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Sauna Comparison

What makes us stand out from the competition

At TheraSauna®, we strive to make our saunas with the very best components and features. Our saunas are hand crafted with attention focused on details and quality. Our aspen hardwood is unmatched in the industry, and we've packed in several features to further show that TheraSauna® is simply the best. See how TheraSauna® and TheraSauna® Classic stack up against the competition:

 

 

 

 

 

       
Sauna TheraSauna® TheraSauna® Classic Our Competitors
Made in the USA   Handcrafted in DeWitt, IA-  Learn More   Assembled in DeWitt, IA With US Made Controls  Made in China
Color/Finish Options   Natural Aspen Finish or Warm Mahagony Finish   Natural Aspen with Clear Finish Clear or Stained Wood
Hand-Crafted   Yes   Yes   No 
Hand Finished   Yes   Yes    No 
Furniture Grade Wood   Grade #1 Clear Aspen Hardwood   Grade #1 Clear Aspen Wood   Poor Grade Cedar, Poplar, or Hemlock
Wood Type   Aspen Hardwood - Learn More   Aspen   Cedar, Poplar, Hemlock, etc.
Bench   Reversible (Flat or Curved), Heavy-Duty Bench Seating   Comfortable Flat Bench Seating   Lightweight, Flat Bench Only
Backrest   Built-In, Curved Backrest   Built-In Backrest   No Built-in Backrest
Control Features   Patented MPS Touchview Control with Patented Stable Heat™ System - Learn More   4-Button Control with Patented Stable Heat™ System   Limited Control with No Stable Heat™ System
Patented Stable Heat™    Includes Patented Stable Heat™- Learn More    Includes Patented Stable Heat™    No 
Patented 7 Day Programmable Control   Yes - Learn More   No   No 
Patented Micron Power Select™   Yes - Learn More   No   No 
Patented SpectraWave™    Yes - Learn More   No   No 
Heater Type   Solid Ceramic TheraMitters™ - Learn More   Solid Ceramic TheraMitters™ - Learn More   (Primarily) Carbon Fiber
Glass Type   Smoke Tempered Glass   Smoke Tempered Glass   Tempered Glass
Assembly   Specialized Bolt-Together Design   Specialized Bolt-Together Design   Buckles or Magnetic Fasteners (with magnetic-producing fields)
Interior Lighting   Incandescent, Fully Dimmable Reading Light   Incandescent, Fully Dimmable Reading Light   LED Light, Not Dimmable, On/Off Only
Exterior Lighting    Motion-Sensor Lighting on all Saunas  No   Not Available on all Models
Chromotherapy Lighting   Optional 15 Color Dimmable Chromotherapy Light Optional 15 Color Dimmable Chromotherapy Light   7 Color LED Light
Stereo System   Optional FM Radio/CD Player/Bluetooth/MP3 Hookup Stereo System   Optional FM Radio/CD Player/Bluetooth/MP3 Hookup Stereo System   Optional FM Radio/CD Player Stereo System
Ambiant Sound Therapy   Built-In to the MPS Control   No   No 
Custom Built Saunas   Yes - Learn More   Yes   No
Height   All saunas are 78 inches tall   All saunas are 75 inches tall Varies
Warranty   Limited Lifetime - Learn More   Limited Lifetime   1 Year Warranty

 


Infrared Heater Comparison

The best far infrared heating system is a high glass content solid Ceramic TheraMitter™. Solid ceramic has the highest radiant efficiency and far-infrared emissivity, while others like steel rod, aluminum, or carbon heating systems fall short. The radiant efficiency of a heating material is an extremely important factor to its far infrared qualities. For this reason, the high glass content Ceramic TheraMitter™ remains the leader in producing the most far-infrared at the most beneficial micron range for the human body.

Compare for yourself and see why the TheraSauna® TheraMitter™ heaters provide the most effective range of far infrared therapy.

 
Heater Type Concave Ceramic TheraMitter™ Incoloy Rod Heaters Tubular Ceramic Heaters Carbon Fiber Heaters
Description TheraMitter™ heaters have the highest glass content in the industry which provides uninhibited transmission and output of far infrared. Concave Ceramic TheraMitter™ heaters are able to spread infrared heat waves in a 180º pattern, effectively covering every square inch inside the sauna. Due to the quality of the reflector, all energy is given direction toward the user to improve the delivery of far infrared. The watt density of the TheraMitter™ is ideal; providing the user with the highest output of far infrared at the most beneficial micron range for the human body. Cylinder-type steel heaters are used by a number of different sauna companies. Incoloy rod heaters have a short life span due to the compaction of the magnesium oxide which tends to short out the helical wire. They also have an extremely high watt density which produces a very high surface temperature of the rod, which in turn produces a lower ineffective range of infrared. Tubular ceramic heaters have a short life span due to the compaction of the silica sand which tends to short out the helical wire. They also have an extremely high watt density which produces a very high surface temperature of the rod, which in turn produces a lower ineffective range of infrared. They operate at a very low cabinet temperature of approximately 130ºF and have a very low radiant efficiency. This type of heating element is used in automotive seat heaters. Carbon fiber heaters tend to absorb odor, then re-emit the offensive odor back into the sauna. In addition, since the carbon fibers are encased in fiberglass, resins, and epoxy adhesives, it vents the gases of these components back into the air when the sauna is heated.
EMF Levels  Very Low, due to the fact that the wire changes direction several times over the face of the heater  High, due to a non-cancelling wire and non-insulating metal surface  High, due to a non-cancelling wire and non-insulating metal surface  Varies
Composition  Natural Earth Elements, High-Glass Content Ceramic  Tubular elements consist of a helical resistant wire inside a metal tube filled with magnesium oxide as an insulator and heat conductor.  Tubular ceramic heaters consist of a helical resistant wire housed in vitreous silica sand enclosed in a metal tube.   These heaters sandwich a carbon screen between two fiberglass epoxy resin casings.
Watt Density  Ideal  Extremely High, produces less effected infrared  Extremely High, produces less effected infrared  Very Low, makes heating the sauna more difficult
Radiant Efficiency  96 %  50%  50%  55% – varies
Infrared Micron Range  6.0 – 14.0  3.0 – 6.0  2.5 – 6.0  4.0 – 12.0

 

Does the size of the infrared heater matter?

Our research has shown that physical size does not matter as much as the watt density of the heaters. The ideal infrared wavelength provided by the heaters within a far infrared sauna is more important than heater size. Some companies claim that large heaters are the best. The problem is that these large heaters have a very low watt density that produces an ineffective range of infrared and cannot heat the air inside the sauna effectively.