The Best At-Home Saunas Give You a Spa-Like Sweat Session in Your Own Home
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There are many ways to care for our bodies these days, some more luxurious than others. Let’s be honest — there’s nothing particularly glamorous about taking your daily vitamins, chugging water, or getting to bed at a reasonable hour. And yet we all do (or strive to) do these things daily to keep ourselves healthy.
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If you’re a total health nut, there are plenty of fancier, more extravagant, and expensive ways to take care of yourself, including using a massage gun and plunging into your at-home ice bath after work. These rituals are good for anyone and are especially beneficial for active individuals looking to boost their recovery. Sure, you could book a day at your local spa, but why not invest in specific therapeutic remedies you can indulge in your home? We’re talking foot massagers, compression therapy and at-home saunas.
Home Saunas: What You Need to Know
Just in case you’ve never used a sauna before, it’s basically a very hot, dry room often made entirely of wood where you sweat out everything from that martini you had last night to that embarrassing thing you did when you were eight years old. Seriously, these things make you SWEAT.
Most saunas use dry heat to reach temperatures as high as 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Some people may find them very therapeutic after a long workout or training session. The practice has roots in Scandinavia, where people have been sitting and sweating for hundreds of years. In fact, there are some 2 million saunas in Finland for the country’s 5.2 million people.
What to Consider Before Buying a Home Sauna
The key to reaping as many benefits as possible from a home sauna? Consistent usage. The good news is you don’t have to belong to a bougie health club or drive to a spa in the mountains to use one, as there are plenty of at-home options available.
Rather than spa saunas that either burn wood to generate heat, burn coals or use spooned water over sauna rocks to generate heat, home saunas are typically run with electricity. There are a few different common types of home saunas — including ceramic heat saunas and carbon heat saunas. Both typically incorporate infrared elements, but ceramic heat is hotter, and carbon heat saunas can penetrate deeper.
Remember that the installation process for a high-end, expensive product like this will require more effort, similar to installing a new washing machine, refrigerator, or stovetop. If you don’t book installation along with your purchase, it’ll most likely get dropped at the curb and require two people, at least, to carry it to your desired location. Some require some assembling, and some may require an electrician, depending on how much power they need.
Most home saunas fit two to three people, with some larger outdoor models accommodating up to six people at once.
Steam vs. Infrared Saunas
You can purchase two distinct at-home saunas: steam and infrared. The main difference between the two is, you guessed it, the type of heat and how that heat gets delivered. Steam saunas use steam poured over hot coals or another heat source to produce a wet, sticky, humid environment to sweat in. Even though they’re more traditional, modern steam saunas often still use electricity for heating.
Infrared saunas use light waves to heat you quickly. Both will give you a serious sweat session, but infrared saunas heat up a little faster and use more energy. You’ll often see infrared saunas called far infrared; far refers to where on the light wavelength the waves come from. There are also full-spectrum infrared saunas to choose from.
What sets infrared saunas apart is that, instead of heating the air around you, infrared saunas heat your skin directly. That means that even if the inside temperature of the sauna might be lower, you can still enjoy the same benefits of a sauna. If the luxury at-home saunas featured below are out of your price range, you can also consider alternatives such as infrared sauna blankets.
Some may enjoy the humidity and steaminess of a traditional sauna, while others may opt for the convenience and control of an infrared sauna.
Health Benefits and Risks of Saunas
SPY Disclaimer: Our editors strive to provide the most accurate information, but we are not doctors or health experts. Please consult your doctor or a healthcare professional before adding any new regimen to your healthcare routine, including sessions in a home sauna.
If you’ve been in a sauna, there’s a good chance you’ve left feeling relaxed, but saunas can also potentially boost your health.
There’s also some evidence that saunas may help relieve pain throughout the body, including joint tension and stiffness. A 2008 study on patients with certain musculoskeletal diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis showed improvement in physical symptoms after four weeks of consistent use. And while there aren’t enough high-quality clinical studies yet, the ones that do exist have pointed to potential health benefits of saunas.
There is also a potential risk of dehydration if you stay in a sauna for too long, so please follow all instructions in the operating manual for the device, as well as recommendations from your doctor.
BEST OVERALL
Almost Heaven Logan Sauna in Cedar
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Buy Now at home depot
Seats: 1 person
Heating Method: Steam
Materials: Cedar
Use: Indoors
Think you can’t have a sauna just because you live in a small space? Think again. This steam sauna can be used indoors and is 53″ wide by 36″ deep. The sauna uses steam for a traditional sauna feeling. It can reach a maximum temperature of 195 degrees, meaning you can get as toasty as you want. Almost Heaven is also a US-based company, and their saunas have been manufactured in the USA for over 40 years.
BEST INFRARED
Dynamic Andora Sauna
Buy Now On Amazon
Buy Now on home depot
Seats: 2 people
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Hemlock
Use: Indoors
This infrared sauna from Dynamic comes with six low-EMF far infrared carbon heating panels, two on the rear wall, one on each side, one underneath the bench, and one on the floor, for a fully immersive heating experience. It’s got a two-person capacity, so it’s also not designed for larger households and has a clear tempered glass door and side windows, so you’re not claustrophobic while using it. It’s made with reforested Canadian hemlock wood and comes with soft touch control panels and an LED display for easy temperature and time tracking. This is one of the few luxury home saunas for sale on Amazon, where it’s an “Amazon’s Choice” product with a 4.7-star rating.
BEST FEATURES
Therasauna Infrared Sauna
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Seats: 4 people
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Solid/Manufactured Wood
Use: Indoors
This luxurious indoor sauna is built to seat up to four, making for a luxurious option for groups. It’s a far infrared sauna, heating the body directly to offer comfort and relaxation. It’s made from solid wood and has handy features for added convenience. After all, the last thing a sauna should be is stressful. A programmable computer allows two users to set their preferred temperatures for different times of the day. This option reaches a maximum temperature of 145 degrees. There are interior and exterior lights.
MOST STYLISH
Dynamic Infrared Santiago 2
Buy Now at wayfair
Seats: 2 people
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Hemlock
Use: Indoors
This far infrared sauna from Dynamic Infrared has an attractive design and can seat two people. It’s made of Canadian Hemlock wood for retaining heat and more energy efficiency. The hemlock is also reforested for a more eco-friendly product. It uses light waves to heat up and has a max temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you’re an at-home gym nut looking to expand your recovery repertoire, this is a worthwhile investment, or you’re just looking for a way to relax, this is a great sauna to buy.
BEST BARREL SAUNA
Almost Heaven Audra Sauna
Buy Now at wayfair
Seats: 4 people
Heating Method: Steam
Material: Cedar
Use: Outdoors
This sauna is meant to be installed outdoors, but it also has more space inside and can fit more people. It has a ball-and-socket design held in place by stainless steel bands and fasteners. This construction allows the lumber to expand and contract with temperature fluctuations, all while keeping a tight seal. The two polymer support cradles lift the whole thing off the ground, and the barrel shape is great for an even heat distribution. It has a vent and outdoor seating options for storing towels, drinks, or other accessories. The SPY team has tested this particular at-home sauna, and it provides a luxurious, spa-like experience.
PRECISE CONTROLS
Therasauna 2 – Person Indoor far Infrared Sauna
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Seats: 2 people
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Solid/Manufactured Wood
Use: Indoors
Therasauna makes indoor infrared saunas in a variety of sizes; this option is manufactured in the USA and is designed to seat two, making it a more space-saving option. There’s a control panel, allowing you to easily set the temperature and micron level of each heating unit. The seven-day setting allows two different users to set sauna presets, meaning the sauna will be ready to go when you are. There’s also an interior reading light.
SLEEK DESIGN
Almost Heaven Saunas 2-Person Indoor Sauna
Buy Now at wayfair
Seats: 2 people
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Plastic and hemlock
Use: Indoors
Though Almost Heaven primarily manufactures steam saunas, they also have a range of great infrared saunas. This option is suited for indoor use and has a sleekly modern look. It fits up to two people, and you can customize lighting and play music through built-in Bluetooth speakers.
SPACE-SAVING DESIGN
Dynamic Infrared Maxxus
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Seats: 3 people
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Hemlock
Use: Indoors
Three’s a party, and three in a sauna is even more of a party. This option from Dynamic is infrared and can reach a maximum temperature of 130 degrees. Easy-to-use panels on the inside and outside of the sauna make it easy to control the temperature. You can also use FM or an auxiliary cord to listen to music, even without Bluetooth. The triangular shape makes it easy to place in the corner.
HEATS QUICKLY
Dynamic San Marino 2-Person far Infrared Sauna
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Seats: 2 people
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Hemlock
Use: Indoors
This sauna from Dynamic Saunas fits two people and has an environmentally-friendly construction designed to heat up faster and more efficiently and use less energy. It has remote control and two control panels, one inside and one outside, for customizing the temperature. It’s also got six carbon, low-EMF heating panels and a clear, tempered glass door for easy entrances and exits.
MOST CLASSIC
Almost Heaven Saunas Audra Steam Sauna
Buy Now on wayfair
Seats: 6people
Heating Method: Steam
Material: Cedar
Use: Outdoors
If you’d like a roomy sauna so all your friends can join you for a spa day, this option from Almost Heaven is one of the biggest saunas we found that you can order online. It’s got a roomy barrel design that’s big enough for up to six people. It’s designed for outdoor use, so you’ll want to build it in a backyard or large outdoor space. A unique ball-and-socket design allows the lumber to expand and contract with the temperature changes and form a tight seal. The design is also aesthetically pleasing and functional, and there’s a bench inside and outside for holding towels, and drinks, or taking breaks between sauna sessions.
MODERN LOOK
SAUNASNET 2-room Barrel Sauna
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Seats: 4-6 or 6-8
Heating Method: Steam
Material: Hemlock or red cedar
Use: Outdoors
It’s one of the most expensive on this list and easily one of the most luxurious. Saunasnet’s outdoor barrel sauna has a sleekly modern design with a large window that takes up a full wall of the sauna. That allows you to appreciate the outdoors while you steam. Naturally, it also means you’ll have to be mindful of where you place it. But we’re betting if you’re buying this sauna, you have the outdoor space for it. It has two rooms and can seat up to 8 people. It uses traditional steam, and you can choose between a wood-burning stove or an electric stove.
SMART DESIGN
Radiant Sauna Infrared Sauna
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Seats: 4 people
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Hemlock
Use: Indoors
Unsurprisingly, an indoor sauna takes up a lot of space, but this option from Radiant Sauna is designed to tuck into the corner, utilizing space more smartly. It can fit up to four people. There are ten carbon infrared heaters and a built-in speaker system for listening to music. Though there’s no Bluetooth, the integrated sound system allows you to unwind with an aux, a radio, and even a CD player. The control panel allows you to change the interior and exterior LEDs, and there’s an adjustable roof vent.
MOST COMPACT
SereneLife One Person Sauna
Buy Now On Amazon
Seats: 1 person
Heating Method: Infrared
Material: Synthetic
Use: Indoors
Even among the “space-saving” options on our list, many of these saunas don’t work for the average home, especially if you live in the city. SereneLife’s one-person sauna is a space-saving collapsible option that won’t take up your entire bedroom. While this sauna won’t feel as luxurious as a real wood sauna, you can still enjoy the benefits of spa relaxation without dropping thousands. This sauna uses infrared heat and has a controller.
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