Kirami Hot Tubs and Gardenvity Hot Tubs – Features & Buying Guide for UK Buyers

What are Kirami hot tubs?

Kirami is a Finnish manufacturer often described as one of the world’s largest dedicated hot tub makers. [Kirami Story]

The company emerged from Finland’s rich sauna culture, introducing wood fired hot tubs that became popular across Europe for terrace, garden and lakeside cabin installations.

Their products blend Nordic design with functional outdoor wellness, drawing on many years of knowledge refined since their 2001 founding.

• Complete packages: Kirami hot tubs typically arrive as ready-to-use kits including the tub, heater, adjustable air vent, flue set with 1m heat shield and weather proof cowl, thermometer, ash shovel.

• Capacity range: spans from compact 2–3 person designs suited for couples, up to the Woody XL, which is marketed for 8–12 people. While there are only 8 visible seats inside the tub, the claim of a 12-person capacity seems to assume that the remaining 4 people are content to squeeze into the center footwell or overlap in the water. [Kirami Woody XL | The Log Company]
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• Interior colours: Inserts come in various tones. [Kirami Product Catalog 2025]

  

  Interior colours Kirami Product Catalog 2025, p. 40

• External cladding: Outer panels feature ThermoWood (heat-treated timber with enhanced durability), composite boards or painted wooden panels in multiple colours. [Kirami Product Catalog 2025]

  

  Exterior colours Kirami Product Catalog 2025, p. 41

Materials, heaters and build quality

The materials used in a wood fired hot tub directly affect heating efficiency, longevity and maintenance requirements. Understanding these differences helps you make an informed buying decision.

Kirami’s signature feature is their heaters crafted from ALMg3 marine-grade aluminium. ‍

• Aluminium heaters: Kirami’s aluminium construction. Aluminium can develop cosmetic marking over time, prompting many buyers to compare with stainless steel alternatives.

• Shell materials: Kirami tubs feature only plastic liners with functional surfaces or no liner at all.
  
  ‍Plastic interiors clean easily and resist staining compared to traditional all-wood tubs.

• External cladding: Options include: Thermowood, Red Cedar, Recycled Plastic, Stained Spruce.
  

• Practical components: Tubs include plastic or insulated covers that retain heat between sessions.

Heating Kirami hot tubs: wood‑fired and hybrid options

All Kirami hot tub heaters are made with AlMg3 aluminium. Every heater is pressure-tested for leakages before it leaves the factory. [Kirami Product Catalog 2025]‍

Tub heaters Kirami Product Catalog 2025, p. 42

Kirami also offers an Air Source Heat Pump — an air source heat pump can be used as a complete alternative to the wood-fired heater, or in harmony with the wood-fired heater.

The estimated cooling or heating time is about 8°C per hour in the Tiny tub, while in larger M sized tubs, it is 4 to 5°C per hour.
The largest L sized tubs see this reduce to 2 to 3°C per hour.

It also includes: filter housing and cartridge, ozone generator, all required connection pipework, and tub connection fittings. [Heat Pump]

4°C to 40°C Air Source Heat Pump (Hot, Cold & Filter)

Comfort features: massage jets, LED lighting and accessories

Early Finnish hot tubs were simple heated barrels, and while Kirami models offer "upgrades," they are minimal at best.

LED lights are available as an accessory for colours marked with this symbol.

• ‍Water massage: The water massage system consists of just four jets in one spot; consequently, the feature is limited to one person at a time.

• LED lighting: Legroom led coronas

• Drink holders: Rim-molded holders keep beverages within reach.

Filtration, water care and hygiene

Traditional wood-fired hot tubs were often designed for occasional use, with water refreshed after each session.
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Modern UK users typically prefer keeping water clean for several weeks, making filtration and water care essential considerations.
Proper hygiene protects bathers, extends water life, and reduces the hassle of constant draining and refilling—particularly valuable during winter, when heating from cold takes longer.
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Kirami tubs in the UK market pair with add-on filtration sold separately.

• Mass filter MF250: MF250 is a small mass filter.
  As a filtering medium, you can use either traditional filtering sand or Kirami filter fibers—both of which can be washed and rinsed.
  You can also easily replace the medium when necessary.

• Dual heatpump: Dual heatpump can both heat up and cool down the water in a hot tub.
  The unit consists of a circulation pump, a filter, and a control panel.
  Total power: approx. 5 kW.

Mass filter MF250

Dual heatpump

Kirami does not offer dedicated filter boxes to protect their equipment, leaving the components exposed to weather conditions.

This lack of a protective housing means the filtration system is vulnerable to the elements and lacks any sort of general aesthetic or functional enclosure.

Kirami hot tubs vs Gardenvity wood‑fired hot tubs

Established in 2001, Kirami draws on Finnish heritage to produce over 10,000 units annually for the European market.

In contrast, Gardenvity is a Lithuanian manufacturer within the URTA Outdoor Wellness Group.
Since 2008, the group has supplied high-quality components to various manufacturers, allowing Gardenvity to deliver premium wood-fired hot tubs directly to British homeowners with dedicated local support.

• Heating method: Both offer wood-fired hot tubs as standard.
  Kirami also provides some hybrid options offering options for both wood and electric heating, while Gardenvity focuses on efficient wood-fired systems with stainless steel heaters designed for fast heat-up.
  Gardenvity also offers integrated heaters.

• Heater materials: Kirami uses aluminium heaters.
  Gardenvity uses thick stainless steel fireboxes that resist cosmetic marking and deliver durable performance.

• Shell construction: Kirami offers plastic inserts or classic hot tubs with no insert at all.
  Gardenvity provides fiberglass and acrylic options with hydro and air massage jets built in.

• Comfort features: Kirami offers optional 4 massage jets and LED lighting on select models.
  Gardenvity tubs come with configurable hydro jets, air jets, LED lighting, sand filtration, and UV purification as standard or optional upgrades.

Choosing between Kirami and other wood‑fired hot tubs

Many UK buyers begin their search with Kirami hot tubs as a benchmark, then compare several reputable wood-fired brands before making a final decision.
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This comparative approach ensures you find the best match for your specific needs.
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Use this checklist to evaluate any wood-fired hot tub, whether Kirami, Gardenvity, or another brand:

• Budget: Establish your total budget including delivery, installation, and any accessories.
  Prices typically range from £3,000 to £10,000+ depending on size and features.

• Seating capacity: Choose based on realistic regular use rather than maximum capacity.
  A 6-person tub provides comfortable space for 4 adults, while an 8-person model suits regular entertaining.

• Heating speed: Compare manufacturer claims against real-world reviews.
  Stainless steel and aluminium heaters perform differently—consider which material suits your priorities.

• Comfort features: Decide whether massage jets, LED lighting, and integrated filtration matter to you, or whether a simpler setup suits your intended use.