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While traditional saunas have been popular in Nordic countries for hundreds of years, it’s the latest buzz to have one of the best home saunas in your own home or backyard. And with infrared technology, you no longer have to burn wood to have a sweat session. In this HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna review, we’re going to touch on the benefits of infrared saunas, dive into the specs, and give you an honest review and insights on our testing experience.
Fitness Pros Get Real on Recovery
We’ve tested more than 30 of the best biohacking products on the market including cold plunges, saunas, massage guns, and wearable trackers. And our testers aren’t just fitness geeks, we’re a group of fitness professionals with over two decades of collective fitness industry experience.
For this HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna review, ISSA-certified personal trainer Lindsay Scheele put the sauna to the test. She’s not only a CPT, she’s an expert on all things fitness and recovery and is our lead reviewer on the Garage Gym Reviews Everything YouTube channel.
Lindsay used her previous sauna testing knowledge in addition to our in-depth fitness equipment testing methodology to rate and review eight different categories including heat performance, durability and construction, delivery and setup, and overall value. She rated all categories on a scale of 1 to 5, which we will cover throughout this review.
HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna
HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna
Product Highlights
- Full-size infrared sauna
- Engineered wood and mahogany
- Full spectrum infrared lights
- Low EMF carbon heaters
Pros & Cons
Pros
- FSA/HSA eligible
- 2- or 3-person options
- May help reduce muscle soreness
- Can aid blood flow and circulation
Cons
- Hefty price tag
- Additional $849 for curbside delivery
- 3-person sauna requires 240 volt power
- Not recommended for folks with heart issues
Bottom Line
The HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna promotes blood circulation and muscle relaxation and can be purchased for 2- or 3-person use. You’ll have Bluetooth connectivity and a media shelf to stream entertainment during sauna bathing sessions.
A Quick Look at the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Review
HigherDOSE is a wellness and recovery brand that’s taking a deep dive into the biohacking buzz. The brand not only manufactures the infrared sauna we’re featuring in this review, but also offers a sauna blanket, red light face mask, infrared PEMF (pulsed electromagnetic field) mat, and tools for dry brushing.
RELATED: What Is Biohacking?
The HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna is the only full-size sauna the brand offers. It can be purchased in either a two- or three-person capacity. For the purposes of this review, we’re going to focus on the three-person sauna which is priced at $8,999 and does not include shipping, delivery, or assembly fees. Although white glove delivery prices are not listed, the curbside delivery costs alone are lofty.
Before You Buy
- The HigherDOSE sauna goes in and out of stock, and at the time of writing this review, has a multi-month lead time for shipping.
- If you purchase a HigherDOSE sauna, it may be FSA/HSA eligible through Truemed.
- Expect your purchase to have additional shipping and delivery fees ranging from $849 to $999 depending on the sauna size.
Is the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Worth It?
Based on our experience, the HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna will likely not be worth the $9,000 investment and the additional $1,000 fee for shipping and curbside delivery. We’ve tested and reviewed many of the best infrared saunas, and this one just doesn’t stack up, which we’ll get into in more detail later on in this review.
We also think it’s worth mentioning that many recovery brands make big health benefit claims about detoxification, inflammation reduction, or glowing skin. There is rather limited research on infrared heat therapy in general and not much evidence to suggest it offers a detoxing effect, however. You can expect sauna sessions to increase your heart rate, blood flow, and offer a sense of deep relaxation.
RELATED: Are Saunas Good for Your Skin?
Great for:
- Improving blood circulation
- Group sauna bathing
- Muscle recovery after exercise
Not recommended for:
- A portable sauna
- Folks on a budget
- Treating or curing diseases
HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Review Specs
| Price | $8,999 |
| Footprint | 71” W x 48” D x 77” H |
| Number of people | 2-3 people |
| Maximum temperature | 150 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Materials | Engineered wood exterior, mahogany interior; tongue and groove construction |
| Power requirements | 240 volt; 15A or 208 volt; 20 amp required |
| Warranty | 5-year limited |
Using the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna
Overall, GGR tester Lindsay Scheele mostly enjoyed her time testing the HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna, but the experience wasn’t without its troubles.
The sauna was delivered via freight to GGR HQ and assembled through the white glove service offered by HigherDOSE. However, when the team went to test the sauna, two of the full-spectrum, carbon low-EMF heaters didn’t work. After a pretty solid phone call with customer support, two new heaters were sent to HQ the following day.
“Once the new heaters arrived, it was a very simple swapping which took no more than five minutes and two people,” says Lindsay. But she does note the sauna never reached the maximum temperature. We’ll cover more details about setup in our ordering and assembling section toward the end of this review.
RELATED: How to Use a Sauna
Footprint and Portability
The HigherDOSE full-size sauna will not be nearly as portable and easy to move as the brand’s sauna blanket. Instead, this sauna will need a permanent location to be assembled and live.
The three-person sauna measures just shy of 6 feet long, 4 feet wide, and about 6.5 feet tall. The walls have some thickness to them, so you can expect the interior dimensions to be a bit smaller. Our tester Lindsay gives the HigherDOSE sauna a 4-out-of-5-star rating saying that it’s roomy enough for two or three people and could be situated in someone’s garage or home gym without taking over the whole space.
RELATED: Sun Home Sauna Blanket Review
Performance and Durability
As mentioned earlier, the heat system wasn’t fully cooperating during Lindsay’s initial testing experience. Plus, once the full spectrum heaters on the front wall were swapped for fully functional heaters, Lindsay still found the sauna couldn’t quite reach the max temp of 150 degrees. She found that interesting because the sauna has far infrared heaters on the floor, back walls, and side walls.
For this reason, she rates the HigherDOSE sauna a 3.5 out of 5 stars for performance. She says the sauna took about 20 minutes to preheat from 67 degrees to 107 degrees. “If this were to be outside or in a garage, the outdoor temperature will affect how long it takes to get warm inside the sauna,” she says.
Lindsay notes that the HigherDOSE sauna has not once reached maximum heat setting during testing, but notes it can retain heat well and doesn’t leak during a 30 or 45 minute session.
When it comes to durability, Lindsay scores the sauna a 4 out of 5 stars with no concern about the materials used, wooden frame, or glass doors. Her main concern is another failed heater in the future.
RELATED: How Long Should You Stay in a Sauna?
Features and Extras
When it comes to extra nice-to-have features, Lindsay gives the HigherDOSE sauna 4 out of 5 stars because it has Bluetooth connectivity and a swivel iPad shelf for entertainment purposes.
The three-person sauna offers a removable bench for more options on lying, sitting, or stretching during your sweat session. Plus, the sauna comes with LED chromotherapy color lights, which is a nice touch and may add to the overall relaxation experience.
Lastly, the brand boasts about the full spectrum of infrared heat which includes near-, mid-, and far-infrared light. The website claims each range on the spectrum offers different benefits, but from our research into dry sauna benefits, research-backed benefits are mostly related to the elevated core temperature, increased heart rate, and improved blood flow.
RELATED: Does the Sauna Burn Calories?
HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna vs Sun Home Equinox
Sun Home Equinox
Sun Home Saunas Equinox 2-Person Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna
Product Highlights
- Full-spectrum infrared sauna
- 500W infrared heaters
- Kiln dried eucalyptus wood
- Requires 120v outlet
- Includes medical-grade chromotherapy LED lights
- Includes Bluetooth surround sound
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No power tools required for assembly
- Full-spectrum infrared
- Kiln dried eucalyptus wood
- Only requires 120v outlet
- Limited lifetime warranty (7 years) on cabinetry and heaters
Cons
- Expensive
- 2-person capacity might be a tight fit
- Heavy
Bottom Line
The Sun Home Equinox Sauna is a full-spectrum infrared sauna, providing near, mid, and far infrared rays during a sauna session. With a controlled temperature adjustment, the sauna also features medical-grade chromotherapy LED lights and Bluetooth or auxiliary enabled surround sound.
The HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna is comparable to the Equinox full spectrum infrared sauna from the reputable brand, Sun Home Saunas. Both saunas offer the same self-care benefits of full-spectrum infrared light therapy, medical-grade chromotherapy LED lights, and Bluetooth capabilities.
The Sun Home Saunas option offers a two-person capacity, while the HigherDOSE sauna can be purchased in two- or three-person sizes (but for the purposes of this review, we’ve been exploring the three-person option from HigherDOSE). That said, the price tag is a bit different but the HigherDOSE sauna is slightly bigger and can accommodate one more person.
Additionally, Sun Home Saunas also offers free curbside shipping and doesn’t charge several hundred dollars for delivery. You will also receive a limited lifetime warranty on the cabinetry and heaters with the Sun Home Saunas purchase.
| HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna | Sun Home Equinox Infrared Sauna | |
| Price | $8,999 | $6,999 |
| Footprint | 71” W 48” D x 77” H | 50.9” W x 45.9” D x 77.7” H |
| Power requirements | 240 volt; 20 amp required | 120 volt |
| Number of users | 3 | 2 |
| Warranty | 5-year limited | Limited lifetime warranty on cabinetry and heaters; 3 years on controls |
HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna vs HigherDOSE Sauna Blanket
Higher DOSE Sauna Blanket
HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket
Product Highlights
- Portable sauna blanket
- Sleeping bag-style design
- Powered with far infrared rays
- Additional blanket inserts available
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Promotes circulation
- May aid muscle recovery
- Portable design
Cons
- Takes 10 minutes to preheat
- Costs extra for blanket inserts
- Designed for one person at a time
Bottom Line
The HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket offers a portable and affordable alternative to installing a sauna in your home. The sauna blanket uses far infrared technology to provide heat stimulation to your entire body while you’re inside the sauna blanket.
While the HigherDOSE full-size sauna is not quite as comparable to the HigherDOSE sauna blanket, we still wanted to show the comparison because Lindsay really enjoyed her testing process with the same brand’s sauna blanket.
With the sauna blanket, instead of sitting in a stand-alone sauna, you’ll open the sauna blanket like a sleeping bag, lie down, and zip yourself in like you’re about to take a nap. You’ll need to situate your sauna session on a heat-resistant surface—like a yoga mat or carpeting—but other than that you can have a sauna session pretty much anywhere you go.
In our HigherDOSE infrared sauna blanket review, we outline some of the added benefits the brand included in the sauna blanket like a magnetic layer composed of charcoal and clay (for potential negative ion emission) and a crystal therapy layer made up of amethyst and tourmaline.
| HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna | HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket | |
| Price | $8,999 | $499 |
| Dimensions | 48” L x 71″ W x 77″ H | 71” L x 71” W (unfolded) |
| Power requirements | 240 volt; 20 amp required | 100-120 volts |
| Number of users | 2-3 | 1 |
| Warranty | 5-year limited | 1 year |
Customer Experience
HigherDOSE earns a 4-out-5-star rating for overall customer experience. You’ll have a few methods to contact HigherDOSE, including a live chat function on higherdose.com, email, and a general inquiry form where you can fill out a written message or submit a video or audio recording.
Although the HigherDOSE sauna didn’t heat up to the expected temperatures, Lindsay still thought customer service with the brand was helpful (mostly because customer service sent new heaters the next day!).
The brand offers a 30-day return policy and a money-back guarantee on saunas and wellness technology. Keep in mind you’ll have to get authorization before returning any items to HigherDOSE.
When it comes to the warranty, the product page indicates there is a five-year limited warranty policy, but the warranty-specific webpage doesn’t detail the full-size, just the sauna blanket.
Ordering and Assembling the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna
Before you buy the HigherDOSE infrared sauna, you may like to know you’ll have the option to finance through Affirm (with loan terms between 12 and 36 months) or use your HSA or FSA (health savings account or flexible savings account) with Truemed.
Once you add the full-size sauna to your cart, you’ll notice shipping is a hefty fee—$849 for the two-person sauna and $999 for the three-person sauna. And these fees don’t include professional assembly, this is the cost of curbside delivery via freight.
The sauna arrived at GGR HQ in three massive boxes that needed a pallet jack to move to the set-up and assembly location. Prior to receiving the delivery, our team made the executive decision to opt for premium delivery (aka white glove assembly) which you have to call the brand and ask for.
Overall, Lindsay gives the experience a 3.5 out of 5 stars because the white glove setup and delivery didn’t go as seamlessly as she’d expected. “I was disappointed to find out that the white glove installers put in two broken heaters and did not check to see if they were damaged,” says Lindsay.
However, she notes it seemed like a lofty ordeal to get the sauna assembled, saying that the installers took around 7 hours to put the sauna together. “It seemed like the instructions were unclear, which led to the long setup time,” she adds.
Customer Reviews
At the time of writing this review, there is only one review featured on higherdose.com, which is (of course) a 5-star review. There are no other reviews or testimonials on Amazon either. We plan to update when new customer reviews are featured on the HigherDOSE website.
Final Verdict of Our HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Review
Based on our experience, the HigherDOSE full spectrum infrared sauna doesn’t offer a ton of additional benefits to warrant such a high price tag and expensive shipping fees compared to some of the other saunas we’ve tested. Additionally, based on the fact we haven’t experienced the sauna reaching max temperature, we think it’s better to go with one of our top picks from the best infrared sauna roundup or choose an affordable sauna blanket.
Full Rating
HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna
The HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna promotes blood circulation and muscle relaxation and can be purchased for 2- or 3-person use. You’ll have Bluetooth connectivity and a media shelf to stream entertainment during sauna bathing sessions.
Product Brand: HigherDOSE
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 8999.00
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.8
HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna: FAQs
What is the rating of HigherDOSE?
The HigherDOSE sauna blanket has an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon. The HigherDOSE full-size infrared sauna isn’t featured on Amazon and only has one 5-star rating on the HigherDOSE website.
Does HigherDOSE burn calories?
You may burn calories during a sauna session because your heart rate and body temperature increases, which almost mimics a bout of exercise. However, it’s not likely it will lead to sustained weight loss or substitute a balanced diet and exercise.
Are infrared saunas really good for you?
Infrared saunas have promising health benefits including the potential to reduce chronic fatigue1, positively affect blood pressure 2, and improve heart health3. A 2015 study published by Singerplus4 even found that infrared saunas may help reduce muscle soreness better than traditional saunas.
What are the cons of infrared saunas?
Some reported cons of using an infrared sauna include heat discomfort and airway irritation5. However, if you have cardiovascular disease or heart issues, consult with your doctor about infrared sauna dangers and risks before trying a sauna session of any length.
References
- Soejima Y, Munemoto T, Masuda A, Uwatoko Y, Miyata M, Tei C. Effects of Waon therapy on chronic fatigue syndrome: a pilot study. Intern Med. 2015;54(3):333-338. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.54.3042
- Umehara M, Yamaguchi A, Itakura S, et al. Repeated waon therapy improves pulmonary hypertension during exercise in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. J Cardiol. 2008;51(2):106-113. doi:10.1016/j.jjcc.2008.01.004
- Kihara T, Miyata M, Fukudome T, et al. Waon therapy improves the prognosis of patients with chronic heart failure. J Cardiol. 2009;53(2):214-218. doi:10.1016/j.jjcc.2008.11.005
- Mero A, Tornberg J, Mäntykoski M, Puurtinen R. Effects of far-infrared sauna bathing on recovery from strength and endurance training sessions in men. Springerplus. 2015;4:321. Published 2015 Jul 7. doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1093-5
- Chuwa T, Teruhiko I, Koichiro Ki, et al. WAON-CHF Study Investigators. Waon Therapy for Managing Chronic Heart Failure– Results From a Multicenter Prospective Randomized WAON-CHF Study. Circulation Journal, 2016, Volume 80, Issue 4, Pages 827-834, Released on J-STAGE March 25, 2016.
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