The choice between a traditional Finnish sauna and an infrared sauna is one of the most common questions we receive. Both deliver genuine health benefits. Both have passionate advocates. And the answer genuinely depends on your goals, your living situation, and how you like to experience heat.
How They Work: Fundamentally Different Mechanisms
Traditional Finnish Sauna
A traditional sauna heats the air in the room to 80-100°C (176-212°F) using a stove (kiuas) topped with stones. The stones store and radiate heat, and can be doused with water (löyly) to produce bursts of steam that temporarily raise the relative humidity from 10-20% to as high as 30-40%. Your body is heated primarily by convection (hot air) and radiation from the walls and stones.
Infrared Sauna
An infrared sauna does not heat the air to high temperatures. Instead, infrared heaters emit electromagnetic radiation in the near-, mid-, and far-infrared spectrum that is absorbed directly by your body. The room temperature is typically 40-65°C (104-149°F), far lower than traditional sauna. The body heats from the inside out, with proponents claiming deeper tissue penetration than convective heat.
What the Research Shows
This is where an honest assessment matters. The overwhelming majority of peer-reviewed evidence on sauna health benefits, cardiovascular risk reduction, dementia prevention, blood pressure, and all-cause mortality, was conducted using traditional Finnish saunas. The landmark JAMA 2015 study, the University of Eastern Finland cohort, the Mayo Clinic Proceedings review: all used traditional saunas.
This does not mean infrared saunas are ineffective. Research on infrared specifically shows benefits for:
- Chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis
- Congestive heart failure (Waon therapy, a specific low-temperature infrared protocol)
- Blood pressure reduction
- Subjective improvements in fatigue and mood
However, the evidence base for infrared is smaller, less consistent, and has not yet produced the same magnitude of long-term longitudinal data as traditional sauna research. The simple reason: traditional saunas have been studied for 40+ years in populations that have used them daily for generations. Infrared saunas are a newer technology with a shorter research history.
Temperature Experience: Heat Tolerance
Traditional sauna at 90°C is intense. The heat is tangible, immediate, and produces significant sweating within minutes. Many people find this visceral heat deeply satisfying, the ritual, the steam, the heat shimmer. Others find high temperatures uncomfortable or claustrophobic, particularly those with respiratory sensitivities.
Infrared at 50°C is much more accessible. The experience is gentler, and many people who find traditional sauna difficult can tolerate infrared easily. Sessions can be longer (30-45 minutes vs. 15-20 minutes) because the lower air temperature is less physiologically demanding.
Sweat Comparison
Traditional sauna produces more sweat, faster, and at higher volume. This is a key factor in the cardiovascular conditioning effect, the body’s thermoregulatory response is more intense, and the hemodynamic stress (heart rate elevation, vasodilation) more pronounced. Infrared produces significant sweating but typically at lower volumes and longer latency.
Installation and Running Costs
| Factor | Traditional Sauna | Infrared Sauna |
|---|---|---|
| Operating temperature | 80-100°C | 40-65°C |
| Heat-up time | 30-45 min | 10-20 min |
| Humidity | 10-40% (adjustable with löyly) | Very low (typically <10%) |
| Electrical requirement | 240V / 20-30A dedicated circuit | 120V for smaller models; 240V for larger |
| Running cost (per session) | ~$1.00-1.50 CAD | ~$0.40-0.80 CAD |
| Installation complexity | Higher (heater, stones, ventilation) | Lower (plug-in models available) |
Which Should You Choose?
Choose traditional Finnish sauna if:
- You want the best-evidenced cardiovascular and longevity benefits
- You enjoy the traditional sauna experience, the steam ritual (löyly), and high heat
- You plan to use contrast therapy (sauna + cold plunge)
- You want a generational investment that will last 20-30+ years
Choose infrared sauna if:
- You have a smaller space or are installing in an apartment
- You find traditional sauna temperatures difficult to tolerate
- You are targeting specific pain relief conditions
- You prefer faster heat-up times and lower energy costs
Thermatov specialises in traditional Finnish sauna, the type with the longest and strongest research track record. Our barrel, pod, and cabin models bring authentic Nordic engineering to the Canadian climate.
