Lay-Z-Spa New York

Is the Lay-Z-Spa New York worth buying?

The Lay-Z-Spa New York is worth buying at £498.99 for a household that keeps the heater on through most of the year and wants the warmth to stay where it is put. Its EnergySense liner, insulating lid and power-saving timer are the reason it holds a place among the tubs worth considering, and six seats inside a 196 cm round shell give a family room to spread out.

It is a poor fit for anyone who fills a tub a dozen times a summer, because those same efficiency features cost money up front and only earn it back over months of use. The owner base is thin at 31 ratings and 3.9, so the case rests on how often you will actually run it rather than on a long trail of other buyers.

What do 140 AirJets and 39.8 kg mean in practice?

The New York rings 140 AirJets around a 196 cm circle, which works out at one jet roughly every 4.4 cm of wall. The 180 cm Miami fits 120 jets at about 4.7 cm apart, so the New York lays a slightly denser curtain of bubbles rather than a harder one. Split six ways, that circle gives each bather around a metre of space.

Empty, it weighs 39.8 kg, which is 7.5 kg more than the Dellonda and close to twice the Nordivale's 20 kg, so two people should lift it into position before the first fill. Once it is standing, that weight is what buys a 66 cm wall and a shell that holds its shape without a frame.

What comes with the Lay-Z-Spa New York and what is it like to live with?

The tub arrives as a 196 cm round shell standing 66 cm tall in green, and it needs assembling before the first fill, so set aside an afternoon and clear a level patch about 2.3 m across. The triple-layer TriTech wall is seamless, which is what keeps the air in and the shape under pressure.

The insulating lid, top cover and power-saving timer all come as part of the EnergySense setup, and that trio is what holds heat in between soaks. Up to 2 years of manufacturer warranty covers the tub, and the pump runs from a standard corded electric supply. Draining it and drying it flat at the end of the season is the routine that keeps the material in shape for the next one.

Where does the Lay-Z-Spa New York fall short?

At 39.8 kg empty it is the heaviest tub of the ten, so shifting it from the lawn to the shed in October is a two-person job rather than a quick solo lift. Assembly is required, which means it does not go from box to hot water without some time spent on your knees.

The £498.99 price sits above every tub here except the Helsinki, and the New York does without the wifi control the Boracay offers for £389.99. Only 31 owners have rated it, at 3.9, so the feedback base is far thinner than the Barcelona's 543 ratings or the Tenerife's 835.

How does the Lay-Z-Spa New York compare with the Dellonda and the Barcelona?

The Dellonda costs £434.98, which is £64.01 less, and holds 1,200 litres against the New York's six seats in a 196 cm shell. It also weighs 32.3 kg empty, 7.5 kg less to shift, and runs the same 140 jets, so a household that wants the most water for the money is better served by the Dellonda.

The Barcelona at £399.99 is £99 cheaper, runs 130 AirJets inside a 185 cm square and carries 543 ratings at 4.2, a far deeper owner record. It is the better buy for a patio that suits a square outline and a buyer who wants the reassurance of numbers; the New York only wins where the EnergySense heating and the extra ten jets matter more than £99.