The Best Home Saunas for Athletes 2024
Boost muscle recovery for your entire body with efficient heat therapy.
There’s a good chance you’ve seen these before, most likely at your gym or health club.
And if you’ve ever spent a session sweating it out in a sauna then you’re well-aware of just how relaxed, loose, and limber your muscles can feel afterwards.
But after gaining an understanding of how heat therapy works and learning that home saunas have become incredibly easy to use and assemble, you might find yourself wondering: Should I get one of these for my home?
If you’re a committed athlete that doesn’t like to be bogged down with muscle pain and stiff joints the short answer is absolutely.
Through exposure to warm temperatures, heat therapy increases blood flow in the applied area to soothe and relax muscles and joints while boosting flexibility, mobility, and recovery.
Athletes that incorporate heat therapy into their recovery routines noticeably reduce muscle soreness and feel fresher from one workout or competition to the next.
Here, we’ve put together a list of the best home saunas for athletes in 2024.
What Type of Athlete Should Use Heat Therapy?
If you follow any of your favorite professional athletes on social media, then you’ve likely seen them sweating away in a sauna at some point, touting the importance of recovery.
But these saunas aren’t just for professional athletes and health clubs anywhere.
Nowadays, athletes and active individuals of any stripe and sport can benefit from incorporating heat therapy into their muscle recovery routines.
Saunas help your muscles feel looser and more flexible by expanding (vasodilating) your blood vessels and allowing nutrient-rich blood to flow into your muscle tissue and flush out lactic acid buildup.
In other words, heat therapy helps to repair your muscles faster from one workout to the next.
It’s hard to think of an athlete that wouldn’t benefit from using heat therapy, as a home sauna session can target every sore muscle on your body at the same time and help to maintain peak athletic performance.
Many athletes use heat therapy to help them stay on track with personal fitness goals, whether this is training for a marathon, crushing workouts at the gym, or any other personal best you’re chasing.
Note: Featured products are independently selected and reviewed by Compression Athlete. If you purchase through our links, we may earn commission.
1. HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna
The HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna features patented Clearlight technology for full-spectrum infrared (near, mid, and far), a combination of carbon and ceramic heaters for virtually zero EMF levels, and an energizing and stimulating chromotherapy (light therapy).
Shop at HigherDOSE: HigherDOSE Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna
HigherDOSE’s Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna offers a state-of-the-art wooden unit with a removable interior bench and is available in 2-person and 3-person models. This home sauna comes with a 5-year warranty and a plug-in upgraded entertainment system.
2. HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket
The HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket features a portable sauna experience with beneficial far infrared wavelengths. This sauna blanket has a durable industrial zipper and a non-toxic Polyurethane leather body that’s water and high-temperature resistant.
Shop at HigherDOSE: HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket
HigherDOSE’s Infrared Sauna Blanket utilizes charcoal, clay, and magnetic layers to flush out impurities, balance the heat, and improve circulation. This sauna blanket has a 1-hour timer setting, 8 level choices, a hand-held controller, and a 1-year warranty.
3. Sun Home Equinox Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna
The Sun Home Equinox Sauna features an advanced heating system with full-spectrum infrared wavelengths (near, mid, and far) for effective and beneficial infrared heat penetration. This home sauna utilizes durable high-quality materials with 100% solid wood framework.
Shop at Sun Home Saunas: Sun Home Equinox Sauna (2-Person)
Shop at Sun Home Saunas: Sun Home Equinox Sauna (3-Person)
Sun Home’s Equinox Sauna provides Halogen heaters to accelerate heating time and easy assembly with an innovative Magne-Seal system that doesn’t require power tools. This home sauna has a premium bluetooth surround sound system and a comprehensive warranty.
4. Sun Home Solstice Infrared Sauna
The Sun Home Solstice Infrared Sauna features a state-of-the-art design with patented far infrared technology and ultra-low EMF heaters throughout the cabin. This home sauna utilizes chromotherapy lighting and ergonomic benches that form to your body.
Shop at Sun Home Saunas: Sun Home Solstice Sauna (1-Person)
Shop at Sun Home Saunas: Sun Home Solstice Sauna (2-Person)
Shop at Sun Home Saunas: Sun Home Solstice Sauna (3-Person)
Shop at Sun Home Saunas: Sun Home Solstice Sauna (4-Person)
Sun Home’s Solstice Infrared Sauna offers superior craftsmanship and an easy to assemble design that doesn’t require power tools. This home sauna has a premium bluetooth surround sound system and a comprehensive warranty.
5. Sun Home Saunas Infrared Sauna Blanket
The Sun Home Saunas Infrared Sauna Blanket features a safe and easy infrared sauna experience in a portable and easy to clean design. This sauna blanket utilizes premium non-toxic fabric and industrial-grade zippers to lock-in heat.
Shop at Sun Home Saunas: Sun Home Saunas Infrared Sauna Blanket
Sun Home Saunas Infrared Sauna Blanket provides intuitive climate and timer controls and an industry leading EMF-shielding technology. This sauna blanket offers a 30-day risk-free return and a 1-year warranty.
6. Plunge Sauna
The Plunge Sauna features an innovative design that’s easy to assemble and great for both indoor and outdoor use. This home sauna utilizes flip-up benches with ergonomic backrests for convenient adjustability and is available in standard and XL models.
Shop at Plunge: Plunge Sauna
Plunge’s Sauna can be controlled with the Plunge mobile app to achieve your perfect atmosphere and has fully customizable accent lighting. This home sauna has a high ceiling for comfortable use and a waterproof roof.
7. MiHIGH Infrared Sauna Blanket V2
The MiHIGH Infrared Sauna Blanket V2 features a portable and easy to use sauna experience with beneficial far infrared. This sauna blanket comes with a hand-held controller, a convenient carrying bag, and a 30-day risk-free trial.
Available on Amazon: MiHIGH Infrared Sauna Blanket V2
MiHIGH’s Infrared Sauna Blanket V2 utilizes a high-quality zipper, a premium non-toxic Polyurethane leather exterior, and an easy to clean waterproof inside.
8. Heat Healer Portable Infrared Sauna
The Heat Healer Portable Infrared Sauna features a patented Triple Threat Technology (infrared heat, red LED light, and pulse electromagnetic field therapy) for full body recovery and rejuvenation.
Shop at Heat Healer: Heat Healer Portable Infrared Sauna
Heat Healer’s Portable Infrared Sauna utilizes a quick setup and an easy-to-use handheld controller (timer, temperature, LED/PEMF settings). This sauna comes with a soft head pillow, front heat curtain, storage case and bag, and a 5-year limited warranty.
9. Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket
The Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket features a maximum infrared emissivity design with carbon fiber heating and jade and tourmaline stones. This sauna blanket is easy to use, clean, store, and transport (comes with a portable travel bag).
Shop at Heat Healer: Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket
Heat Healer’s Infrared Sauna Blanket utilizes EMF blocking technology and certified non-toxic materials. This sauna blanket comes with a waterproof head pillow, a small easy-to-use hand-held controller, and a 3-year warranty.
How Does Heat Therapy Work for Athletes?
After physical activity, whether training or competition, expose the designated area of your body to warm temperatures by means of heating pad or heat sleeve that’s localized to a specific spot or by immersing your full body in warm water or a sauna.
Once the warmth is applied to your body, you’ll notice immediate relief to any tightness, cramping, or pain in your muscles.
Many athletes like utilizing a hot tub or sauna as it allows you to hit every muscle group at the same time, providing a quick and effective recovery treatment.
Once finished, the vasodilation (expanding) of your blood vessels will be noticeable.
Your limbs and muscles will feel looser and more flexible (i.e. not constricted like if cold had been applied).
This vasodilation of your blood vessels allows nutrient-rich blood to flow into your tissue, flush out muscle soreness by removing lactic acid buildup, and improve muscle recovery conditions.
In other words, that dreaded muscle pain and stiffness that sets in a day or two after pushing your body won’t be as bad and won’t stick around for as long.
Not only does heat therapy help alleviate the muscle soreness from your workout but it can also warm-up your muscles better prior to workouts, allowing you to perform at a higher level.
What Are the Benefits of Heat Therapy for Athletes?
Simple to use and easy to customize, heat therapy is a great muscle recovery tool that any athlete can incorporate into their routine.
One aspect that’s so great about heat therapy is that users can feel immediate relief while enjoying longer-term benefits, as well.
By increasing blood flow and oxygen-rich blood to the applied area, heat therapy relaxes and soothes muscles that are tight, stiff, cramping, or sore.
The key aspect from which all heat therapy benefits derive is the way in which your blood vessels expand (vasodilate) when exposed to warm temperatures.
This improves circulation and allows for more nutrient-rich blood to be delivered to your muscles, which in turn improves the conditions under which your muscles are healed and restored.
The boost in nutrient-rich blood flowing back into your muscle tissue also helps to flush out lactic acid and metabolic waste.
And if you’re currently experiencing tight or sore muscles, heat therapy is also a great way to prepare for activity, as warm muscles are more flexible and allow a greater range of motion.
Additionally, total body immersion sessions, such as with a bath or sauna, has been shown to reduce stress levels, promote relaxation, and enhance your quality of sleep.
Learn everything you need to know about heat therapy in our complete guide.
And if you’re looking for a more targeted approach to heat therapy, check out our picks for the top heated compression sleeves and braces.
