4 Shares

So you’re interested in buying a sauna, but you don’t know what direction to go in. You know the cost of buying a sauna is relatively expensive so you want to know what the best type of sauna is for your particular situation. This is important as knowing this upfront can save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

There are many types of saunas that all have either their own positives and negatives. This article is to go over these factors and determine which one is suited best for you. In this article, we will go over the cost, physical/mental benefits, features, and size of each sauna. These are the main factors with determining a sauna and we’ll cover all of them with each sauna.

Best Type of Saunas

Traditional Saunas

Traditional sauna heaters are the most common heaters used today. They are powered by either electricity, gas, or wood. Out of these three, the most efficient/easiest one to use is an electric sauna heater. This type of sauna uses electric-powered Teflon-coated heating elements to heat up sauna rocks. These sauna rocks, through convection, then promote enough warmth to heat the full sauna.

In most electric-based heaters, the heating process takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour. At this time the sauna can reach temperatures from around 140-194 degrees F.

Modern electric sauna heaters have become extremely durable and can often last a few decades. They are usually built with durable steel and contain some sort of cut-off power of protection. When the sauna gets to abnormally high temperatures, this power protection will cut off the power. So you never have to worry about the sauna overheating or catching fire.

Most of these sauna heaters operate on 220-240 Volts. Some smaller “home” units runoff around 110 Volts. If you’re looking for a heater that warms up quickly then higher voltage models are the best suited for you.

These traditional heaters that use rocks promote settings of dry, hot, and relaxing environments. They usually cost around $300 to $700. There is a big price differential depending on which model you get and which brand. You must also factor in the cost of building a sauna room, which can cost an extra few thousand dollars.

The physical benefits that these types of saunas provide are respiratory benefits, anti-aging benefits, pain relief, detoxification, weight loss, improved circulation, enhanced immune system, and lower blood pressure. We personally believe this is the best type of sauna for you if you’re looking for these health benefits, a reliable/safe sauna, and a sauna that promotes a relaxing environment.

If you want to learn more about traditional sauna heaters then visit this page HERE.

Infrared Saunas

Infrared saunas are much different than traditional saunas. They are a relatively new technology that offers a different type of experience. These saunas use infrared light to produce radiant heat that is absorbed by the surface of the skin. This means that the sauna doesn’t heat up the air as hot as traditional sauna heaters. Instead, it heats the air to a temperature of around 120 to 150 degrees F.

Since this is so, the sauna doesn’t provide the same respiratory benefits that a traditional sauna has. Another disadvantage is that these types of saunas don’t produce steam. This is because there is no exact heating element to pour water on.

Even though infrared saunas don’t emit as much heat, they are still very successful at making a given person sweat as the infrared travels much deeper into the body. This allows them to promote much vigorous sweat at a much lower temperature.

Even though there are some disadvantages to this type of heaters, they do offer many health benefits. Some of these benefits include detoxification, pain relief, weight loss, anti-aging benefits, improved circulation, and lower blood pressure. Some people even believe that absorbing infrared is much more effective at depleting the body’s toxins. This hasn’t been scientifically proven but is something to keep in mind. Since this is so, many people are moving towards these types of sauna heaters.

You can buy infrared models like the picture above online. They can cost you anywhere from $1000 to $4000. This price differential is due to the size of the saunas and the features that they provide. In the overall scheme of things, this price is pretty low as building a traditional sauna room can cost the same or even more to safely build.

Overall these new saunas are just as impressive as traditional saunas. They offer the same health benefits that traditional saunas offer. They are also easier to deal with since you can purchase the model instead of having to build a sauna room. When deciding on which sauna to purchase you should keep this in mind.

To see more infrared models then visit this page HERE.

Portable Saunas

Portable saunas are the latest sauna technology out on the market. These new systems are built to be extremely portable at a great price. They offer many benefits, but the most promising is that they’re lightweight, portable, and affordable.

Most of these devices are built with a durable metal/wood frames with moisture resistant satin polyester materials. The units are usually fully insulated with satin polyester exterior fabric, cotton insulation, and durable reflective polyester inside. They are energy-efficient and are powered by carbon fiber infrared heater panels.

Most of these units come with a portable chair so sit comfortably in. They also have holes so you can keep your hands and head out of the unit. There are no tools needed for assembly and are a perfect solution to using a sauna on the go. Other features include a power cut-off protection for when the sauna gets too hot.

Since they use infrared technology they don’t heat up the same way as a traditional sauna. But, they are very effective and can leave you in a deep sweat after one use. The health benefits of using a unit like this include improved skin, pain relief, increased blood circulation, detoxification, weight loss, reduces stress, reduces soreness, and an enhanced immune system.

While these new units don’t provide the same experience as the other saunas, they’re still something to look into if you want a cheap and portable sauna system. They cost around $100 to $400 and are definitely the cheapest option out of all the saunas.

To see more infrared models then visit this page HERE.

Other Things To Keep In Mind

* Humidity: When comparing different saunas it’s important to contemplate on whether or not you need steam. If you do then traditional saunas are the way to go since they have heating elements that can have water poured on them. If you get an infrared sauna you cannot do this and there will be no humidity.

* Cost: Since most of these units are relatively expensive, it’s good to know which one fits in your price limit. You don’t want to buy a $400 traditional sauna heater and not have enough money to pay for the actual sauna room. If you have a higher budget then you don’t want to be cheap and buy an infrared sauna that only fits 2 people when you need one that fits 3 or 4 people.

* Heat: If you’re looking for something that produces a high amount of heat then traditional saunas are your best choice. If you don’t like this extreme heat and would rather have something more comfortable then we recommend buying a less powerful infrared sauna or even a portable sauna.

* Portability: Not all saunas are portable. If you need something that you can move effortlessly around the house then a portable sauna is your best option. If you need something that is not so portable, but also not permanent then an infrared sauna is your best choice. And last, if you don’t care about portability then building a traditional sauna is your best option.

* Power: If power is a concern to you then you might not want a traditional sauna. They tend to be more powerful and require more energy. Infrared saunas are in the middle as they require a lot less energy than traditional saunas, but much more than portable saunas. Portable saunas require the least energy but aren’t as powerful as the above options. If you do choose a traditional sauna then you can’t simply plug it into a regular outlet. You must build a 220V power line which can sometimes be expensive.

* Heating Times: Heating times differ for each type of sauna. Traditional saunas typically take around 30 minutes to an hour to heat up (depending on how big the sauna room is and how powerful the unit is). Infrared saunas typically take around 10 15 minutes to heat up. Portable saunas are hit and miss as some heat up in around 15 minutes and some other units take much longer.

* Maintenance: Maintenance for each sauna differs. Traditional saunas are much more reliable and will most likely never break down. But, traditional sauna rooms tend to be much bigger and you must wipe down all surfaces of the sauna with soap and water a couple of times a year. Infrared saunas tend to be reliable too, but are usually much smaller so wiping down surfaces will be quicker. Portable saunas are reliable as well and are extremely easy to clean since they are so small.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you should decipher what needs you have before you choose your sauna. All of these options have their own benefits and negatives. If you have any more questions about saunas then we recommend visiting the resources down below. These resources will help you when searching for the health benefits of a sauna or how to build a particular sauna.