Into the Hot Tub: How to Get the Most From a Wood Fired Soak
There are few pleasures in life quite as deeply satisfying as sinking into a wood fired hot tub. The warmth builds slowly, the fire crackles beside you, steam rises into the cool air, and the stars — if you've timed it right — are doing their thing overhead. It's rustic, it's restorative, and once you've done it properly, nothing else really compares.
But getting the most from a wood fired hot tub takes a little know-how. Unlike a push-button electric tub, these are living, breathing systems that reward patience and preparation. Here's how to do it properly.
Understanding What You've Got
A wood fired hot tub is beautifully simple in concept. A wood-burning stove — either built into the tub or sitting alongside it in an external firebox — heats the water through a basic convection system. Cold water flows in from the bottom of the stove, rises as it heats, circulates through the tub, and gradually brings the whole body of water up to temperature.
There are no pumps, no digital displays, no chemicals (in most setups). What you have instead is fire, water, and time — which, it turns out, is all you really need.
Step One: Fill the Tub Early
This sounds obvious, but it catches people out more than almost anything else. A wood fired hot tub typically holds 1,500 to 2,000 litres of water. That's a lot of cold water to heat up, and it takes both time and fuel.
As a general rule, plan for 3 to 5 hours from lighting to bathing, depending on the ambient temperature, the tub's insulation, the quality of your firewood, and how hot you want the water. In winter, it will take longer. In summer, the process is noticeably quicker.
The practical upshot: if you want an evening soak, fill the tub and light the fire in the early afternoon. Don't leave it until after dinner and expect to be in the water by nine. You won't be.
If there's a lid or cover available, keep it on while the water is heating — you'll lose a significant amount of heat through the surface otherwise.
Step Two: Get Your Firewood Right
The quality of your firewood makes an enormous difference. You need wood that is seasoned and dry — meaning it has been cut and allowed to air-dry for at least a year, ideally two. Wet or green wood will smoulder, produce a lot of smoke, generate comparatively little heat, and coat the inside of your stove in tar over time. It's frustrating to work with and bad for the equipment.
Hardwoods are best: oak, ash, beech, birch, and hornbeam all burn hot and long. Softwoods like pine will burn, but they burn faster and less cleanly, and can leave resinous deposits. If you're sourcing your own wood, logs cut to around 25–30cm work well in most fireboxes. Split wood ignites and burns more efficiently than round logs.
Start with small kindling and a couple of firelighters, let the fire establish itself, then add progressively larger pieces. Once you have a good bed of embers, the fire becomes much easier to manage and maintain.
Step Three: Monitor and Manage the Temperature
The ideal temperature for a hot tub soak is somewhere between 36°C and 40°C (96–104°F). At 36–37°C the water feels warm and comfortable for extended soaking. At 38–40°C it's distinctly hot and more of an experience — intensely relaxing but not something most people sustain for more than 20–30 minutes without a break.
You'll almost certainly have a thermometer — use it regularly. It's surprisingly easy to overshoot your target temperature, particularly if you've built a roaring fire and walked away for an hour. Once the water is too hot, there's no quick fix other than waiting, adding cold water (which then needs to be reheated), or opening the cover to release steam.
In practice, the best approach is to manage the fire rather than letting it run wild. Once you've hit around 35°C, ease back on the fuel and allow the embers to do the work gently. Slow and steady wins the race.
Step Four: Set the Scene
This is where the magic really happens — and where a little effort goes a long way.
Lighting is everything. String lights in surrounding trees, lanterns on nearby surfaces, or even just a couple of candles create an atmosphere that no overhead bulb can replicate. If you're going in after dark, low warm lighting transforms the experience.
Music or silence — your call. Some people swear by a playlist drifting out from a waterproof speaker. Others prefer to hear the fire, the water, and whatever wildlife is nearby. Both are valid. Just decide in advance; fumbling with a phone with wet hands in the dark is not the vibe.
Towels and robes should be warm and within easy reach. Ideally hung near the fire or indoors so they're actually warm when you need them. The contrast between the hot water and the cool air as you climb out is one of the great sensory pleasures of the experience — a cold towel will immediately ruin it.
Drinks deserve some thought. Something cold is wonderfully refreshing in a hot tub — ice cold water, cold lager, a glass of sparkling wine. Avoid anything in glass if the tub is on decking or surrounded by stone. Keep a soft drink or water alongside anything alcoholic; the heat dehydrates you faster than you'd expect.
Snacks — honestly, yes. A board of cheese and charcuterie balanced on the tub's edge, or a bowl of something salty and crunchy, is an excellent companion. Small pleasures compound.
Step Five: Getting In (and Out) Safely
A few practical points worth knowing. The water immediately around the stove or heat exchanger will always be hotter than the water on the far side of the tub. Give it a good stir with your hands before getting in, or allow some time after adding fuel for the temperature to equalise.
Enter slowly. Easing in gradually rather than plunging allows your body to adjust. People with cardiovascular conditions, high blood pressure, or who are pregnant should take particular care — hot water raises the heart rate and puts additional strain on the circulatory system. When in doubt, check with a GP first.
Don't soak for more than 15–20 minutes without taking a break, especially in very hot water. The heat causes blood vessels to dilate and blood pressure to drop, which can make you feel lightheaded when you stand up. Get out slowly, rest on the edge or a nearby seat for a minute or two, and drink some water.
Children should only use a hot tub at lower temperatures (no more than 35°C) and should never be left unsupervised near the water.
Step Six: The Full Ritual
Part of what makes a wood fired hot tub special is the ritual around it — the preparation, the tending of the fire, the wait. Don't rush it or try to compress it. That time spent building the fire and watching the temperature climb is part of the experience.
Some ideas for turning it into a proper occasion:
A cold plunge or shower between soaks activates circulation in a way that feels remarkable. If there's a stream, a cold outdoor shower, or even a hosepipe nearby, using it between 10-minute soaks in the hot tub is genuinely one of life's great contrasts.
A woodland setting transforms the experience. The smell of pine, the sounds of birds or wind in the trees, the sense of being outdoors while cocooned in warm water — it's hard to overstate how much the setting amplifies everything.
Time it with the sunset or stars. Getting in as the sun goes down, or lying back in the dark looking up at a clear sky, is the kind of thing that stays with you.
Afterwards: Looking After the Tub
If you're at a holiday property, the tub is someone else's responsibility — but it's worth being a considerate guest. Don't add foam bath, essential oils, or anything else to the water unless the host has specifically said it's fine. Most wood fired tubs rely on clean, untreated water, and any additives can cause foam build-up, affect the wood, or damage the stove.
If you own or maintain a tub yourself, drain and refill it regularly, allow the firebox to cool fully before cleaning out ash, and check the seal between the stove and tub periodically. A well-maintained wood fired hot tub will last for many years.
Final Thoughts
A wood fired hot tub is not a quick amenity — it's an event. The build-up, the fire, the slow climb of the thermometer, the first moment when the water is exactly right and you lower yourself in — all of it conspires to produce something that feels genuinely special. In a world of instant gratification, there's a particular satisfaction in something that asks a little patience in return for an experience that electric buttons simply can't replicate.
Light the fire. Wait. Soak.
You won't regret it.