the smaller the better. There is nothing gained by going bigger.

There is a gain in a Deep tub. Not wide.

Just FYI we are getting a bain ultra and our local showroom said the only complaint she had ever had about a bain ultra tub was the origami - very uncomfortable. They actually had one on the floor and she said that was the comment she heard all the time is wow this is not comfortable. I agree it looks cool though! I would try to find one to sit in before you buy as not an inexpensive purchase!

thanks guys!

Athensmom, can you tell us the name of your local showroom? I am interested in the origami tub, but not if it is uncomfortable. Talking with them would I think help pinpoint a better choice of tub...

One of the things I love about my *24" wide* Ultra is that it fills in a flash. Narrow is fine...unless the bather is wide. lol

I wouldn't use a big, slow-filling tub as often. I wouldn't want to clean more than I need to either.

We ordered the Elegancia 6636. Before ordering, I was looking at the Toto and the Bain, looking to go 72x42. Both my architect and GC told me not to go so big, hence the 66x36.

We're about 2-3wks from using it, and I haven't had a chance to actually sit in it yet. It kind of looks small, but I'm glad I did order this size as a larger one would've thrown off the other parts of the washroom. I'm fairly confident that my wife (5'8") and I (5'10") will find it the right size individually, but whether we'll be able to fit in together without playing Twister is another question. The eco-worrier in me is glad that it won't use as much water as a larger size, and it will also fill up faster.

Good luck with your decision!

hi athensmom & bishop8, can't wait to hear how you like your new bain ultra tubs! Chisue, I didn't realize they mad a 24" wide tub, do you have pics?

thanks guys!

72x36" tubs fit two smaller adults fine. Haven't used a 66x36 in that manner but think it would work out. 42"w tubs not only fill slowly, but often require high-capacity water heaters.

Our local showroom is W.A. Bragg and they don't have it on the floor any more. They used to and she said everyone who got in it said it was uncomfortable though.

As far as width, the 36" wide tub is not actually 36" wide where it counts - in the bathtub itself (nor is it actually 66" long - more like 57"). The 36" is actually the width of the entire tub, not the interior dimensions. If you look at the specs for each tub, you can get the interior dimensions, although we found they did not have the interior length so we called and they told us over the phone and are actually fedexing templates for the two tubs we are interested in to see which one works the best. We are undermounting our tub and it is in an alcove so we need to be sure we don't have too much or too little "deck" around it.

as one who just ripped out a huge tub and replaced with smaller, I can say that smaller is better. Not only does it take less water but the water stays warmer since the area it has to reduce in temp is smaller. My bathroom seems so much larger and I do NOT miss that big old thing at all. Also skipped all the jacuzzi jets and just went for the freestanding soaker. I love it, simple is working out well for us. We only used the jetted tub about 10 times in 13 years and the lines were all mildewed and nasty, could not wait to get it out of here and now can take a real old fashioned bath! There are some pretty tubs at Tubz.com

I drove 2 hours each way to sit in a Bain origami tub and found it to be very comfortable. It's what I plan to buy.

coolbeans - I liked the bain origami, too. Did it feel really deep to you?

I have had nothing but problems with my Bain Ultra jet tub. My tub would turn on randomly throughout the night, so I would be in bed and hear air rushing from the tub in the middle of the night. Within a year of installation the lights on the keypad stopped functioning. Called their customer service department and they will not honor their warranty. Apparently their electronics and keypads are poorly constructed. The Bain employee I spoke to suggested I replace the tub altogether.