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Saunas aren’t exactly a new wellness practice—they’ve been a mainstay in Scandinavian health culture for thousands of years. What is new, however, are the best infrared sauna blankets. These buzzy wellness products are designed to offer parallel benefits to a massive sauna, all in one sleeping bag-sized package.
Vogue’s Favorite Infrared Sauna Blankets:
- Best Overall: Higherdose Infrared Sauna Blanket, $699
- Best for Accessories: Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket, $558
- Best Sauna Mat: Grooni PEMF Infrared Therapy Mat Pro, $699
- Best for Zippered Arm Holes: LifePro Infrared Sauna Blanket for Detox, $143
- Best Customizable: Current Body Infrared Sauna Blanket, $699
In This Story:
- What is an infrared sauna blanket?
- Are infrared sauna blankets good for you?
- What to Look for in an Infrared Sauna Blanket
- What are the disadvantages of infrared sauna blankets?
- How to Clean Infrared Sauna Blankets
- Meet the Experts
But how do these compact saunas actually work? And how can you determine which ones are the best sauna blankets? Vogue chatted with health experts—fitness trainers, physical therapists, medical doctors, and more—to determine the value of these blankets, and which ones might be worth adding to your home.
HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket
- Why We Love It: HigherDose has become a household name in the wellness world, for their high-quality infrared products. This sauna blanket, perhaps one of their most popular offerings, certainly lives up to the hype. It checks all of the boxes: Non-toxic materials, evenly distributed far infrared heat, and multiple safety certifications. I also appreciate that it’s incredibly easy to set up and use, which means it’s a breeze to integrate into your daily routine. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose told Vogue previously that the HigherDOSE blanket uses a layered technology: “a far-infrared emitting layer, followed by a layer of amethyst and tourmaline to release negative ions, and a final charcoal and clay layer to support detoxification and even heat distribution.” “It’s also designed with low EMF and ELF output for safety and comfort,” she said. In her review, Vogue’s senior beauty shopping writer Kiana Murden said it gave her one of “best sweats of her life” and was one of the most “convenient beauty gadgets” she’s ever tried.
- Temperature Range: Up to 175 degrees Fahrenheit
- Settings: 1 to 9 level display; 1 hour timer
- Length: 72.5 inches
CurrentBody Infrared Sauna Blanket
- Why We Love It: This infrared sauna blanket allows you to customize each session to fit the needs of your health goals and preferences, including the temperature and length of time. It also comes with a cotton towel insert to help soak up your sweat and keep your blanket a bit cleaner. This sauna blanket also comes with a 60-day money back guarantee, so you can test it out before fully committing.
- Temperature Range: 86-167 degrees Fahrenheit
- Settings: Customizable routines with time and temperature settings
- Length: 70.9 inches
LifePro Infrared Sauna Blanket for Detox
- Why We Love It: Unlike some other infrared sauna blankets, this one from LifePro features zippered arm holes, allowing you to multi-task while breaking a sweat. It also comes with thermal wraps, to help support the heating process. What’s more, it’s made of non-toxic materials, and offers a number of settings to suit your needs and preferences.
- Temperature Range: 86-158 degrees Fahrenheit
- Settings: 30 to 60 minute sessions
- Length: 71 inches
Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket
- Why We Love It: Heat Healer is a favorite of Liana Levi, expert trainer and founder of Forma Pilates. “They’ve created what I consider the gold standard in infrared therapy. Every product is meticulously crafted with the best materials and chic enough to leave out on display.” She loves their infrared sauna blanket, which is sleek, easy-to-use, and reaches optimal temperatures within 20 minutes. Levi also loves the brand’s energy sauna, which combines infrared, PEMF, and red light and has become a “nonnegotiable” in her routine. This brand has also garnered a bit of a celebrity following, including Kourtney Kardashian who swears by their products.
- Temperature Range: Up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit
- Settings: Far infrared 8,000nm-10,000nm; 1 to 9 level display
- Length: 75 inches
Hydragun HeatPod Infrared Sauna Blanket
- Why We Love It: Hydragun may be best known for their massage guns, but now the brand has also ventured into sauna blankets. The Heatpod 2 was recently upgraded to feature hotter temperatures (185 degrees Fahreheit), a “remember last mode” setting, and buttery-soft material. It also offers additional comfort accessories like a foot rest and pillow.
- Temperature Range: 86-185 degrees Fahrenheit
- Settings: 5-60 minute timer
- Length: 75 inches
Grooni PEMF Infrared Therapy Mat Pro
- Why We Love It: In addition to infrared sauna blankets, PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) mats—also known as “grounding” mats—are all the rage right now. These mats claim to help support cellular function and promote recovery. This option from Grooni combines the best of both worlds—in addition to PEMF tech, it also features far infrared heating. The brand also offers a classic infrared sauna blanket, if a grounding mat isn’t your thing.
- Temperature Range: 86-158 degrees Fahrenheit
- Settings: Ready-to-use therapy modes, 6 embedded PEMF cores delivering variable frequencies from 3Hz to 30Hz
- Length: 73 inches
Everything You Need to Know
What is an infrared sauna blanket?
Simply put, an infrared sauna blanket is a portable blanket that uses infrared light to generate heat and induce sweating, explains John Gallucci Jr., DPT, CEO of JAG Physical Therapy. “It’s designed to be easy to use to bring the benefits of sauna therapy to a place like home.” Unlike traditional saunas which warm the surrounding air, it uses infrared heat (a form of electromagnetic radiation) to directly warm the body.
Some are simply a blanket, while others zip up like a sleeping bag, featuring panels and/or pads stitched into the cloth that emit infrared waves when plugged into an electrical source.
Are infrared sauna blankets good for you?
Infrared sauna blankets offer a type of heat therapy, which is generally thought to offer a number of benefits. “In addition to warming the body/increasing core temperature, infrared sauna blankets can also help to stimulate tissue, contributing to improved blood and oxygen flow and increased muscle relaxation. Infrared sauna blankets may also activate cellular processes and activity, such as protein synthesis, detoxification, and/or immune responses from white blood cells,” says Dr. Connor.
That said, there is still very limited research about these blankets and their efficacy. In theory, the benefits should be similar to other forms of heat therapy, however, there isn’t currently enough evidence to know for sure.
“It s very subjective, and everyone who does this has to try the blanket and see if it s working for them,” says Darshan Shah, MD, a health and wellness specialist and board-certified surgeon. “Some people can have no benefit, and some people can can see benefits, and it just depends how each individual reacts to it, because we don’t have large scale studies for red blankets, there’s no way to know for sure how many people it’s helping as far as longevity.”
Still, if you are using the sauna blanket safely (considering time, temperature, proper hydration, consulting with your doctor before, listening to your body) and you feel good after using it, then it can be a great addition to any wellness routine. Just know that researchers are still determining their true health potential.
What to Look for in an Infrared Sauna Blanket
When shopping for an infrared sauna blanket, it’s first and foremost important to pick one that’s been third-party tested. From there, the experts recommend considering a few specific factors:
- Temperature range: Look for models that get hot enough (ideally 140 degrees Fahrenheit to 170 degrees Fahrenheit), which are also adjustable with an easy-to-use digital or remote control. Plus, find one that heats evenly.
- Material quality: Non-toxic, waterproof materials that are easy to wipe down and clean, and holds up with regular use.
- Safety features: Many models have safety features to prevent it from overheating, and a blanket with an auto-shut off is a good one to look out for.
- Ease of use: You want simple controls and a blanket that’s easy to clean and store.
- Warranty: Always a bonus—these blankets aren’t cheap, and a good warranty shows the company stands behind it.
“Also, this may not matter for everyone, but for me personally, the ease of use and design matters,” says Levi. “If it’s not something you’re excited to use or have out in your space, chances are you won’t reach for it as often.” Levi adds, “Having something aesthetically pleasing and simple to set up in my home was another element that was important when researching the type of sauna blanket that would work best for me.”
What are the disadvantages of infrared sauna blankets?
“In addition to the potential expense, one of the primary disadvantages of infrared sauna blankets is that there is limited research to support any claims of substantial health benefits, and whether or not an infrared sauna blanket is ‘worth it’ is going to depend on each individual’s experience,” says Dr. Connor.
As with any type of heat therapy, there is also an increased risk of dehydration with infrared sauna blankets, so it’s important to stay adequately hydrated before and after use, Dr. Connor notes.
While they’re generally considered safe, infrared blankets are not suitable for certain groups, including women who are or may be pregnant, people with heart conditions, individuals taking certain medications (beta-blockers, diuretics, and/or barbiturates), those who are vulnerable or have a health history of heat-related illnesses/pre-existing conditions such as migraines, vertigo, and dizziness.
Bottom line: “Because infrared sauna blankets are wellness tools that aren’t medically regulated treatments, they should be used only after consulting with a doctor to determine whether or not they fit your specific health needs, and should be used accordingly,” says Dr. Connor.
How to Clean Infrared Sauna Blankets
It’s best to follow any specific cleaning guidelines for your specific infrared sauna blanket. However, in general, you should allow the blanket to cool before wiping it down with a non-toxic cleaner.
Meet the Experts
- John Gallucci Jr., DPT, is the CEO of JAG Physical Therapy.
- Liana Levi is expert trainer and the founder of Forma Pilates.
- Darshan Shah, MD, a health and wellness specialist and board-certified surgeon.
