What are pros and cons of a sauna tent? The key advantages are its Compact Size, Low Price, and Portability. The three main Cons are they fit just One Person, have Less Power than a cabin sauna, and have No Dedicated Space in your home.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF A SAUNA TENT?
Sauna tents are lightweight portable saunas. They will appeal to you if you don’t want to install a large cabin sauna in your home.
They have a lot in common with traditional cabin saunas – but are much more compact and affordable. Let’s take a look at the key advantages and disadvantages of sauna tents.
ADVANTAGES OF A SAUNA TENT
The advantages of a sauna tent compared to a traditional center around its compact lightweight structure, its ease of use, and its low cost.
PRICE
Sauna tents are much more affordable compared to a traditional sauna. Theor price tag is just a small fraction compared to a wooden cabin sauna.
If you’re on a budget or a fan of a bargain – you’re going to be a big fan of sauna tents. Prices vary depending on model and quality but you can expect to pay $150-$250 for a sauna tent.
HIGHLY PORTABLE
Sauna tents are lightweight and highly portable. In fact, they are so lightweight you can easily pick up a fully assembled tent and change its location within your house.
They can be assembled and disassembled in minutes and can be easily taken on the road if you are heading away for the weekend. A sauna tent gives you 24 hour, 7 days a week access to your own personal sauna.
SMALL SIZE
Sauna tents are compact and convenient. They are designed to fit just one person at a time. If you’re looking for a sauna that doesn’t take up much space – a sauna tent is the home sauna for you.
They typically measure about 30” x 30” x 40” inches. Their small size makes them ideal for apartments and homes where space is at a premium.
SUPER ECONOMICAL
They consume much less power than traditional saunas – making them much cheaper to run. A sauna tent heats a much smaller ‘cabin’ and therefore consumes much less electricity.
Running a sauna tent is an economical way to enjoy a sauna and will save you money in your utility bill compared to a traditional sauna.
VERY EASY TO MAINTAIN
There is very little maintenance involved in a home sauna tent. The occasional wipe down of moisture and periodic spray with some antibacterial cleaner is all the care and maintenance your sauna tent requires.
Traditional sauna cabins need considerably more care and attention. Not only do they require more cleaning but the timber will have to be treated from time to time.
BREATHING COMFORT
You enjoy much better breathing comfort when using a sauna tent – because your head is positioned outside the sauna.
When you sit inside a sauna tent your head and neck remain outside thanks to a portal on the top of the sauna. This means you avoid breathing the oppressively hot air from inside and you enjoy a much more comfortable experience.
TEMPORARY STRUCTURE
A sauna tent is a temporary structure. Unlike a sauna cabin, it can be taken down at any time. This means when you’re not using it, you can fold it up and pack it away.
A traditional cabin sauna is a permanent structure and once it’s built it’s not going anywhere. They will permanently occupy a considerable chunk of your home.
AVOID PUBLIC SAUNA
Investing in a home sauna tent means you can skip that trip to the gym. You can save time and money by enjoying a sauna in the comfort of your home.
An added bonus is the safety aspect of avoiding a public sauna. By avoiding the shared sauna in your local gym or spa you could be protecting yourself from picking up a cold, flu, or even the coronavirus.
DISADVANTAGES OF A SAUNA TENT
There are several disadvantages associated with a sauna tent related to its size and power. It’s worth considering these points if you are thinking about investing in a home sauna tent.
LIMITED TO ONE-PERSON USE
Sauna tents can be used by just one person at a time. You will not be able to squeeze a second person in there.
The dimensions of the tent have been built to comfortably accommodate one person. So, sauna tents are limited to single-person use. It is not safe to try and pack two people in together.
LESS POWER
A sauna tent will generate sufficient heat to work up a sweat. And the higher-end models have impressive power output.
However, they use much smaller heating units compared to a traditional sauna. This means, try as you might – you will never achieve the same kind of power output as a cabin sauna.
NO DEDICATED SPACE
Sauna tents have no dedicated floor space in your home. They have been designed as lightweight portable units. They can be assembled when needed and disassembled after use.
This means they find themselves temporarily occupying a floor space in your home, for example, a tiled bathroom floor. They then have to be moved once the session is over.
ASSEMBLY & DISASSEMBLY
They have to be assembled before use and disassembled once you are finished. They are easy to assemble and disassemble and this can be completed in 5-10 minutes.
However, it’s worth considering how this will add time to your session each time you decide to have a sauna. There is no assembly/disassembly with a cabin sauna – just switch it on.
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SHOULD I BUY A SAUNA TENT?
Yes, sauna tents are an excellent way of enjoying the relaxing and healing effects of sauna in the comfort and privacy of your own home. When discussing the pros and cons of a sauna tent it’s only natural to consider if they are a good investment.
Sauna tents come with all the same beneficial effects as a traditional sauna but are cheaper, smaller, portable, economical to run, and can be packed away when not in use.
They’re not just more compact and cheaper – they’re much cheaper! A wood cabin sauna will set you back anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000. You can pick up a high-quality sauna tent for just a couple of hundred dollars – bargain!
Take some time to weigh up the sauna tent pros and cons outlined above and you will get a feel if it’s a good option for you.
TYPES OF SAUNA TENT
When discussing sauna tent pros and cons – we also need to take a look at the type of sauna tents out there. There are two categories of sauna tent on the market today – infrared sauna tents and steam sauna tents. The first uses a type of light energy called infrared while the second uses steam to heat the body.
INFRARED SAUNA TENTS
These tents use infrared light energy to heat the body. An infrared heat source is woven into the fabric walls of the tent.
The infrared heaters are electrically powered and begin generating heat within minutes of being powered up. Infrared sauna is a form of ‘dry’ sauna. They also heat the body directly.
This means the infrared heat energy travels from the heat source and heats your body without heating the air around your body. For more information on how an infrared sauna tent works – click here.
STEAM SAUNA TENTS
Steam saunas use steam to generate heat. They come with a little external unit that stores water and generates steam. The steam is then funneled inside the tent chamber.
They’re different to infrared saunas. Firstly because steam is a form of ‘wet’ heat. And secondly, they heat your body through a process known as convection.
This means the steam heats the air around the body which in turn heats the body itself. This is different from an infrared heat source – which heats the body directly. For more info on portable steam saunas see – Best Portable Steam Saunas 2024.
READ NEXT
- BEST HOME INFRARED SAUNAS 2024
- BEST SAUNA BLANKETS 2024
- OUR FAVOURITE INFRARED HEATING MATS
- PROS & CONS OF OUTDOOR SAUNA
About the Author
AMY SHAFER
• Allied Health Specialist
Meet Amy, a dedicated advocate of sport, fitness, and the application of infrared sauna therapy. Originally from Texas, she moved to the Sunshine State at an early age. Growing up in the Tampa Bay area, she enrolled in the University of Tampa where she graduated with a BS Degree in Allied Health and a MS in Athletic Training.
Amy’s expertise lies in infrared sauna therapy, with a special focus on the synergistic effects of infrared sauna in combination with traditional therapies. She has a passion for exploring and developing innovative approaches to wellness enhancement and injury recovery.
Amy began her journey as a swimming coach at the YMCA Aquatic Center in Central Florida. Here she developed a passion for applying her sporting knowledge to help individuals achieve their goals. Transitioning to a role more closely aligned with her allied health and athletic training degrees, she delved into the field of infrared sauna therapy. She has been instrumental in pioneering the use of infrared sauna in rehabilitation and injury recovery.
Outside of her professional pursuits, Amy is actively involved in a community-based soup kitchen where she helps support her local homeless community. In her free time, she enjoys cycling and exploring her local national parks, including Biscayne Park, Big Cypress, and the Everglades.
