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Sauna vs Hot Tub: Top Benefits for You from Each One

Find out the real benefits provided by a hot tub or sauna, and decide which, or both, is best for you.

In order to unwind, reduce stress, and boost health, many people enjoy saunas and hot tubs. Both have a lot going for them, but they both go about their business in unique ways and may be better suited to certain people or situations. This article will cover the fundamentals of saunas and hot tubs, including how they operate and the advantages they provide. We’ll look at the features and advantages of both options to help you decide which is the best fit for you and your lifestyle.

What is a hot tub?

A huge spa with hot water and massaging jets is called a hot tub, and it may be placed inside or outdoors. Acrylic or fiberglass are common materials for the construction of hot tubs, and they may seat numerous people at once. Hot tubs have higher running costs, so be sure to check out our guide called “How Much Does it Cost to Run a Hot Tub?

What is a sauna?

Simply put, a sauna is a small, well-insulated room or home with some kind of heat-generating apparatus, such a fireplace, stove, or heater. Infrared saunas, which utilize infrared heaters to create heat, and classic dry saunas are the two main types of saunas available. However, although traditional saunas are often associated with Finnish culture, you may find them in many other countries as well.

How exactly do those saunas and hot tubs function?

Dry saunas

In order to achieve the desired effects, a traditional dry sauna would heat the air within the sauna to very high temperatures, usually between 150 and 175 degrees Fahrenheit. Sweating helps the body rid itself of harmful chemicals and other substances that may have made their way to the skin.

Infrared saunas

The infrared heat produced by infrared heaters in an infrared sauna is absorbed by the user rather than dissipated into the surrounding air. Some individuals may find that the heat of an infrared sauna is more manageable than that of a conventional dry sauna.

Hot Tubs

Hot tubs include jets that spray water at the user at a temperature of around 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, creating a massaging sensation similar to a traditional massage. A hot tub’s heat and jets may do wonders for sore muscles and poor blood flow.

Common Benefits of Hot Tubs and Saunas

Improved heart and blood vessel health

It has been suggested that saunas and hot tubs are good for your heart. Blood arteries dilate in response to the heat of a sauna or hot tub, resulting in enhanced blood flow and reduced blood pressure. Heart health may also be enhanced by frequent sauna or hot tub usage. So, choose either one if you want to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Burn calories passively

Calories may also be burned by heat exposure using saunas and hot tubs. Calories may be burned off as perspiration when in a hot tub or sauna. Neither one is likely to raise your heart rate, but they can both help burn calories passively. Raising your core body temperature can produce a reaction inside the body that produces heat shock proteins, leading to a higher metabolism and weight loss.

Pain relief and muscle recovery

It’s possible that both saunas and hot tubs might help with sore muscles, sore joints, and inflammation. Tense muscles may benefit from the heat of a sauna or hot tub, which can assist to relax them and relieve pain, while the jets in a hot tub can simulate a massage for relief from stiffness.

Quality of sleep improvement

It has been suggested that both saunas and hot tubs lead to better nighttime sleep. It has been shown that a session in a sauna or hot tub before bedtime may improve sleep quality by reducing tension and promoting relaxation, which in turn can enable the body to wind down and go to sleep more quickly.

Relaxation

When it comes to unwinding, many people turn to either saunas or hot tubs. Stress and anxiety may be alleviated by soaking in a hot tub or sauna, thanks to the combination of heat and massaging jets, and the calm, tranquil atmosphere can help you unwind.

Diabetes

Benefits from using a sauna or hot tub have been suggested in several studies for those with diabetes. While hot tub usage has been linked to decreased blood sugar and improved vascular health, sauna use may increase insulin sensitivity.

Benefits of Sauna Time

Detoxification

Detoxification is an advantage that saunas have over hot tubs. A sauna’s high temperatures may induce perspiration, which in turn helps remove some of those unwanted poisons and chemicals from the skin. Since hot tubs include water rather than dry heat, they do not provide the same detoxifying benefits.

Skincare

It has been suggested that saunas provide cosmetic advantages for the skin. Sauna use has been linked to clearer, healthier-looking skin because the heat helps open pores and shed dead skin cells. Because of the water content rather than the dry heat, the skin care advantages of hot tubs are diminished.

Sanitation

In addition to the health benefits, saunas could be preferable than hot tubs because of how easy they are to clean. While saunas normally don’t provide the same degree of sanitary problems, hot tubs do and need frequent cleaning and maintenance to avoid the spread of germs.

Aromatherapy

The dry heat of a sauna may aid to release the fragrance of essential oils, which may have therapeutic advantages, making aromatherapy an additional option for sauna use. Aromatherapy is diminished in hot tubs because of the presence of water rather than dry heat.

Safety

It’s possible that saunas are safer than hot tubs. Due to the presence of water and the risk of accidental drowning or slips and falls, hot tubs may raise safety issues. Dry heat and the absence of water in saunas eliminate these hazards.

Advantages of Hot Tubs

Hydrotherapy

Hot tubs provide hydrotherapy massage, while saunas do not. In order to assist relieve muscle tension and pain, many hot tubs have jets that work similarly to a massage for the bather. The absence of jets and the use of dry heat in place of high water temperature mean that saunas cannot compare to the hydrotherapy massage offered by a traditional hot tub.

Improved digestion

The digestive system may also get some advantages from soaking in a hot tub. Some people find that soaking in a hot tub helps their digestion because it relaxes their stomach and intestines. The absence of water and the presence of dry heat mean that saunas do not provide the same amount of digestive benefits as other methods.

Weightlessness

Floating effortlessly on the water’s surface is another perk of soaking in a hot tub. Hot tubs are beneficial for those with joint discomfort due to arthritis and other diseases since the weightlessness helps to relieve tension on the body’s joints and muscles. Lack of water in saunas means you won’t have the same sense of weightlessness.

Superior style

It’s possible that hot tubs have a sophisticated design. Depending on the size and design, a hot tub may be an extravagant addition to any house. As a result of its compact size and understated style, an outdoor sauna might not be as aesthetically pleasing as a hot tub. An indoor sauna is possible, but it takes up an entire room in your house.

Read our guide on how to choose a hot tub for some tips on design and making your hot tub look amazing.

Social time with friends and family

In addition to relaxing alone or with a partner, hot tubs may be a great place for getting to know new people or spending quality time with loved ones. Due to their intimate size and private character, saunas are not as conducive to social interaction as other types of sauna facilities.

Which Should You Pick?

It is crucial to think about your own preferences and demands while picking between a sauna and a hot tub. The advantages of saunas and hot tubs are similar enough that choosing one over the other comes down to personal taste and lifestyle needs.

If you’re wanting to unwind, reduce your stress, and get a better night’s sleep, a sauna or hot tub might be just what the doctor ordered. The usage of a sauna might be beneficial for your heart health if you are interested in this possibility. On the other hand, a hot tub may be a better option if you’re interested in hydrotherapy massage, weightlessness, or the chance to socialize with others.

Both saunas and hot tubs need regular upkeep and have upfront expenditures that must be accounted for. Despite their potential reduced entry price, saunas may need periodic upkeep, such as new wood or electrical parts. Due to its bigger size and the necessity for a water supply and suitable electrical setup, hot tubs may have higher upfront expenses but lower maintenance costs in the long run.

It’s up to you to decide whether you’d rather relax in a sauna or a hot tub. Both may improve your health and well-being in different ways, so think carefully about your alternatives before making a choice.

Check out our best hot tub brands guide or call us today to get some help choosing the best equipment for your home.

About The Author:

Manny Brambila

Pool & Spa Expert

Manny has been in the Pool & Spa industry for over 15 years and is considered a pool, swim spa, & hot tub expert. He has been a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) since 2009 and worked 15 years in aquatic training and development for the largest pool chemical and customer care company. He also has been an outside consultant for the Pool and Spa industry in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles since 2018. In the past few years Manny has become Director of Operations for Epic Hot Tubs with a priority of providing customers with the most reliable information and best service possible.