Recently, my wife and I added a moderately big-ticket item to our wish list—a home sauna. There are two types, the steam sauna and the infrared sauna.

The steam sauna is the classic Scandinavian (the word sauna, I believe is Finnish) is a moist environment as water is dribbled over a hot surface to generate steam.

The more recently invented infrared sauna uses lamps to heat the interior of the sauna; as they say about Arizona before the monsoon, “it’s a dry heat.”

My research seems to indicate that initial purchase price is pretty similar; however, the steam sauna’s installation is more costly because the water has to go somewhere and a link to a drain system is necessary.

It seems to me that a steam sauna is much more desirable and that, in particular, the moist air benefit to the respiratory system make its advantage obvious.

Can I assume that members of this community have experience with both types of home saunas? What can you share?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TMats,

I have looked into both as my wife and I are in the same position you are.

We have framed out a place where we intend to place a sauna, and plumbed in water and have read up on both. The steam saunas all cost more than the infrared, and take significantly longer to heat up.
As you mentioned, not only do you have to design a place for the condensed steam to collect, but you have to account for constant use or cleaning.

The infrared seems to be better for cleaning, however you must must find one with low EMF, and it is not without drawbacks. FAR infrared has a limited penetration into tissue (I think 2") which may not significant provide muscular benefit.

In laws have the biggest top of the line Rocky Mountain in their basement.
https://rockymountainsaunas.com/

He did months of research before deciding on them. Been a few years and he is nothing but happy.
He finished out the basement bathroom with the Sauna specifically in mind.
Can’t give specifics on why he choose this but I not it was researched for months.

His only complaint was it was tedious to assemble. It is probably a 2 man job that he did alone as he’ll never ask for help.

quote:

originally posted by 280nosler:
The infrared seems to be better for cleaning, however you must must find one with low EMF, and it is not without drawbacks. FAR infrared has a limited penetration into tissue (I think 2") which may not significant provide muscular benefit.

Looks like I need to do more research.

quote:

In laws have the biggest top of the line Rocky Mountain in their basement.

Looks like RM only sells infrared. “They really like it” though. I don’t dismiss infrared at all, but 280nosler’s post reminds me that there’s more to learn about “FAR” and “EMF.” I believe I know what EMF is, just not with respect to a sauna.

Thanks, and thanks to justjoe, who also sent me information.

Tag for updates.

From researching this a while back:

steam rooms: Cost and possible issues with leaks and mold ruled this option out fairly quickly

Infrared saunas: There appear to be good health reasons to make sure you get the right type of infrared emitters. Some designs combine infrared heat with lights providing vitamin d as well. If one is handy with wood, some build saunas and then add the infrared part saving considerable money. Buying one second hand is another option as at times saunas are purchased and hardly used.

quote:

Originally posted by bryan11:
From researching this a while back:

steam rooms: Cost and possible issues with leaks and mold ruled this option out fairly quickly

Steam rooms and saunas are not the same thing, and there are both "wet" and "dry" saunas.

You don't need infrared to have a dry sauna. The dry sauna I used at Life Time Fitness wasn't IR. Wood floor, walls and benches. Big ol' heaters in each front corner.

The sauna at a gym I was at many moons ago was not a wet sauna, either. IIRC, it was very much like the dry sauna at LTF, only smaller. We'd pour a bit of water on the rocks to generate some humidity, but there was never actually any visible steam, per se.

I don't recall it, or the one at LTF, having drains in the floors.

I only recall ever being in a wet sauna once. Similar kind of heater setup to the dry saunas in which I've been, but there was a small spigot that dropped a constant stream of water on the rocks. The room wasn't steamy, per se, but the humidity was certainly way up there.

IIRC, it had tiled walls, floor and benches, and there was a drain in the floor. (I don't even recall where it was, any more.)

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:

quote:

originally posted by 280nosler:
The infrared seems to be better for cleaning, however you must must find one with low EMF, and it is not without drawbacks. FAR infrared has a limited penetration into tissue (I think 2") which may not significant provide muscular benefit.

Looks like I need to do more research.

quote:

In laws have the biggest top of the line Rocky Mountain in their basement.

Looks like RM only sells infrared. “They really like it” though. I don’t dismiss infrared at all, but 280nosler’s post reminds me that there’s more to learn about “FAR” and “EMF.” I believe I know what EMF is, just not with respect to a sauna.

Thanks, and thanks to justjoe, who also sent me information.

No prpblem. I am a bit of a research-o-holic, and was quite surprised about the FAR tissue penetration. I still think we go that way. BTW - the RM saunas are rated for either very low or practically no EMF.

I knew that we had been contemplating a home sauna for a year or more; turns out, it’s 4 years ago that I was looking into it. I’ve had two surgeries on my spine, cervical and lumbar, and a noticeable loss of upper body strength and size, since I made this inquiry. My wife has been feeling puny for a month or more too, and she again raised the idea of a home sauna. We bought one.

We bought a 2-person infrared from Sunlighten. It’s the mPulse Believe model, their top-of-the-line that features separate heaters for each of the three: near, mid, and far infrared wavelengths, and red light therapy.

This morning I had an electrician out to the house to see about running the dedicated electrical line and outlet for the sauna. I’ve spent the last three days clearing and organizing our storage room downstairs in preparation for the sauna’s arrival. I’m pretty excited about it.

Post purchase update.

We’ve had our Sunlighten MPulse sauna for two months + now. My wife and I both like it and use it at least 4 times/week, more often 5. I posted about the surgeries I’ve had. The issues I had with my spine kept me from exercising in any way but walking. Now, fully recovered, I have aggressively returned to working out—at home, to build myself back up. My wife is exercising too. The sauna is almost miraculous for muscle and joint pain. I’m just not sore.

Kinda spendy to buy an infrared sauna that has all three wavelengths, but I believe the health benefits are there and don’t regret the purchase.

My sister has a ‘wet’ home sauna, likes it very much. Knowing her, it’s one of the lowest cost options. I don’t know the brand, thought I tried it once.

I've been in dry saunas in gyms as described above.
My most memorable experience was a "banya" in Russia. This was a sauna with a stove in the middle. They would pour water (or beer) over the stove (maybe it was some hot rocks), then beat you with birch or eucalyptus branches. This has the reputation of being very healthy; I thought it was a way to get away with the boys and drink vodka while pretending to be doing something healthy.

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
My sister has a ‘wet’ home sauna, likes it very much. Knowing her, it’s one of the lowest cost options. I don’t know the brand, thought I tried it once.

I prefer the wet/steam style as well. I don’t last long in a dry one and only just a little while longer in the wet style.
I prefer a hot tub but the steam followed by a cold shower is really energizing.
I use the one at the Y like once a week so I am considering buying one of the individual home tent style ones.
https://saunabox.com/

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
I've been in dry saunas in gyms as described above.
My most memorable experience was a "banya" in Russia. This was a sauna with a stove in the middle. They would pour water (or beer) over the stove (maybe it was some hot rocks), then beat you with birch or eucalyptus branches. This has the reputation of being very healthy; I thought it was a way to get away with the boys and drink vodka while pretending to be doing something healthy.

I wasn’t in Russia or getting smacked with anything but was in this style of sauna room once and a dude pissed on the coals/rocks or whatever they are instead of scooping the water on them.
That’s certainly ended that visit. Don’t get people sometimes. Thought a couple of the fellas were going to beat the rest of the piss out of him. It was gross.