Hopping in the sauna after a long day of work or after a big workout is undeniably relaxing and invigorating. It calms your mind, relaxes your muscles, and helps you recover.
These benefits in addition to improved health and well-being are driving many people to install saunas in their homes.
If you are one of these people, then you’re probably aware that the choice is between traditional and infrared. The traditional sauna has been around for centuries, and it is what comes to mind when most people think of saunas.
More recently, infrared saunas have emerged as an alternative to traditional saunas.
While there are numerous infrared sauna benefits, traditional saunas are still very popular.
On the question of which is better, this article provides an in-depth look at their similarities, differences, pros, and cons to help you work out which is the best fit for you.
We will look at everything including cost, science behind the technology and health benefits to help you make an informed choice.
Infrared Sauna Vs Traditional Sauna: A Snapshot
Traditional and infrared saunas use different technologies and provide different experiences. Let’s have a quick look at how these two types of saunas compare. Here is a summary of their differences:
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What is an Infrared Sauna?
An infrared sauna is the most modern version of the sauna.
It is arguably the most popular sauna type especially when it comes to home sauna units in the United States while traditional still rules in Europe. The infrared sauna shares the same principle of its traditional counterpart of raising the body’s core temperature to induce sweating.
The major difference is that it uses infrared heat waves instead of heated air or steam.
A specially designed lamp or heating element emits the infrared waves. The lamp or heating element is made of infrared-producing material like carbon fiber panels or ceramic clay.
When electric current passes through the material, infrared energy is released as hot, invisible light.
This light can penetrate the skin and body tissues and heat them directly. The resulting deep and soothing warmth is similar to what you feel when you bask in the sun.
Up to 80% of the energy produced by an infrared sauna gets absorbed by the body so there is no need for the sauna to get very hot. An infrared sauna has a heat range of between 150° and 180° Fahrenheit.
The relatively lower temperatures allow you to stay in the sauna for longer and reap maximum infrared sauna benefits. You can enjoy a sauna session of up to and benefit from a deep and relaxing sweat.
The depth of the infrared penetration also offers greater health benefits.
Brief history of infrared saunas
Infrared saunas only became available a few decades ago following an attempt to meet the demand for saunas in the US. Despite a rising demand, installation of traditional saunas was very difficult for many homeowners due to insufficient power supplies and flue regulations. Infrared saunas were created to solve this problem.
Different Types of Infrared saunas
Infrared saunas can be classified according to infrared capabilities. Based on this classification, the three main types of infrared saunas are: near-infrared, mid-infrared, and far-infrared.
An infrared sauna with all three capabilities is known as a full-spectrum infrared sauna.
- Near Infrared sauna (NIR): This type has the shortest wavelength of the three. Its waves can only reach underneath the skin surface. This makes it ideal for healing wounds, mitigating inflammation, clearing troublesome acne, reducing wrinkles and for people who suffer from heat sensitivity.
- Mid Infrared sauna (MIR): Has a longer wavelength than NIR and can penetrate deeper into the body. It is the best choice for infrared sauna weight loss. It also helps improve circulation, pain relief, joint inflammation, blood vessel dilation and healing.
- Far Infrared Sauna (FIR): Has the deepest penetration of the three. It is ideal for detoxification as it induces the most sweating. It also improves heart rate, eases stiff joints, reduces stress levels, encourages blood flow, and leaves you feeling refreshed and energetic. FIR is also an excellent choice for infrared sauna weight loss.
Infrared saunas can also be classified according to style. The three main styles are:
- Wooden infrared sauna: these are typically made of wood and glass since they are poor heat conductors.
- Portable saunas: Comprise of a pop-up frame that covers the body from the neck down and a folding chair. They feature zippers, seams, and barriers to keep the warm air in.
- Infrared sauna blanket: Just like a sleeping bag, you must lie on a flat surface like the floor or bed and zip yourself in from neck to feet.
There are several reliable infrared sauna brands in the market offering some of the most effective and innovative saunas today. These include: Clearlight infrared sauna, Sunlighten infrared sauna, Jacuzzi infrared sauna, and Dynamic infrared sauna.
Pros and Cons of Infrared saunas
There are numerous reported infrared sauna benefits but like anything else, there are some cons.
Pros
- Infrared saunas operate at relatively low temperatures making them more comfortable for most people.
- Infrared waves penetrate the body more deeply causing intense sweating and restorative benefits throughout your body.
- The absence of a central heating unit reduces the purchase price and operation costs of an infrared sauna.
- They are easier to operate and maintain.
Cons
- Absence of steam makes them less desirable to some people and less beneficial to people with respiratory ailments.
- The hype resulting from marketing influence makes it hard for users to discern fact from hyperbole.
- Concerns about possible exposure to harmful EMF have been raised. Using a low EMF infrared sauna is recommended to avoid any risks.
- People who enjoy a truly hot sauna experience may find infrared to not hit the heat level they prefer, particularly if they keep their IR sauna in the garage or outside in a colder climate.
What is a Traditional Sauna?
A traditional sauna is a wood paneled room that is heated by a wood-burning heater or electric heater. Most traditional saunas today use stone-covered electric heaters.
The stones are heated to high temperatures and water can be poured on them to generate steam. You can also add scents and oils to the water for aromatherapy.
After the sauna session, you can take a cold shower or swim before going back for another session.
Repeating this cycle several times has been shown to improve your muscle function, circulation, immune system and help your body release endorphins.
Brief history of Traditional saunas
The history of traditional saunas stretches back thousands of years. They are believed to have been used originally as sweat lodges.
Over the past few thousand years, they have developed from simple, underground fire pits covered with animal skins to specially designed wooden structures fitted with electric heaters.
The purpose of these saunas has however remained throughout these changes. They have always been places of relaxation, healing, cleansing, social bonding, and overall wellness.
Different types of traditional saunas
There are three main types of traditional saunas.
- Wood-Burning sauna: This is the most traditional type of sauna. As its name suggests, it is heated by wood fire. You will need a steady supply of wood and you must stoke the fire and clean out the coals to maintain a consistent temperature. The smoke produced by burning wood does not make it ideal for indoor installation.
- Electric Sauna: This uses an electric heater to raise the room temperature. The result is faster heating time, more temperature control, and no smoke. An electric sauna is ideal for indoor installation, but it cannot be as spacious as a wood-burning model.
Pros
- Pouring water onto the heat source raises the humidity levels in the sauna providing health benefits to people with respiratory ailments like asthma.
Cons
- The high temperatures in traditional saunas are not ideal for people with heat sensitivity.
- Expensive to install and maintain compared to their infrared counterparts.
- They are typically bigger and bulkier which makes it difficult to fit into homes with small spaces.
Infrared Vs Traditional Sauna: Differences
Traditional and infrared saunas share some similarities. It has been established that both saunas have the potential to provide its users a relaxing and physically beneficial experience.
However, they have several differences that we have already touched on. Let us look at them in more detail.
- Heating Method
This is the key difference between the two saunas and is worth highlighting again. In traditional saunas, the source of heat raises the temperature of the air in the room and that warms your body causing you to sweat.
In an infrared sauna, special lamps emit electromagnetic waves which warm your body directly.
- Temperature
The electromagnetic waves in an infrared sauna easily penetrate the body tissues, warming you up at a lower heat range compared to traditional saunas.
This allows them to operate effectively at temperatures as low as 120° Fahrenheit. Traditional saunas need to be heated to high temperatures of up to 195° Fahrenheit to achieve the same results.
- Running Costs
Traditional saunas consume more power than infrared saunas. This is because they are larger and take more time to heat up. Infrared saunas are usually built for one person.
They also don’t need to heat up the entire room to achieve the desired results. This makes them more cost effective.
- Maintenance
Both saunas require some level of maintenance. However, traditional saunas require more maintenance. High humidity levels in traditional saunas coupled with the high temperatures provide a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
This means that they need to be cleaned and disinfected once a month to maintain perfect conditions. However, daily use means frequent cleanings.
- Health benefits
Both sauna types heat your body and induce sweating providing health benefits to the skin, muscles, circulatory and immune system.
Most of their health benefits are comparable but there are some differences.
The steam generated in traditional saunas has been proven to alleviate symptoms of respiratory ailments like pneumonia.
Additional infrared sauna benefits are a result of infrared waves penetrating deeper into the body. These benefits include pain alleviation, and detoxification.
- Overall Experience
Traditional and infrared saunas provide different experiences. A traditional sauna offers a much higher heat and a more humid experience which can be improved by adding essential oils into the water for aromatherapy.
Most traditional saunas are also big and provide ample space for socializing.
They also provide a more comfortable experience since the temperatures are low allowing you to enjoy the sauna experience for longer periods.
FAQs
Question: Can infrared saunas cause skin cancer?
Answer: Infrared radiation is safe and does not pose the same risks as UV radiation. Studies have shown that infrared exposure does not directly cause skin cancer. Despite this, a low emf infrared sauna is recommended.
Question: How many times should you use the sauna?
Answer: Studies have shown that frequent use of a sauna results in maximum benefits.
Question: Do traditional saunas have EMF?
Answer: Traditional saunas have no electromagnetic frequency (EMF) emissions.
Question: Are infrared saunas safe during pregnancy?
Answer: Pregnant women should not use saunas of any type. Significant rise in body temperature could pose a significant risk to the baby especially during the early weeks of pregnancy.
Final Thoughts
Both infrared and traditional saunas are effective at raising your core body temperature which is the main purpose of a sauna. The infrared sauna however tends to do it quicker and more conveniently. The traditional sauna on the other hand may be slower but it provides a fuller and richer experience.
There are more similarities and differences between the two as highlighted in the article. The choice of which sauna type is right for you ultimately depends on your specific needs. You should consider several factors including your heat tolerance, purpose of using the sauna and specific traditional and infrared sauna benefits. We recommend trying out both saunas at your local gym, sauna, or health center before making your choice.
