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SaunaBox vs Sauna Pod · Solara vs The Sauna Pod 2.0

Before you buy a Sauna Pod, sit in a hemlock cabin.

The Sauna Pod 2.0 is a portable cotton pod that heats the air. The Solara is a solid Canadian Hemlock infrared cabin with a real red light therapy panel built in. Here is what that difference gets you, spec by spec.

  • Heats up to 158°F
  • 660nm + 850nm red light
  • 100% Canadian Hemlock
$2,599$3,000Save $401
Shop the Solara See the side-by-side

Free curbside delivery · 2-year warranty · 30-day returns · May be HSA/FSA eligible through TrueMed

SaunaBox Solara infrared cabin next to The Sauna Pod 2.0 portable sauna

The short answer

If you want a sauna you can fold into a bag, the Sauna Pod is cheaper and lighter. If you want a permanent infrared cabin with medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light therapy built in, the Solara is the one. The Pod Company says its own red light "is not red light therapy." The Solara's is the point.

Solara: infrared cabin, 158°FSauna Pod 2.0: hot air, 185°FRed light therapy: Solara only

Tested and certified

What the Solara is certified for

FDA-registered

Red light made in an FDA-registered facility. The Solara's medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light is produced to strict manufacturing standards.

Intertek

Ultra-low EMF, certified by Intertek. The Solara's infrared panels are certified ultra-low EMF under the IEC 62233 standard by Intertek, a globally accredited third-party lab.

Prop 65

Certified free of toxic heavy metals and phthalates. Independently tested by Intertek and certified compliant with California Prop 65.

What the Solara adds

Three things the Sauna Pod 2.0 does not publish.

660 + 850nm

Medical-grade red light panel. 60 LEDs, up to 192 mW/cm². The Pod's red strip is ambience only, by its maker's own words.

3 bands

Near, mid and far infrared from ultra-low EMF panels. The Pod uses a resistance-coil hot air heater.

100%

Canadian Hemlock cabin with a reflective tempered glass door. The Pod is cotton over steel poles.

Side by side

One is a cabin. One is a pod.

Red light built in
SaunaBox Solara 1-Person Infrared Sauna
SaunaBox

SaunaBox Solara 1-Person

$2,599 $3,000
  • Full spectrum infrared, heats up to 158°F
  • Built-in 660nm + 850nm red light therapy panel
  • 100% Canadian Hemlock, reflective glass door
110V outlet No tools Ultra low EMF HSA / FSA
Shop the Solara
The Sauna Pod 2.0 by The Pod Company
The Pod Company

The Sauna Pod 2.0

$697 $999
  • Portable hot air heater, up to 185°F
  • Red LED strip for ambience, not red light therapy
  • 100% natural cotton on steel poles, 37.5 lbs
37.5 lbs 120V, 1,500W 5 to 10 min setup
Compare the specs

The numbers

Every spec, from each brand's own site.

SpecSaunaBox Solara 1-PersonThe Sauna Pod 2.0
Price (Sep 14, 2026)$2,599 (was $3,000)$697 (was $999)
TypeIndoor 1-person infrared cabinPortable 1-person pop-up dry heat sauna
Heat sourceUltra-low EMF infrared panels: near, mid and far infraredPatent pending 1,500W resistance-coil heater, "Low-EMF appliance" per maker
Max temperatureHeats up to 158°F (adjustable 77-158°F)Up to 185°F
Red lightMedical-grade 660nm + 850nm panel, 60 LEDs, up to 192 mW/cm²Red LED ambience strip, "not red light therapy" per maker
ChromotherapyBuilt in, 10 coloursNot published
AudioBluetooth speaker systemNot published
Timer0-90 minutesNot published (time and temperature adjustable)
Build100% Canadian Hemlock, reflective tempered glass door100% natural cotton, stainless steel poles, TPU window, PVC floor
Size35" W x 37" D x 63" H39" diameter x 68" H (67" inside)
Weight172 lbs37.5 lbs
Power110V, 1,600W120V, 1,500W
SetupUnder 30 minutes, no tools5-10 minutes
Safety listedCertified free of toxic heavy metals and phthalatesUL-listed electrical parts, CE & ETL electronics, FSC certified cotton
Warranty2-year limited2 years (extendable)
Returns30 days, unused items, buyer pays return shipping30 days, unused items, buyer pays return shipping
DeliveryFree curbside deliveryFree US shipping on orders over $200

Competitor specs from podcompany.com, SaunaBox specs from saunabox.com, both retrieved September 14, 2026. "Not published" means the brand's product page does not state it. Full list of sources at the bottom of this page.

"The Pod gets hotter. Isn't hotter better?"

It depends what is doing the heating. The Sauna Pod heats the air inside the pod, up to 185°F.

The Solara works differently. Infrared warms your body directly instead of heating the air around you, so the number on the dial is not the whole story.

You still control it. The Solara heats up to 158°F and adjusts anywhere from 77°F, with near, mid and far infrared from ultra-low EMF panels.

Hot air and infrared are two different machines. Pick the one you actually want to sit in.

What does the red light actually add?

This is the biggest gap between the two. The Pod Company is straightforward about it: its red light is "a regular red LED strip that improves the ambiance." In its words, "it is not red light therapy."

The Solara has a medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel built into the cabin. 60 LEDs deliver up to 192 mW/cm² of irradiance.

So every session is heat and red light together. You do not need a second device or a second routine.

What do you get for the extra money?

A room-grade cabin instead of a pop-up. The Solara is 100% Canadian Hemlock with a reflective tempered glass door, and it is certified free of toxic heavy metals and phthalates.

Inside, you get 10-colour chromotherapy, a Bluetooth speaker system and a 0-90 minute timer. None of those three are listed for the Sauna Pod 2.0.

It still fits a small space: 35" x 37" of floor, a standard 110V outlet, and assembly in under 30 minutes without tools. Delivery is free to your curb, it carries a 2-year warranty, and it may be HSA/FSA eligible through TrueMed.

Straight answer

Where each one wins.

Where the Solara wins

  • Built-in 660nm + 850nm red light therapy panel
  • Full spectrum infrared: near, mid and far
  • Solid 100% Canadian Hemlock cabin with a glass door
  • 10-colour chromotherapy, Bluetooth audio, 0-90 minute timer

Where the Sauna Pod wins

  • Price. $697 vs $2,599, which is $1,902 less.
  • Portability. 37.5 lbs with a carry bag. The Solara is a 172 lb cabin.
  • Air temperature. Up to 185°F of hot air vs the Solara's 158°F infrared.
  • Setup. 5-10 minutes vs under 30.

What owners said

Rated 4.6 out of 5 from 160 Solara reviews.

"And the solara itself is easily the best in the industry."

Sam, Solara owner

"I've been using the Saunabox Solara for a while now and it's become one of my favorite parts of my workout routine."

Tyler, Solara owner

"We really love our Solara!"

MJS, Solara owner

The Solara 1-Person

A real cabin, red light included.

$2,599$3,000
  • Full spectrum infrared cabin, heats up to 158°F
  • Medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel, made in an FDA-registered facility
  • Free curbside delivery
  • 2-year warranty and 30-day returns
  • Assembles in under 30 minutes, no tools
  • May be HSA/FSA eligible through TrueMed
Shop the Solara
SaunaBox Solara 1-Person Infrared Sauna

Questions

Solara vs Sauna Pod, answered.

Is the Sauna Pod an infrared sauna?

No. The Pod Company describes The Sauna Pod 2.0 as a pop-up dry heat sauna with a 1,500W resistance-coil heater that heats the air up to 185°F. The Solara is a full spectrum infrared cabin with near, mid and far infrared panels and heats up to 158°F.

Does the Sauna Pod have red light therapy?

The Pod Company says the red light in The Sauna Pod is a regular red LED strip for ambiance and is not red light therapy. The Solara has a built-in medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel with 60 LEDs delivering up to 192 mW/cm² of irradiance.

Why is the Solara more expensive?

The Solara is a 172 lb cabin built from 100% Canadian Hemlock with a reflective glass door, full spectrum infrared, a 660nm + 850nm red light panel, 10-colour chromotherapy and Bluetooth audio. The Sauna Pod 2.0 is a 37.5 lb cotton pod on steel poles. The Solara is $2,599 today and the Sauna Pod 2.0 was $697.

Can I plug the Solara into a normal outlet?

Yes. The Solara runs on 110V at 1,600W. The Sauna Pod 2.0 lists 120V at 1,500W.

How hard is the Solara to set up?

SaunaBox says anyone can assemble the Solara in under 30 minutes without tools. It arrives in two boxes totalling about 220 lbs by free curbside delivery, lowered to ground level. The Sauna Pod 2.0 lists a 5-10 minute setup.

What warranty and returns do they have?

Both carry a 2-year warranty. The Solara's limited warranty covers heaters, controls, audio and wooden cabinetry. Both brands accept returns within 30 days on unused items, with the buyer paying return shipping.

Can I use HSA or FSA funds for the Solara?

SaunaBox is a TrueMed partner, so the Solara may be eligible for purchase using HSA or FSA funds through TrueMed.

Where these numbers come from

Every competitor fact on this page comes from The Pod Company's own website. Every SaunaBox fact comes from saunabox.com. All pages were retrieved on September 14, 2026. Prices and specs can change, so check each product page before you buy.

  1. The Sauna Pod 2.0 product page: https://podcompany.com/products/the-sauna-pod (price, temperature, heater, size, weight, materials, red light, setup, warranty, returns, shipping), retrieved Sep 14, 2026
  2. The Sauna Pod 2.0 second listing: https://podcompany.com/products/the-sauna-pod-presale, retrieved Sep 14, 2026
  3. SaunaBox refund policy: https://saunabox.com/policies/refund-policy, retrieved Sep 14, 2026
  4. SaunaBox Solara 1-Person product page: https://saunabox.com/products/solara-full-spectrum-infrared-sauna (specs, warranty, delivery, TrueMed, reviews), retrieved Sep 14, 2026
SaunaBoxThe Sauna Pod and The Pod Company are trademarks of their respective owner. SaunaBox is not affiliated with The Pod Company. Product images are illustrative.
$2,599$3,000Shop the Solara