Sunlighten Sauna Review: Is it Worth It?

Looking for an honest Sunlighten review? Here’s my personal experience using a Sunlighten sauna, and what you need to know before making a purchase.

If you’re overwhelmed with all there is to know about saunas, you aren’t alone. I put off purchasing a sauna for years because the technology and benefits were too complicated. After spending more time than I’d like to admit researching and reviewing different options, we finally pulled the trigger and invested in a Sunlighten just over a year ago.

We originally purchased the sauna because my husband has an autoimmune condition, and our doctor recommended regular sauna use to help support detoxification. Even though my husband is a marine and an athlete, he doesn’t sweat much—even when exercising. Spoiler alert: He can sweat regularly in the infrared sauna!

While I’m a healthy sweater and exercise regularly, the sauna has made a huge impact in my chronic pain, tension headaches, and workout recovery. It’s actually been more impactful for me than I expected, and I now feel a difference when I miss a few days!

Wondering if the Sunlighten is worth it for you? Here’s everything I’ve researched, reviewed, and tested with the Sunlighten sauna, and what you need to know before making a purchase.

If you’re just here for a promo code (hey, I get it!), you can use this link, or enter code coconuts in the “How did you hear about us? / Promo Code” field on the pricing request form.

What is Sunlighten?

Sunlighten is the industry leader in infrared sauna technology. They manufacture and sell a variety of infrared saunas designed for home and commercial use, including the first far infrared portable sauna. Sunlighten is known for their high-quality construction, customizable features, and technology that offers far, near, and mid infrared light at the same time. The company’s mission is to provide innovative wellness products and services you can use to improve and extend your quality of life.

Sunlighten was founded in 1999 by Connie Zack and her husband Aaron Zack out of passion and drive to make infrared technology more accessible. The company is based in Overland Park, Kansas and currently operates in 14 countries.

Steam Sauna vs Infrared Sauna

The difference between steam saunas and infrared saunas is how they produce heat. Steam saunas, also known as traditional saunas, heat the air around you with a heater element and rocks. Steam saunas operate at a much higher temperature, often between 150°F and 190°F. As the air heats around you, your body temperature increases.

Infrared saunas use infrared light to heat your body directly. As your body absorbs the light, your body temperature increases. Infrared saunas work at lower temperatures, typically between 120°F and 140°F. This makes them more comfortable for some people while still providing the same health benefits.

Because infrared saunas operate at lower temperatures, they are more cost effective and efficient. They’re also easier to install and require less maintenance compared to steam saunas.

How Do Saunas Work?

Saunas work by raising the core temperature in the body. This increases your heart rate and circulation, causes sweating, and initiates a variety of cellular processes. Studies show exposure to heat significantly improves how your cells operate by boosting mitochondrial function. This results in a greater capacity to produce energy, which fuels all of the biological processes in your body.

Heat therapy also initiates cells to create heat shock proteins, which are a group of specialized proteins that protect your cells from stress and damage. While they’re typically activated during infection or inflammation, any change in body temperature can result in increased production. Heat shock proteins help to repair and refold damaged proteins, which improves structural integrity and function. This ultimately prevents the development of chronic disease and health conditions by facilitating normal cellular function.

The Benefits of Sauna Use

While saunas have been around for centuries, they’ve become more popular in recent years because more people are becoming aware of the science-backed benefits. Here are some of the main benefits of sauna use:

• Heart Health: Numerous studies show that regular sauna use can improve your heart and cardiovascular system. This is likely because the sauna raises your body temperature, increases your heart rate, and improves circulation. Regular using a sauna has been shown to reduce the risk of hypertension, improve cholesterol, and even reduce the risk of death from cardiac events like heart attack and stroke and all-cause mortality.
• Pain Relief: Perhaps my favorite benefit, sauna use has been shown to improve low back pain, reduce pain associated with conditions such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, and can help with recovery after exercise. Preliminary research also shows it may help improve chronic tension headaches.
• Promotes Relaxation and Reduces Stress: Studies show using the sauna can actually help reduce cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone that can become chronically elevated during times of stress. It’s also been shown to improve your body’s ability to manage stress.
• Immune Function: Studies show using the sauna just 1-2x a week can help decrease the number of cold and viral infections you experience. More recent research shows just one sauna session can increase circulating white blood cells. This increase helps reduce the chance of getting sick because white blood cells are your immune system’s first line of defense against bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances.
• Reduces Inflammation: New research shows that regular sauna use positively impacts several markers of acute and systemic inflammation. Specifically, studies show sauna use can actually lower C-reactive protein, a well-known biomarker of systemic inflammation.

Sunlighten Infrared Techonogy: Is it Worth It?

Sunlighten offer something called full spectrum infrared light. Infrared is actually a spectrum of light, and the infrared spectrum consists of three different parts: far, mid, and near. Each wavelength offers different benefits.

Far infrared is the longest and coolest wavelength of the three. It reaches cells deep into the body. Mid infrared is a slightly hotter and shorter wavelength. It can penetrate into the body’s joints and soft tissue. Near infrared is the hottest and shortest of the three. It doesn’t absorb deep into the body, but instead transforms the surface of the skin. It’s great for promoting skin renewal, cell health, and wound healing.

Sunlighten offers the maximum amount of each type of infrared light at the exact frequency needed to experience the full range of benefits. Not all infrared saunas are full spectrum, and most full spectrum saunas offer mostly far infrared light, with only minimal mid or near infrared light. This is what sets Sunlighten’s technology apart from the rest, and it’s ultimately why I chose it over other brands.

Sunlighten Sauna Options

Let’s quickly review each of the Sunlighten sauna options and how they differ. Currently, there are four sauna collections. The saunas differ in size and what type of infrared light they produce. The one that’s right for you depends on your needs and what’s important you.

Solo Portable Far Infrared Sauna System

The Solo is Sunlighten’s portable far infrared sauna. It’s the most affordable option that easily packs away, so it’s great for smaller spaces. The system comes with two heater domes and a solo pad, and has a max temperature of 150°F. It’s equipped with 5 patented heaters in the dome, and 4 heaters in the pad to give you the highest quality radiant infrared light in storable space.

It also has the added benefit of chromotherapy—light or color therapy—and it plugs into a standard outlet.

Signature Far Infrared Sauna

The Signature collection offers affordability with the benefits of far infrared technology. It offers high quality and quantity far infrared wavelengths. It comes with built-in chromotherapy, a sound system, and a programmable timer to preheat your sauna. It’s available in four different sizes, and two wood finishes.

Amplify Full Spectrum Sauna

The Amplify collection offers full spectrum infrared technology, including far, mid, and near infrared light. It’s equipped with additional halogen heaters, which means it gets hotter, faster. This unit can get up to 165°F—the hottest of all from Sunlighten. If you’re looking to maximize the benefits of full spectrum infrared light without a ton of bells and whistles, this is the perfect fit. It comes with built-in chromotherapy and a sound system. It’s available in two different sizes and two wood finishes.

mPulse Smart Sauna

The mPulse Smart Sauna is the first and only sauna to offer full spectrum infrared technology with red light. It has dedicated far, mid, and near infrared light heaters. The integrated red light LED panels are integrated into the sauna, and you can have them on or off during your sauna session.

The mPulse comes with an in-sauna Android tablet that has six pre-set health programs. You can also create customized programs to control how much far, mid, and near infared light and red light you want in a session. Don’t worry, you can also just hit Quick Start and get rolling! It’s available in five different sizes and three different wood finishes. This is what we chose as it fit our needs best!

Here’s a quick visual breakdown of the sauna collections:

Features	Solo	Signature	Amplify	mPulse
Price	$	$$	$$$	$$$$
Infrared Light	Far	Far	Far, Mid, + Near	Far, Mid, + Near
Red Light Therapy	No	No	No	Yes
Sizes	1 person	1-4 people	2-3 people	1-5 people
Customizable sessions	No	No	No	Yes
Chromotherapy	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sound system	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
In-sauna tablet	No	No	No	Yes
Finishes	N/A	2 options	2 options	3 options
Low VOC/EMFs	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Sunlighten mPulse Sauna Review

My review of the Sunlighten mPulse sauna comes after years of experience with many different types of saunas from a variety of brands.

Overall, I have been more than impressed with my mPulse Believe (2-person) sauna and use it weekly. It’s truly become my happy place. The mPulse is the only infrared sauna that offers full spectrum infrared light with red light. Red light therapy has made a big difference in my skin and muscle pain, and being able to combine that with the benefits of infrared sauna is a multi-tasking dream come true!

The sauna is very comforting and relaxing. The heat you feel in an infrared sauna is very similar to how it feels when you’re laying out in the sun. Your skin and body are warm, but the heat doesn’t smack you in the face. I’ve been able to hang out in the sauna for 45 minutes and get a deep sweat without feeling uncomfortable.

We set the mPulse up in the corner of our two car garage beside our home gym. The sauna came in separate panels in two large boxes. These boxes were delivered right into our garage.

It took about an hour to unbox and organize the pieces. Then, it took about 2-3 hours for two people to put it together. My husband had his buddy come over who is pretty handy. Because of the size of the panels, you definitely need at least two people for assembly.

Here’s a look at the space before the sauna:

And here’s what the mPulse Believe (2-person) sauna looks like in the space now:

We chose the Eucalyptus, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Oddly enough—I love the smell! I currently use the mPulse sauna 3x a week for about 30-45 minutes after my workouts. If I can stay in longer and don’t have anywhere to be, I do. After a sauna session, I notice an immediate improvement in mood and cognitive function. I’ve also had a significant reduction in chronic pain and better recovery from workouts. At almost 40, this shift is HUGE for me. I feel better now that I have in decades.

Pros

• Offers far, mid, and near infrared light with red light—a multi-tasking dream come true!
• Easy to operate
• Multiple sizes and wood color options
• Chromotherapy to match your mood (I LOVE this feature!) and stereo speakers
• In-sauna control table you can add media apps too—including Netflix! Watching a movie or a show helps me stay in longer.
• Six pre-set programs rooted in science
• Customizable programs and wavelengths
• Comfortable! I got the sauna cushion, pillow, and back rest and I have no back pain at all when sitting in it.
• Easy to assemble. Took my husband and a friend about two hours to put together.
• The sauna is ascetically gorgeous
• Great customer support
• Non-toxic materials
• Designed to have ultra-low electromagnetic fields (EMFs)

Cons

• Price (Use this link or enter code coconuts for up to $600 off.)
• Android tablet is somewhat lacking in power and versatility.
• On the digital instructions, there was a small error in how they instructed you to make one of the wire connections. This was easy to see because all of the wires are labeled with different colors and shapes. We followed the color codes on the wires to make the connections instead of following the instructions.
• We had to install a dedicated 240V 20A outlet. We had a friend install this for free pretty easily, but you might need a handy man to do this after you get it set up in the spot you want.

Preheating the Sauna

Most people prefer to preheat the sauna before getting it. You can actually schedule the preheating ahead of time, or just click “Quick Start” or one of the six pre-set health programs from the tablet. Once selected, you’ll be asked if you want to preheat the sauna before starting. You select the amount of time to preheat, and the program will automatically start once preheating is complete. From my experience, the sauna takes about 30-60 minutes to preheat to 120°F to 130°F.

If you don’t have time to preheat, you can jump right in once you turn it on. In fact, getting in immediately is a fantastic option because the far infrared wavelengths are strongest in the beginning before it gets hot. So, even if the sauna isn’t immediately hot, you’ll still get a variety of benefit.

I often start the preheat program and work on my computer or phone for 30 minutes as the sauna heats up. Then, once it’s hot, I typically stay in for about 30 minutes.

Sizes and Dimensions

After reviewing the options from Sunlighten, we originally set out to purchase the mPulse Aspire (1 person sauna). While I liked the smaller footprint, I was a bit hesitant because I didn’t want to feel like I was stuck in an airplane seat. I wanted to be able to put my feet up on the bench and/or extend my legs if needed.

After a bit of reorganizing, we decided to get mPulse Believe (2-person sauna) instead. It’s 52” x 48” x 78.5″, and fits perfectly in the corner of our two car garage. This was where we previously stored bikes, tools, and more, so we ended up getting a bike shed for the backyard to clear up the space. We also have a toolbox near it that’s on wheels so it can tuck behind the sauna when we’re not using it.

You can see there’s plenty of space above it, and the door doesn’t need a ton of room to open and close.

The mPulse Believe is incredibly roomy inside and fits our needs perfectly. I’m 5’6 and I can easily extend my legs on the bench while leaning against one of the side panels.

There is plenty of headroom to stand, and lots of legroom while you’re sitting.

Here’s a quick look at the dimensions of the mPulse sauna:

Sauna	Capacity	Exterior Dimensions
mPulse Apsire	1	43.6″ W x 41.6″ D
mPulse Believe	2	51.7″ W x 47.6″ D
mPulse Conquer	3	70.6″ W x 47.6″ D
mPulse Discover	4	70.6″ W x 70.6″ D
mPulse Empower	5	85.6″ W x 70.6″ D

If you need more help deciding and understanding interior features and dimensions, check out the mPulse Sauna page and click on each sauna size at the top of the page.

Sauna Tablet and Programs

A feature that is unique to the mPulse is the in-sauna Android tablet. The tablet provides access to the six pre-set health programs, a quick start option, custom program creation, scheduling, and WiFi connectivity. You can also download Android-specific apps to the tablet, including Netflix, so you can watch your favorite shows while you sweat.

While the mPulse sauna is in our garage, we’ve never had problems with WiFi connectivity or signal strength. The sauna and programs work with or without WiFi, so it isn’t an issue when it comes to the operations of the sauna.

The six health programs range from 30 to 45 minutes long, and offer different infrared wavelengths and intensities to provide you with targeted results. The programs include:

• Detoxification – Far and Mid
• Anti-Aging – Far, Mid, Near, and Red
• Weight Loss – Far and Mid
• Relaxation – Far, Mid, Near, and Red
• Pain Relief – Far, Mid, Near, and Red
• Cardio – Far, Mid, Near, and Red

You can also create your own custom program, and adjust the far, mid, near, and red wavelengths according to your preferences. My custom program is named “Noelle”, and I have all three infrared wavelengths and the red light pumping on the highest setting.

Chromotherapy

Chromotherapy, also known as color therapy, uses colored lights to improve health and mood. The mPulse comes with two chromotherapy lights built into the ceiling. You turn these lights on from the touchscreen in the sauna, and then control the color of the lights with a small remote.

This lighting feature paints your sauna with colors from the sun’s visible light spectrum, which you can use to match your mood or increase relaxation.

While this may seem like an insignificant feature, it’s one of my favorite things about the sauna. I love being able to change the colors to whatever my vibe is in the moment. I sometimes have the colors fade into one another, or choose a soft orangish red, which sort of makes me feel like I’m relaxing in the sun.

Pricing

Sunlighten saunas use top of the line full spectrum infrared technology, and the pricing reflects that. The different sauna collections allow you to find the one that fits your budget, needs, and space. It’s an investment that you know is doing exactly what you want it to do for decades to come.  

Currently, pricing is not available on the Sunlighten website because of the large variety of options, sizes, and features. However, I do know that the Sunlighten Solo Portable System, which is the most affordable option, starts at $2699. The Sunlighten mPulse, the most expensive option, starts at around $8,799. Sunlighten does offer financing through Synchrony Bank, which include 0% interest.

When purchasing your sauna, I recommend getting a few accessories, including the seat cushion, body (towel) wraps for each person, and a back rest. These three items have been crucial for overall comfort in the sauna.

And YES—Sunlighten does promo codes! You can use this link, or enter code coconuts in the “How did you hear about us? / Promo Code” field on the pricing request form. That will give you a discount of up to $600 depending on what you choose. Every little bit helps!

Sunlighten FAQs

Contraindications

While saunas are generally considered safe, please consult with a trusted medical provider before using the sauna, especially if you have a medical condition, are on medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Always listen to your body and discontinue use if you feel dizzy or faint.

Where to Buy

The best place to purchase Sunlighten saunas and accessories is directly through Sunlighten’s website. Sunlighten offers a warranty on all of its products and accessories, including a limited lifetime warranty (7 years) on cabinetry and heaters. While we’ve had absolutely no issues with the function and operation of our sauna in the last year, I’ve been blown away by the customer serve and support, and feel confident knowing parts can be easily replaced.

Final Thoughts

After reviewing the saunas on the market, I ultimately chose to make the switch to Sunlighten for a few reasons. First, I wanted full spectrum infrared light with red light so I could make the most of my time in the sauna. Second, I wanted to know that the product I was using was actually doing what I want it to do. Sunlighten’s patented technology offers the maximum amount of each type of infrared light at the exact frequency needed to experience the full range of benefits. I’ve noticed a significant difference in my chronic pain and muscle tension, which I didn’t experience with other saunas.

Lastly, I chose them because of their attention to detail and customer service. When you invest in a product like this, you want to know that you’re going to be taken care of 5-10 years down the road should a part or heater need replacing.

My experience with Sunlighten has been incredibly positive, and I’m so thankful they took the time to review my needs and goals with me before purchasing. After seeing the difference regular sauna use has made in my own life, I can confidently say it’s absolutely worth it!

Got questions about Sunlighten or my review? Ask below and I’ll do my best to help!

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