SpaCap Alternatives: Where to Get a Soft Hot Tub Cover Now
Update, August 2026: spacap.com currently displays a domain-parking page, and we could find no active ordering channel. This guide is for hot tub owners who wanted a SpaCap-style air cover and need current options.
For years, SpaCap was the answer for a specific kind of hot tub owner: someone done with foam — done with the waterlogging, the weight, the three-year replacement cycle — who wanted a soft, air-based cover instead. If you're here, you're probably that owner. The good news: the idea SpaCap pioneered didn't go away. It got re-engineered.
What made SpaCap different (and what to look for in a successor)
The SpaCap design used a sewn fabric shell with internal air bladders — up to five — so there was no foam core to absorb water. That's the property worth keeping. The trade-offs owners reported were the flip side of the same design: loose bladders under fabric meant a soft, unstructured cover, custom lead times, and a starting price around $500 that climbed with upgrades. A worthy successor keeps the no-foam principle and fixes the structure.
Option 1: AIRCAP 1™ — the drop-stitch air cover
The AIRCAP 1™ is the modern version of the air-cover idea. Instead of loose bladders in a sewn shell, it's a single heat-welded, UV-resistant PVC drop-stitch panel — the construction used in premium inflatable paddleboards — enclosing an AirLoc™ air core. The result is rigid when inflated, sheds rain instead of pooling it, and has nothing inside that can absorb water, so its 40–45 lb weight on day one is its weight in year five.
- Engineered to comply with ASTM F1346-23 as a manual safety cover
- Six sizes fitting square spas from 77″ to 94″ — find yours with the Spa Fitter (232 models, 17 brands) or measure with SureFit™
- Ziptech™ modular skirt system, three depths included
- $1,195 with a three-year warranty
Honest fit note: the AIRCAP 1 is built for square spas. If your tub is round or octagonal — shapes SpaCap made to order — a stock AIRCAP won't fit it, and one of the options below will serve you better.
Option 2: automated hard covers (Covana, Smartop)
Motorized or gas-strut assisted rigid covers solve the weight problem mechanically. They're the premium tier — typically several times the price of a soft cover, often requiring installation — and their cores are still conventional, but the daily experience is push-button.
Option 3: aluminum covers (Be-Lite class)
Aluminum-core covers can't waterlog either and stay light. Insulation depends heavily on the design, and aesthetics are utilitarian, but for round and unusual spas that need a no-foam option, this class is worth a look.
Option 4: staying with foam, eyes open
A quality foam cover from a reputable maker remains the cheapest entry point at $400–700. Just budget for its lifecycle honestly: the foam begins absorbing steam the day the vapor barrier develops its first flaw, and the industry's own guides put its lifespan at 3–5 years. Our guide to why hot tub covers get heavy explains the cycle.
Quick comparison
| SpaCap (historical) | AIRCAP 1™ | Automated | Foam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Air bladders (up to 5) | Welded drop-stitch air panel | Foam/rigid | EPS foam |
| Can waterlog | No | No | Yes (core) | Yes — it's the failure mode |
| Structure | Soft, unstructured | Rigid when inflated | Rigid | Rigid until saturated |
| Shapes | Custom, any shape | Square, 77″–94″ | Model-specific | Custom, any shape |
| Typical price | ~$500+ w/ upgrades | $1,195 | $3,000+ | $400–700, repeating |
| Availability | Website offline (Aug 2026) | In production | Dealer networks | Everywhere |
Want the full landscape? Our complete guide to hot tub cover alternatives compares all six options.
Frequently asked questions
Is SpaCap still in business?
We can't say definitively — but as of August 2026 their website shows only a domain-parking page and we could find no active way to order. If that changes, we'll update this guide.
What's the closest thing to a SpaCap today?
The AIRCAP 1™ keeps the core principle — an air-insulated cover with no foam to waterlog — and replaces the loose-bladder construction with a rigid welded drop-stitch panel. For square spas from 77″ to 94″, it's the direct successor to the idea.
I own a SpaCap. What should I do when it wears out?
If your spa is square and 77″–94″, look up your model in the Spa Fitter. If your spa is round or an unusual shape, an aluminum or custom automated cover is the practical route.