Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: fatman on January 08, 2006, 09:41:07 am
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Many people have stated that having a foot dome in your hot tub is nice especially if you are short because it can help you stay in your seat. What about tall people? Does it get in your way? Are foot domes considered a safety issue for anyone? Are the jets in foot domes too small or too big in diameter? Is a foot dome jet more likely to leak than any other jet? Is the jet flow too forcefull or does it tickle your feet? Opinions please!!!
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I don't have a footdome but have a foot bump! ;D
When looking at tubs, I was thinking that a foot dome would get in the way. I have size 13 feet and they do get in the way at times. After living with the tub a while, I think it's truely not an issue for me anymore. I don't walk across the tub, I skoot from seat to seat. I would consider a footdome if shopping today (although that huge whirlpool jet that's usually in the center is a waste IMO).
My tub has 4 smallish jets with "about 10 individual nozzels" on each jet. It doesn't tickle but it's not super forceful either. I use them with the air on and their plumbed on their own pump with a whirlpool jet and another large jet. Quite honestly, the strongest foot jet I saw was the master blaster jet on a Down East Windsor SE.
I do tend to use it to put my feet on the bump while getting foot therapy.
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I've got a Sundance Cameo and it isn't really a foot dome, maybe a half dome. It never gets in the way. You can adjust the flow and it doesn't tickle my feet at all.
I would never, ever purchase a tub without them. I absolutely love the foot jets.
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I don't have a foot dome, but when I tested a D-1 spa it was one of the reasons I ruled it out. It did seem to get in the way and make the tub seem smaller.
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My Artesian Piper Glen has a foot dome with four spinner jets on the sides of the dome and a single geyser (whirlpool jet) in the center. There is a diverter valve to select between the geyser and the spinners. The geyser is a good strong jet, while the four spinners feel a bit under powered to me. I'm going to disagree with Vinny on the value of the whirl pool jet as use mine all the time. I'm 6'2", and find that even though I don't need the dome to keep myself in place it is a nice place to rest my feet. As for it being a safety issue, I guess that would depend on how you plan to use the tub. As a relaxation tub with 3 or 4 people, I don't think it would be an issue. If you plan to use it as a party tub, with people jumping from seat to seat, then it might be of concern. The more holes you drill in the tub the more potential there is for a leak, but I don't know that I've ever heard that well constructed tubs with foot domes actually do leak more then those without. Over all I'm quite happy with the layout of my tub, including the foot dome.
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I personally like the footdome. We only have one model with it now (Tiger River Caspian). I wear a size 13 shoe and my wife has size 11 women's, so the foot dome really allows us to spread out in the spa and get a foot massage without touching each other. (She don't like me touching her much. I don't blame her...)
Terminator
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My Artesian Piper Glen has a foot dome with four spinner jets on the sides of the dome and a single geyser (whirlpool jet) in the center. There is a diverter valve to select between the geyser and the spinners. The geyser is a good strong jet, while the four spinners feel a bit under powered to me. I'm going to disagree with Vinny on the value of the whirl pool jet as use mine all the time.
Bob,
Maybe it's the location of mine, it's not in dead center as the Piper's is but center and toward one side. I've heard that it makes a great foot/leg messager but I don't see how, at least in the Cayman. When I was looking at Emerald Spa they had a whirlpool jet and it was positioned to swirl the water around in the tub. I think Marquis has a tub like that.
As far as the foot jets being weak, I have nothing to compare them to. Is the Piper's foot jets plumbed by themselves or do they share other jets? The Cayman's 3rd pump operates the foot jets, whirlpool and a large jet opposite the filter - all the jets can be turned off except the whirlpool which can be turned down to a trickle.
The foot jets don't feel to have the power as the other jets do but I wasn't looking for that in the tub, at least not yet.
Vinny
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We have a foot dome in our Optima and love it. It's got 8 small (but powerful) jets on it so that each corner seat get's 2 jets (1 per foot). If I'm ever forced to buy a new one it will for sure have another foot dome. It's one of the things I like best about our tub.
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I too love my foot dome. I can adjust it to be strong, or gentle...never "tickles"...also the centre whirlpool jet is great to massage hamstrings and calves. The size of the maxxus lets you stretch out and use it to your advantage. It also helps hold you in a seat with strong therapy jets running that may otherwise push you out. I'd never buy a tub without!
Steve
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Bob,
Maybe it's the location of mine, it's not in dead center as the Piper's is but center and toward one side. I've heard that it makes a great foot/leg messager but I don't see how, at least in the Cayman. When I was looking at Emerald Spa they had a whirlpool jet and it was positioned to swirl the water around in the tub. I think Marquis has a tub like that.
As far as the foot jets being weak, I have nothing to compare them to. Is the Piper's foot jets plumbed by themselves or do they share other jets? The Cayman's 3rd pump operates the foot jets, whirlpool and a large jet opposite the filter - all the jets can be turned off except the whirlpool which can be turned down to a trickle.
The foot jets don't feel to have the power as the other jets do but I wasn't looking for that in the tub, at least not yet.
Vinny
Vinny, On the Piper there is a single pump that feeds either the 4 rotating foot jets, or 2 whirlpool jets, one in the foot dome and one in the side of the tub. Geyser jets would be a better name for them as they agitate the water, but do not rally create a whirl pool effect.
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We have a foot dome and love it! There and 4 jets and the power never tickles just feels great. Also in the center of our dome is a threaded hole that lets us put a table in that we use pretty much all the time. Great place to put refreshments. If more people are over I just have to unscrew it and out it goes! It doesn't get in the way because we skoot seat to seat just like vinny stated. So to me a foot dome is a must if I ever get another spa ;D
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Another vote for foot domes. I like to divert all pump and air power to the inner and outer foot dome jets of my Optima. On ours, one can adjust the jets from a tickle to a blast (guess I’m more ticklish then the other posters ;D). My wife likes the former, me the latter. It also helps keep us in the seats.
May be a little trickier to walk around in the tub, but definitely worth it.
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We also have the Optima and just love the foot dome. I think it's the best part. Everyone has their own spot for their feet and the massage is wonderful. I would definately get it again.
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We have one in our Majesta and love it. Lots of options re air to power it. We stretch our legs over it to do ankles/calves etc. The "etc." can be interesting. Also like how it can help keep you in your seat if you turn the power up. paul
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One more positive vote for the dome. Got one on the Optima- great foot jets, and helps some people plant in the seat.
No trouble at all moving about the spa.
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We have the foot dome and it's fabulous! Eight powerful jets with one big volcano making it so great for feet, back and front of legs. It's all good!
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I have a foot dome on my Tiger River Caspain and it was the feature that sealed the deal with us. My wife and I both love it.
We are shorter than most (She's 5'5" and I am 5'7"') and the dome does help you push back into the seats. Taller guests have used our tub and also enjoyed the foot dome and didn't mention at all if got in thier way. in fact eveyone who has used the tub has commented on how great it is.
On the Tiger River, there are 2 pumps (1 and 2 speed) and the foot dome can operate at different speeds, or rather full blast or just a slight surge. The tiger river foot dome has eight (?) small nozzle jets that provide a nice massage.
The dome is great on the feet and ankles. You can also float you legs over it and get the calves. Since it's in the middle of the tub, no matter where you sit in the tub, from every seat gets a foot/calf massage. It's a great feature.
I would strongly recomend anyone looking at a new tub to wet test a tub out that has a foot dome. It's a feature well worth looking into. ;D
The only down side so far is on a few of the nozzles, the plastic trim on the nozzles has come off. (I think this is because many people rub their feet against them). I was able to snap them back in, and from time to time a trim piece will come off. My dealer has recomended that next time I drain the tub, to put a dab of type 1 silicone behind the trim peice to keep it in place.
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Add me to the votes for a footdome. Its one of the features I really liked on the Optima.
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I might be speaking out of turn here but the question isn't about the enjoyment from a foot massage perspective, but rather a dome in the footwell.
I believe great foot therapy can be accomplished without a dome. When looking at the footwell of a spa, it's the smallest area within it. This is where we move around and having something to stub your toes on, trip over or reduce the small amount of space to walk around seems silly to me. You get 4+ adults in a spa where half the space of the footwell is taken up by some dome protruding out in the center is a poor design in my opinion.
I would rather eliminate the dome and have proper reflexology jets (not ticklish spinners) countersunk into the 4 corners or wherever they would best be suited inside a specific design.
Steve
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Add another yes to "Foot Domes" I have a SD Maxxus and love it...... It took a few soaks to get use to it (tickled) but once we did its great.....
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As you can see there is a lot of personal preference on this issue.
We wet tested the Jacuzzi 365 and it has a foot dome and thought it made the tub uncomfortable. Also it made maneuvering difficult, especially for guests who may be unfamiliar with the tub layout. The bubbles make seeing the floor difficult.
We bought the 385 without a foot dome. But it has several well-placed jets near the floor for leg massage. I use them for my size 14's. The floor is nice and flat making it easy to get around and plenty of room for a 6’7” guy to spread out.
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I guess with size 14's anything like a foot dome would make it harder to move about the spa!
Don't know where he got them, but my 16 yr. old son has feet almost that size.
Sure makes it easy for him to find his shoes in a pile, though.
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Whether one's tub comes with a dome or not, excellent foot massage is an absolute necessity. If the tub fits otherwise and has either domed or domeless foot massage, then either should be acceptable unless the dome is deemed uncomfortable as in Snowbird's case. That's why wet testing is so important....one person's dome could be another's "Damn!"
But when it's all said and done, foot massage rules! 8)