Saunas have multiple proven health benefits, including stress relief, muscle recovery, and increased blood flow1. According to Michelle Koolaee, a double-board-certified professional in internal medicine and rheumatology, “Saunas can also help you detox through increased sweating, making it easier to breathe and boosting your physical endurance.”
Saunas can be a bit cumbersome to fit inside your home gym, though, especially if you’re already using most of your space for workout equipment. If so, have you considered outdoor saunas? Allow me to introduce you to the Redwood Thermowood Cabin outdoor sauna.
Now, you may be wondering, “How does it perform? Is it a premium sauna experience?” We asked Lindsay Scheele, CPT, CNC to test everything this outdoor structure has to offer for this Redwood Outdoors Sauna review, so you can have all the information you need before making a purchase.
Our Redwood Outdoors Sauna Review, Summarized
The Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Cabin delivers top-of-the line performance where it counts. It heats to top temperatures quickly and maintains the precise heat and humidity levels you set with dry or steam heat options. This sauna isn’t cheap, and it’s a lot of work to set up, but the performance is exactly what you’d hope for. If you’re seriously considering an outdoor sauna, this Redwood Outdoors sauna might be just what you’re looking for.
How We Test Saunas
We score a sauna’s heat performance based on efficiency—how long does it take to heat up to the highest temperature, and how well does it hold said temperatures for a 10-to-20 minute sauna session? To earn a 3 out of 5 here, a sauna has to heat up to its highest available setting in 35 minutes, with higher ratings going to profiles that achieve such feats in quicker, more efficient manners.
Our footprint score is based on how much space a sauna takes up, whether it’s a portable sauna or permanent fixture, as well as internal dimensions. To earn a 3 out of 5 in the footprint category, a sauna has to fit the listed user capacity comfortably without taking up too much space in your home or backyard.
Since saunas can be a big investment, we put an emphasis on the construction quality and material durability. We consider the type of wood used across the structure, how sturdy it feels after it’s built, and take note of any obvious flaws or holes that could cause the heat to escape. A 3 out of 5 in this category means there are no obvious defects, and the wood/material is appropriate for the sauna’s intended environment.
Our comprehensive sauna testing methodology objectively considers everything about a sauna, from its construction and footprint to heat performance and additional features. Our product testers sit through multiple sauna sessions to give accurate ratings on a 1-5 scale.
The Garage Gym Reviews testing team includes certified personal trainers, Olympic-level lifters, endurance athletes, and strength training enthusiasts. We’ve tested over 30 saunas to date, and bring that expertise to every sauna review we publish.
Redwood Outdoors is a brand that offers a dozen different outdoor saunas. The Thermowood Cabin is the ideal choice for anyone looking for a four-person sauna that will offer a straightforward assembly with interlocking ultra-dry timber. The sauna features 2-level seating, which is the traditional Scandinavian design so you can choose between low- and high-heat options. The Thermowood Cabin comes standard with a Harvia electric heater, bucket and ladle, backrest, sauna rocks, and an internal light fixture.
What our tester says:
“Overall, I was impressed with how quickly it got hot in the sauna. It worked so well once we got it up and running. It kept the temperature and humidity where we wanted perfectly.”
What to Know Before You Buy
- The Redwood Thermowood Cabin is large enough to fit four people, but it is not portable and should be assembled in its permanent resting place (you likely won’t want to move this post-setup).
- This sauna heats from 0 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit in just under 35 minutes. It comes with two gauges—one for temperature and one for humidity—so you can tailor the environment to your preferences.
- The heater runs off a 30-amp system, which means you’ll need to make sure you have a 240V outlet installed for a proper power source. Many residential homes don’t have such outlets, so you may need an electrician to come help with installation.
Redwood Outdoors Sauna Video Review
Is the Redwood Outdoors Sauna Worth It?
The Redwood Outdoors Sauna is a high-performing sauna that delivers on the essentials—heat performance, durability, and temperature regulation. The setup process can be complex and may require some professional assistance, but if you’re committed to a permanent outdoor muscle recovery tool, the Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Cabin performs with the best of them. Here are a few groups that I think would love this sauna, as well as some camps who should probably look elsewhere for at-home recovery needs.
Still think this Redwood Outdoors sauna is for you? Let’s dive into all of the specs you need to know, and an in-depth look at Lindsay’s experience with this outdoor structure.
Redwood Outdoors Sauna: Key Features & Specs
| Price (Original MSRP) | $7,299 |
| Dimensions | 78” L x 67” W x 91.625” H |
| Temperature Range | Up to 190º F |
| Heat Levels | Not listed online |
| Time Settings | 8-hour delayed timer, 60-minute active session timer |
| Capacity | Up to 4 people |
| Voltage | 120V for lighting and 240V for heater |
| Extras | Sauna rocks, light fixture, and asphalt roll roofing |
| Warranty | 1-year limited warranty |
Experience Using the Redwood Outdoors Sauna
Most home saunas are going to be an investment, and the Thermowood Cabin sauna is no exception with a $7,000+ price tag. Still, this is a four-person sauna capable of dry or steam heat with multi-level seating and comfortable backrests. Plus, it’s built with durable materials intended to withstand the outdoor elements.
According to expert tester Lindsay Scheele, CPT, CNC, if you can get through the assembly process, the Thermowood Cabin sauna delivers high-quality performance. “I was impressed with how quickly it got up to temperature,” she says. “It got up to 190 degrees within 35 minutes.”
There are also quite a few add-ons for this sauna (if you have the budget for it) that offer a more premium, luxe-filled sauna experience. Let’s go through some specifics.
If it’s in the budget, a backyard sauna is a must-have for home gym owners serious about their fitness and recovery. The Redwood Outdoors sauna is a high-quality, high-performing sauna that could be the missing piece to your recovery regimen thanks to its dry heat and steam heat capabilities, as well as its creature comforts like internal lighting, app compatibility, and comfortable seating.
Cory Kessler, NASM-CPT, NASM-CNC, Sports Nutrition Advisor
Redwood Outdoors Sauna Rating
Footprint
The Thermowood Cabin sauna is not portable by any means, and it’s quite a bit bigger than the average sauna we test at a chunky 6.5 feet long by 5.5 feet wide. You’ll also need almost 8 feet of overhead clearance, so while you could fit this sauna design in your garage, it is ultimately meant to be built outside. The size is necessary, though, because it’s designed to fit four people inside (depending on the size of your fellow sauna bathers). Accordingly, the internal capacity and outdoor-friendly dimensions earn this Redwood Outdoors sauna a 4 out of 5 for this category.
Delivery and Setup
Our team has tested over 30 saunas, so when we score the delivery and setup, we are trying to give honest feedback about how easy or complicated the process is, how long setup takes compared to the type of sauna in question, and how DIY-friendly the instructions are if you have little to no experience putting saunas together. Saunas earn a 4 or 5 out of 5 in this category if we think the process makes sense for what you’re getting.
The Redwood Thermowood Cabin earns a 3 out of 5 here, because shipping is an additional cost and Lindsay ran into several problems with the assembly process. “The instructional video provided seemed as though it was demonstrating an older model,” Lindsay notes, “Which ultimately resulted in us troubleshooting around 300 different pieces.” However, she adds that the biggest issue was with the included screws—she had to replace them with ones she bought at her local hardware store.
Construction and Durability
The Redwood Outdoors sauna is built out of Thermowood, which is a chemical-free heat treatment intended to give wood some added durability. The treatment can help prevent the wood from swelling, warping, or cracking and can bolster the material’s resistance to rot and fungi growth—extremely important in an outdoor sauna. All of this increases the wood’s potential longevity and, therefore, the overall lifespan of the sauna.
We docked points here, though, and settled on a 3-out-of-5 rating because Lindsay had to contract an electrician to set up a new 240-volt outlet for the heater, which added around $1,600 to her total investment. She suggests checking your electrical capacity before buying the Thermowood Cabin to make sure you have what you need.
Heat Performance
Redwood Outdoors saunas usually provide top-of-the-line performance, and the Thermowood Cabin didn’t disappoint, earning a 5 out of 5 for heat performance. Lindsay notes, “We were able to go from 0 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit within 35 minutes, and it kept the temperature and humidity perfectly throughout our sessions.”
There are also five options for your heater with this sauna—Harvia KIP, Harvia Spirit, Harvia Virta, Homecraft H-series, and Homecraft Revive. Lindsay’s sauna came with the Harvia KIP, which is a Wi-Fi-enabled heater that can be adjusted through the two knobs inside the sauna or through a phone or tablet. This heater performed well in our testing, reaching temperatures quickly.
Features and Extras
The Thermowood Cabin sauna comes with all of the standard features, such as a ladle and bucket for water, interior lighting, and temperature adjustments via Wi-Fi or the manual knobs. All of these conveniences earn this Redwood Outdoors sauna a 4 out of 5 for this category.
There are quite a few add-ons for the Redwood Outdoors sauna beyond the upgraded sauna heaters, too. You can add roof shingles to the sauna for more exterior protection, or get an adjustable sauna recliner for interior comfort. Aside from specific add-ons for the sauna, you can also purchase hot tubs, an outdoor shower, and an Alaskan cold plunge tub directly from Redwood Outdoors (in case your renovations have more in mind than a few sweat sessions).
You can also modify the Thermowood Cabin to change from an electric heater to a wood-burning stove if you prefer. However, these add-ons (naturally) come at an additional cost, so be sure to budget accordingly.
RELATED: Best Cold Plunge Tubs
Value
We judge value based on every part of the experience relative to the price you’re paying—the setup experience, sauna performance, add-ons, footprint, and more. When we combine all of these factors, Thermowood cabin sauna earns a conservative 3 out of 5 for value. It functions well and the stainless steel Harvia heaters are great quality, but users should be aware of how the cost can rise quickly.
“I’m split 50/50 on this sauna,” Lindsay says. “It worked so well once we got it up and running, keeping the temperature and humidity at our preferred settings without hesitation. But it was a pain to put together, and it’s an expensive investment when you add shipping and potential electrical work.”
Customer Experience
Our customer experience category is based on warranties, how easy it is to complete returns, customer service availability, and (for large items like saunas) any available financing. Redwood Outdoors offers 0% APR financing starting at $208 per month, and the brand’s customer service is easy to contact to arrange returns or answer questions. Redwood Outdoors also provides replacement parts for anything broken in transport, and if it can’t be fixed, the brand will replace the full sauna for free.
The warranty is only for one year, but Redwood Outdoors is quick to honor it, according to other online reviews. As such, we rate the Thermowood Cabin sauna at 5 out of 5 for customer experience.
RELATED: Ultimate Sauna Guide
Customer Reviews
Simply put, customers love this sauna. On the Redwood Outdoors website, it has 26 5-star reviews and one 4-star response. Several of the most recent reviews even say Redwood Outdoors updated the sauna kit to include better instructions for assembly. The one complaint in the 4-star review is having to hire an electrician (which Lindsay also had to do), so it is worth noting (again) that you should check your electrical capacity before buying this sauna.
Redwood Outdoors Sauna Vs
Redwood saunas are some of the highest-quality backyard saunas on the market, but they’re not the only option out there. Our team has tested over 30 saunas, after all, including outdoor barrel saunas, cube saunas, garden saunas, and more. Here are two other models that our testing team has had great experiences with—the Plunge Sauna and the Sun Home Luminar sauna.
Plunge is known for the brand’s ice baths, but the Plunge Sauna is a high-end outdoor sauna with comparable features to the Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Cabin sauna. The Plunge Sauna fits five (standard size) or seven people (XL size). It also uses a Huum stone sauna heater—an electric heater you can pour water on to generate steam. The Plunge Sauna tops out at 230 degrees, and the controls are Wi-Fi-enabled through the Plunge app. Basically, the features on the Plunge Sauna are the upgraded versions to the Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Cabin, but you’ll also pay more at roughly $11,990 for the standard size.
Another alternative is the Sun Home Luminar sauna. The Luminar is an outdoor infrared sauna, which means it uses five far infrared heaters as the heat source rather than an electric sauna heater or steam heat. The max temperature is 170 degrees, but studies indicate that infrared sauna sessions can improve performance and recovery after training2. The Luminar has all of the technology bells and whistles you’d expect from a high-end, modern sauna, too, like Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in sound system, app-enabled temperature controls, and more.
|  |  | |
| Redwood Outdoors Thermowood Cabin Outdoor Sauna | Sun Home 5-Person Sauna | Plunge Sauna | |
Rating | |||
| Footprint | 79” L x 59” W x 97” H | 82” L x 52” W x 83” H | 67” L x 60” W x 95” H |
| Max Temp. | 190 F | 170 F | 230 F |
| Capacity | 4 people | 5 people | 5 (Standard), 7 (XL) |
| Power Req. | 240 V | 240 V | 240V |
| Warranty | Limited 1 year | Heaters: 6 years, other components: 1 year | 2 years |
Final Verdict of Our Redwood Outdoors Sauna Review
The Redwood Outdoors sauna is a solid choice if you’re looking for one of the best home saunas to add to your space. It performed well in our tests, reaching its top heat within 35 minutes, and it maintained the perfect temperature and humidity throughout. Here are a few final takeaways from our experience:
- This sauna is large enough to fit four people, and it performs really well if you can make it through the setup process.
- Compared to other saunas with the same capacity and performance, the price is pretty reasonable.
- You may have to upgrade your electrical outlet to accommodate the sauna heater’s power requirements. Before buying, you should double check and consult an electrician if you don’t have an available 240V outlet.
Redwood Outdoors Sauna Review: FAQs
What is the best wood to use for a sauna?
The best wood for your sauna depends on your preference. For construction, Canadian white or red cedar, hemlock, aspen, alder, spruce, pine, basswood, and eucalyptus are common choices given their differing aesthetics and durability. For burning in wood-fired saunas, we recommend locally-sourced hardwood (like oak) for maintaining heat over time.
Are outdoor saunas worth it?
Outdoor saunas can be a big investment, but there are many potential health and wellness benefits that could make them a worthwhile investment, including improved blood flow, muscle recovery, and better exercise performance, according to Dr. Michelle Koolaee. If any of those are in your fitness goals and you have the budget to afford a home sauna, it may be worthwhile.
However, there are also risks to sauna use, especially dehydration. Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM adds, “Keep sauna sessions to 15 to 20 minutes and pay attention to how you’re feeling. Stay hydrated before, during, and after to stay safe.”
How do you clean a Redwood Outdoors sauna?
When it comes to how to clean saunas, we recommend a combination of “with-use” and weekly cleaning regardless of your structure’s brand. After you’re done with your sauna session, wipe down any areas that are sweaty with a damp cloth. Weekly surface cleaning should be done without the heat, wiping down windows, floors, the stove, and your seating surfaces with an appropriate cleaner.
Do Redwood Outdoors saunas hold up in weather?
Redwood Outdoors saunas are made from durable, weather-resistant materials. Whether you have a cedar barrel sauna, panorama sauna, or a Thermowood sauna build, they are all designed to effectively withstand the elements.
References
- Sutkowy, P., Woźniak, A., Boraczyński, T., Mila-Kierzenkowska, C., & Boraczyński, M. (2013). The effect of a single Finnish sauna bath after aerobic exercise on the oxidative status in healthy men. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, 74(2), 89–94. https://doi.org/10.3109/00365513.2013.860616
- Ahokas, E. K., Ihalainen, J., Hanstock, H. G., Savolainen, E., & Kyröläinen, H. (2023). A post-exercise infrared sauna session improves recovery of neuromuscular performance and muscle soreness after resistance exercise training. Biology of Sport, 40(3). https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2023.119289
