The Basics: This sauna gives you the benefits of a full-size steam sauna, yet at a fraction of the cost and you still get the collapsible design that makes a portable sauna so convenient. You can sit in this portable sauna while you enjoy the steam, so even your face is getting the benefits of this detoxifying experience. This portable steam sauna can reach a max temperature of 122 degrees and does so efficiently. It features a wired controller with a timer and auto heat settings.

Who It’s Best For: This portable steam sauna is best for anyone who wants a deep, steam-based sweat and also wants the steam to reach their entire body, including their face and head, but might not have the budget or space for a full-size steam sauna. As a side note, there is also an infrared version of this steam sauna, if you prefer that.

What Do the Reviews Say:  This is currently a relatively new product on Amazon, so there aren’t any reviews, but according to Amazon this is their number one new release in the category of saunas, so we wanted to go ahead and include it on our list of the best portable saunas of 2020.

What Is a Portable Sauna?

If you want to enjoy the benefits of a sauna but you’re short on space, a portable sauna is an excellent option.

When you use a portable sauna, most of which are infrared, you’re surrounded by heat that penetrates deeply into your body. Portable saunas work in almost the entirely same way as other types of saunas, and while they may not look as visually stunning as a full-size wood sauna, you’ll get the health benefits at a lower cost. You can also try a portable sauna first, see how you like it and when you’re ready to move up to a full-size infrared sauna or steam sauna.

Most portable saunas are designed somewhat like a collapsible tent. You can fold it if you want and store it or move it from room-to-room.

There are both infrared-heated saunas and steam-heated saunas.

To use the majority of portable saunas, you would set it up and then sit on a chair inside of the tent-like structure. Many options will include a chair.

Then you zip up the sauna around you and use a remote to control the temperature. The system will then start to heat up.

What Is an Infrared Portable Sauna?

An infrared portable sauna is our personal favorite, just because we tend to think infrared saunas, in general, have plenty of benefits.

With an infrared sauna, whether it’s portable or not, you’re getting dry heat. This allows you to more easily tolerate higher levels of heat, so you can get the benefits of the heat without feeling unwell like you might with a steam sauna.

If you’re wondering how to use a portable sauna if you use one that’s infrared you simply rely on the remote control to control the temperature. There are infrared panels that emit heat within the unit.

Infrared saunas provide radiant heat, so this means it’s a direct heat that goes to your body instead of heating the space around your body.

Infrared heat is considered not only comfortable but also safe, and the temperatures tend to be much lower than what you would have with a traditional sauna.

Some of the parts that you can find included with a portable sauna include:

• The tent, also known as a chamber. This is the primary area of a portable sauna and within the tent are the heating panels, if you have an infrared model. If you don’t have an infrared sauna, what’s inside the tent are pipes that bring the steam in. There will also usually be a zipper on the tented chamber, and you would step in, sit down and zip it up. Many of the best portable saunas for sale include holes on the front and you can put your hands out so you can keep them free to do other things while you relax in your sauna.
• Some of these saunas include a heated footpad. This is great because otherwise the infrared heat and its detoxifying benefits might not reach your feet. It’s located at the bottom of the tented chamber.
• There will likely be a timer attached to a remote with your sauna, and you can decide how long you’ll stay in and set the timer to turn off automatically. Many of these portable designs will also let you change the temperature.
• When you’re shopping for a portable sauna, it can be beneficial to look for one that includes a fold-up chair, although you may need to add your own anyway if the fold-up chair that comes with your sauna is too flimsy.

What is a Portable Steam Sauna?

If you’re looking for a portable steam sauna, it will usually work a little differently. Steam saunas, whether portable or not, use humidity and steam to heat the air around you. If you deal with allergies or congestion, you might actually prefer this.

If you opt for a portable steam sauna, you’ll find that it includes a tent similar to a portable infrared sauna, but it will also have a container that holds water. That water is then heated and it’s pushed into the tent, heating the tent directly with steam.

Steam heating is considered a type of convection heating.

What are the benefits of a portable sauna?

There are benefits of saunas in general to consider, and then there are also benefits of portable designs.

The following are some of the main benefits of saunas in general.

• Cardiovascular diseases are among the main killers of men and women in the United States. Saunas may help lower blood pressure and reduce other cardio risk factors, and improve cardiovascular health in general. One way saunas help cardiovascular health is by reducing stress. Studies have also shown sauna use reduces high blood pressure, and the use of a sauna can raise your heart rate in a way similar to aerobic exercise. Increasing your heart rate can help improve the health of your arteries and blood vessels.
• If you deal with pain, whether it’s from intense exercise or physical activity, or it’s part of a chronic health condition like rheumatoid arthritis, sauna heat can help. Saunas can help your body reduce endorphins which are natural feel-good chemicals that also fight pain. When you’re in the sauna it also causes your blood vessels to dilate, which boosts your blood circulation and helps stimulate the natural healing process of your body.
• Regular sauna use may help increase growth hormone which reduces muscle atrophy and can help with muscle recovery and growth.
• Many of us are exposed to toxins each and every day and those toxins can contribute to inflammation and chronic diseases. The use of a sauna, whether portable or otherwise, can help you sweat deeply and this can facilitate better removal of toxins. Deep sweating may reduce the presence of heavy metals in your body too.
• A study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland found regular sauna use of anywhere from four to seven times a week helped reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by 65%. The study looked at more than 2,300 participants over a 20-year period.
• So many of us have a difficult time falling asleep, staying asleep and getting the restful sleep our bodies crave. Sauna use can help. With regular sauna use, you can experience a slow, relaxing decline in endorphins after they spike while you’re in the sauna, and that can help with your levels of relaxation and healthy sleep patterns.
• Saunas can boost the immune system. There’s a reason that when we’re sick we often develop a fever. Fever helps fight the illness, and the idea is similar with a sauna. When you’re in a sauna it can help your body produce more white blood cells which then kill viruses and invaders.
• Reveal healthier more beautiful skin with sauna use. When you sweat a lot it helps clear toxins out of your skin and remove old, dead skin cells.
• A 2018 review found regular dry sauna use may help with what are described as rheumatic disease. Rheumatic diseases include fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.