After testing over 40 different sauna brands, these are five features I’d never spend money on—whether it’s a $500 portable or a $5,000 unit. Some of this stuff looks cool on paper but doesn’t actually improve the experience or performance. This video covers things like heater layout, heat coverage, wood type, chromotherapy lights, and overpriced upgrades that don’t deliver.
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Transcript
Here are five things I would never waste money on in a sauna. Come inside, let me show you.
Number one:
I would never waste money on a sauna with a poor heater layout. We’re currently working on a course to show people how to fix this issue. In this sauna, the infrared coverage is only in each corner. There’s nothing behind your back or spine, nothing at the front except from the knees down. Your entire torso and front half have no infrared coverage—no heaters on the sides, none in the middle back, only in the corners. I definitely wouldn’t spend money on a sauna with a heater layout like this.
Number two:
This builds on number one and might actually be more important. I wouldn’t waste money on a sauna with poor heat coverage. There’s a difference between poor heater layout and lack of heat coverage. For example, this sauna has hot and cold spots. While the ceramic heaters in this cabin are beautiful and well-constructed—better than many others—the heat distribution is uneven. There’s no frontal or side infrared, making your back extremely hot while your torso remains cold. Unlike other saunas where you can evenly heat your body by rotating (like a rotisserie), it’s impossible here. No matter how you turn or sit, you won’t get proper heat accumulation where it’s needed.
Number three:
I wouldn’t waste money on a particular wood type solely because it’s claimed to be more or less hypoallergenic. For example, here’s a poplar sauna, and here’s a cedar sauna. Companies claim various woods prevent mold or bacteria growth. I find this to be largely a fallacy. If you enjoy cedar’s smell, choose cedar. For those with MCS or MCAS, a mild wood like hemlock is better. Basswood can sometimes be too strong.
Companies also exaggerate moisture concerns, treating these infrared dry saunas as if they were wet saunas. The idea that certain woods significantly prevent mold or moisture issues doesn’t hold up, as there’s no significant moisture apart from sweat. Additionally, some soft woods damage easily. This particular sauna, for instance, is heavily damaged and had to be glued back together—the wood choice didn’t improve durability. Thus, wood type claims are usually overstated and shouldn’t drive your buying decision.
Number four:
This is super common. Almost every sauna company promotes the benefits of chromotherapy or “red light therapy.” Here’s a particularly poor example: it’s dim, weak, and provides no meaningful therapeutic benefit—it’s purely mood lighting. If colored lights help you relax, that’s great, but don’t spend extra money on this feature. Companies often upsell chromotherapy, claiming health benefits, but these lights are never strong enough for photobiomodulation or significant health improvements. If it’s included, fine, but don’t pay extra for it.
Number five:
Never waste money on a sauna outside your budget. You often see me using high-end saunas, but it’s important to stay within your means. Getting something affordable rather than doing nothing for years is far better for your health. There are excellent options at different budget levels. While I personally prefer high-end saunas due to years of use, what matters most is choosing what you’ll actually use consistently. We even offer a DIY sauna course where you can build a highly effective tent sauna for about $300–400, significantly outperforming most portable saunas.
Always choose what’s best for you, not based on what someone online or a salesperson suggests. If you join our YouTube channel or the Certified Sauna Community on Facebook (now nearly 40,000 members), you’ll find many more examples and personal recommendations on avoiding unnecessary expenses. These five points are just a quick summary to guide you.