Your Guide on What to Wear in a Hot Tub

Outfit Etiquette

Quick answer: Standard swimwear is usually best. Keep it comfortable and setting-appropriate, avoid certain fabrics and metal details, and make small tweaks for winter warmth. The right outfit also helps keep the water cleaner.

Whether you’re taking time off in an idyllic holiday home with your other half, popping round to a friend’s to catch up over a casual soak and a glass of wine, or using your own free time to unwind and destress by yourself, it’s safe to say that there are plenty of reasons for why you might find yourself relaxing in a hot tub over the weekend.

However, it’s also true that some forms of hot tub attire are far less appropriate for certain situations than others, especially if you plan on using a hot tub open to the public rather than your own private swim spa.

Nevertheless, there are a few universal rules you can follow when it comes to knowing what to wear in a hot tub, all of which we’ve broken down in our guide. Keep reading to learn more about hot tub outfit etiquette, and why it can be beneficial for both you and your hot tub’s hygiene.

Why is it important to wear clothes in a hot tub?

Before touching on what is and isn’t appropriate to wear in a hot tub, let’s first touch on why it’s important to wear a hot tub outfit in the first place. Naturally, the main reason is for the sake of modesty, because, unless you’re using your personal hot tub alone, it is expected that you wear some form of swimsuit when bathing with others.

However, wearing clothes in a hot tub also comes with one other key additional benefit – it helps to reduce the amount of dirt and oil being transferred from your body to the water. This means that your water will stay cleaner for longer and that your hot tub chemicals don’t have to work as hard, making it easier to care for your hot tub over the summer.

At-a-glance etiquette

Setting	Better Choices	Think Twice
Public hot tub	Standard swimsuits, well-fitting swim shorts	String bikinis, revealing styles
Private spa / home	Swimsuits, bikinis if comfortable	Metal accessories, delicate fabrics
Winter outdoors	Normal swimwear + warm hat out of water	Wet cotton layers, exposed metal details

What should men wear in a hot tub?

Moving on to hot tub outfits as a whole, when it comes to what men should wear in a hot tub, standard trunks and swim shorts are perfectly suitable. Comfort is an essential part of any hot tub experience, and swim shorts, in particular, can provide a loose fit without catching on anything.

In contrast, however, unless you’re bathing with your partner on a romantic getaway, speedos and swim briefs are best avoided due to their tight-fitting nature, as well as the fact that they could also prove uncomfortable to wear in the tub’s hot temperatures.

What should women wear in a hot tub?

Similarly to men’s hot tub outfits, standard swimwear for women is more than appropriate for use in a hot tub. Swimsuits are the most hygienic option, though bikinis are also fine if you feel comfortable wearing one.

Again, you want to focus on comfort while enjoying any hot tub, so it’s best to make sure that your swimwear fits well, and that it feels setting appropriate for where you will be bathing. For example, swimwear like string bikinis should be avoided in public hot tub spaces but may be thematically appropriate for hosting a hot tub party.

What materials should be avoided with hot tub outfits?

Although the above swimwear we’ve mentioned is more than suitable for use in any hot tub, one thing to watch out for is the sort of material these items are made of, as some fabrics are much better suited to handling hot tub heat and sanitisers than others.

Therefore, as a general rule of thumb, you should avoid swimwear made from Lycra and spandex, both of which are likely to fade when exposed to excessive levels of hot tub chemicals. Cotton too is not an ideal material for hot tub swimwear as it is a very absorbent fabric and could prove heavy to wear.

Finally, it’s advisable that you don’t wear any form of hot tub outfit that includes exposed metals and plastics, as these could retain high levels of heat, and you ideally want to remove any accessories that could be damaged by exposure to water, before entering.

What to wear in a hot tub in winter?

Thanks to their warming nature, it’s more than feasible to use a hot tub all year round. But despite what you might think, there’s no real difference in what to wear in a hot tub in winter than in summer.

For the most part, the heat of your tub’s water will be more than enough to warm your entire body, even if your hot tub is outside. However, should your head get a little chilly, then there’s nothing wrong with donning a beanie or warm hat to protect your ears – just remember to keep your head above water so that it doesn’t get wet.

On top of this, many hot tub owners who prepare their hot tub for use over winter like to have warm towels in close proximity to their spas so that they can dry off quickly, as well as a warm coat and shoes that they can slip into as a shield against the cold.

Buy your first hot tub with The Wellness Co.

Hopefully, you should now have a much better idea of what to wear in a hot tub, depending on where you are and who you’re bathing with, and what additions to include if you plan on using one over the winter period.

Of course, if you’ve already had the pleasure of enjoying a hot tub in the past and are thinking about investing in your own, then you need look no further than The Wellness Co. range!

From hot tubs and swim spas to ice baths and more, we have everything you need to help you personalise your own wellness journey. Get in touch today to learn more about visiting one of our showrooms in person, and don’t forget to browse our hot tub blog as well for more articles on how to look after your hot tub and fun hot tub games you can try out.