The Best Portable Infrared Saunas 2024 reviewed – get the best sauna for you! Infrared sauna therapy is an excellent way of relaxing the mind and healing the body. Enjoy sauna heat therapy in the comfort of your home with the best infrared portable sauna. We cover all you need to know in our infrared portable sauna reviews.
The best portable infrared saunas combine all the benefits of a traditional infrared sauna with portability – meaning you can enjoy it at home or take it with you as you travel.
You can expect all the same health and relaxation benefits from a good quality portable sauna as from the commercial infrared sauna in your local spa or gym. Check out our portable infrared sauna reviews below.
THE BEST PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA 2024
WINNER: HIGHERDOSE V4 SAUNA BLANKET
FEATURES
• BEST PORTABLE INFARED SAUNA
• TYPE: SAUNA BLANKET
• OUTSTANDING BUILD QUALITY
• CHARCOAL, TOURMALINE & QUARTZ
• EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
• BEST PRICE
BEST INFRARED PORTABLE SAUNA 2024
The V4 sauna blanket from HigherDose is the best portable infrared sauna of 2024. It combines excellent performance, outstanding build quality, and genuine affordability.
The blanket is easy to use and can be set up in minutes. And, once you climb inside you’ll be sweating in no time.
IMPRESSIVE BUILD QUALITY
We really like the attention to detail that went into making this sauna blanket. The choice of quality materials and the high standard of the finish give it a real high-end feel. It just looks great and feels good to handle.
Treated well this blanket will last many years. It has a better look and feel than cheap alternatives and we feel it is great value for its price.
MULTI-LAYERED TECHNOLOGY
The V4 outperforms its competitors with its charcoal, tourmaline, and amethyst layers. The charcoal layer aids detoxification, the tourmaline generates negative ions, and the amethyst quartz boosts the healing effects of the infrared energy.
The blanket wraps around you like a sleeping bag and heats you from your toes all the way up to your neck line. You’ll need to wear a long sleeved t-shirt, long bottoms, and a pair of socks when you’re inside.
HEALING & RECOVERY
If it’s healing and relaxation you’re looking for, then this is the infrared sauna for you. It is an excellent choice for stimulating natural recovery and relaxing the mind after a long stressful day.
We found it great for loosening up tight muscles after a gym session. Jumping into this blanket after a workout is a great way to round off your exercise routine.
VERDICT
The Higher Dose V3 is our top pick portable home sauna for 2024 and winner of the best infrared sauna portable category. It combines outstanding performance with the best price in its category. It is an excellent addition to any home and a great way to introduce infrared sauna into your daily routine.
BEST SAUNA TENT
SERENE LIFE PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA
FEATURES
• TYPE: SAUNA TENT
• MAX TEMP: 140℉
• POWER: 1,050 watt
• FEET PADS & CHAIR
• EASY SET-UP
GOOD PERFORMANCE
For such a small tent it performs really well. It accommodates just one person at a time but boasts 1,050 watts of infrared heating power. Its max operating temperature is 140 degrees.
EASY SET-UP
This sauna tent from Serene Life is easy to set up and easy to use. We had the tent unfolded and up and running in just 5 minutes. And when you’re done – it’s easy to disassemble and fold away.
CHAIR & FEET PADS
It comes with a lightweight foldable chair for sitting on and a footpad for heating your feet. This is a nice touch. It feels so cozy as you absorb the heat through the soles of your feet. It had us working up a sweat inside 15 minutes.
VERDICT
The Serene Life portable sauna is a solid performer. It comes with 1,050 watts of power, a max temperature of 140 degrees, and works up a sweat in 10-15 minutes. It you prefer a sauna tent to a sauna blanket this is an excellent option for you.
RUNNER UP
GIZMO SUPPLY INFRARED SAUNA BLANKET
FEATURES
• TYPE: SAUNA BLANKET
• TEMP RANGE: 86-194℉
• 3 HEATING ZONES
• MATERIAL: PVC & PU
• CARBON FILTER ELEMENT
3 HEATING ZONES
This sauna blanket from Gizmo comes with three independent heating zones that can be selected individually. The operating temperature can be adjusted from 86 to 194 degrees Fahrenheit.
SUPER COMPACT & LIGHTWEIGHT
It has a lightweight PVC and PU construction, making it ideal for taking on the road. Its small size will not appeal to some coming in at just 66″ inches. Anyone standing close to six feet or over will struggle to fit into it. It is easy to roll out and use and can be packed away when finished.
ROBUST CONSTRUCTION
The Gizmo sauna wrap is made from flexible waterproof material with a high tensile strength. The outer layer consists of heavy duty polyurethane and the heating wire is built to withstand stretches and bends.
VERDICT
The Gizmo sauna blanket is affordable, compact, and robust. For its small size it delivers plenty of heat. If you’re on a budget – this is the best portable infrared sauna for you.
RUNNER UP
VEVOR PORTABLE FAR INFRARED SAUNA CHAMBER
FEATURES
• FIR – FAR INFRARED HEAT
• QUICK HEAT-UP
• CARBON FIBER HEATERS
• HEATED FOOTPAD
• DIMENSIONS: 28″ x 32″ x 38″ in
HEATS UP QUICKLY
This Vevor portable infrared sauna has a quick heat-up feature. It reaches a temperature of 130°F (55°C) in just five minutes from when it is initially powered on. This will really speed up your sauna session by reducing the time spent waiting on the device to reach its optimal heat level. It is runner-up in the best portable far infrared sauna category.
CARBON FIBER HEATERS
This infrared sauna chamber is powered by three carbon fiber heating elements. The heaters are made Japanese built and are positioned in the wall panels of the sauna fabric. There are two positioned in the sidewalls and a large heater at the back.
HEATED FOOTPAD
The Vevor infrared sauna comes with a heated footpad that will heat the soles of your feet while you sit comfortably in your chair. This not only feels great but also increases the rate at which your core body temperature rises. You’ll find yourself sweating in 10 minutes.
VERDICT
The Vevor is a budget option. While it doesn’t match the competitors on this list in terms of build quality, it does generate some serious heat and has a quick start-up feature that will speed up your session.
ARE PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNAS EFFECTIVE?
Yes, portable saunas are effective. They are just as effective as regular stand-alone infrared saunas. They generate the same infrared light as a fixed infrared sauna and they heat the body in the very same way.
You can expect all the same health and relaxation benefits from a portable infrared sauna. And, they have a number of advantages too.
RELATED
ADVANTAGES OF PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA
The main advantage of a portable infrared sauna is home and on-the-road access. You can enjoy infrared sauna therapy in your home and on the road – wherever you go! Sauna tents, sauna pods, and sauna blankets are easily folded up and packed away. They can be packed into a suitcase and taken on the road.
A portable sauna provides convenient access to infrared sauna – any place, any time. However, round-the-clock access is not the only advantage of an infrared portable sauna. The best portable saunas have a range of features that make them an excellent option for people interested in infrared heat therapy:
SMALL SIZE
Portable saunas such as blankets, pods, and wraps are small. They don’t take up much space, they are compact and can be folded up and put away when not in use. This makes them ideal for homes and apartments that are not suited to permanent sauna structures.
EASY TO TRANSPORT
They are super easy to take on the road. They are small and lightweight and can be packed into a suitcase or trunk of a car. A portable infrared sauna is the perfect option for people who are on the road.
STORAGE
Portable saunas can be folded up and stored away when not in use. They take up very little place and are easily stored under a bed or in a wardrobe.
24 HOUR ACCESS
Once you invest in a home sauna you will have round-the-clock access in the comfort of your own home. No more runs to the local gym or spa. Your sauna will be completely private and in reach at all times.
CORONAVIRUS SAFETY
A private sauna is a smart choice if you are trying to avoid coronavirus. You will not be sharing it with strangers – making it ideal for practicing social distancing and staying safe. If you want to avoid shared saunas, a home sauna is the way to go.
PRICE
Portable saunas come with a much lower price tag compared to traditional wood cabin saunas. The price difference can be very significant depending on the model. If you want to save some money, a portable sauna is the best option.
EASY MAINTENANCE
They are very easy to maintain. Firstly, all you need to do is give them a quick wipe down after each use and allow to air dry before packing away. There are no benches, walls, or floor spaces to wash down. There is no timber in need of on-going maintenance.
RUNNING COST
They are much smaller and the infrared source sits close to the body – meaning they require less electrical energy to power. All the saunas we have featured above in our portable sauna reviews have much lower running costs compared to larger cabin style saunas.
READ NEXT:
ARE PORTABLE SAUNAS WORTH IT?
Yes, a portable sauna is an excellent investment. They are great value for money – much cheaper than a fixed cabin style unit and come with all the same benefits.
Portable saunas are lightweight, mobile, and don’t take up a fixed place in your home. And, crucially, they can be packed away when not in use. They deliver excellent health and relaxation benefits and can be accessed from home or on the road at any time.
TYPES OF PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA
Portable infrared saunas are small, lightweight home saunas designed for home use or to be taken on the road. They can be folded up and packed away when not in use.
The best portable saunas provide all the same health benefits as regular infrared saunas. And, as the name suggests, they are portable so they can be moved around the house or taken on the road.
There are three types of portable home sauna – Sauna Blankets, Sauna Tents, and Infrared Heating Mats.
SAUNA BLANKETS
A sauna blanket is a home portable sauna that wraps around the body like a blanket. It uses infrared heat to heat the body and comes with all the same benefits as a standard infrared sauna.
They can be rolled out almost anywhere and are very easy to use. For more information on Sauna Blankets – click here
SAUNA TENTS
Similar to sauna pods, a sauna tent looks like a little tent that you sit inside. The tent has a port on top for the head and ports on the side for the arms. The user sits on a small stool inside and the infrared light sources are fitted to the inside of the tent panels.
They are an excellent option for a home sauna and hold many unique advantages due to their clever design. For more information on Infrared Sauna Tents – click here
INFRARED HEATING MATS
An infrared heating mat is a device that can be rolled out on the floor and used to heat the body. They look a bit like a yoga mat and use infrared heat to provide healing energy to the body.
The best mats combine infrared and PEMF therapy for the best results. They are affordable, light-weight, and generate great results, and rival the top portable infrared saunas in terms of performance.
For more information on Infrared Mats – click here, and to learn How Infrared Mats Work – click here
PORTABLE STEAM SAUNAS
If you prefer the wet heat of steam, you should go for a home steam sauna. They look just like an infrared sauna tent, but they use wet steam instead of dry infrared light to heat the body.
They come with all the same relaxation and health benefits as an infrared sauna, but provide the wet steam experience. Some people prefer the feeling of steam against their skin. For more information on Portable Steam Saunas – click here
HOW DO PORTABLE SAUNAS WORK?
Portable infrared home saunas use infrared light energy to heat the body. The inside of the portable sauna will be equipped with ceramic or carbon fiber panels.
The panels are electrically powered and generate infrared light when switched on. This infrared energy is absorbed by the body as it passes through the skin. It provides a deep gentle heat to the core of the body.
Infrared light energy is safe and shouldn’t be confused with harmful UV rays. Infrared lamps are used in hospitals to warm newborn babies.
They operate at lower temperatures than traditional Finnish saunas as they heat the body directly and not the air around the body. This means the oppressive heat of a Finnish sauna can be avoided while achieving the same health benefits.
HOW TO USE A PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA
SET-UP
The first thing you need to do is set it up. The best portable infrared saunas are easy to use. Depending on the type of sauna you purchase you will either roll out the blanket or spend a minute or two setting up a sauna tent.
Once set up, plug it in and switch it on. Choose the temperature you wish to use and allow the sauna to preheat.
IDEAL TEMPERATURE
The best portable infrared saunas can go up to 140 / 150° degrees Fahrenheit. If you are an experienced user you will know what temperature works for you. For beginners, it’s best to start low and gradually work your way up.
PREPARE TO SWEAT
If you are using a tent with a stool inside, place a towel over the stool to protect it from sweat. You don’t want to be sitting in a puddle of sweat as you’re enjoying your infrared heat session.
Remember, you are going to sweat a lot so make sure you prehydrate before getting in. If using a blanket type sauna – you will need to cover your body with clothing to protect against direct contact with the inside of the blanket. You will need to wear a long-sleeved t-shirt, full-length bottoms, and socks.
START SESSION
Once the sauna has reached the pre-set temperature all you need to do is climb inside and get comfortable.
The infrared energy will get to work and the healing and relaxation effects will soon kick in.
Experienced users will spend 30-45 minutes in the sauna. Beginners should start with short sessions and work their way up as the body adjusts to the heat therapy.
COOL DOWN & HYDRATE
When your session is over, just climb out and allow the body time to cool down.
Some people like to take a cold shower at this point. Make sure you replace and fluids lost by drinking plenty of water. It’s important not to allow yourself to become dehydrated.
Once you’ve cooled down all you need to do is clean the sauna and pack it away for next time.
INFRARED SAUNA IS GREAT FOR BODY & MIND
Infrared sauna is great for your health. It relaxes the mind, relieves stress, and heals the body. As the body temperature rises the heart rate will increase. Blood and nutrients move through the body at a greater rate. Tight muscles relax and stiff joints loosen.
Infrared heat therapy is an excellent choice of heat therapy for pain relief and post-workout recovery. One of the great benefits of heat therapy comes with the sweating process. As the sauna temperature rises the body works up an intense sweat.
The sweat droplets flush out toxins and waste materials as they pass through the pores detoxing the body and cleansing the skin. Infrared therapy treats many chronic illnesses and conditions. Below is a list of health benefits/conditions treated by infrared sauna:
BENEFITS FOR THE BODY
• System Detox – More Here
• Cardio Health
• Skin Health
• Boosts Immune System
BENEFITS FOR THE MIND
• Deep Relaxation – More Here
• Calming of the Mind
• Stress Relief
• Improved Sleep
PAIN RELIEF
• Muscle & Joint Pain Relief
• Reduces Inflammation
• Gym Recovery – More Here
• Headache Relief
ALTERNATIVE THERAPY
• Arthritis – More Here
• Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s
• Eczema & Psoriasis – More Here
• Lyme Disease – More Here
READ NEXT:
HEALTH BENEFITS OF INFRARED SAUNA – Click Here
HOW TO CLEAN AFTER USE
Cleaning the sauna is easy. And the best portable infrared sauna should be kept clean. Firstly mop up any sweat with a clean dry towel. Then wipe down the inside of the sauna with antibacterial wipes or an antibacterial spray.
Allow to completely air dry before dismantling or packing away. Once complete, pack away your clean sauna – ready for use another day.
PORTABLE INFRARED SAUNA SAFETY
Infrared sauna therapy is safe for most people. If you have any underlying health conditions or concerns you should consult a doctor before beginning infrared sauna. Below is a list of conditions that may affect your ability to safely use infrared heat therapy. This list is not exhaustive, see below.
Heart disease or illness, abnormal blood pressure, heart defibrillator, implantable devices, cancer, malignancy, feeling nauseous / headache, recent surgery, broken bones, osteoporosis, anhidrosis, splanchnic diseases, skin diseases or burns, metal or other body implants, breast implants, currently pregnant or may be pregnant or breastfeeding. For further reading on using saunas safely see – INFRARED SAUNA SAFETY.
About the Author
MAGNUS KARLSSON (BSc, MSc)
• Senior Editor at Home Sauna Heaven
As a native Swede, Magnus developed a deep fascination with the art of sauna bathing from an early age. Born and raised in the picturesque landscapes of Småland Sweden, he grew up in a family where sauna was deeply embedded in the community and daily routine. He graduated from Linnaeus University with a Master of Science in Health Science with a special focus on the “Comparative Analysis of Traditional Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas”.
Moving to the United States in his late twenties, Magnus worked as a health and fitness advisor in a well-known spa and wellness retreat in Malibu California. Over the next 12 years he became the spa’s leading sauna consultant and mentored colleagues on the benefits and applications of sauna therapy.
In 2019 he relocated to Florida to open his own wellness retreat in the Tampa Bay area. Here he continues to inspire others with the restorative power of sauna therapy. In 2020, he became senior editor of Home Sauna Heaven where he shares his deep understanding of infrared sauna and offers expert advice on its applications, benefits, and periodic product reviews.
