Over the last few years, you may have noticed that sauna culture is increasing in popularity as more people are looking to focus on their health and well-being, myself included. While I’ve used traditional dry and wet saunas at pools, hotels and gym locker rooms, I never thought having an at-home sauna would be in the cards. They usually retail for thousands of dollars, so getting one installed, even if I had the space for it (which I don’t), was out of the question. That’s why, when I came across the under-$300 Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna, I jumped at the opportunity to test it.

After sweating it out over the span of three weeks and carefully evaluating the sauna’s features, here’s whether I think it’s worth the $250 investment.

Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna

This foldable, portable sauna may be the next best thing to sitting in a steam room or a dry sauna at your local gym or spa. Unlike traditional dry saunas, this one uses steam and can quickly heat up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a run time of up to 60 minutes and a lightweight design that makes it easy to transport around your home or even travel with. The tent is crafted from a combination of waterproof Oxford cotton, synthetic cotton and linen, which help with heat retention. It also comes with a foldable stool-like chair for optimal relaxation.

What I liked about it

The setup is straightforward

It only takes a matter of minutes to set up the tent and then an additional 10 to 15 minutes for it to heat up. The SaunaZen arrives with pretty much everything you need: a foldable sauna tent, connection tube, steamer tank, collapsible chair, felt feet for the chair and two bags to store the tent and the chair when they aren’t in use. Before you use it for the first time, you’ll want to read through all the instructions and safety warnings. You can set it up wherever you have the space; I occasionally used it in my living room but primarily kept it in my finished basement.

To set it up, you’ll need to connect one end of the tube to the tent and the other to the steamer tank, then place a towel on the floor with the foldable chair on top. It’s important to check that the tube is securely attached and straight so the steam can properly pass through. Once that’s done, you’ll need to fill the steamer tank with water to the fill line, zip the window and door of the tent closed, plug the steamer tank in and power it on by turning the timer dial. The max run time is 60 minutes, after which the steamer tank automatically shuts off. I usually set the dial to 40 minutes to account for the time it takes to heat up and any extra time I want to spend sitting inside. I use the sauna for up to 20 minutes most of the time.

You’ll know the sauna is ready to use once you see the window steam up, but I also recommend setting a timer on your phone for 10 or 15 minutes. To get inside, simply unzip the door and zip it back up once you’re in. One thing to note: There are steam nozzles on one side of the wall towards the bottom of the tent, so I always sit with my chair positioned away from these to avoid accidentally coming in contact with the nozzles.

The first time around, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As you’re getting in the tent, some of the steam escapes, so it took a couple minutes for me to experience just how hot it truly gets. It felt very similar to being in an actual steam room, but it was significantly more comfortable because the steam never gets too powerful. If I ever get overheated, I can open up the zippable window to let some heat escape.

While I leave my tent up instead of collapsing it down after using it, you can easily pack it up after each session and stash it under a couch or your bed if you’re short on space.

The steam and heat benefit my skin

The SaunaZen heats up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit and maintains its temperature while it’s in use. Because it uses moist heat and not dry heat like a traditional dry sauna, it feels more like a wet sauna or steam room. This makes it a great at-home alternative for anyone who finds traditional dry saunas stifling. Despite the lower temperature range for steam rooms (they’re typically between 110 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas dry saunas can get up to 180 degrees Fahrenheit), their high humidity makes them feel hotter, Dr. Vivek Babaria, a board-certified interventional spine and sports medicine physician at Disc Sports and Spine Center, said.

According to Babaria, the most noticeable benefits at this temperature include reduced stress, hydrated skin, relaxed muscles and respiratory support, and I noticed some of these during my testing. “The cardiovascular and longevity adaptations that have been studied most rigorously do tend to require higher temperatures over time, but for the majority of people, especially those new to heat therapy or who find traditional sauna temperatures uncomfortable, a portable steam sauna at 115 degrees Fahrenheit used consistently is far better than a higher-intensity session that never happens,” he said.

Since using it, I can confirm my skin looks more hydrated (my mom even commented on it). I’ve always relied on steam caps to add moisture back to my hair on wash days, especially after taking out my protective styles, but in the future, I plan to hop in the SaunaZen instead to get the same effect.

Dr. Jennifer Timmons, a longevity physician and founder of Timmons Wellness, added that steam also offers “benefits for your respiratory system, helping to loosen mucus and clear congestion during respiratory illnesses.” She said it can also improve blood flow and open skin pores, so if you’re looking for an all-in-one treatment, a steam room is a good place to start.

It helps me relax and sleep better

In the weeks that I’ve been testing this product, it has quickly become a self-care practice that helps me unwind most nights. I like to use it a couple of hours before bed, and I’ve noticed that I not only fall asleep quicker, but I wake feeling more rejuvenated — and it’s no coincidence this is happening.

According to Timmons, exposure to heat “helps shift your body into a rest-and-recover, parasympathetic state, which lowers stress hormones like cortisol and promotes both mental and physical relaxation,” she said. The cooling phase your body goes through afterwards also resembles the “natural circadian rhythm of cooling at night, making it easier to fall asleep,” she said.

I almost immediately feel more relaxed once I’m in the tent and even more so the longer I’m in there. I’ve always held a lot of tension in my upper back, but by the time my session is over, that tension has melted away. It also didn’t take long for me to notice the impact it had on my sleep. That first night I drifted off pretty much as soon as my head hit the pillow and the next morning I actually felt rested and not groggy as I sometimes do. For me, that alone is enough reason to keep using the SaunaZen.

I have total privacy

Unlike most of my past experiences in shared dry saunas and steam rooms, I have this whole sauna tent to myself. If you’ve been in a public sauna, you too know that sitting in a room full of semi-naked strangers can be an uncomfortable experience. However, with the SaunaZen, I simply enjoy my own company. I love being able to have a private moment where I don’t have to be mindful of space and there’s no risk of awkward eye contact.

It’s small enough to store and blends in with any interior style

Traditional saunas can take up a lot of space, but I appreciate that this portable model can collapse for easy storage. When it’s not in use, the tent folds together and can easily fit under a bed or couch. You can store it in the bag it comes with and can even place it in a suitcase.

Speaking of luggage, you can take the tent with you when you travel (assuming you have space for it) and keep your sauna sessions going from your hotel room. Just be warned: The tent weighs a little less than 14 pounds on its own.

The fact that it’s not a total eyesore is also a plus. The tent has a sleek, quilted exterior and is made up of three different layers: a waterproof linen outer layer, a synthetic cotton middle layer and a waterproof Oxford cloth inner layer. Even though it only comes in a beige hue, the neutral color means it will work well in just about any home. The convenience of not having to leave my house also can’t be beat. I can’t stress how great it is to be able to pop downstairs and enjoy the portable sauna as often as I want without a commute.

I also think its portability and convenient home setup make it ideal for gifting the wellness-focused person in your life. If there’s someone in your life who loves a self-care moment, I’m sure they’ll appreciate this.

What I didn’t like about it

Folding the tent is tricky

While the SaunaZen doesn’t have too many flaws, folding the tent wasn’t as straightforward as I expected. After failing to figure out how to do it on my own (I didn’t want to risk breaking the tent), I had to refer to the brand’s FAQ section for help. There’s a specific folding method you have to follow to fit it inside its bag. Additionally, I found the tent’s metal framework cumbersome and difficult to maneuver. For that reason, I find it easier to just keep the sauna standing upright or folded flat so I don’t have to deal with the hassle of trying to fit it in the bag.

Using distilled water will cost you more

Homedics doesn’t specify using distilled water in the steamer tank, but I opted to use it over tap water for the health of my skin and to prevent mineral buildup in the tank. If you’re looking to invest in one of these saunas, keep in mind that distilled water will be an extra cost.

There aren’t many additional features

The tent itself is great, but I wish it came with a few more innovative or comfort-enhancing features. While the tent comes with a foldable chair, it’s backless and lacks support. Of course, you can bring your own chair in there, but I didn’t feel it was necessary for my needs. However, the Homedics Premium Steam Sauna includes a chair with a back, which may be more supportive, especially if you have back pain.

You also can’t add any essentials oils directly to the water for aromatherapy during steam sessions. Instead, you have to use the removable rack-like component inside the steamer tank for essential oil pads or other non-liquid scented products. You can also add a small amount of your favorite essential oils into a cup of water and bring that with you inside the tent or splurge on the premium version of this sauna, which includes a diffuser kit.

Bottom line

The Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna has given me a new way to unwind at the end of the day by making the sauna experience easily accessible and more affordable. The straightforward setup, functional design and relaxing combination of heat and steam make it something I look forward to using after work, and I’m falling asleep faster and waking up better-rested because of it. If you’ve been thinking about getting a portable sauna for personal use, whether it’s to aid in your relaxation or to help you recover after workouts, I highly recommend going for it. Your body will thank you later.

FAQs

The following FAQs have been answered by physicians Dr. Vivek Babaria and Dr. Jennifer Timmons, wellness and breath work coach Lauren Schramm and associate editor Rachel Dennis.

  • How long does it take for the Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna to heat up?

  • How does the Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna work?

  • What is the best way to clean the Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna?

  • Do saunas or steam rooms offer health benefits for elderly people?

  • Who would benefit from using an at-home sauna?

  • Who should avoid using a traditional sauna?

Note: the FAQ answers are collapsed on CNN’s page, so they weren’t in the paste. Expand each question before copying if you want the answers included.

Meet our experts

For this article, we consulted the following podiatrists to gain their professional insights.

  • Dr. Vivek Babaria, board-certified interventional spine and sports medicine physician at Disc Sports and Spine Center

  • Lauren Schramm, wellness and breath work coach

  • Dr. Jennifer Timmons, longevity physician and founder of Timmons Wellness

Why trust CNN Underscored

CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item.

For this article, associate editor Rachel Dennis shared her thoughts on the Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna after using it for the past three weeks for at least 15 minutes in her home. She carefully considered what she liked and didn’t like about the sauna and compared the experience to her previous experiences of using a traditional sauna and steam room. She also spoke to health experts about the benefits of heat and steam treatments.