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Portable Woodfired Saunas vs Infrared Saunas: Which Sauna Style Suits You Best?

Portable Woodfired Saunas vs Infrared Saunas: Which Sauna Style Suits You Best?

When it comes to saunas, Aussies are spoilt for choice. But one of the biggest decisions you’ll face is this: go traditional with a woodfired sauna or lean modern with an infrared sauna?

Both offer wellness benefits, both make you sweat, and both claim to help you chill out and detox. But they’re wildly different experiences.

Let’s break it all down and figure out which one suits your lifestyle, values, and vibe.

What is a Portable Woodfired Sauna?

A portable woodfired sauna is exactly what it sounds like — a sauna that runs purely on firewood, and you can move it around. Think: timber cabin vibes, toasty dry heat, no power bills. You’ll often find them in backyards, holiday homes, or even hitched to a trailer heading bush.

You heat it up by lighting a wood stove inside, and after about 30–60 minutes you’re basking in the heat like you’re in a Finnish forest.

What is an Infrared Sauna?

Infrared saunas use infrared heaters to warm your body directly, not the air around you. They operate at lower temperatures (typically 40–60°C), but the infrared waves penetrate your skin, muscles and tissues.

You’ll often find these sleek, high-tech boxes in wellness centres, gyms, and people’s homes. No fire, no steam — just gentle radiant heat.

Head-to-Head: Portable Woodfired Sauna vs Infrared Sauna

1. Heat Experience

Woodfired Sauna:

  • Classic, dry heat

  • Temp range: 60°C–90°C

  • Fire-heated rocks allow you to splash on water for a bit of steam

  • Feels intense, grounding, primal

Infrared Sauna:

  • Gentle radiant heat

  • Temp range: 40°C–60°C

  • Less sweat on the surface, more deep-heat from within

  • No steam, no fire — totally dry

2. Setup & Portability

Woodfired Sauna:

  • Portable versions come on trailers or flatpacks

  • No power or plumbing needed

  • Perfect for off-grid use

Infrared Sauna:

  • Needs power (240v outlet at minimum)

  • Not usually portable — fixed unit

  • Must be used indoors or under cover

3. Running Costs

Woodfired Sauna:

  • Runs on wood — free if you’ve got access to it

  • No electricity required

Infrared Sauna:

  • Runs on electricity

  • Lower power consumption than steam saunas, but still adds to your bill

4. Time to Heat

Woodfired Sauna:

  • Takes 30–60 minutes to heat up, depending on weather and wood

  • Part of the ritual — slow, mindful, intentional

Infrared Sauna:

  • Heats up in 5–10 minutes

  • Plug it in, jump in

5. Health Benefits

Both types of saunas provide perks like:

  • Stress relief

  • Detoxification

  • Muscle recovery

  • Improved circulation

  • Sleep support

But some differences:

Woodfired Sauna:

  • Intense sweat from ambient high heat

  • Deep relaxation, meditative experience

  • Great for toughing it out and feeling invigorated

Infrared Sauna:

  • Targets deep tissue with radiant waves

  • Better for people with lower heat tolerance

  • Can be used more frequently due to lower heat stress

6. Aesthetic & Atmosphere

Woodfired Sauna:

  • Raw, rustic, natural

  • The crackle of fire, scent of timber, and glow of coals

  • Feels like a retreat into the wilderness

Infrared Sauna:

  • Clean, sleek, tech-forward

  • Often has speakers, LEDs, and chromotherapy options

  • Feels modern and spa-like

7. Maintenance & Durability

Woodfired Sauna:

  • Clean ash and firebox

  • Maintain timber exterior

  • Built to last decades with basic care

Infrared Sauna:

  • Clean panels and keep electronics dust-free

  • Lifespan depends on component quality

  • Electronics may need replacing after years of use

Which One’s Best for You?

Choose Portable Woodfired Sauna if:

  • You love nature, fire, and outdoor rituals

  • You want an off-grid, electricity-free experience

  • You’re into craftsmanship, minimalism, and tradition

  • You see sauna time as a slow, meditative escape

Choose Infrared Sauna if:

  • You want low heat and high convenience

  • You’ve got limited time or a low heat tolerance

  • You prefer tech-enabled wellness tools

  • You need daily access without too much fuss

The Soulfire Australia Perspective

At Soulfire Australia, we believe there’s something irreplaceable about the ancient ritual of stoking a fire, sitting in timber-scented heat, and sweating it all out under the stars.

Infrared saunas are fine — but if you want that earthy, grounded, fire-powered magic, nothing beats a portable woodfired sauna.

It’s more than a product. It’s an experience.

Explore Our Saunas

Check out our range of handcrafted portable woodfired saunas — built tough for Aussie conditions, designed for soul-deep relaxation.

Unplug. Reconnect. And feel the fire, wherever you are.

Soulfire Australia – Feel the fire, fuel the soul.

 

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