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At-home saunas are all the rage right now \u2014 so we tried one to see if they’re actually worth it<\/p>\n
(AOL \/ Camryn Rabideau)<\/p>\n
It seems like everywhere I look lately, there are at-home saunas for sale. They\u2019re everywhere \u2014 Amazon, Costco, Sam\u2019s Club, and pretty much every other major retailer \u2014 and some are actually quite reasonably priced, starting at just $800. <\/p>\n
But are these at-home saunas really comparable to the real deal? What\u2019s up with the \u201cinfrared\u201d heat, anyway? I had a lot of questions, so I went on a mission to find out whether these home saunas are actually worth adding to your wellness routine. <\/p>\n
I spoke to several experts, including two doctors and an exercise physiologist, to learn more about the benefits of saunas and the difference between regular and infrared options. That\u2019s not all, either \u2014 I also tested out a popular at-home sauna myself over the course of two months to see if it lives up to the hype. Here\u2019s what I found.<\/p>\n
What are the benefits of using a sauna?<\/p>\n
Many people view saunas as a place to relax after a workout or destress after a long day, but there are a number of scientifically proven health benefits to regular heat therapy, as well. \u201cSauna is more than relaxation, it is a controlled physiological stressor that activates adaptive repair pathways in the body,\u201d explains Dr. Emilia Vuorisalmi<\/a>, a Finnish doctor who specializes in hormones.<\/p>\n With consistent use, saunas can have positive impacts on your heart health, brain function, and stress levels. \u201cThe benefits of heat therapy include improved cardiovascular health, with a lower risk of sudden cardiac death, lower blood pressure, and better circulation,\u201d explains Dr. John K. Smith, board-certified physician and surgeon at the Olympus Cosmetic Group<\/a> in Oklahoma. \u201cAdditionally, the heat stress from a sauna can promote endorphin release, improving stress and anxiety, as well as promoting improved brain function with a lower risk of dementia.\u201d<\/p>\n How often should you use the sauna? Research suggests there are benefits starting at just once or twice a week: \u201cFor most healthy adults, two to four sessions per week provide noticeable benefits, while four to seven sessions per week are associated with the strongest long-term health data,\u201d says Dr. Vuorisalmi. \u201cTypical sessions last ten to twenty minutes, with cooling breaks between rounds. Consistency is more important than duration \u2014 sauna works through repeated, moderate stress, not extremes.\u201d<\/p>\n That said, saunas may not be right for everyone: \u201cPatients with a history of unstable cardiac conditions, recent heart attack, or who are pregnant should avoid saunas due to the cardiovascular stress created by therapy sessions,\u201d says Dr. Smith. If you have any concerns, make sure to speak with your doctor before using a sauna.<\/p>\n Both types of saunas offer cardiovascular benefits and can help promote relaxation.<\/p>\n What is an infrared sauna?<\/p>\n Most of the at-home saunas that you\u2019ll find are infrared saunas, which use infrared light to provide heat therapy. \u201cTraditional and infrared saunas are both forms of passive heat therapy, but they differ in how heat is delivered,\u201d explains Rachelle Reed, PhD, an exercise physiologist who serves as the scientific advisor for Perspire Sauna Studio<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cTraditional saunas \u2014 often called Finnish-style \u2014 heat the air to high temperatures (typically 175\u00b0F or more), and your body warms through convective heat transfer from that hot environment,\u201d she says. \u201cInfrared saunas operate at lower ambient air temperatures (generally 100\u2013160\u00b0F) and use infrared wavelengths to transfer heat to the body more directly through radiant energy.\u201d In a Finnish sauna, you often pour water on hot stones to create steam, but with infrared saunas, heat is generated by wall panels, keeping the humidity lower.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve found that traditional saunas are too hot for your liking, experts say an infrared sauna may be a more comfortable alternative: \u201cInfrared saunas may feel more tolerable for some individuals because the surrounding air temperature is lower, while still producing increases in heart rate, core temperature, and sweating,\u201d says Reed.<\/p>\n My firsthand experience with an at-home infrared sauna<\/p>\n To see what all the hype is about, I tested out an at-home infrared sauna from the brand Make Life Easy.<\/a> It\u2019s designed to accommodate one to two people, and I tested it for around two months with the help of my family.<\/p>\n Make Life Easy<\/p>\n We tested the EZ Life Infrared Sauna for several weeks, and it proved itself to be a surprisingly convenient tool for at-home heat therapy.<\/p>\n PROSReaches up to 140\u00b0FSurprisingly spaciousUses 120v outletEasy to set up with two people<\/p>\n CONSFreight deliveryNo backrestsNot true “red light therapy”<\/p>\n Specs<\/p>\n Exterior dimensions: 39\u201dL x 36\u201dW x 73\u201dH<\/p>\n Interior dimensions: 36\u201dL x 32\u201dW x 67\u201dH<\/p>\n Voltage \/ Frequency: 110V\/15amp<\/p>\n Temperature range: 118-140\u00b0F<\/p>\n What we like about itIt\u2019s surprisingly easy to set up<\/p>\n It might seem like a complex item to assemble, but the EZ Life Sauna was surprisingly simple to put together. My husband and father did the bulk of the assembly \u2014 I was just there for morale support.<\/p>\n Basically, you put down the base of the sauna, then each of the four walls slots down into it. You need two people to maneuver the walls into place, so make sure to enlist a friend to help out. There are latches that hold the walls together, and then the roof just slides down and locks everything in place. I think there are a total of six screws that you have to install, as well as a few electrical connections on the top.<\/p>\n The home sauna is surprisingly simple to assemble, but you will need two adults for the task.<\/p>\n (AOL \/ Camryn Rabideau)<\/p>\n In total, it took us about 20 minutes to set up the sauna. Once assembly is complete, it plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet, and you\u2019re ready to go!<\/p>\n It\u2019s attractive, well-made, and spacious<\/p>\n Once the sauna was set up in our exercise room, I was pleasantly surprised at how attractive it is. The exterior is made from a richly colored Canadian hemlock, and the sleek glass door gives it a contemporary appearance. The whole thing looks very high-end, making the space feel like a luxe spa!<\/p>\n This sauna is marketed for just one or two people, and one of my biggest concerns was that it would feel claustrophobic inside. Thankfully, that\u2019s not the case at all. The interior is actually big enough for two people to sit side-by-side \u2014 my husband and I fit very comfortably \u2014 and the glass door makes it feel more open.<\/p>\n The infrared sauna is a stylish addition to our exercise space.<\/p>\n (AOL \/ Camryn Rabideau)<\/p>\n You do have to sit upright on the bench \u2014 there\u2019s not enough space to lie down or lounge, but it\u2019s still spacious and comfortable to be inside. We typically put a towel down to help soak up any sweat and provide some cushioning while sitting.<\/p>\n It heats up to 140\u00b0F and really gets you sweating<\/p>\n The EZ Life Sauna has a temperature range of 118-140\u00b0F, but before you can get your sweat on, the infrared sauna needs time to heat up \u2014 similar to preheating the oven before cooking.<\/p>\n In general, you\u2019ll have to give the sauna at least 30 minutes to warm up before hopping inside. It can generally reach around 120-130\u00b0F in that time, as long as you don\u2019t open the door and let the heat out. If you want it even warmer, I\u2019d recommend turning the sauna on at least 45-60 minutes before you plan to use it.<\/p>\n Once the sauna has reached your desired temperature, you can hop in and start reaping the benefits of heat therapy. I generally start sweating within five minutes of being in the sauna, and I\u2019ve found that 10 minutes is more than enough for me. My husband, on the other hand, loves being hot, so he\u2019ll happily sit inside for up to 20 minutes. Sometimes it\u2019s nice to just sit in silence and practice some meditative breathing, but you can also hook up your phone to play music or a podcast over the sauna\u2019s built-in speakers.<\/p>\n The interior of the sauna features carbon heat panels, a control board, and a bench.<\/p>\n (AOL \/ Camryn Rabideau)<\/p>\n My husband and I use the sauna once a week or so, but my 65-year-old father \u2014 who lives next door and shares our exercise space \u2014 is by far its biggest fan: \u201cI really enjoy the sauna, especially after exercising,\u201d my dad said. \u201cI can get it up to 130 degrees in around 30 minutes. I do my exercises while it is warming up, and after my workout, I spend 15 minutes in the sauna, which really helps these old muscles. \u201c<\/p>\n What we don\u2019t likeIt gets dropped off in your driveway<\/p>\n While setup was easy enough, the delivery of the sauna wasn\u2019t ideal. At the high price point, I would have expected in-home delivery, if not white glove setup! However, the sauna ships via standard freight, so the pallet and packaging were dropped off in my driveway. Unfortunately, it was raining on the day it was delivered, making unboxing even more inconvenient.<\/p>\n The box was too heavy to move (it\u2019s over 250 pounds total), so my husband and I had to throw a tarp over it and bring each panel inside one at a time. All the while, I was worried that something would get wet and break. Thankfully, nothing went wrong, but just keep in mind that the heavy box won\u2019t be brought inside your house upon delivery.<\/p>\n The package was too heavy to move, so we carried each panel inside one at a time.<\/p>\n (AOL \/ Camryn Rabideau)<\/p>\n Given the package\u2019s size and weight, it\u2019s probably not surprising that returns aren\u2019t particularly easy. If you choose to send the product back, you\u2019ll be responsible for a 30% restocking fee to cover shipping and processing.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no backrest<\/p>\n My father\u2019s only real complaint about the sauna is that there\u2019s nowhere you can comfortably lean back while inside: \u201cAs for what I don\u2019t like, there is no way to lean back against the wall,\u201d he told me. \u201cThe heating units are all around, and I don\u2019t think you are supposed to block them. So, you have to sit up straight or lean over your knees.\u201d<\/p>\n To remedy this issue, we\u2019ve ordered one of these sauna backrests<\/a>, which allows you to lean back without touching the infrared panels. However, it would have been nice if they were included with the sauna itself.<\/p>\n The red light in the sauna doesn’t seem like it’s a true medical-grade light.<\/p>\n (AOL \/ Camryn Rabideau)<\/p>\n This sauna advertises a \u201c9-color chromotherapy lighting\u201d system that the brand says offers red light therapy. However, I\u2019m fairly skeptical of these claims, as there just seems to be a basic multi-color LED bulb in the ceiling of the sauna.<\/p>\n To be effective, red light therapy requires specific wavelengths and irradiance. \u201cWhen combined thoughtfully, [saunas and red light therapy] may complement each other, though device quality and wavelength specificity are important,\u201d says Dr. Vuorisalmi.<\/p>\n I own a red light therapy mask, and its bulbs look and feel very different from the light in the sauna. So while it can be fun to change the color of the light while you sweat \u2014 I personally find the blue very calming and serene \u2014 I wouldn\u2019t buy this sauna expecting it to serve as a red light therapy device.<\/p>\n Should you buy an at-home infrared sauna?<\/p>\n If you love relaxing in a sauna and want to reap the benefits of heat therapy, I think an at-home infrared sauna is worth the investment. They range in price from $800 to $3,000, but you\u2019ll definitely get your money\u2019s worth if you use the sauna several times a week. Plus, having a sauna right in the comfort of your home makes it easy and convenient to stick with the habit, and research has proven that there are long-lasting benefits for your heart, brain, and overall wellbeing.<\/p>\n This infrared sauna offers the benefits of heat therapy in the comfort of your own home. <\/p>\n PROSReaches up to 150\u00b0FSurprisingly spaciousUses 120v outletEasy to set up with two people<\/p>\n CONSFreight deliveryNo backrestsNot true “red light therapy”<\/p>\n Other infrared saunas to consider![\"Both](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/product_photo_large_(1)_1312.png\"\/)
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<\/a>I\u2019m skeptical of its \u2018red light therapy\u2019 claims![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/img_0621.jpeg\"\/)
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