your home, providing stress-relieving hot soaks at your convenience. As when making any large home investment, you’ll want to do your homework before you buy in order to find the model that best fits your needs and delivers on promises.
To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve compared two well known, premium spa collections—the Paradise® Series from Caldera Spas® and the R Series from Bullfrog® Spas. Each collection is designed to fit your budget while offering superior comfort and advanced features, such as ozone purification systems that reduce the need for chemical water treatment. Gathering information about the features and options available with each series will be important as you look for the hot tub that’s perfect for you.
Comparing the Caldera Paradise Series and the Bullfrog® R Series
The Caldera Spas Paradise Series
Caldera, a leader in hot tubs, puts comfort above all else, with spacious interiors, deep seats, and the Foot Ridge™ to keep you in place so you can enjoy your soak without floating out of your seat. Jet diverter controls are conveniently located on the bar top, allowing you to customize your hydrotherapy massage without getting out of the spa. The combination of FiberCor® insulation, durable and beautiful EcoTech™ cabinets, and multiple water care options makes the Paradise Series enjoyable and reliable.
The Bullfrog® Series
Bullfrog® Spas is recognized as the creator of the JetPak Therapy System™, which allows you to enjoy hydrotherapy by manually switching out the JetPaks. The premium models in the R Series allow owner customization and fit into budgets without sacrificing features. Designs place a heavy emphasis on reliability, with wood-free cabinets for year-round durability and dual-filter water care systems to keep spas dependably clear.
The Caldera Paradise® Series vs. Bullfrog® R Series
Caldera and Bullfrog® are both known for exciting innovations in home spas. Caldera hot tubs are known for their performance, Pure Comfort® design, and Hot Tub Circuit Therapy®, which provides a deep massage to different muscle groups as you move from seat to seat in the spa. Caldera also offers a unique and optional hot tub cooling system called CoolZone™, which can lower the temperature of spa water to a cool 60 degrees Fahrenheit for summer enjoyment, and heat it back up again in just a couple of hours.
Bullfrog® is known for its JetPak Therapy System™. JetPaks can be swapped between seats even when the spa is running. But switching JetPaks to achieve the type of massage you want means getting out of the spa each time and keeping JetPaks in storage. Also remember that when it comes to jets, more isn’t necessarily better. Powerful, integrated jets that are optimized through a continuous circulation pump offer greater force and more benefits than systems that require owners to manually switch out jets. Caldera Spas offers other features, including deep seats and the Foot Ridge™ that allow users to anchor themselves to get the full benefits of powerful hydrotherapy jets.
Choosing between series with very different jet technologies isn’t easy. But by comparing the quality and design of materials, equipment, and the features in each series, you’ll be one step closer to determining which spa best suits your lifestyle.
| Size | Seats | Total Jets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caldera Spas® Paradise® Series | |||
| Makena® | 7’5” x 7’5” x 36" | 6 | 46 |
| Salina® | 7’5” x 7’5” x 36" | 7 | 40 |
| Martinique® | 7’5” x 6’4” x 34" | 5 | 34 |
| Kauai® | 7’ x 5’5” x 29.5" | 3 | 31 |
| Bullfrog Spas® R Series | |||
| Model R8™ | 7’10” x 7’10” x 38" | 8 | 4 JetPaks |
| Model R8L™ | 7’10” x 7’10” x 38" | 7 | 4 JetPaks |
| Model R7™ | 7’4” x 7’4” x 36” | 6 | 4 JetPaks |
| Model R7L™ | 7’4” x 7’4” x 36” | 6 | 4 JetPaks |
| Model R6™ | 7’4” x 6’8” x 34” | 7 | 3 JetPaks |
| Model R6L™ | 6’8” x 7’4” x 34” | 6 | 3 JetPaks |
| Model R5L™ | 5’8” x 7’ x 31” | 3 | 2 JetPaks |
Comparing the Caldera Paradise® Makena® to the Bullfrog® R7L
Let’s take an in-depth look at the 6-seat Makena® from the Paradise Series and the 6-seat R7L from the Bullfrog® R Series through a direct comparison.
| Caldera® Paradise® Makena® | Bullfrog® R7L | |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint | ||
| Seats | 6 adults | 6 adults |
| Dimensions | 7'5” x 7'5" x 36" | 7'4" x 7'4" x 36" |
| Maximum Jet Count | 46 | 4 JetPaks |
| Water Capacity | 395 gallons | 432 gallons |
| Performance | ||
| Circulation Pump | Standard EnergyPro® Circulation Pump operates continuously to keep your spa water clean and clear without overtaxing the jets. | WellSpring™ Quiet Circulation pump (optional). |
| Ozone System | The Monarch® CD Ozone system (optional) mixes concentrated ozone bubbles into the water to neutralize contaminants. | EOS-Enhanced™ Ozone System (optional); WellSpring™ High Output Ozone (optional). |
| Water Care Options | The Frog® @ease® In-Line with SmartChlor technology is standard on all Paradise models and provides effective hot tub water sanitation and eliminates the need for daily maintenance and chlorination. | The WellSpring™ Water Care System uses a large dual-filter system that runs 100% of the water through in each filtration cycle. |
| Entertainment Options | Bluetooth® technology, wireless audio system, and a 22” wireless monitor for streaming video. | Bluetooth® compatible, 4-6 seat surround speakers, and a subwoofer. |
| Design | ||
| Cabinet & Colors | Caldera EcoTech® all-weather polymer composite cabinet with embossed grain, available in Coastal Gray, Espresso, and Teak. | EternaWood™ UV and weather-resistant polymer cabinet, available in Hazelnut, Driftwood, and Mahogany. |
| Shell Colors | Acrylic shell, available in White Pearl, Tuscan Sun, Sterling Marble, Desert, and Midnight Canyon. | Acrylic shell, available in Cinnabar, Midnight, Mirage, Pearl, Platinum, Sandstone, Sapphire, Cloud, Snow, Sunset, and Titanium. |
| Control System | The full-color Advent® LCD control system is intuitively designed and includes an auxiliary control panel. The optional Connextion® remote monitoring system allows you to monitor your hot tub when away from home, and notifies your dealer when attention is needed. | The R600 Control panel with two-color LCD Screen and multi-function buttons; optional CloudControl™ Module that allows remote control of your hot tub through Wi-Fi and cellular networks. |
| Comfort Features | Deep tread on seats, the Foot Ridge™, and other anchor points keep hot-tubbers comfortably in place. Diverter valves on the bar top allow users to change the flow without leaving the spa. | Swappable JetPaks with different jet settings; diverter valves on JetPaks below the waterline. |
| Water Features | Acquarella Waterfall with LED lighting. | Integrated, lighted waterfall. |
| Lighting Features | SpaGlo® LED lighting enhances the mood with 12 points of interior lights. | Interior LED Light System in the center, filter, and footwell areas. |
| Cover | The 3.5" to 2.5" tapered, foam-core insulated cover with 2 lb.-density maximizes spa performance and efficiency, and integrates seamlessly with Caldera cover lifters (no protruding metal bar). Available in Chocolate, Slate, and Taupe. | The Express Patio Performance™ Spa Cover is made from UV-resistant patio fabric to prevent heat loss. Available in Pewter and Espresso. |
What to Look for in Your New Hot Tub Purchase
If you currently own a hot tub and are looking to upgrade, you might have already chosen your must-have features. But by researching the latest and greatest in hot tub design and engineering, you might discover some new features to add to your list. If you’ve never owned a spa before, you’ll also get answers to some of your basic questions about hot tubs. To help you zoom in on your most desired features and options in a new spa, here are a few things to consider:
- Performance and Ease of Use. Circulation pumps keep the water clean and flowing while main pumps are always ready to provide soothing jet massages; insulation helps cut down on heat loss and your electric bill; and a control panel with an intuitive, easy-to-read interface makes it simple to customize hot tub settings for daily use.
- Design. The intersection of form and function is in the design of your hot tub. Quality design incorporates comfort features like those offered by Caldera: a spacious interior, deep seats that help keep you in position to enjoy the full benefits of the jets, a ridged footwell, and other anchor points to make soaking in your spa even more delightful.
- Appearance. A premium hot tub should be aesthetically pleasing and tie into the style of your home. Hot tub manufacturers create gorgeous spa cabinets and shells that come in different styles and colors to match your taste and decor, from traditional to modern.
Choosing Your Ideal Home Spa Experience
Researching spa models is an excellent way to narrow down your search for the perfect hot tub. The final step, though, will be seeing how the spa’s features and options come together at your local dealership. Taking a test soak at a showroom to feel the force of the jets and work the spa controls will help you choose the perfect hot tub and uncover all of the ways you’ll experience your spa once it’s in your home.
Learn more about Caldera spas by downloading the Paradise Series brochure now.
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