Get out of the daily grind and into real life.
A hot tub or garden bathtub is more than just a tub of warm water. It’s a retreat, a break from the hustle and bustle of the digital world. No flickering screens. No messages that beep. Just wood, water, warmth – and time for you. To ensure that your bathing experience remains beautiful for a long time and requires little effort, it needs a suitable location and a surface that plays along.
The right hot tub location determines how uncomplicated your bathing experience will be. A stable base, enough space and a cleverly chosen location ensure a free and self-determined bath in nature. In this article, you will learn 7 tried-and-tested tips on how to set up your hot tub optimally – whether in the garden, on the patio or in the middle of nature.
These 7 tips will help you find a place where your hot tub is safe, easy to reach and where you simply feel comfortable.
1. enough space for your hot tub
A hot tub usually has a diameter of 160 to 180 cm. That sounds compact, but you need extra space all around – for getting in and out, for storing wood and for moving around. At least 3 × 4 meters makes sense so that it doesn’t feel cramped. If you opt for a
A garden bathtub needs less: about 3 × 1 meter is enough. Thanks to the compact design and low weight, you can easily move them around as the mood takes you. This gives you the freedom to change the location depending on the season or weather – bathing in the sun in summer, sheltered from the wind in the corner in winter.
2. the substrate - stable, level and load-bearing
A filled hot tub can easily weigh over two tons – water, wood stove and people combined. Regardless of whether you use a wooden deck, concrete slabs, paving stones or natural stone: The surface must support the weight safely and horizontally.
It is best to place the feet of the barrel on stable plates to distribute the weight evenly and prevent it from sinking in or tilting.
3. place the outdoor oven securely
If your heater is outside the hot tub, it needs its own firm stand at the same level so that the water circulation can function properly. A stable slab or a small foundation prevents the outdoor heater from sinking in or tipping over.
Make sure that there are no flammable materials in the immediate vicinity – wood, dry grass or tarpaulins should be kept at a distance.
4. use wind and weather protection
A sheltered spot for your hot tub is doubly practical in winter: less wood is needed to heat it and you can sit more comfortably in the warm water without the draughts that can annoy your ears. A hedge, a wall or a natural slope can work wonders for your perfect hot tub location.
5. water access
A garden hose is the convenient solution: connect it, turn it on and wait. Practical, especially when it’s within easy reach.
In winter, remember that the hose must be emptied and stored in a frost-proof place.
If you want to be even freer and place your hot tub in the wilderness, you can use water from a nearby stream or river. It can be filled using a pump or water pressure.
6. Wood supply ready to hand
No hot bath without dry wood. Store your wood supplies where you can reach them quickly – preferably under cover to keep moisture out. A wooden shelter near the hot tub is ideal.
For a hot tub with around 1,500 liters of water, you need around 12 kg of dry wood to bring it to bathing temperature. For a garden bathtub with 300-500 liters, a smaller amount (5 to 7 kg) is sufficient. If you want to save money here, collect wood scraps, branches or fallen wood in the surrounding area (where permitted).
7. freedom - your place, your rules
There are no fixed rules when it comes to hot tub location. You can place your wood-fired hot tub or garden bathtub on the patio, in the middle of the garden, in a hidden corner between trees or even on a slope with a view of the valley.
If you like it clean and tidy, set up a small wellness zone with natural stone slabs or a wooden deck. If you like it wild, simply place your hot tub on the forest floor, smell the wet wood and feel the ground beneath your feet as the steam rises into the cold air.
A mobile garden bathtub is the joker here: light, portable, flexible – simply move it as the mood takes you, without the need for tradesmen or machines.
Conclusion - your place for real moments
A hot tub is not just decoration, but a place for real life. A place where you can slide into the warm water on cold winter days or sit under the stars on summer evenings.
With a suitable location, a stable base, wood and water, you have everything you need. That’s all you need to escape the daily grind and immerse yourself in your own little world – far away from the digital noise.
Own the wild.
About the author
Sophie Auer is the wife of Martin Auer, the founder of Feuerwasser. She has been with Feuerwasser since the early days. She loves the simple life in nature, bathing in the open air and the crackling of a real wood fire.
In her texts, she writes about natural self-care, real experiences without filters and the good life – away from the screen. As the provocative voice of the Own The Wild mission, she inspires people to get back in touch with themselves, with nature and with their own wildness.