Runners are already familiar with the benefits of sweating—from cooling and detoxing the body to clearing the skin and preventing infection. Though the best kind of sweat is and always will be the kind you earn from a hard run, a sauna can also offer a sweat session while reducing—rather than raising—inflammation. Whether you want to recover from a serious injury or just relax after a workout, saunas are a great way to detox the body and speed up the road to recovery.
The Best Home Saunas of 2022
Sauna Health Benefits for Runners
Becky Wade, author of Run the World, a book about global running cultures, recommends that runners use saunas for running recovery. After spending a month in Finland, she discovered that saunas can be just as restorative as ice baths, foam rollers, and other recovery methods.
Sauna use not only provides immediate muscle and joint pain relief, but can also improve circulation and reduce blood pressure, which may ultimately decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease in the long term. In addition to recovery, regular sauna use may enhance runners’ performance as well. In one study, a small group of male distance runners decreased their 5K time by nearly 2 percent after only three weeks of using a sauna after training for 30 minutes, four times per week.
Rather than replacing your workouts, try regular sauna sessions after your training. Wade advises, “Preferably after you’ve cooled down from a workout, start with 10-minute sauna sessions once or twice a week. Monitor how you feel during and after, and adjust accordingly. Hydrate extra well, and hop out if at any point you start to feel dizzy.”
How to Choose
Home sauna prices typically range from $1,000 for prefabricated one- to two-person models to thousands for luxurious, larger four-plus-person structures. Most of these expensive models also come with built-in sound systems and chromatherapy lights, among other accessories. If you’re looking for a budget option, consider portable saunas or sauna blankets that can cost anywhere from $200 to $500—these are also great if you don't have the room for a permanent structure.
If you do opt for a permanent sauna kit, it will require self-guided installation. This often requires the assistance of at least one other person, and sometimes even an electrician, so if you are looking for something hassle free, you will want to opt for a portable option.
How We Selected
To find the best home saunas among the many options out there, we looked at expert-tested reviews from trusted sources. We then took into account price, materials, sizes, efficacy, and build difficulty. Finally, we consulted reviews, written by people who’ve bought these saunas on sites like Amazon, to settle on the products you'll find below.
Looking for more ways to recover? Try our favorite foam rollers, muscle cream, and ice packs.
Pros
- Simple, easy to use controls
- Beautiful, luxe design
Cons
Key Specs
| Max Temp | 141 degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 2 people |
| Dimensions (w x d x h) | 49 x 39 x 75 inches |
While wood home saunas can be quite the investment, this two-person sauna by Radiant Saunas offers excellent quality for its price. The sauna includes luxury features like chromatherapy lighting, a built-in sound system with aux inputs, a bronze-tinted 8mm glass door, and more. Powered by six carbon heaters, this sauna can get up to 141 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, it has simple control to easily change settings for the heat, lighting, and music. Radiant Saunas also includes an oxygen ionizer and a seven-year warranty.
Pros
- Has color-therapy lighting and built-in sound system
- Designed to fit in the corner of a room
Cons
Key Specs
Max Temp 141 degrees Fahrenheit Capacity 3 people Dimensions (w x d x h) 53 x 53 x 75 inches
Pros
- Has color-therapy lighting and built-in sound system
- Designed to fit in the corner of a room
Cons
Key Specs
| Max Temp | 141 degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 3 people |
| Dimensions (w x d x h) | 53 x 53 x 75 inches |
The Santa Fe sauna has similar features to Radiant Saunas’s Coronado Hemlock model with its carbon heaters, hemlock construction, temperature up to 141 degrees, and luxury accessories like color therapy lighting, a built-in sound system, oxygen ionizer, and plenty of racks. However, this option fits snugly into a corner in your home. Though it’s a bit more expensive and larger, it provides more space, in case you need more room for two or want to be able to squeeze in a third person to enjoy.
Pros
- Easy to control
- Light and easy to pack away
Cons
Key Specs
| Max Temp | 140 degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 person |
| Dimensions (w x d x h) | 31.5 x 33 x 41 inches |
Best Sauna Reviews named Durherm’s DIF-5000 model the best portable sauna. “The compact yet spacious design allows you to enjoy infrared heat without feeling uncomfortable,” they wrote. It includes a canvas sports chair to use inside, a heated footpad, and removable, washable terry-cloth neck collars. With your head and hands free from the sauna, you can even do other activities like reading and watching TV while you sweat it out.
Users loved that it’s easy to assemble and fold up again to store. Though some Amazon reviewers found the free folding chair to be uncomfortable, several offered alternative options. “I suggest sitting fully inside on the floor with a towel. It’s quiet and relaxing,” said one.
Pros
- Very portable
- Little to no setup
Cons
Key Specs
| Max Temp | 176 degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 person |
| Dimensions (l x w) | 66 x 32 inches |
Sauna blankets offer the same benefits as a prefabricated wooden or portable sauna, just while lying down instead. This Gizmo blanket includes three separate heating zones that can be used individually or together on the upper body, waist, and lower body. Despite its higher price compared to other sauna blankets, it’s less expensive and more convenient than regular spa treatments. Sauna Kit Reviews wrote, “Don’t let the higher price of this blanket scare you away from the high quality that it will deliver.” Its other quality features include a waterproof, soft, and flexible material and a timer up to 60 minutes.
Pros
- Easy to put away
- Comes with all the accessories you need
Cons
Key Specs
| Max Temp | 140 degrees Fahrenheit |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 1 person |
| Dimensions | 28 x 33 x 38 inches |
For under $200, this portable sauna by Radiant Saunas is a reliable pick at an affordable price. It’s powered by three carbon heaters, and durable thanks to a tubular steel construction. Radiant Saunas also claims it’s easy to set up, taking just one minute to remove it from its bag or fold it back down. Compared to the Durherm portable option, it’s a few inches smaller and a few pounds lighter—and significantly cheaper.
We’re also impressed with some of its added accessories for its price. It not only includes the essentials like a handheld control with six timer settings, a sewn-in pocket, and a folding canvas chair, but also a heated foot pad and foam floor mat for a variety of sitting options.
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
Paige Szmodis is an editor for Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics, who researches and writes home, tech, and outdoor product reviews and news.
