Infrared vs. traditional vs. barrel — which is right for you?
An infrared sauna warms your body directly with radiant heat at a gentler 45–60°C, so it's quick to warm up, easy to run indoors and the most energy-efficient option — a great entry point. A traditional (Finnish) sauna uses a wood or electric heater and hot stones to reach 70–90°C, and you can ladle water over the rocks for löyly, the deep, enveloping steam heat that purists love. A barrel sauna is simply a traditional sauna in a round cedar shell: the curved profile heats fast and evenly and looks striking outdoors. Outdoor cabins give you the most room and a true destination at the end of the garden.
What size? 2-person, 4-person and up
Start with how you'll actually use it. A 2-person sauna tucks into a spare corner, bathroom or small patio and heats quickly. A 4-person sauna is the sweet spot for couples and families who want room to lie down, and larger 6-person cabins suit entertainers and bigger households. A bigger room needs a proportionally larger heater, so the cabin and heater have to be matched — something we'll always help you get right.
Cedar and the materials that last
Wood choice matters. Western red cedar is the classic for good reason — naturally rot- and moisture-resistant, it stays cool to the touch and ages beautifully; quality thermally-treated softwoods perform well too. Look for thick, kiln-dried timber, a reputable heater sized correctly in kilowatts for the room, and proper ventilation. These are the details that separate a sauna you'll enjoy for fifteen years from a flat-pack that warps in two.
Built for Canadian winters
An outdoor sauna in Canada has to handle real cold, snow load and freeze-thaw. That means genuine insulation, weather-rated cladding, a heater sized with headroom for sub-zero starts and — for electric models — a dedicated, correctly-rated circuit installed by a licensed electrician. Done right, winter is the best time to use one: step from deep heat straight into the snow. We focus on builds that truly perform in our climate, and we'll walk you through placement, power and permits.
Building the full ritual? Explore our cold plunge too — heat and cold are made to go together.