Posted on October 25, 2015October 25, 2015 by Sauna Guy

Vital Saunas – Better Infrared Options are Available

Vital Sauna Review – Mass Produced Infrared Saunas

Vital Saunas is a small reseller of Chinese mass-produced Infrared saunas. Are they worth your money and will they provide true infrared therapeutic value for you?

Choosing the correct brand for you can make a dramatic positive change in your health. This is one industry where value and benefit vary tremendously and is not always apparent.

Please read more about the real differences in the various companies and products as well as how this Vital Sauna review compares to the reviews of the top rated brands and comparison table. In contrast, Clearlight, Heavenly Heat or Health Mate will provide tremendous benefits invigorating you at the cellular level with massive detoxification. This will not be experienced by an average brand, which is where Vital Saunas rate.

Infrared Saunas fall into three main quality groupings. The top group provides exceptional healing and therapeutic benefit, the middle group provides some healing benefits and the lower group are purely recreational, providing little if any benefit.

Vital Saunas is an average company falling in the middle group.

95% of all brands sold in the US are mass produced on 4 Chinese assembly lines and Vital Sauna is one of these. The middle group are then relabeled and resold by anyone willing to start an LLC company and begin selling products. This is the approach Vital Saunas took in 2008.

Vital is simply a reseller of relabeled products found in dozens of other companies. How have they fared? They have improved over time as a company and any history can easily be searched under company name.

In fact any company can be searched partly by searching their name with complaints. Every company will likely have a couple but a lot of complaints suggests some problems. One very prominent well known brand has a long list of dissatisfied customers with an entire customer-generated facebook page dedicated to customers posting about 6 month and longer waits on product delivery, replacement parts and even more serious problems.

Vital Sauna Heaters

Although claiming low EMFs (the dangerous Electromagnetic Fields), Vital has higher EMFs than many others in similar price range. Their heaters are the average, standard carbon heaters used in most other brands.

This brand does lack a front heater which is really needed to produce better detoxification results.

The main disadvantage of using standard average heaters is threefold. First, more heaters are needed up the sides and back of the cabin to produce enough heat to heat up the air. This is typical of almost all units you view online. Contrast this with Clearlight, a top rated company, whose heaters only need to be placed up to mid way, around should height, in the cabin. Clearlight’s heaters are the most powerful carbon heaters in the entire industry using a convex shape and embedded ceramic fibers. Clearlight pioneered ultra low emf that other companies have been trying to implement and is a standout brand for many reasons.

The second disadvantage of these average carbon heaters used is that they do need to reach high surface temperatures to warm up the cabin and by doing so pass by the optimal 9.4 mgs that produces true fatty tissue detoxification. Infrared’s main benefit is getting close to this optimal resonance frequency that caused cellular resonance during which cells throw off the toxins. This is similar to certain sound frequencies causing glass to begin to vibrate.

Without cellular resonance, toxins deep inside tissues are not released in the sweat.

While a Vital sauna is a better choice than the $1000 recreational units sold at so many chain stores, it is still a much inferior brand to Clearlight, Saunacore or Heavenly Heat Saunas.

Wood and Backrest

The wooden slats that cover and separate the user from the carbon heater panels are good but could be a little narrower to allow a bit more of the infrared to reach the user. Infrared will not penetrate through wood so any slats, which all companies need to use if they want to protect the user and panels, should be as minimal as possible. These are acceptable.

The backrest is ergonomically shaped and comfortable. However the three horizontal pieces are very wide, blocking larger portions of the heat. I believe it would be an improvement if this were minimized somewhat.

Company

Vital has been in business for 7 years which is better than 40% of the industry’s companies that go out of business in a few years.

One thing that Vital Saunas does a bit better than most in the crowded average class is that for a reseller, they mark their products up a little less than most others. This makes this brand a bit more appealing for someone wanting only an average product with a small to moderate amount of benefit.

Product Lines

Their Premiere Line is made of Hemlock and offers a 1-person up to a 5 person unit. The cabin’s pieces are locked together with sturdy buckles which when used properly are a good method of securing the unit together.

Their Elite Line is made of Cedar with 1 to 5 person models ranging in prices from around $2000-$3200.

Other Features

Vital’s cabin, wood, construction, heaters and other features are simply average for the industry. It does offer chromotherapy lights as an add on option, which are common with most brands. It also offers an oxygen ionizer which is not common on most brands. This is likely a custom feature obtained at the factory to offer differentiation from some other companies offering the exact same unit.

It also states having magnetic flux, magnets for magnetic therapy, which is used by only one other company. These two options offer an appearance of uniqueness but are not needed for the infrared therapy.

In contrast, Clearlight has superior heating, standard choromotherpy lights and ceiling venting. Saunacore and Heavenly Heat offer full cabin air circulation with the purest infrared saunas made anywhere. Made in the USA and Canada, these superior brands utilize ultra clean #304 surgical grade stainless steel heaters with 96% efficiency.

Vital has been fairly good at their marketing over their 7 year history with heavy promotion in 2011 and 2015. Care should be taken when reading some of the online promotion of the brand that appeared in 2011 and continuing as much of it is camouflaged company originated material, a common practice with some in the industry.

Warranty

The company has a very good warranty, covering heaters, cabin and electronics with a lifetime warranty for the original purchaser. This is actually a good warranty for this mid level group of companies.

Radio and speakers carry a 1 year warranty.

Summary

Vital Sauna is a small reseller with a couple exclusive features selling average products that are sold with a relatively honest approach and less markup than most mass produced resellers. But they are still mass produced resellers like dozens of others. These will warm you up and cause a sweat with some degree of detoxification.

Their customer service is a bit better than most and good to work with. This is a lower budget sauna for those not wanting to wait to save up for a solid brand. If you purchase one be realistic about what you are buying. If you are very chemically sensitive or need deep detoxifying, this in likely not the brand for you.

However, if you are serious about your deep health and real detoxification, spend a little more money and get a Clearlight, Health Mate, Heavenly Heat or the Purity line from Saunacore. The difference you will experience will be remarkable.

Posted on October 16, 2015October 16, 2015 by Sauna Guy

Heavenly Heat Saunas – Review & Interview

Heavenly Heat Saunas – Ultra Pure Detoxification

Heavenly Heat Sauna company has a fantastic reputation in the industry for having ultra clean saunas. This review is actually an easy and fun review to complete as the company and its infrared saunas are so different from the almost all others in the industry.

So what makes Heavenly Heat Saunas so different?

Purity – They are built with pure, clean detoxification in mind. They are targeted primarily for people with extreme chemical sensitivities or existing chemical injuries, not using any glues or toxic materials in their construction. Only the highest grade of what they call “clear” white poplar is used. Even the glass window gaskets are made from pieces of poplar rather than synthetics. The light fixtures are glass and metal rather than plastic housings for the bulbs, eliminating even that small amount of plastic out gassing.

Hopefully it is obvious that this approach that Bob Morgan, the owner, has taken with the company is so very different from 95% of all companies. As mentioned before, 90% of all saunas sold in the US are mass produced in 4 factories in China and simply resold under different brand names.

Hand Built in the USA – In direct contrast to the China mass produced units, if you purchase a Heavenly Heat Sauna, you will own a product manufactured in the USA since 1988 and designed to last for decades. These are hand built using stainless steel screws instead of glues or nails as almost all others are.

The only other company that builds it products in North America using the cleanest components available is Saunacore, located in Canada.

Powerful Ceramic Heaters

The heaters used are purchased from Saunacore in Canada, the only other company to produce premium ultra pure infrared saunas. Saunacore manufactures these heaters from medical 304 surgical stainless steel. They are non corrosive, do not give out any toxic metal fumes and with a concave shape are 96% efficient. Most old style ceramic tube heaters in the industry are 50% effective.

User controlled Heater – Another interesting feature is the ability of the user to control the temperature of the heater closest to their body.

Powerful Functionality over Aesthetics

It should be noted that one thing that is instantly apparent is that the units also look much different than virtually all others in the industry. They are built more for functionality than for aesthetics. While this could be a reason for some to not gravitate towards this company as they prefer a sauna to look like a finished, varnished beautiful piece of furniture, it is also a positive aspect for those that desperately need a medically- focused sauna.

Dr William Rea, a cardiovascular and surgeon considered the foremost authority on chemical sensitivity has used a Heavenly Heat Sauna personally and for his patients since 1994, demonstrating how effective Heavenly Heat products are.

However, anyone would be benefited greatly by Heavenly Heat, not just the chemically sensitive. These have the most powerful ceramic heater available anywhere and the cleanest cabin of any company, providing detoxification and health benefits that are virtually unequaled.

Website

One thing I wish the company would improve is the look of its website as the product images do not always portray the units in the best light. However it is clear to see that the focus of this company is caring for each individual customer and on building extremely functional and detoxifying units, not on glossy fancy marketing.

Don’t be misled by companies that have that reversed. There is one very popular brand that has that backwards with glitzy marketing, product gimmicks but a lack of real quality in its products.

The main purpose for an infrared sauna is true deep tissue detoxification and Heavenly Heat Saunas excel in this regard.

Two highly respected detoxification programs designed for the chemically injured are located at the EHC-Dallas and the Nova Scotia-EHC which is the clinic for Canadians that have been diagnosed with “multiple chemical” sensitivities. Both of these clinics have used Heavenly Heat infrared saunas for years.

Air Circulation and Ventilation

These are one of only two manufacturers that circulates the air. The other being Saunacore which also manufactures a remarkably clean Purity Medical Line.

Air is brought in underneath the heaters and vented out the top of the cabin. This not only circulates the air, but it also is removing the toxins you sweat out while you are in the unit.

Air Filter – As the air is vented out the top of the unit, it is passed through a carbon filter. The idea is – why inhale the toxins in the ambient room air once you finish your infrared therapy session? This is the only company I am aware of that has this feature. Again, these have been designed with one thing in mind – provide the ultimate clean, pure experience for those desperately needing detoxification. Which is really all of us.

But that does not mean these should only be owned by that small percentage of users that are extremely chemically sensitive. Anyone can benefit from this level of purity.

A Small Company with a Dedicated Owner

This is a small company, started in 1988 by Bob Morgan who is still the owner. This is rare in the industry as 90% of companies are short lived businesses. In fact, 40% of companies selling these products that existed 10 years ago are no longer in business. Other companies such as Clearlight, which was started by a Doctor 18 years ago and still owned by him, and Saunacore share this same reputation for longevity and reliability.

In fact, when you call the company, Bob is the person that will answer the phone and talk with you. But don’t let the smallness give you the wrong impression. Heavenly Heat is an extremely high quality company and their saunas are remarkable.

In short, if you choose a Heavenly Heat Sauna, you will have a product that will last you for decades and provide detoxification that is likely unrivaled.

Another benefit of the company and its size and Bob Morgan’s dedication to people’s health is that you will receive clear, expert information and advice with a very low pressure approach. This is a very welcome change from what customers receive from a couple other large companies in this industry.

Product Lines

Again the company offers a bit different options than most competitors.

Far infrared – They have a straightforward far infrared sauna line using ceramic heaters with options for a one, two, three or four person sauna. The one person unit has the door on the side allowing for an additional heater to be directly in front of you when you are seated.

These include the passive air circulation, filtered air vent and pure construction materials.

Traditional – Here is another way the company differentiates itself from most other companies as it also offers a traditional line. This offers the consumer a wet sauna experience inside a toxin-free cabin that is also portable in contrast to most traditional types which are permanently built in one spot.

Combination – A combination traditional and infrared unit that is a traditional sauna with both types of heaters, wet and infrared, in one unit. As they use infrared ceramic heaters that are premium, 304 surgical stainless steel, the heaters will not corrode as most ceramic heaters do. These heaters are purchased from Saunacore in Canada.

Lifetime Warranty

Heavenly Heat Saunas carry an excellent Warranty. Most of the parts are covered for life including labor and shipping. This includes the heaters, wood construction and electronics. The only part carrying less is the control panels which carry a 5 year warranty.

With all of the qualities of this company being crafted with such attention to exactness, I wish the control panels also carried a lifetime warranty which would give it a warranty equal to the best in the industry which is offered by Clearlight, a top rated and recommended brand.

But even with this one section of the warranty being a 5 year coverage, this is an excellent warranty.

Overall this is a company the excels in quality with a complete focus on helping each customer as an individual improve their health. Its infrared saunas are highly recommended.

Should you choose to purchase from Heavenly Heat, you will own something that will not only last for decades, but dramatically improve your health and wellness. You can see how this company stacks up against other brands in this comparison table.

Posted on October 15, 2015October 16, 2015 by Sauna Guy

Saunacore Infrared Saunas – Are They the Highest Quality?

Saunacore Infrared Saunas – Obsessed with Quality?

Saunacore claims its mission is to be obsessed with quality in building its Infrared saunas as well as its Traditional indoor and outdoor units. Does this hold up under close scrutiny? Short answer is yes it does. And this company is vastly different than 95% of its competitors.

But for you, the consumer wanting to know which infrared sauna is the best for you and how will one of their units benefit you, does this obsession to quality benefit you?

Again, the short answer is that for those desiring a medically pure sauna for extremely chemically sensitive people or wanting a customized options, this is one of only two companies in the industry that should even be considered.

However, these are not limited to just the chemically ill patient. For the average person wanting an in home sauna therapy, this is still one of the top, if not the top company to consider. You do not have to be an ultra chemically sensitive to own one. It simply means you will have that extra detoxification and safety for yourself as well.

How Saunacore Infrared Saunas are Superior

What instantly makes them different from 95% of all other companies is that they are the actual Manufacturer. 90% of all saunas sold in the US are mass produced in one of 4 factories in China, most of which use greatly inferior materials.

When wanting actual detoxification and healing, the materials used and how they are combined and put together is what determines whether or not, and how much, you actually benefit from its use.

For informed consumers a close examination of this company’s products reveals tremendous quality differences that will positively affect your health during your infrared sessions. The heaters are where the greatest benefits for you exist.

What Infrared Sauna Heaters are used?

This is one area the company stands almost alone above all others. The ceramic heaters used are premium medical grade, 304 surgical stainless steel. What this means is when in use, there are no metal fumes being released by the heaters. Companies which used out dated sand filled ceramic tube heaters are in fact producing some of the very toxins you are trying to eliminate out of your body.

These are the purest ceramic heaters in the industry. It is interesting to note that one other highly rated company, Heavenly Heat Sauna, buys and uses heaters from Saunacore. In fact Heavenly Heat’s units and the Horizon Purity line from Saunacore (page 32 of their brochure) are the only ultra-pure units and are the ones recommended for those that are extremely chemically sensitive or already chemically ill. While Heavenly heat manufacturers only the one extremely clean product line, Saunacore also manufacturers other lines. However its Purity line is equaled perhaps only by Heavenly Heat.

The heaters are also concave providing up to 96% efficiency in directing the infrared to your body. Understand that many inexpensive (read cheap) products using ceramic rod heaters have efficiency of 50% or less. Many companies use inexpensive heaters that were actually designed for purposes such as drying paint on automobiles and other non-sauna related purposes.

What Other Materials Does Saunacore use?

The company is very particular about the woods and other components used in constructing the wood cabins. In the Infra-core line, very little glues are used and those used are water based non toxic glues. The Purity line uses no adhesives at all and no varnishes or finishes. Non corrosive screws are used to secure the wood pieces together.

Horizon Purity Line

This is the Medical grade line designed for home use. It is their purest line using only non-corrosive screws to assemble the cabin. The wood used is solid poplar or cedar. I do think this sauna could be improved a little. A stereo and speakers does come with this unit which I would actually prefer to see not included when designed for the ultra chemically sensitive. For 99% of users, however, this should not be an issue at all.

Additionally I wish the air circulation system was included in this line. However Saunacore has informed me that the Opti-Cool circulation system was omitted to allow this line to be priced as affordable for home use.

This is still one of the absolute cleanest units you can find.

Opti-Cool Air Circulation in the Infa-Core Line

The company’s large product line of Infa-Core units have a unique optimization cooling system which cools and circulates the air inside the cabin. A fan brings in cool outside air and circulates that in the cabin and out a ceiling vent and out each heater and through the hollow venting inside the cabin walls. This is an expensive process that provides two great benefits for you.

First, it vents out the toxins you are excreting through sweat and provides additional comfort. Secondly ceramic heaters are known for being very hot. The cooler an infrared heater is, the closer it gets to a better resonance frequency for your body’s cells and the better the body’s cells shake off toxins.

There is a lot of technical work that goes into this but basically your body will detox better with this circulation than with the exact same unit that does not have this. Combine this with the already vastly superior ceramic heaters and it is a combination that is unbeaten in the industry. Please re-read and understand that last sentence. It is the key to these remarkable health supporting products.

The only other manufacturer that has an air circulation system is Heavenly Heat, which as mentioned, also uses Saunacore’s medical grade heaters and is also obsessed with purity.

These Infa-Core air circulated units are designed with a wellness clinic or medical related office in mind. In these settings often the units are run 8-10 hours a day with up to 20 patients using them each day. The air circulation not only cleans the air but keeps the units cooler throughout the day. 40% of the company’s infrared units are sold for these types of medical applications. 60% end up in residential homes.

These do lack a carbon filter for the expelled air as Heavenly Heat uses, but these move more air than Heavenly Heat.

Infra-Floor Heating

The high end Infra-Core line also offers an optional upgrade which includes full floor heating. This same concept is offered standard with only two other companies , Heavenly Heat and Clearlight, although Sauncaore’s is full floor heating. The heat is 12 watts per square foot which is a low heat, enough to keep the feet from becoming the coldest part of the body. The feet contain almost 20,000 pores and there are strong opinions that this infrared to the feet can add an extra benefit.

Finn-Core Line

Finn-Core is their lower end line targeted to compete directly with the typical units sold by most mid-grade companies. It is superior to the 90% of mass produced $1000 ones sold at large retail chains but not exceptional compared to a few other brands. I believe Clearlight’s lines would be superior to this Finn Core line with its stronger heating panels and better warranty.

Warranty

Infra-Core and Horizon Purity line carries a 5 year warranty on parts with lifetime coverage on the heaters. While this is a great warranty, I wish the parts other than the heater carried a longer warranty then 5 years. This is an impressive company producing products that will likely last your for decades. Perhaps in the future the warranties will increase, more accurately reflecting this.

However, this is still a great warranty on products that will likely never disappoint any owner.

The lower end Finn-Core carry only 1 year on parts and 5 year on the heater.

Traditional Line

The company also offers Traditional Steam units for indoor or outdoor use in many styles as well as stand-alone electric and wood burning heaters to be used as add on parts. It also sells DIY kits and parts including doors and heaters.

Their accessory line includes thermometers, foot massagers, steam controllers, chromo therapy color lights and other related items. This company has an expansive product line and has all aspects of beneficial sweating and detoxification therapy covered.

Review Summary

If you are wanting to own a customized sauna or the best the industry has to offer and price is not a factor, you should look no further. You will not do better than Saunacore.

For a medical practice with daily patient use, this company and Heavenly Heat should be your top considerations. Both actually manufacturer their own units and provide air circulation.

For home use with an ultra chemically sensitive person their Purity Line is rivaled only by Heavenly Heat. The Purity is also ideal for any home for the average person.

If you are looking for a high quality sauna with a price on the lower end of high end units, I think Clearlight offers better options than Saunacore’s lower end Finn-Core line. As well, for 95% of users, Clearlight’s units offer exceptional detoxification.

If you are serious about wanting an infrared sauna that will truly improve your health, I suggest you seriously consider this company and study the comparison table as well as read the reviews of Clearlight and Heavenly Heat.

Please remember that 90% of all saunas are mass produced in 4 factories in China and are simply purchased and then re-sold by “re-sellers” with different names in the US. Some of these are average units producing average results and some are sub-par and more for recreational use with little to no therapeutic value for the user.

Saunacore actually manufactures its own saunas which is what allows it to offer not only customized cabins, customized heater placements, glass doors etched with company logos, etc, but also allows it to build pure, quality units from exceptionally superior components.

You would never be disappointed with a sauna from Saunacore.

To your Health.

Posted on October 12, 2015October 16, 2015 by Sauna Guy

Comparing Infrared Sauna Companies – Which is Best?

How do I decide between Sauna Companies?

Understanding which Sauna is best for you can be a time consuming and very frustrating decision as so much information seems to be conflicting. And every company claims theirs are the best.

We have compiled some of the most important features to consider and condensed them as much as possible into this comparison table.

Please Note: Full reviews for most companies and models are available and we highly recommend you read a few of them as this will make this table much more understandable.

Recommended Decision Process

Understand some of the important decision criteria and features
Read the reviews of the highly rated recommended Brands
Return to this Comparison table
Read the important questions to ask
Visit the websites of a couple of the highly rated companies. Tell them you read about them at ALL INFRARED SAUNAS. A couple of the companies offer a better final price to my readers.

Want a Fast Decision Process?

You may be thinking to yourself “I just want a simple quicker decision process.” If this describes you I have this summary process. You will be pleased with any of the following short suggestions. None will disappoint.

You just want fastest process, want the best and don’t want any regrets – Buy a Clearlight. Clearlight has the best warranty, best detoxifying carbon panels, best value for the money, 3 simple easy to understand models. Industry leader and innovator. Visit their site – their owners and salespeople offer low pressure informed help.
If this is for an extremely chemically sensitive person, life has been adapted at home and work to avoid any plastic out gasses, etc, then Heavenly Heat or a Saunacore Medical grade is for you. Both are remarkably clean, air circulated units. They leave out radios and speakers so even minimal plastic out gassing is removed.
If you want a very high end, customized cabin, Contact Saunacore.
You absolutely only want a ceramic type heater? Buy a Health Mate, Heavenly Heat or Saunacore ceramic model.

Which do we own at our house? Clearlight. It was a very easy, clear decision.

Please Note: One family member is allergic to dust and carpets, avoids perfumes, scented dryer sheets, etc and has no problem with our Clearlight. I purchased our Clearlight Sauna with no discount or incentive from the company. It was specifically chosen after a thorough decision process. This entire site resulted from those months of research, after my Clearlight purchase. My desire is to help you find the best product for you and your family, saving you dozens of hours of research and help you dramatically improve your health.

Table 1 – THERAPUTIC SAUNAS

This Table lists, in approximate order of recommendation and quality the more well known brands that have varying degrees of actual Theraputic Value. There is no real need to look past the top four brands.

Company Name	Company History	Heater Rating	EMF Levels Safety	Warranty Highlights	Features
Clearlight	Started by Doctor 18 Years Same Owner	Excellent Ceramic Infused Carbon Panels	Low <1.0	Best in Industry Full Lifetime on All Components	Best Buy Pioneered Low EMF Floor emitter below feet Excellent Customer Service
SaunaCore	30+ years Same Company	Standard Carbon Ceramic Models Traditional Heaters	Low <3.0		Large Product Line Offers Customization A Pure Medical Line Air Circulation High End Models Heater emitter below feet
Heavenly Heat	27 years Same Owner	Ceramic Ceramic/Wet Combo	Low <3.0	Lifetime on Heaters, Electrical & Construction 5 year on Control Panel	Designed for the Ultra Chemical Sensitive Air Circulation Functional over Astestics
Health Mate	25+ years	Ceramic Rods with Patented Alloy	Low 3.0-10.0	Varies with models Heaters: 1 year- Lifetime Craftsmanship, controllers, power supply 3-5 years	Patented Tecoly Heaters Supplies Wood to Other Companies
Sunlighten	7 years under Sunlighten name Formerly Sunlight 8 years Models discontinued Warranties altered during name change	Signature -Standard Carbon mPluse - Standard Carbon + 4 Near IR LED bulbs	Signature- Low <3.0 mpulse -10.0+	Limited to Max of 7 years from site: "Limited Lifetime Warranty covers normal use for the lifetime of the product which is defined as 7 years..." covers parts only 1 yr-sound systems 1 yr - chromotherapy	Well known brand Higher pressure sales than other brands Variable Customer Experiences Near IR is four10-watt LEDs
Vital		Standard Carbon	low <3.0	Lifetime on cabinets Heaters & Controls. 1 year on Radio/CD players Unclear on Wiring	Average mass produced product Lower markup than most resellers
Rocky Mountain		Standard Carbon	EMF has been lowered to <3.0	Lifetime on wood and wiring Lifetime Service warranty on Heaters 90 day-1 year on electronics	Reseller of mass produced product with higher markups Numerous vertical Wood Slats block nearly half of infrared. Good marketing
Finnleo		Standard Carbon		1-5 years on heaters controls & wood	Good customer service Heater emitter below feet Average construction Above average apperance

Group 2 – RECREATIONAL SAUNAS

This group includes several mass produced brands that sell at places like Walmart, Costco, Amazon and Home Improvement Stores.

These saunas offer very little therapeutic value. They are mainly for recreational purposes. They heat up and produce a sweat but do not produce the resonance frequency necessary for fatty tissue detoxifying. Some are no better than standing in sunlight for 20 minutes to produce some sweat. The sweat produced from these saunas may feel good, but it is all surface sweat which may clean out some pores but does not improve your health in any meaningful way.

Some in this list do not have the critical necessary certifications discussed here, some will be out of business within a couple years leaving you without warranty repairs and some have high fire risks.

Golden Designs Saunas now ships its products under the name of Dynamic Saunas. These are commonly sold at Cosco, Amazon and other retailers . These are simply mass produced low quality recreational products with limited therapeutic value. They warm you up and cause a sweat with little to no deep tissue or fatty tissue detoxification due to no resonance or cell vibration.

Warranty is 1 year on Wood structures and radios with limited 7 year on heating and electronics. The manufacturer of replacement parts can vary widely.

Ceramic heaters are inexpensive ceramic rods. The back panel flexes and bows and is stabilized by a couple buckles.

This is typical of mass produced $800-$1200 units.

“Quality Sauna Warehouse” – Elite, Deluxe, Zero EMF & Value lines. Price ranges $650 – $1440. Same as above summary for Golden Designs. Recreational, low quality.

WaterStar by Cal Saunas. $1000 low quality. 1 year warranty.

Luxsauna – website now not available. Five years ago this was a popular brand like many other cheap one-hit-wonder types of companies.

icomfort brand- sold at Sears, Amazon, Costco. Estimated Price $1500. Warranty 1 year on heaters, electrical and wood. Lacks control panel on outside. User needs to step into the unit to turn it on.

Avoid any cheap recreational sauna and its here today, gone tomorrow parent company. Invest in a true health changing infrared sauna. Choose from one of the top four companies listed in the Theraputic Table. Clearlight, Saunacore, Heavenly Heat or Health Mate.

Posted on December 20, 2014October 14, 2016 by Sauna Guy

Remarkable Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

Health Benefits of Infrared Saunas

Remarkable is how many have described the health benefits they have received from using an Infrared Sauna. In the cold and dark of a winter’s night in the far north, people first learned about the positive physical and mental benefits of taking a sauna. These sauna benefits helped to spread the practice around the world. Today, a modern infrared sauna makes taking advantage of those benefits easier than ever. Let’s take a closer look.

Detoxification

One of the primary benefits of a sauna is its ability to detoxify the body. The main way this is accomplished this is through the production of sweat. Sweating helps the body rid itself of toxins. The problem is that most people today live relatively sedentary lifestyles. This means they do not sweat often enough or long enough to get rid of toxins.

This problem becomes even worse in the cold temperatures of winter. The higher temperatures help to raise the body’s core temperature. As this temperature rises, the body produces sweat to help regulate heat. This sweat not only cools the body, but also purges it of heavy metals and chemicals.

Heavy Metal Detox

A quality Sauna with effective infrared heaters causes what is called resonance frequency. The closer the heaters are to 9.4 microns, the better this resonance frequency, or vibration of the cells. This vibration, similar to glass molecules vibrating form certain sound waves, shakes off the heavy metals and other toxins that are stuck to the cells, releasing them to be eliminated from the body.

The brand that produces the best resonance frequency is Clearlight saunas. Another exceptional brand which also delivers high levels of detoxification is Healthmate Saunas. This is part of the reasoning behind these two brands being so highly recommended and satisfying such a high percentage of their customers.

Stress Reduction

Another of the benefits is in the reduction of stress. We live in a stress filled world. Many of us have little or no opportunities to relax. In the cabin of a sauna, you are in a warm, beautiful place that is closed off from the rest of the world. You close your eyes, lean back and feel the heat entering your body.

As it gently relaxes your muscles, you feel the cares of the day falling away. It’s like a weight being lifted from your shoulders. As you relax, your body produces larger amounts of pleasure inducing chemicals called endorphins. This higher endorphin level helps you feel better and more alert and this feeling continues for some time after you leave the sauna. When you regularly use a sauna, these benefits multiply.

Healing

One more of the benefits of infrared saunas are their ability to help injured joints and muscles to heal. An infrared sauna radiates energy in the far infrared of the electromagnetic spectrum. These far infrared wavelengths are able to penetrate the human body to the depth of several inches. This penetration allows the healing heat to positively affect deep muscle tissue and joints. The heat allows for increased blood flow to these tissues which, in turn, promotes the body’s natural healing processes.

Relaxation

The body is relaxed by being put into a parasympathetic state. Even after the session is over, the body remains for a period of time in this state of relaxation. Over time, the body is trained to remain in the parasympathetic state, taking even longer to go back into a fight or flight sympathetic state.

Cardiovascular conditioning

As the body is heated up, blood is moved to the lungs and pushed towards the surface of the skin in the body’s attempt to cool itself. Breathing is increased and more oxygen goes into the blood as the heart rate increases. This is what also happens during exercise. This infrared therapy creates a mild cardiovascular conditioning, similar to light exercise.

This can be extremely beneficial to those suffering from any condition that will not permit vigorous exercise.

Posted on November 22, 2014November 22, 2014 by Sauna Guy

Sunlighten Sauna Review – Weak Warranty with a High Price

Could Choosing a Sunlighten Sauna Be a Costly Mistake?

Purchasing a Sunlighten sauna seems as if it would be a straightforward decision. Simply look at the specifications and beautiful images and make an informed decision. And as much as this first appeared to be a simple review to make, unfortunately we cannot recommend Sunlighten saunas.

When we began the process of creating this Information site on infrared saunas, we fully anticipated being able to give Sunlighten a positive review. After all, health bloggers and even some others endorsed this company and I had read a few Sunlighten Sauna reviews that seemed to be positive. However, as its history and facts surrounding these saunas are examined, it is clear there are better options with much more security and benefits for the consumer.

While these products look great in pictures, it is the warranty, product design, customer support, infrared heater quality and possible safety that are lacking. This review will examine each of these in turn with supporting facts, giving you the information you need to make an informed decision.

Thin Warranty for a High Priced Sauna

Reading several Sunlighten sauna Reviews, I found almost no mention of the warranty. Although the warranty may normally be the final thing to examine, this is discussed first as it clearly demonstrates a potential flaw with this brand.

The warranty states a limited lifetime warranty, which seems to imply major parts of the Sunlighten sauna will be covered for life. However, in the fine print it states that the defined lifetime of heaters and important parts of the sauna is deemed to be a maximum of 7 years life. So the longest any part of the sauna will be covered is 7 years as that is stated to be the expected lifetime of this sauna. I wish it were simply stated as a partial 7 year warranty,

This 7 years covers replacement parts only. Any cost for a technician or labor is not covered.

Shipping costs, even on covered parts, is only for 90 days. If the unit has a defective part, the owner pays all shipping costs.

Sounds systems and chromotherapy are covered for only 1 year.

The warranty can be found here http://www.sunlighten.com/warranty.html.

Contrast this with the warranty offered by HealthMate Saunas, in business for 30 years, which covers most of the sauna, including the critical heaters and electrical components for a true lifetime. Or that of the Clearlight sauna warranty, in business for over 15 years, which has an “everything but the bulbs” warranty. They cover wood, heaters, electrical, control panels, CD player, radio – everything – for life. In fact in most all cases, labor is even covered should the customer need that for installation.

Those are the types of warranties a consumer really wants.

Sunlighten Saunas previously called Sunlight Sauna

In 2009, Sunlight Saunas, after 10 years in business, changed its name to Sunlighten Saunas. On both websites and also facebook page it is stated that it is the same ownership and same business. It is not uncommon for companies to change names. However, Sunlight formerly had a real lifetime warranty which has now been watered down.

Additionally, a Signature sauna sold as Sunlight with a lifetime warranty is now not covered by the strong warranty it was purchased under. The company claims a 15 year history, yet dropped all former warranties and exchanged them for a much shorter, restricted one. Many think either a short 5 year history should be claimed, or if claiming 15 years, then standing by the warranty it had on the saunas it sold as Sunlight. Product lines and names were continued under its current company name.

Ordinary, Standard Heaters

The Signature series, which was available even while operating under the name of Sunlight Sauna, uses an acceptable heater. It is the SoloCarbon, a standard heater used in the industry. Sunlighten has actually done a very good job at reducing the EMF levels of these to what can be considered a “low emf sauna.” There is no unsafe emf level or toxin exposure in this product line.

However, the heaters still remain in the weaker category (as carbon panels are inherently weaker than ceramic) and are lined all the way up the back and sides of the sauna cabin walls to generate the heat needed to warm the sauna. Unfortunately a portion of the heat never directly penetrates the user so the infrared received is less than it could be.

Other top recommended saunas have much more powerful heaters and have a comparable or lower cost.

The newer Sunlighten mpulse product line adds the full spectrum infrared feature. I was at first impressed with these and how they looked. However, a few things are less than they appear. The heater directly under the bench behind the lower legs is missing, reducing the infrared reaching the body.

Most importantly the Near infrared added consists of 4 small halogen bulb groups, each a mere 10 watts. According to a few chiropractors, to be effective, these near infrared bulbs would need to be placed immediately next to the body. So if a user is not sitting directly in front of one of these 4 bulb clusters, the stated near infrared benefit is not gained.

Contrast this with the new Sanctuary Sauna line of Clearlight, which has two massive, powerful full spectrum heaters added in addition to its far infrared heaters. Each of these powerful near and far infrared heaters are 400 watts. With Clearlight – that is a total of 800 watts in contrast to the Sunlighten mpulse having only 40 watts total.

For those wanting some near infrared in addition to the far infrared, 800 watts with a full true lifetime warranty seems to be a better choice over 40 watts with a limited warranty.

Different Levels of Safety for mpulse and Signature Products

When the Sunlighten mpulse line was introduced, the measured emf levels ranged from between 15-50 milligaus (mG) which is much higher than the accepted safe level of 3.0 mG. The company now claims those levels have been reduced to around 10.0 mG in parts of the cabin, 12 inches from the heaters. mG readings for any sauna vary depending on where the reading is taken, with the levels being highest nearest the center of the heater. It is unclear what the readings are directly near these heaters.

One of the two recommended brands has readings of well below 3.0, often 0.2 directly by the heater, as verified by an independent testing lab.

A previous product offering, the Sunlighten Sunburst heater box, now discontinued, had a design which made inefficient use of infrared. It was a stand-alone product which packed numerous carbon panels inside a box that was nearly completely covered with downward sloping wooden side slats, effectively blocking almost all of the infrared. This also led to a situation of overheating and some very negative costumer experiences.

After a couple episodes of “unsafe experiences,” a major health institute in the US replaced all Sunlighten saunas they had for their patients with one of the top rated brands (which we also recommend).

Customer Support

In addition to warranties no longer being fully honored, many complaints have appeared alleging shipping delays of months, many months with non-functioning units, shipping costs totally several hundred dollars to return defective units.

Remembering that these are highly marketed saunas which carry a high price tag, all of this is disappointing.

Additional Considerations

It is stated that 56 clinical studies support their Signature and mpulse saunas. But the studies cited appear to be studies of generic infrared and the standard solo carbon heaters. Moreover it is stated that the mpulse sauna was shown to reduce blood pressure in a study conducted at the University of Missouri. However, the mpulse was not produced until beginning in 2010 while that study cited was conducted in 2005.

Sunlighten Saunas – Not Recommended

As a result, Sunlighten saunas are not recommended. When a review can be based on 10 consistent years of the same company producing the same saunas with an exceptional safety record and customer support, perhaps this brand can be recommended in the future. We hope that can be the case in the future.

Instead, recommended are Clearlight saunas, which utilize carbon panels infused with ceramic for incredible detoxifying, penetrating infrared. Also recommended are HealthMate saunas, based more on ceramic heater rods covered with incoloy providing a powerful, even heat.

These are both remarkable infrared saunas which carry strong warranties supported by many years of consistent products, powerful effective heaters and many satisfied customers.

Please see our top rated Saunas.

Posted on November 15, 2014November 15, 2015 by Sauna Guy

An In Home Sauna is a Hot Investment in Health

Considering An In Home Sauna?

Our Infrared Sauna Review Page will guide you on better understanding what to look for and how to choose Your Infrared Sauna. Some, however, may enjoy a little history of how the modern home sauna has evolved and benefit from a brief discussion of the various types of at home saunas.

The first indoor sauna was a simple chamber carved out of a hillside. Its purpose was equally simple – to keep the occupants warm and alive throughout a long northern winter night. After the chamber was completed, a fire was started in the center and rocks were added to the fire. Once the fire burned out, the occupants entered the chamber, sealed the door and the rocks radiated warmth all night. The people inside were healthier and happier for that warmth.

While the specifics of a modern sauna have changed greatly, the basic principle is still the same. A sauna provides a source of radiant heat that promotes good health and well-being. The good news is that the source of this health and well-being is now within the reach of any homeowner desiring to feel better, mentally and physically.

The concept of an at home sauna has come of age. It has grown from a Scandinavian and Finnish cultural curiosity to a luxury that can be enjoyed by anyone at any time – with optional types available.

Three Main Types at Home Saunas

There are three main types of modern in home saunas – steam, dry heat and infrared. When choosing the best one for your home, it’s important to understand the differences between each of these types. Therefore, let’s take a look at each different type in turn.

Indoor Steam Sauna

The first main modern type is the traditional steam sauna. While these have historically been outdoor stand-alone cabin type structures, in recent decades they have become used more as a type of indoor sauna. These are, essentially, what the name implies – they utilize hot steam to reach and maintain the higher temperatures a sauna traditionally requires. Although this is an established sauna type, and perhaps the first type most people think of when the word “sauna” is mentioned, they are not without drawbacks.

First, they are comparatively large and have a fairly significant “footprint”. Second, they are almost always permanent, requires up to two days to install. Once installed, they cannot be easily moved. Third, they take a fairly long time to heat, which reduces their convenience to use.

Finally, when fully heated, they are hot, with temperatures near or at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not an optimal temperature, since it reduces the time that can be spent in the sauna and can often make breathing uncomfortable. This, in turn, reduces the health benefits of taking a sauna.

Dry Heat Sauna

The next type is the dry heat sauna. Most units that utilize dry heat share many of the same problems. They are large, permanent, take a long time to heat and reach high temperatures that tend to limit the length of time in the sauna. They are often simply steam units with the steam heater being replaced with an electric heater. In addition, when using a standard electric heater, they offer little if any infrared, deep tissue healing and detoxification than the next modern type, the infrared.

The Modern In Home Infrared Sauna

An in home infrared sauna, as the name suggests, uses the far infrared wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to heat and soothe the sauna’s occupants. An infrared sauna offers significant health benefits when compared to other sauna types, as far infrared red energy has the ability to actually penetrate the first two or three inches of a user’s body. This produces a deep tissue heating that is uniquely relaxing. Deep tissue heating also allows for a greater degree of detoxification.

For example, the average user in a steam sauna produces sweat that is about 3% toxins. The average user in an infrared sauna, on the other hand, has sweat that is 20% toxins. This is a significant difference.

Additionally, infrared saunas have a smaller footprint and take up a lot less space than the other types of saunas. They are also very portable and can be moved easily. They heat up quickly and easily. As a result they are much more convenient to use.

What is the Best Type of Sauna for Your Home?

While steam is the type most people have been familiar with, the past 3 decades saunas have moved more and more each year to infrared. As more learn about the ability to have an indoor sauna in their own home to use at any time, Infrared has become the in home sauna of choice.

Infrared offers significantly more detoxification than the other types, which is perhaps the main feature most new buyers are looking for in a sauna. Combined with the lower heat, it is no wonder infrared units are selling at an ever increasing rate.

All in all the clear benefits of an infrared sauna normally trump every other type of modern in home sauna on the market. Because of this they make an excellent choice for anyone desiring to take advantage of the health benefits a sauna brings.

Our Infrared Sauna Review page discusses in more detail the features of this type and how to choose among the various brands and heaters used. From that page, you can easily navigate to individual sauna reviews as well as the top rated brands.