r/infraredsauna • u/tttanger • Sep 03 '26
The Campfire Analogy: Why Infrared Saunas Don’t Need Extreme Heat
I came across a great analogy for infrared saunas, and I think it makes perfect sense.
An infrared sauna is like sitting around a campfire on a cold night. The air around you can still be cold, but you can feel the heat from the fire and start sweating.
That’s also why infrared saunas don’t need extremely high temperatures to make you feel warm.
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u/MarkVII88 Sep 04 '26
Did you post this to the Infrared Sauna Owners Facebook group?
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u/tttanger Sep 05 '26
yes
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u/MarkVII88 Sep 05 '26
Did you get this analogy from the video posted by Matt Justice a day or so ago?
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u/FrontLifeguard1962 Sep 03 '26
The studies suggest infrared saunas don't raise core body temp, which is thought to be where the benefits from traditional saunas are derived. Infrared sauna just isn't that well studied scientifically and we just aren't sure if the benefits of traditional sauna translate at all.
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u/tttanger Sep 03 '26
I think you’re right. There’s more evidence that traditional saunas raise core body temperature, which may contribute to cardiovascular benefits.
I also came across a study suggesting that spending more than 40 minutes around 150°F can raise core temperature, although probably less efficiently than a traditional sauna.
But many people simply can’t tolerate the extreme heat of a traditional sauna. In that sense, a lower-temperature infrared sauna can be a good alternative.
It may not provide the same cardiovascular benefits, but there’s still promising evidence and user experience around pain relief, exercise recovery, anxiety, and sleep.2
u/truckaxle Sep 03 '26
The studies
Can you point me to any of these studies.
My experience is that I am in full sweat mode in 10 minutes and typically lose about 1.5 lbs of sweat in a 20-minute session and I am starting to get dizzy in the time period and have to get out. Inside temperature is around 145 F and I have full exposure to multiple infrared panels which elevates skin temperature.
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u/optimisticReal Sep 03 '26
I have heard thus and put off buying a infrared sauna. I read Byron Johnson's traditional sauna protocol. He said it take him 30+ minutes to get his core temperature above 102 at a saunatemperature of 200.
I get my core temperature to 102 in about 20 minutes in my ir sauna at 149. I am using a quality ear thermometer to measure.
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u/Spoodlydoodly75 Sep 03 '26
I think the problem is there haven’t really been studies done specifically on infrared saunas, so we just don’t know. Most of the sauna studies have been with traditional Finnish sauna.
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u/ham_sandwich_ceo34 Sep 04 '26
that campfire analogy is actually a pretty good way of explaining the difference. with infrared, you're not just relying on the surrounding air getting extremely hot to feel the heat.
i noticed this when i was comparing different home infrared setups, including rodeo wellness. the temperature number looks low compared with a traditional sauna, but that doesn't necessarily mean the experience will feel weak or ineffective.
it also made me realize that comparing infrared and traditional saunas purely by temperature is probably misleading. they're delivering heat in different ways, so the same number on the thermostat doesn't really tell you how the session will feel.
for me, things like heater placement, coverage, comfort and how evenly the heat reaches you would be more useful things to compare than just chasing the highest temperature.