What is the Best Type of Home Sauna?

Many people have incorporated saunas in their treatment and prevention plans for various health complications for years. These include sore joints and muscles, sleep problems, and weight control. Further, athletes use saunas for detoxification, improved circulation, post-workout recovery, and relaxation. So, what is the best home sauna? Read on to find out. But first, here are factors to consider before buying a home sauna. 

Traditional Sauna vs Infrared Sauna: What Sauna Should You Buy?

Before choosing a home sauna, you must determine your desired type. Traditional and infrared saunas are the most common types for home use. The core difference between infrared and traditional saunas is how they generate heat for relaxation and health benefits. Traditional saunas rely on heated rocks or a wood-burning stove to heat the air up to between 66°C and 82°C.

When exposed to this heat, your body begins its natural cooling process, discharging profuse cleansing sweat. Traditional saunas are ideal for you if you’re sensitive to heat. On the other hand, heat from the infrared sauna heats and penetrates the body, making you comfortable at a reduced cost. The temperature in the infrared sauna is way lower than inside the traditional sauna. It ranges from 49°C to 60°C. 80% of the heat inside an infrared sauna penetrates your body directly, with only 20% disappearing in the air.

Due to its effectiveness, the infrared sauna can be an effective addition to your wellness routine. The type of home sauna you choose depends on your wellness needs and personal preferences. The traditional sauna will be ideal if you prefer a sauna with hot rocks, high heat, and steam. However, the infrared sauna would be the best option if you can't stand high heat. 

What to Choose Between a Carbon and Ceramic Infrared Heater? 

The common materials used in infrared heaters are carbon and ceramic, with carbon heaters being the upper option. While they are more expensive, they are light and thin. Further, they provide a safe, even surface temperature and are durable. Infrared heat from carbon heaters penetrates deep into the skin tissue, allowing your body to soak up more energy and sweat profusely. Other things you should consider in terms of infrared heating include:

• Does it feature surround heating? The ideal sauna should have heaters on the side and back walls, on the floor, by your calves, and under the bench to ensure you’re surrounded by infrared heat 

• The surface temperature. Choose a sauna heater with a low surface area temperature for maximum healing benefits. This will allow for a more specific wavelength throughout the sauna session 

• The type of infrared heat you want. Infrared heaters can deliver far, mid, near, and full-spectrum infrared heat, with far and near-infrared heating elements being the most common

Installation Location

You can install an infrared sauna indoors or outdoors. On the other hand, traditional steam saunas can be limited, and you must hire a professional to install them due to their electrical, ventilation, drainage, and plumbing requirements. This explains why they are costlier than traditional home saunas.

Determining whether your home sauna will be outdoors or indoors, the size of the sauna, available space, ventilation, and available electrical outlets will help you make an informed decision.

Cost of the Sauna

Sauna prices vary from $2,000 for the most basic options to $10,000 for the most sophisticated custom-built types. The price is based on the size, type, extra features, and quality of equipment and timber used.

It’s worth mentioning that traditional steam saunas are costlier than their infrared therapy counterparts. This is attributed to installation and burner costs. Cheaper saunas are often made with low-quality materials, are less effective, and may require costly replacement and repairs over time. Create a list of your must-have features to decide your budget. Find out whether your retailer offers financing options. 

Type of Wood 

Steam and Infrared saunas can be made from wood such as cedar, spruce, premium hemlock, plywood, or pine. Due to their durability, hemlock and cedar are the most popular sauna timbers. Besides its rich aroma, cedar is resistant to shrinking and splitting. It also has an elegant finish. As a result, it is costlier than other wood types. Hemlock has smooth, contoured edges and lines. It has a low scent, making it an excellent choice for people with allergies. Here are factors to consider before choosing sauna timbers. 

·       Quality

Choose a chemical-free, high-quality, dense softwood that won’t secrete resin or overheat. It should resist moisture and heat and retain its finish and color even after prolonged use. 

·       Unscented or Scented

Some woods, such as cedar, poplar, aspen, and spruce, can discharge a rich aroma in the room to enhance relaxation. People with allergies can consider low-scent timber like hemlock. 

·       Timber Construction

Look for air-dried or kiln-dried fine-grain wood construction to reduce cracking and warping and for a beautiful look.

Which Infrared Sauna do we Recommend?

Infrared therapy is an innovative and modern light-based approach to treating inflammation and pain in different parts of the body. Infrared light enhances cell regeneration and is delivered to the inflammation or injury site at specific wavelengths, boosting cell repair. Infrared therapy is natural and safe.

So, it’s used as an alternative treatment for different health conditions such as arthritis, joint stiffness, and muscle pain. Further, infrared heat plays various roles in the human body, such as improving circulation, weight loss, relaxation, reducing muscle tension, and detoxification. While numerous infrared home saunas are in the market today, one brand stands out, as seen below. 

Sun Home Equinox™ 2-Person Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna

Three entities named the Sun Home Equinox™ 2-Person Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna the best unit of 2024. The home sauna delivers unique quality and is designed to meet your specific needs. It comes with various rich features, which include:

·       Full-Spectrum Wavelengths

The Equinox™ 2-person full-spectrum infrared sauna has one of the most effective full-spectrum heating systems in the world of home saunas. It delivers far, mid, and near wavelengths for intense sweating to aid toxin elimination. 

·       EMF Shielding

Equinox 2’s patented EMF/ELF shielding technology guarantees the least electromagnetic field exposure. 

·       High-Powered Heaters

Equinox™ 2 is the only unit that can hit 73,889°C or 165°F. Its high-output heaters are designed to generate more than twice the wattage that other brands produce to improve temperatures and minimize the time required to achieve maximum heat. 

·       Prime Craftsmanship

Besides being hand-sanded, the sauna has been put through different precise quality certifications to guarantee durability. The manufacturers use the best non-toxic and eco-friendly materials with low VOC. 

·       Inbuilt Chromotherapy

Its built-in chromotherapy lighting relies on colors from the sunlight that is visible to provide optimal therapeutic benefits. 

·       Easy to Assemble

The Equinox 2 is designed using the innovative Magne-Seal system, making assembly easier. What’s more, you don’t need nails, screws, or power tools to assemble it. 

·       Easy to Control

Equinox 2 has a digital control panel, allowing for seamless temperature adjustment. Further, it offers a programmable round-the-clock reservation mode and timer. This ensures your sauna is ready whenever you need it.

·       High-Quality Wood

The manufacturer uses eucalyptus, one of the highest quality and durable hardwoods that can withstand extreme heat. The eco-friendly wood is hand-selected and kiln-dried by adding moisture and heat to prevent cracking and prolong its lifespan. 

·       Enhanced Sauna Experience

The premium inbuilt surround sound system provides a euphoric, immersive experience with clear audio. You can connect your media player or smartphone for a personalized experience. 

·       Warranty

Equinox 2 has a 7-year warranty on heaters and cabinetry and 3 years on controls. 

Finally

If you’re considering incorporating a home sauna into your wellness routine, you must consider various factors. Doing so helps you pick the best unit that meets your specific needs. With the numerous infrared home saunas available today, choosing the right one can be daunting. After analyzing its features, we recommend the Sun Home Equinox™ 2-Person Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna, which has so far been named the best in 2024.