Finding the Best Kinds of Portable Infrared Saunas

Infrared saunas have taken the sauna industry by storm in the past decade, and now manufacturers are beginning to sell portable models as well. What exactly is a portable infrared sauna, and what do they look like?

Infrared saunas are the best way to use a sauna. They detoxify your body, relax your mind and your tense muscles, rejuvenate the skin, and even help you lose weight. This is all done with the unique warming action of infrared heat, which is similar to the healthy rays emitted by sunlight. Infrared heat penetrates deep into the skin and works efficiently at lower temperatures than traditional steam saunas can.

Joining a health club or regularly visiting the spa to use an infrared sauna can be expensive, and many people also dislike the lack of privacy in a public sauna. Portable saunas typically cost several thousand dollars less than permanent sauna rooms. If space is at a premium, then having a small model that you can store away between uses may be just the thing for you.

Most portable saunas are built to accommodate only one person at a time. They have a control panel to adjust time and temperature. They plug into a standard wall outlet, which begins to heat up the super-thin carbon heating panels on the inside of the sauna. It may sound dangerous to have heating elements that close to the skin, but with infrared it's perfectly safe. Infrared doesn't heat up the surrounding air, so the panels are only warm to the touch. Infrared actually works best when the heating source is close to the body for a more even heat.

Some portable saunas come in the form of bags, blankets, or domes. You either lie down under a rigid plastic dome, or lie on top of the bag and fold it over you. Your head remains outside of the bag or dome. The advantages of this model is that it is extremely easy to store, and having the heat source so near your skin allows for maximum infrared absorption. The disadvantage of this model is that it doesn't allow you to freely move your arms, and it means that you'll be staring at the ceiling during sessions.

Some infrared saunas come in cabinets, which are the bulkiest of the portable models. These cabinets are like a large plastic box with a chair inside. The sauna user sits on the chair and closes them self into the cabinet, which has a hole for their head to be out of the sauna. That way the user is breathing fresh air. Most cabinets are equipped with an interior fan to circulate the air inside. The exterior is easy to quickly wipe down and sanitize. These models come with wheels for easy transport.

The foldable box style of portable sauna is the most compact. When unfolded it looks a lot like the cabinet. However, when you are done using this model you can completely fold it up into a small rectangle about the size and shape of a briefcase with a handle. The sauna can fold up this way because of the materials used in its construction. The chair inside the sauna is foldable, like a camping chair, and the walls of the sauna are made of flexible materials similar to a tent with insulation. Some even give you arm holes in addition to a head hole so that you can read or channel-surf while using your sauna.

Portable infrared saunas can be used in doctor's offices, spas, or private homes. They offer distinct advantages over building a permanent sauna room. For many people, portables are the best way to enjoy the experience of the infrared sauna.