Infrared vs. Wood-Fired Saunas

In today’s wellness world, where high-tech gadgets often replace ancient traditions, the humble wood-fired sauna stands tall. While infrared saunas have gained popularity for their convenience and modern appeal, there’s a growing chorus of enthusiasts, researchers, and sauna purists who argue that nothing compares to the authentic, full-body experience of a wood-fired sauna.

Here’s why the crackling of fire and the hiss of steam trump the quiet hum of infrared panels.

1. A More Complete Heat Experience

Wood-fired saunas generate heat by burning wood, creating both dry and wet heat through hot stones that you can splash with water. This produces a broad-spectrum thermal environment—high ambient temperature combined with humidity.

In contrast, infrared saunas use far-infrared radiation to heat the body directly. While they induce sweating, they do not heat the air, and there is no steam. This results in a narrower and less immersive heat experience.

Scientific Edge:Research from Finland (a country with a deep sauna culture) shows that the cardiovascular and thermoregulatory benefits of sauna use—like increased heart rate, improved circulation, and enhanced heat shock protein activity—are most pronounced in higher-temperature environments like those created by traditional wood-fired saunas.

A study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings (2018) found that frequent sauna use at 174°F (79°C) significantly reduced the risk of heart disease, stroke, and dementia. That level of heat simply isn’t reached in infrared saunas.

2. Steam + Heat = Superior Detox and Skin Benefits

Pouring water over the heated stones in a wood-fired sauna creates a burst of steam, known in Finnish as “löyly.” This steam enhances sweating, opens pores, and helps flush out toxins through the skin.

Infrared saunas lack this element entirely. While they can still induce sweating, they don’t open up the respiratory and dermal pathways in the same way. The steam acts as both a detoxifier and a skin hydrator, leaving many users reporting fresher, cleaner skin after a wood-fired session.

User Insight:

“After a wood sauna, my skin feels like I’ve had a deep cleanse. Infrared just doesn’t do that,” says Johan K., a sauna enthusiast in Oregon.

3. Mental and Emotional Benefits Are Deeper

There’s something elemental about a fire: the crackle of wood, the dancing flames, the scent of smoke. It engages all the senses in a way that infrared saunas can’t. For many, the ritualistic nature of building the fire, prepping the room, and stepping into the heat becomes a meditative experience.

This kind of sensory engagement promotes parasympathetic nervous system activation—reducing stress, promoting calm, and aiding mental clarity.

In contrast, the sterile environment of an infrared sauna feels more clinical and less grounding.

“It’s not just about sweating—it's about being,” says Lisa N., who built a lakeside wood sauna cabin in Vermont. “The fire connects me to something ancient.”

4. Better Workout Recovery and Hormetic Stress

Heat exposure is a form of hormetic stress—a mild, beneficial stressor that makes the body stronger. The extreme heat of a wood-fired sauna induces a greater cardiovascular and metabolic response than the lower heat of infrared models.

According to research published in Experimental Gerontology (2017), traditional sauna use increased growth hormone levels, enhanced heat shock proteins, and improved muscle recovery—especially beneficial for athletes and active individuals.

5. Off-Grid and Eco-Friendly

Wood-fired saunas require no electricity and can be built in nature, away from the grid. You can heat your body with renewable fuel (wood), often locally sourced. Many sauna lovers cherish the independence and sustainability of this approach.

On the flip side, infrared saunas require electricity, and even low-EMF models still rely on manufactured panels, wires, and often plastic materials.

6. Community and Tradition

Wood-fired saunas are inherently more social. They tend to be larger, host more people, and invite interaction—whether it’s gathering wood, stoking the fire, or pouring löyly for your friends.

They’re also steeped in centuries of tradition, particularly in Nordic cultures where saunas are a communal, almost sacred space. The experience is not just about wellness—it’s about culture, connection, and ceremony.

Conclusion: Wood-Fired Saunas Aren’t Just Hotter—They’re Deeper

Infrared saunas have their place. They’re easy, efficient, and can be used daily by those who need a gentler option. But for those seeking a deeper connection with their body, nature, and tradition, the wood-fired sauna offers an experience that is physically revitalizing and emotionally nourishing.

It’s not just about getting hot—it’s about stepping into a timeless ritual of renewal.

Are you a wood-fired sauna convert? Or still weighing the pros and cons? Let us know in the comments.