Every Arctic Spas hot tub — all 22 models — shares the same cold-climate backbone. What changes across the Custom, Classic and Core series is equipment depth: jets, pumps, cabinet options, lighting and connectivity. Understanding what actually changes (and what does not) is the fastest way to buy the right tub without overpaying for features you will not feel.
TL;DR
- All three series share the same shell engineering, insulation approach, freeze protection and cold-climate build.
- Custom (8 models) is the flagship tier: highest jet counts, premium pumps, full options including salt water and connectivity.
- Classic (8 models) is the value sweet spot: strong equipment with most premium options available.
- Core (6 models) delivers the Arctic Spas fundamentals at the most accessible price of entry.
- Pick capacity and layout first, series second — a right-sized Classic beats a wrong-sized Custom every time.
What All Three Series Share
Start with the reassurance: choosing a lower series does not buy you a lesser winter. The insulated one-piece floor, cabinet heat management, cover engineering, freeze protection and shell construction are platform-level features across the lineup, built in the same Thorsby, Alberta factory. The salt water sanitizing option is available across most of the range as well.
What the series ladder buys is experience depth: how many jets and pumps, how sculpted the seating, how much lighting, which cabinet finishes, and how far the onboard technology goes.
| Custom | Classic | Core | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Models | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Jet & pump packages | Highest (up to 60 jets) | Strong mid-tier | Streamlined |
| Options list | Everything available | Most premium options | The essentials |
| Salt water available | Yes | Yes | Most models |
| Best for | Maximalists, entertainers | Most families — the value pick | First tubs, couples, cottages |
Custom Series: The Full Expression
The Custom series — Summit XL, Summit, Tundra, Kodiak, Klondiker, Yukon, Cub and Arctic Fox — is the platform with everything switched on: the highest jet counts (up to 60), the strongest pump packages, premium lighting, cabinet choices and the deepest option list. This is the tier for hydrotherapy maximalists, frequent entertainers and buyers who want the tub to be a decade-long centrepiece.
Classic Series: The Sweet Spot
The Classic series — Whistler, Ellesmere, Mustang, McKinley, Grizzly, Totem, Eagle and Timberwolf — keeps most of what matters and trims what many owners never use. Jet counts and pump packages sit a step below Custom, but seating comfort, build quality and the important options remain. For most New Brunswick families, this is where value peaks — you feel the winter engineering fully, at a friendlier number.
Core Series: The Accessible Door In
The Core series — Orca, Husky, Aurora, Orion, Nova and Lunar — exists so that real Arctic Spas engineering has an accessible entry point. Simpler jet and lighting packages, streamlined options, same bones. It is the honest answer for first-time owners, couples, cottages and anyone who wants dependable winter soaking more than a feature list.
How to Choose Your Tier
Decide in this order. First, capacity and layout: who actually soaks, how often, lounge or upright seats — our size guide helps here. Second, water care: if salt water is a priority, confirm availability on your shortlisted models. Third, and only third, the series: step up when a specific feature you will use weekly lives in the higher tier, not for the badge.
The wet test settles ties. A Grizzly that fits your back beats a Kodiak that does not, whatever the spec sheets say. Both showrooms keep models from multiple series filled for exactly this reason.
New Brunswick Perspective
A pattern from eighteen years of New Brunswick installs: buyers who stretch for one series higher than planned rarely regret it — and neither do buyers who right-size into Classic or Core and spend the difference on a better pad, a cover lifter and years of water care products. What owners do regret is wrong capacity. Get the size right and every series delivers the winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flexible Payments on Any Arctic Spas Hot Tub
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Visit a Poolboy Showroom in New Brunswick
Our team in Fredericton and Moncton can answer your questions, show you the full Arctic Spas lineup, and help you find the right fit for your home.
