I spent over two months testing out a Redwood Outdoors Sauna. During this time, I worked up to taking sessions at over 200°, experimented with various weekly routines, and tracked biometrics like HRV every step of the way.
The results are in, and I am impressed!
Why a sauna?
Having a sauna at home is becoming more and more popular in the United States, and for good reason. Saunas have been used for centuries in various cultures for their numerous health benefits, which include:
- Improved cardiovascular health: Regular sauna sessions increase blood flow, which can help to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, and improve overall cardiovascular function.
- Enhanced stress relief and relaxation: Saunas can help to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the “rest and digest” functions of the body. This promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and can lead to better sleep quality.
- Detoxification: Sweating is one of the body’s primary methods of expelling toxins. In a sauna, the body’s core temperature rises, causing an increase in perspiration. This process helps to flush out harmful substances, leading to a detoxifying effect.
- Immune system support: Regular sauna use can lead to a temporary increase in white blood cell count, which is essential for a robust immune system. Incorporating sauna sessions into your wellness routine can help to strengthen your body’s natural defenses against illness.
Redwood Outdoors sauna options
Redwood Outdoors offers a huge variety of sauna options:
- Wood options include cedar and Thermowood
- Shapes include various barrel and cube designs
- Sizes range from 20 square feet (two-person sauna) to almost 50 square feet (eight-person sauna)
All in all, there are around 14 sauna designs to choose from, which helps make it easier to find one that will best work for your outdoor space. Personally, I went with the Thermowood Barrel Sauna with a Porch (six-person sauna).
Once you pick a sauna you like, there are some more options to choose from, including picking a heater type (I chose the basic) and any additional accessories. I went with the optional adjustable sauna recliner to make it more comfortable, and I definitely do not regret that choice!
Redwood Outdoors sauna setup and design
The pieces for building the sauna came delivered in a large, heavy crate – a crate that was unfortunately so large the deliverer could not get it out of the truck. (I have no idea how the deliverer got it in!) This wasn’t a huge problem as we simply opened the crate up and carried each piece off, one by one.
Building the sauna was moderately difficult for someone like me, who, to be quite honest, is not very handy. However, the instruction manual was pretty well put together, so with the help of my wife, we were able to put it together in around three hours.
Once built, I needed to hire an electrician to install the necessary 240V direct connection for the heater — so make sure to keep that in mind when deciding the placement and overall costs.
While the whole ordeal was a decent amount of work, I can say it ended up being well worth it. The wooden barrel sauna design looks amazing and is the first thing everyone asks about when visiting for the first time.
Using the sauna
Once set up, the Redwood Outdoor sauna is very easy and simple to use. You can adjust the heat to your preference and set a timer; it gets nice in toasty in around 10 minutes.
As I mentioned, I have been using the porch sauna, which has a few seats on the outside. I chose this because I figured it would be a nice spot to sit before or after using it, and it definitely is. I also went with the adjustable sauna recliner, which I prefer to use since I can just lay back instead of sitting.
I have tried numerous protocols to experiment and see what works best for me and my recovery. For me, two to three sessions per week seems to be best, although I have found some success with just one long session per week (three to four sets of 20-minute blocks). On days that I use the sauna, my heart rate variability (HRV) averages around 5%, which is a great indicator that it has been enhancing my recovery.
Final thoughts
With saunas being as beneficial as they are for one’s health, I think finding one that you can use long-term is well worth the investment. While Redwood Outdoors saunas do require you to have a decent amount of outdoor space available, there are numerous options to choose from to help make it work. The quality is very good here, as these are built to last for a very long time, and after a few months of using it, I strongly recommend it for those with the space and budget.
Learn more about Redwood Outdoor saunas.
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