Buying advice for infrared cabins: What you should look for when buying a heat cabin
In the wet and cold season, our body demands above all warmth and comfort. In the wellness area, the infrared cabin has therefore gained a firm place as a fully-fledged alternative to the sauna or steam bath. Apart from the beneficial effect on body and mind, infrared radiation is also increasingly used for therapeutic purposes.
What is infrared radiation?
Infrared waves, or infrared light, is a component of electromagnetic radiation. This is invisible to the human eye, but we can feel it in the form of heat. The infrared radiation is a form of energy that heats the human body from the inside and only slightly heats the surrounding air. Unlike the “Finnish sauna”, where the high ambient temperature causes sweating, the infrared deep heat creates molecular vibrations in the body tissues.
What is an infrared cabin?
Unlike a conventional sauna, infrared cabins do not heat the air in the room. Rather, they use infrared lamps (which use electromagnetic radiation) to directly heat the human body. “These heat cabins use infrared panels instead of conventional heat to more easily penetrate human tissue and warm the body.
What are the advantages of infrared cabin?
The main benefits of infrared cabins include relief from inflammation, stiffness and pain as blood circulation is stimulated and deep penetrating infrared heat relaxes muscles. Muscles are supplied with oxygen-rich blood, which helps them regenerate more quickly.
Other benefits include:
- Relief from joint pain such as arthritis.
- Clear and firmer skin
- Improved blood circulation
- Relief from sore muscles
- Improved quality of life for those with chronic fatigue syndrome
When should I not use the infrared cabin?
In most cases, infrared sauna is considered safe for humans. However, if you are taking medication, have implanted medical devices, or have an acute or chronic medical condition, caution is advised. Talk to your doctor before exposing yourself to such intense heat.
Other considerations you should take into account in advance:
- If you are unable to sense heat and respond appropriately due to neurological deficits, then you are at risk for heat or burn injuries.
- You should not use the infrared cabin during pregnancy unless you have obtained permission from your physician.
- If you have age-related limitations, refrain from visiting a sauna. This includes older adults, who are more susceptible to dehydration and dizziness in dry heat.
- If you have open wounds or are recovering from surgery, wait until the wounds have healed. Then check with your doctor first to see if you are allowed to use an infrared sauna.
- People with cardiovascular diseases or existing heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation should talk to their doctor even before visiting the sauna. A sauna session can increase the heart rate and cause cardiac arrhythmias.
How long can I stay in the infrared cabin?
If you are visiting an infrared cabin for the first time, you should not use it more than twice a week. For beginners, it is recommended to limit yourself to 10-15 minutes per session. Experienced sauna users can then increase to 20–30 minutes per session. Individual sauna sessions can be interrupted with breaks to relax or cool down.
What does a good infrared cabin cost?
The initial cost of an infrared sauna can vary greatly depending on the type of sauna, equipment, size of the unit and any additional features. They start at 1000 euros for an entry-level unit and can then easily rise to 3000 euros or more.
What should you look for when buying an infrared cabin?
Some companies use, for example, chipboard or plywood for the sauna. However, these can contain toxins. One such toxic substance is “formaldehyde”. Formaldehyde has far-reaching health consequences, ranging from damage to the nervous system (especially the brain), increased risk of cancer, impaired reproductive function and birth defects, to impaired learning and memory.
What is the preferred wood for an infrared cabin?
Only high quality wood is suitable for the construction of an infrared cabin. Cedar, hemlock or lime are examples of solid woods that can be used for the construction of an infrared cabin. Hemlock is convincing as a building material for sauna construction – and of the three, it is the hardest material and thus the most resistant to damage. For allergy sufferers, however, basswood is the preferred type of wood for infrared sauna construction. Cedar is one of the most expensive types of wood in sauna construction. The wood of cedar is very resistant to rot, has excellent durability and unique wood texture.
Pay attention not only to the design
Numerous heat cabins are created by designers to look visually sophisticated. However, these design features can directly affect the efficiency and performance of an infrared sauna. Take, for example, the large glass walls on the front and sides of an infrared sauna. This may look nice, but it is not efficient. This is because too much glass means there is not enough space for a sufficient number of far infrared heaters. Another aspect is the insufficient number of heating elements or plates.
Poorly designed saunas have fewer heating elements and smaller plates, which lowers the manufacturer’s costs at the expense of benefits to the sauna visitor. High quality saunas have large infrared heating panels surrounding the sauna visitor on all interior walls. These provide maximum body coverage and far infrared absorption. In addition, quality saunas have large heating elements in the front of the entrance door as well, as well as additional heating elements for the feet.
Energy consumption and efficiency
When buying an infrared cabin, energy consumption is a crucial factor. Low energy consumption means not only cost savings on the electricity bill, but also a smaller environmental footprint. An efficient cabin should be able to heat up in a short time and retain the generated heat for a longer period of time. This ensures that you are not constantly using energy to maintain the desired temperature.
Models with good insulation help to ensure that the heat stays inside the cabin and is not unnecessarily released to the outside. This reduces the amount of energy needed and makes for more comfort. You should also pay attention to the type of infrared heater. Some emitters are more energy efficient than others and provide more even heat distribution.
You should also consider models with energy-saving modes or automatic shut-off. These features can further reduce energy consumption by turning the cabin off when not in use or when it reaches a certain temperature.
How thick should the wall panels of an infrared cabin be?
One of the most common weaknesses of inexpensive saunas is the thin walls (both the interior and exterior walls) of the infrared cabin. Most sauna manufacturers have interior and exterior walls that are only 3-5 mm thick. Thin walls in particular tend to warp or bend over time due to sauna use. A high-quality heat cabin, on the other hand, has walls that are 7-9 mm thick. With this, you can be sure that your sauna will last for many years.
Size and space requirements
The size of the infrared cabin plays a crucial role in choosing the right model. First, consider how many people will use the cabin at the same time. While one-person cabins are ideal for individuals or smaller living spaces, models for two or more people allow you to enjoy the spa experience together with a partner, family member or friend.
In addition to space, you should also keep in mind the dimensions of the cabin. Measure the room where you plan to place the cabin to make sure it will fit there. Also consider extra space for the entrance, ventilation, and any electrical connections you may need.
Operation and adjustment options
Ease of use is a key consideration when choosing an infrared cabin. Intuitive operation allows you to get the most out of your cabin without having to wade through complicated menus or settings. A clear and concise digital control panel makes it easy to adjust temperature and session duration. Touchscreen options or illuminated buttons can further simplify operation.
In addition to the basic functions, you should also pay attention to the variety of setting options. The ability to program different temperature ranges or time periods can be especially useful if multiple people use the booth and have different preferences.
Some advanced models also offer memory functions that allow you to save your preferred settings and quickly recall them when needed. This is especially handy if you want to use a particular routine or program on a regular basis.
Additional features such as colored light therapy can further enhance the wellness experience in the cabin. Different colors can evoke different moods and sensations, helping to relax or invigorate. Music playback via built-in speakers or Bluetooth connections allows you to enjoy your favorite music or relaxing sounds during your session.
Do not buy an infrared cabin without safety certification
Under no circumstances should you buy an infrared sauna without proper safety certification! The operation of such heat cabins can be dangerous and/or even spread toxic substances during use. Appropriate safety certificates from various international regulatory bodies are a solid guarantee that such a cabin has been thoroughly tested and meets all safety and performance requirements for the specific needs of the country.
Which infrared heaters are used in the cabin?
Up to 3 different types can be used in an infrared cabin. Depending on the model, either only one type of radiator or a combination of 2 or 3 types of radiators can be installed.
- If panel radiators are installed, they are usually located on all sides of the cabin. They can be recognized by their large red areas. These large-area radiant fields have a uniform surface temperature and emit heat to all sides.
- Ceramic surface radiators have perfect radiation properties and are able to store heat constantly for a long period of time. Infrared heat is radiated through the hot surface of the radiators, 96% of which is in the long-wave infrared C range. A heating coil specially developed for this purpose is completely embedded in ceramic and sealed. In this way, it is protected from external influences and ensures a long service life.
- With ABC full spectrum radiators, you reach 100% power already after switching on. At the same time, you can do without preheating the radiators as in the case of other models. The spectrum of the radiators is composed as follows: The share of infrared A is 15%, that of infrared B is 50%, while the share of infrared C is 35%. The depth effect of the radiation is different: infrared A reaches the subcutaneous layer, infrared B penetrates the epidermis and dermis, while infrared C provides heat in the stratum corneum, germinal layer and epidermis.
Warranty and after-sales service
Pay attention to the manufacturer’s warranty terms. A longer warranty period can be an indicator of the quality of the product. Good customer service to help with questions or problems is also important.
Our Tip:
Protect their eyes from the infrared heaters. Protecting your eyes is especially important. This is because infrared radiation can enter the eye through the cornea and damage the retina. It behaves similarly to our sunlight. Wearing special safety glasses every time you visit is therefore highly advisable.
UV protection glasses for infrared, solarium and tanning bed
Bestsellers: The 6 most popular heat cabins on Amazon
Here you can find a daily updated bestseller list for the topic: Infrared cabin
What is purchased particularly frequently? Nothing is as credible as a verified purchase. For this reason, our crawlers search the best-selling products on Amazon for this category every day. We present the result of the bestseller lists (the selection is updated daily).
