Which bath material holds heat and lasts longest? For a long, hot soak, the material matters as much as the size. Omnitub baths are made from Omnigel — our hand-laid, multi-layer built-up system. It holds heat far longer than thin acrylic, stays warm to the touch unlike steel or stone, and — unlike cast iron — manages it without the crushing weight. Here's how the main bath materials compare.
At a glance
| Material | Heat retention | Warm to touch | Weight | Surface & repair | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omnigel (Omnitub) | High — deep water + multi-layer build | Yes — no cold shock | Light | Repairable in place; won't chip | Through-colour, made to order (BS 4800/RAL/paint-match), won't fade |
| Acrylic | Low–medium — thin shell | Fairly warm | Light | Scratches, flexes, can crack | Surface colour, limited palette |
| Pressed steel / enamel | Low — conducts heat away | No — cold to touch | Medium–heavy | Hard, but chips to rust | Factory palette only |
| Cast iron | High — once it's heated itself | No — cold until warmed | Very heavy | Durable; chips to rust; very demanding to support | Limited |
| Stone / stone resin | Medium | No — cold to touch | Very heavy | Premium look; can stain/scratch | Limited; costly |
Heat retention — the whole point of a soak
Two things keep water hot: depth (more water means more thermal mass) and the material around it. Omnitub gives you both — 600mm of internal depth and a multi-layer Omnigel build that insulates far better than a single thin sheet. Acrylic and pressed steel give up heat quickly; cast iron holds heat, but only after it's stolen the first rush of warmth from your water to heat itself. For outdoor and commercial use we build additional insulation in, so the water holds its temperature even longer.
Warm to the touch
Step into a steel, cast-iron or stone bath and the first thing you feel is cold — the material pulls heat from your body. Omnigel is warm the moment you get in: no cold shock. The non-slip texture is in the surface itself, not a coating that wears off.
Weight
Cast iron and stone are extraordinarily heavy. Omnigel is light to handle; once filled, the water is the main weight — much like any bath of the same capacity. (We can't advise on the structure of your specific property — your installer or a structural engineer can confirm any floor for your chosen size, as they would for any bath.)
Durability & repair
Enamel surfaces are excellent until they chip and rust; acrylic scratches and can flex or crack. Because an Omnitub's finish is built up rather than a thin skin, surface marks can usually be wet-sanded and polished out in place rather than replacing the bath — a big reason we back every one with a 30-year guarantee.
Colour
With acrylic and steel, colour is a surface layer in a short palette. With Omnigel the colour runs all the way through the build and is made to order — matched to any BS 4800, RAL or paint reference. It can't chip off or fade, because it isn't painted on.
Depth
Standard acrylic and steel baths are 300–400mm deep. Omnitub deep soaking baths give you 600mm (up to 1000mm in our Japanese seated tubs) — the difference between a shallow lie-down and a full, shoulder-deep soak.
Explore our deep soaking baths, learn how Omnigel is made, read the FAQ, or book a viewing in Somerset.