Portable saunas are one of the stranger and sillier looking contraptions that you will find on amazon or at your nearest mall. They are often made of bright colored synthetic fibers, starkly contrasting the elegant wood and stones of a traditional sauna. They look cheaper than traditional saunas and they are cheaper than traditional saunas. The most important question, however, is do they work?
Portable saunas do work because they are effective at raising the body’s core temperature. While they may not fit everyone’s idea of a sauna, because they raise the body’s temperature, they can be expected to deliver most of the same physiological benefits of traditional saunas and infrared saunas.
Hyperthermic (increasing body temperature) conditioning has been shown to have positive effects on the cardiovascular system, improve blood pressure, cause the brain to produce endorphins and serotonin, cause the body to produce beneficial heat shock proteins, and even correlate with long longevity.
Scientists studying the benefits of hyperthermic conditioning have used various methods of subjecting the body to heat, including traditional sauna, infrared sauna, steam rooms, hot baths and even hot yoga. All have been found produce a hyperthermic effect on the body.
It follows that anything that produces a hyperthermic effect on the body, temporarily raising the body’s core temperature, will have the beneficial results described above. This includes portable saunas.
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What is a portable sauna?
A portable sauna is a small tent like structure, which is just large enough for a single person. Portable Saunas typically have a zipper to allow the user access to the sauna, as well as holes allowing the user keep his or her head and arms outside the sauna. Most portable saunas come with a small chair. Take one look at a picture and you will get the idea.
Portable Saunas use either steam or infrared heat to give the user a sauna experience. Both types of saunas use electricity and can be plugged into a standard outlet.
Hot Steam Saunas
Perhaps a “portable steam sauna” could more accurately be described as a “portable steam room,” because rather than heating the air, a portable steam sauna comes with a small steamer that fills the sauna with hot steam.
The steamer itself is plugged into the wall and is connected to the sauna by a small hose. The steamer typically takes 10 to 15 minutes to heat up and fill the sauna with steam. Essential oils can be added to the steamer for a spa experience.
A portable steam sauna user can then enter the sauna, sit down and enjoy the hot steam for 15 to 20 minutes. Though you are expected to sit on a chair with your head sticking outside of the sauna, many users prefer to sit on the floor of the sauna with their entire body inside.
Though most portable saunas position the head outside of the sauna itself, some portable steam saunas have a hood, which you may place over your head. This could be a desirable or undesirable feature depending on whether you would like to work up a sweat above the shoulders.
Infrared Saunas
Like regular infrared saunas, portable infrared saunas are lined with carbon fiber infrared heating panels. Infrared saunas emit infrared light, which penetrates the skin and heats the body.
Infrared saunas produce similar results at lower air temperatures than traditional saunas and the infrared heat can be tolerated longer than steam, consequently people can spend a longer amount of time in an infrared sauna—up to 30 minutes.
Like a portable steam sauna, the portable infrared sauna is plugs into a normal wall outlet.
Can I Travel With a Portable Sauna
Almost all portable saunas are a similar size and shape—just big enough for single person and a chair. For example, this popular model made by SereneLife weighs just under 20 pounds. When assembled, its dimensions are 31.5 x 27.6 x 37.8 inches.
Most portable saunas can be folded in a matter of seconds, however, they fold flat and would be too long and wide to fit in your carry on luggage and would need to be placed with your checked baggage. When folded, they will easily fit in your trunk or the back of your car.
A portable sauna will easily fit in any hotel room.
While most portable saunas on the market fold flat, some do not and would need to be disassembled in order to be transported.
How Much Do Portable Saunas Cost
The price of a portable sauna ranges from about $80 dollars on the low end to $600 on the high end. There are also a few portable saunas that cost in excess of $1,000, but they are outliers.
Portable infrared saunas are generally, albeit slightly, more expensive than portable steam saunas, but it is still possible to get an infrared sauna for just a little over $100.
Portable Saunas: Unique Designs
Lie Flat Sauna – Steamflex makes a portable steam sauna for use while lying down. It comes with a steamer that plugs into the wall just like any other portable sauna. Essential oils can be added to the steamer for a spa experience. Check out this one at Amazon.
Tent Sauna – Mobiba makes a line of sauna tents for outdoor use. These tents can accommodate multiple people (as many as 6) at a time. These tents use a wood-burning heater and each tent comes with an aluminum chimney. The tents are designed to withstand rain and other weather conditions. Check out this one at Amazon.
Sauna for Two – Dongh makes a two-person portable steam sauna that comes with two folding chairs, two steam hoses and two head holes. You can check it out here at Amazon.
Tips for Using Your Portable Sauna
- While sweating is great, you don’t want to become dehydrated. Make sure you drink 1 liter of water before using your sauna and 1 liter of water afterwards.
- Pay attention to how you feel while using a sauna. If you feel dizzy or light headed, get out immediately. If you find yourself getting uncomfortable after a few minutes, then get out and gradually increase the length of your sessions.
- Placing a towel on the floor and on your sauna portable sauna chair before using makes it that much easier to clean and maintain.
- Some users recommend resting your steam sauna on its side after using it to allow accumulations water on the bottom of the portable sauna and on the floor underneath it to dissipate.
Who Shouldn’t Use A Portable Sauna
You should not use a portable sauna if you are pregnant or have a respiratory condition, a heart condition, skin disease or skin disorders, or have recently consumed alcoholic beverages.
Related Questions
What is the best portable sauna? I recommend Radiant Saunas BSA6315 infrared portable sauna. Check it out here at Amazon. It is slightly larger than most, making it slightly more comfortable. The material feels durable and it has a detachable collar that can be thrown in the washing machine. Its rich brown color isn’t as loud as other models.
Can you lose weight in a sauna? You will lose water weight immediately while sitting in a sauna, but this water weight will come back as soon as you drink liquid. There is some evidence that sauna use will increase metabolism, promote muscle building and the utilization of fat for energy. This being said, other experts are skeptical and caution that a sauna is not a substitute for diet and exercise.
Are there any other benefits of a portable sauna? Yes, the head-outside-of-sauna design of a portable sauna allows you to watch television while using the sauna. This may be sacrilege to traditionalists, but the reality is you can still get physiological benefits of a sauna while you watch TV.
How often should you use the sauna? Daily use would be ideal, but using it 3 or 4 times a week is still likely to produce many benefits. Amazingly, individuals have been shown to benefit from even a single sauna session and these benefits can last weeks afterward.
