The best walk-in tubs help seniors age in place by creating a safe place to bath. Read our article to find out how we evaluated the top walk-in tub manufacturers to find the best tub for you.
To find the best walk-in tubs, we would love to say that we spent 60 hours bathing in each and every tub we reviewed. Who wouldn’t want to get paid to relax in a bath with a glass of red wine, a block of brie and a computer (on a bathtub tray, of course)? But alas, buying, installing and testing walk-in tubs is simply not feasible for a review. Instead, we spent 60 hours researching and consulting with senior care experts and professionals to evaluate what makes the best walk-in tubs for seniors. Since the best walk-in tubs are really a matter of preference and therapeutic needs, we also haven’t sought out to review every walk-in tub available. Instead, our focus is to evaluate specific models, types, features and manufacturers that are easily accessible to seniors. In other words, we evaluated the most common, most highly rated, and most universal (in terms of the fit) walk-in tubs. While many people may not appreciate the little details that go into a design, it doesn’t mean the details don’t impact how well a walk-in tub performs. From the angle of the seat to the height and swing of the door, the best walk-in tubs have design features with a purpose. If there are controls for the jets, are they easy to use, easy to understand and is the motor and electrical equipment easy to access? We evaluated how much clearance the step-up curb was and how the seat area was designed for access and comfort. Most walk-in tubs are designed to fit into a standard tub space or alcove, which is usually between 50 and 70 inches long and 30 to 34 inches wide. Certainly there are walk-in tubs that exist outside of these parameters, but these measurements are considered universal. However, don’t let the universal term fool you. A 70 inch tub does not fit into a 50 inch space. We looked at user reviews to evaluate the placement and design of the door, the efficacy of the door seals, the faucet and jet placements, and the overall satisfaction. User reviews alone don’t get the whole picture, but they can help identify common issues in a feature, like a leaky door seal or poorly placed jets. The material of a walk-in bathtub matters for several reasons – durability, insulation, and weight. You want a material that’ll hold up over the years, keeps the water warm and weighs as little as possible, because when you add 60 gallons of water, it’s going to weigh over 500 pounds. Many floors are not designed to handle this type of weight. Acrylic is the preferred material for luxury walk-in tubs because it’s lightweight and durable with an expected life of over 30 years. It also insulates well. But it’s expensive.
