Take the quizGet a price
Take the quizGet a price

Cal Spas swim spas

A Pomona, California maker selling nine jet-current swim spas, pitched on jet counts, a dual-zone Olympian with a 120-volt hot tub side and a 63-inch Depth-X.

9 models in two series, 12′ 7″ to 17′ 6″ long.

Updated By the HotTubFinder research desk

Get a price on a Cal Spas swim spa Take the swim spa quiz
Length
12′ 7″–17′ 6″
Water
1,600–2,650gal
Current
Jets
Hot tub side
1 of 9
Price
On request
Ask for the price range

Swim Spa Series4 models · 12′ 7″ to 16′ 8″ · jets

Swim Spa X-Series5 models · 12′ 7″ to 17′ 6″ · jets

What owners report

Themes from owner reviews and forum threads, each linked to where it was posted. People with a problem are the most likely to post.

What owners praise2

Daily swims and family use at homeOwners describe swimming at home in private instead of at public pools, buying one because a spouse wanted it…3 sources

Owners describe swimming at home in private instead of at public pools, buying one because a spouse wanted it (the spouse likes it, they say), and using a cabin spa two or three times a week. An F-1325 owner who swims daily with a partner says there is little to dislike after six months.

Delivery crews and easy installsSeveral owners praise the crews: one describes Cal Spas hauling away an old swim spa with dollies at no…2 sources

Several owners praise the crews: one describes Cal Spas hauling away an old swim spa with dollies at no charge, others an hour-and-a-half install and a salesperson who arranged a test of the product.

What owners complain about4

Too short to swim properlyA 5'10" owner says they have a foot or less of room before hitting the back and wish they had bought a bigger…2 sources

A 5'10" owner says they have a foot or less of room before hitting the back and wish they had bought a bigger model; a 6'1" F-1325 owner says the 14-foot model without bench seating would have suited them better.

Electronics failures and warranty pushbackAn owner says the main board failed after four and a half years and Cal Spas refused the claim, blaming the…2 sources

An owner says the main board failed after four and a half years and Cal Spas refused the claim, blaming the licensed electrician; another reports trouble with a control pad and speakers that went out and were not under warranty.

Leaks, cracks and loose panelsAn F1437 owner lists leaks, salt system failures, cracked shell panels, deteriorating pillows and…2 sources

An F1437 owner lists leaks, salt system failures, cracked shell panels, deteriorating pillows and back-ordered parts in under two years; other owners report cracks and side panels popping out.

1 more
Crane, concrete and wiring surprisesOwners describe needing a crane, not being told the electrical requirements, redoing a pad to make it level…2 sources

Owners describe needing a crane, not being told the electrical requirements, redoing a pad to make it level, and a seat that bent after installers set the spa on uncured concrete.

Owner reports as of September 2026.

What Cal Spas is known for

What salespeople lead with, checked against Cal Spas’s own documents and public records. Of these seven, five are partly true and two are mostly marketing.

Partly trueTwo to five swim jets, adjustable feelCal Spas sells its Hydro-Pro Swim-Mill current: two river ("rip current") jets on the 13- and 14-foot models…The catch: Shared pumps on some models, variable speed extra

The pitchCal Spas sells its Hydro-Pro Swim-Mill current: two river ("rip current") jets on the 13- and 14-foot models and two river jets plus three power stream jets on the 16- to 18-foot ones, on 6-brake-horsepower pumps, with air valves and aimable nozzles to set the resistance.

Our takeThe hardware is real and documented down to a pump color key on each drawing, but Cal Spas publishes no flow, width or speed for the current, the standard pumps have no stated speed count, and on several models a swim pump also feeds seat or wall jets.

Who else has it: Jet currents on two or more pumps are the norm among jet swim spas: Bullfrog uses two swim jets, Hydropool two 5 hp swim pumps, and Master Spas six airless jets on its Challenger.

The catchShared pumps on some models, variable speed extra. Cal Spas' own 2026 drawings show the Family Fun's two pumps also run its seats through diverters, the Commander's third swim pump also feeds the 27-jet standing wall, and the Depth-X's splits three ways. Speed control on the standard pumps comes down to on/off jets, air valves and nozzle angle; fine control needs the extra-cost Dynamic Flow Control option, which switches the equipment to Gecko. The Family Fun's manual says it "is not designed as a fitness spa".

Partly trueFew othersDual-zone Olympian, hot tub on 120VThe 18-foot Olympian pairs a swim lane with a separate three-seat hot tub.The catch: Still two circuits, and a small supply for the hot side

The pitchThe 18-foot Olympian pairs a swim lane with a separate three-seat hot tub. Cal Spas says the swim side can sit at 80°F while the hot tub runs up to 104°F, and that because the hot tub side needs only a 110-volt circuit you can skip costly additional power hookups.

Offered on: Olympian F-1868DZ

Our takeThe separate hot tub is real, with its own control pack, pump, blower, filter and ozonator, but it still needs a second dedicated circuit, and a 15-amp 120-volt circuit cannot power the 5.5 kW heater Cal Spas lists for it.

Who else has it: Dual-zone swim spas are common among the major brands (Master Spas, Jacuzzi, Hydropool, PDC and Endless Pools all sell one); we haven't seen another maker describe a 120-volt hot tub side.

The catchStill two circuits, and a small supply for the hot side. The manual requires a 60-amp, 240-volt GFCI circuit for the swim side plus a separate 15-amp, 120-volt GFCI circuit for the hot tub. A 15-amp circuit at 120 volts delivers at most 1.8 kW, so the hot side cannot have the 5.5 kW heater the page lists; ask what heats it and how fast it recovers. The swim lane is 95 inches, the shortest of any Cal Spas swim spa.

Partly trueFew othersStand-up massage wall on the big modelsThe Commander, Commander-X, Depth-X and Olympian add a wall of 27 to 30 stainless "vertical AAT" jets you…

The pitchThe Commander, Commander-X, Depth-X and Olympian add a wall of 27 to 30 stainless "vertical AAT" jets you lean against standing up, which Cal Spas calls Vertical Hydrossage and lists as standard on the F-1655 and F-1655X.

Offered on: Commander F-1655, Commander-X F-1655X, Depth-X F-1680X, Olympian F-1868DZ

Our takeThe wall is on the spec tables and drawings, but on the Commander models and the Depth-X it shares a pump with the power stream swim jets through a diverter.

Who else has it: None of the other swim spa makers we researched describes a standing jet wall; we did not survey every rival's option list, so treat this as uncommon rather than proven unique.

Partly trueFew othersDepth-X: a 63-inch-tall swim spaThe Depth-X is a 16-foot swim spa in a 63-inch-tall cabinet, a foot taller than Cal Spas' other models, sold…The catch: Sold on depth, but Cal Spas publishes no water depth

The pitchThe Depth-X is a 16-foot swim spa in a 63-inch-tall cabinet, a foot taller than Cal Spas' other models, sold as powerful enough for expert-level swimmers.

Offered on: Depth-X F-1680X

Our takeThe cabinet height is published, but water depth is not, and Cal Spas' own documents disagree on its gallons, weight and electrical supply.

Who else has it: Few swim spas stand over 60 inches: Master Spas' deep H2X "D" models are 60 inches tall and Endless Pools' E500-58 is 58.

The catchSold on depth, but Cal Spas publishes no water depth. Cal Spas publishes no water depth, only the 63-inch cabinet height. Its own documents disagree on gallons (2,650 vs 2,775) and filled weight (24,565 vs 26,008 lb), and its marked swim area is 113 inches, shorter than the 138-inch lane of the same-length Commander.

Show 3 more selling points
Mostly marketing"Industry's Best Warranty"Cal Spas bills its coverage as the industry's best: on the swim spas, 10 years on structure, 7 on the surface…The catch: Proration, fees, and it ends if you sell or move

The pitchCal Spas bills its coverage as the industry's best: on the swim spas, 10 years on structure, 7 on the surface and 5 each on equipment, plumbing and cabinet, with parts and labor included.

Our takeThe years are middle of the pack, and the fine print (proration, fees, 2 years on jets and frame, no transfer) makes it weaker than the banner.

Who else has it: Ten-year structure terms are common: Master Spas' 2026 H2X Trainer and Challenger card gives 10, 7 and 5 years, and PDC lists 35 years on its TruSwim structure.

The catchProration, fees, and it ends if you sell or move. A spa Cal Spas can't repair is replaced at 1% of current retail per month you've owned it after month six, plus removal, shipping and installation. Dealers may charge travel and diagnostic fees, and parts freight and access (including cranes) are yours. Jets, diverter valves and the wood frame get 2 years, and coverage ends on sale or relocation.

Partly trueBuilt in the USA, shipped fastCal Spas says its spas are made in the USA from the finest components around the world, at a 40-acre Pomona…

The pitchCal Spas says its spas are made in the USA from the finest components around the world, at a 40-acre Pomona, California headquarters, with lead times of five days or less.

Our takeCal Spas qualifies its own US-made claim with imported components, names no plant apart from its headquarters, and the five-day lead time is its own unverified claim.

Who else has it: Several swim spa makers build in North America: Master Spas in Fort Wayne, Indiana, PDC in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and Hydropool in Mississauga, Ontario.

Mostly marketing"Fiber Steel" shell, strength underneathCal Spas says its patented Fiber Steel laminate, reinforced with steel and wood, makes one of the strongest…

The pitchCal Spas says its patented Fiber Steel laminate, reinforced with steel and wood, makes one of the strongest shells in the world, over a pressure-treated frame with galvanized fasteners, gussets and bracing.

Our takeNo patent number, laminate thickness or load test is published, the layer count differs between Cal Spas' own pages (5 versus 7), and the frame is wood.

Who else has it: Fiberglass-backed acrylic is industry standard, and wood frames are used elsewhere too (Endless Pools' R200); Hydropool promotes its steel frames as having nothing to rot.

What rivals and critics say2
  • Propeller makers argue jet currents are air-driven, narrow and turbulent compared with a propeller's wide, smooth stream. Our check: Cal Spas uses jets and lets owners add air; it publishes no flow or width to test the argument either way, so hold your hand across the current on a running display.
  • Steel-frame makers argue a wood frame can rot if a leak goes unnoticed. Our check: Cal Spas' frame is pressure-treated wood and its warranty covers it for 2 years; the checklist's view is that wood is acceptable when dry and design matters more than material.
Cal Spas on the ten things we checkThe current, room to swim, the frame, site prep, service and the warranty

How Cal Spas stands

The buying guide

The ten checks from our swim spa buying guide, answered from what Cal Spas publishes and from public filings. Tap a row for the detail.

  • 1 yes
  • 9 partly
  • 0 no
  • 0 not published
Swim currentJets, not a propeller: two river jets on the 13- and 14-foot models, five on the…Partly

Every Cal Spas swim spa makes its current with jets on 6-brake-horsepower pumps: two "rip current" jets on the 13- and 14-foot models, plus three "power stream" jets on the 16- to 18-foot ones. Air valves and aimable nozzles change the feel, but Cal Spas publishes no speed settings, flow or current width, and variable-speed pumps are an extra-cost option. On some models a swim pump also runs seat or wall jets, and the 13-foot Family Fun is, in Cal Spas' own words, "not designed as a fitness spa".

Applies to: All nine current models; pump sharing differs by model as described.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Room to swimCal Spas prints the swim area on its drawings: about 8 to 11.5 feet of open water…Partly

Cal Spas' 2026 drawings label the swim area: 96 inches on the 13-foot models, 101 on the 14-foot, 138 on the 16-foot Commander, 113 on the 16-foot Depth-X and 95 on the 18-foot Olympian, whose hot tub takes the rest. That is 45 to 69 percent of the cabinet length. Water depth isn't published; the cabinets are 51 inches tall, 63 on the Depth-X.

Applies to: All nine current models.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Frame and shellA treated-wood frame and a shell Cal Spas says is reinforced with steel and wood…Partly

Cal Spas builds its swim spas on a pressure-treated wood cabinet frame with galvanized steel fasteners, corner gussets and vertical bracing, under an acrylic shell it calls "Fiber Steel", a patented laminate reinforced with steel and wood. It gives the laminate as 5 layers on the swim pages and 7 on its brand page, publishes no patent number or thickness, and its warranty covers the wood frame for 2 years against 10 for the shell structure. Filled, these spas weigh about 15,000 to 26,000 pounds by Cal Spas' own figures.

Applies to: All nine current models.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Site prepEvery Cal Spas swim spa needs a crane and a 4-6 inch slab; its 150 lb/sq ft deck…Partly

Cal Spas' 2026 pre-delivery guide says all swim spas must be set by crane, which isn't part of standard delivery, on a level 4 to 6 inch slab that extends a foot past the spa, with 3 feet clear on every side. Its manual gives other slab figures, and its 150-pounds-per-square-foot rule for decks is below its own swim spas' filled weight spread over their footprint, about 153 to 190 pounds before anyone gets in. Power is one 50- or 60-amp 240-volt circuit, two circuits on the Olympian.

Applies to: All nine current models.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Running costWall-and-floor insulation, not full foam; California's tests put the swim spas at…Partly

Standard insulation is Thermo-Shield panels in the cabinet walls plus an ABS-lined insulated floor; full foam is an upgrade. California's listings put the swim spas at 405 to 474 watts of standby, 68 to 75 percent of the limit for their size, roughly 3,550 to 4,150 kWh a year before any swimming; those tests used a 4-to-2.5-inch cover, not the 5-to-3-inch cover now standard, and the Depth-X has no listing. Cal Spas says the spas can't cool the water.

Applies to: All nine models; no California listing for the Depth-X F-1680X.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗cacertappliances.energy.ca.gov ↗

Dual zoneOne dual-zone model, the 18-foot Olympian: a separate 3-seat hot tub on its own…Partly

The Olympian F-1868DZ walls off a three-seat hot tub with its own control pack, pump, blower, filter and ozonator, so the swim side can sit at 80°F while the hot tub runs up to 104°F. The hot tub side runs on a separate 15-amp, 120-volt circuit, which can deliver at most 1.8 kW even though Cal Spas lists a 5.5 kW heater for it, and the swim lane shrinks to 95 inches. The other eight models are single-zone.

Applies to: Olympian F-1868DZ only; the other eight models are one body of water.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Service accessOrdinary pumps behind screw-on panels and no foam in the way; keep 3 feet clear on…Yes

The current comes from standard 6-brake-horsepower pumps and Balboa or Gecko control packs, not a hydraulic drive, and the standard wall-panel insulation leaves the plumbing reachable. Cal Spas makes 3 feet of clearance on every side mandatory, shows where each model's pumps and control box sit, and warns that cranes, deck removal or other work to reach the equipment are billed to the owner. Its warranty allows only designated representatives and genuine Cal Spas parts.

Applies to: All nine current models.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Warranty terms10 years on structure and 5 on equipment, but proration, fees and a…Partly

Cal Spas' 2026 swim spa warranty reads 10 years structural, 7 surface, 5 each on equipment, plumbing and cabinet, 3 on the cover and 2 on jets, diverter valves and the wood frame, with labor included. The dealer may still charge travel and diagnostic fees, you pay freight, cranes and access, a spa that can't be repaired is replaced at 1% of current retail per month you've owned it, and coverage ends if you sell or move it.

Applies to: All nine current models.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Cover and lifterA 5-to-3-inch locking foam cover is included; a lifter isn't, and cover claims turn…Partly

Every model ships with a tapered 5-to-3-inch Cal Armor cover with locking tie-downs, and the Olympian gets one per zone; Cal Spas describes rigid foam and metal but not how the cover folds. No lifter is listed as standard, and Cal Spas sells manual and hydraulic-assist lifts separately without saying which fit swim spas. The cover is warranted 3 years, but after 90 days a claim pays only for a new vinyl sleeve or foam, and California's energy tests used a thinner 4-to-2.5-inch cover.

Applies to: All nine current models.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Service and originMade in the USA by a Pomona, California company and serviced through its dealers…Partly

Cal Spas says its spas are made in the USA from components sourced worldwide; its only published address is a 40-acre headquarters in Pomona, California. Warranty work goes through the selling dealer or a Cal Spas-designated representative, who may charge travel and diagnostic fees, and Cal Spas publishes no dealer count or service map. Recent swim spa owners on a review site describe claims denied or stalled and parts on back order.

Applies to: All nine current models.

What this means, and how to check it →calspas.com ↗calspas.com ↗

Get the price range