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SaunaBox vs The Pod Company

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

The Sauna Pod 2.0 is a portable hot-air pod. The SaunaBox Solara is a 100% Canadian Hemlock infrared cabin with a medical-grade red light panel built in. Here is every spec, side by side.

  • Heats up to 158°F
  • Near, mid + far infrared
  • 660nm + 850nm red light
$2,599$3,000Save $401
Shop the Solara See the side-by-side

2-Year warranty · Free curbside delivery · 30-day return guarantee · May be HSA/FSA eligible through TrueMed

SaunaBox Solara 1-person infrared sauna next to The Pod Company Sauna Pod 2.0

The short answer

If you want infrared heat and red light therapy in one cabin you keep, the Solara is the better buy. It pairs near, mid and far infrared with a medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel inside 100% Canadian Hemlock. The Sauna Pod 2.0 costs less and reaches hotter air, but it is a portable cotton pod with a hot-air heater, and its red light is listed for ambiance.

Solara: infrared cabin, 158°FSauna Pod 2.0: hot air, 185°FNear, mid + far infrared: 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.

Why Solara

Three things The Sauna Pod 2.0 does not list.

660 + 850nm

Medical-grade red light panel, 60 LEDs, up to 192 mW/cm². The pod lists a red light for ambiance, no wavelength.

NIR·MIR·FIR

Near, mid and far infrared panels. The Sauna Pod 2.0 uses a hot-air heater.

100%

Canadian Hemlock cabin with a reflective glass door, instead of a cotton and steel pod.

Side by side

A hemlock infrared cabin next to a portable hot-air pod.

Red light therapy built in
SaunaBox Solara
SaunaBox

SaunaBox Solara

$2,599 $3,000
  • Near, mid + far infrared, heats up to 158°F
  • Medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel, made in an FDA-registered facility
  • 100% Canadian Hemlock, 2-Year warranty
110V outlet No tools Ultra low EMF HSA / FSA
Shop the Solara
The Sauna Pod 2.0
The Pod Company

The Sauna Pod 2.0

$697 $999
  • Hot-air heater, up to 185°F
  • 100% natural cotton pod on a steel frame, 37.5 lb
  • 2-year warranty, 30-day money-back guarantee
37.5 lb 120V, 1,500W 5 to 10 min setup
Compare the specs

The numbers

Solara vs The Sauna Pod 2.0, spec by spec.

SpecSaunaBox SolaraThe Sauna Pod 2.0
Price (Sep 14, 2026)$2,599 (was $3,000)$697 (was $999)
Type1-person indoor infrared cabin1-person pop-up dry heat sauna
Heat sourceUltra-low EMF infrared panelsPatent pending 1500W hot-air heater
InfraredNear, mid + far (NIR, MIR, FIR)None listed (hot air)
Max temperatureHeats up to 158°F (adjustable 77-158°F)Up to 185°F
Heat-up timeNot published15-20 minutes
Red lightMedical-grade 660nm + 850nm panel, 60 LEDs, up to 192 mW/cm²Red LED light for ambiance, wavelength not published
ChromotherapyBuilt in, 10 coloursNot published
AudioBluetooth audio systemNot published
Materials100% Canadian Hemlock100% natural cotton, steel frame
DoorReflective glass doorNot published
Materials testingCertified free of toxic heavy metals and phthalates (Intertek, Prop 65)UL-listed electrical parts, CE and ETL certified electronics, FSC certified cotton
EMFLow-EMF verified by IntertekDescribed as a Low-EMF appliance, no measurement published
Power110V, 1600W120V, 1500W
Size35" W x 37" D x 63" H39" diameter x 68" H (67" inside)
Weight172 lb37.5 lb
Timer0-90 minutesAdjustable time, range not published
SetupUnder 30 minutes, no tools5-10 minutes
Indoor / outdoorIndoorBoth, water and UV resistant (indoor recommended for 185°F)
Warranty2-Year2 years
Returns30-day return guarantee30-day money-back guarantee
DeliveryFree curbside deliveryFree shipping in the USA

The Sauna Pod 2.0 details are from podcompany.com and SaunaBox details from saunabox.com, both retrieved September 14, 2026. "Not published" means the brand's own page does not list it.

Hot air or infrared: which heat are you buying?

The Sauna Pod 2.0 heats the air. The Pod Company lists a 1500W hot-air heater that reaches up to 185°F in 15-20 minutes, the way a traditional sauna works.

The Solara works differently. Its ultra-low EMF infrared panels send near, mid and far infrared straight to you, so the cabin runs at a lower air temperature. It heats up to 158°F, and you set it anywhere from 77°F.

If the number on the dial is the only thing you care about, the pod wins on air temperature. If you want infrared, keep reading.

What does the red light panel add?

Inside the Solara sits a medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel: 60 LEDs delivering up to 192 mW/cm² of irradiance. The V2 swivel design lets you move it to where you want it.

The Sauna Pod 2.0 lists LED lighting with a red light "to improve the ambiance". The Pod Company does not publish a wavelength for it.

One session in the Solara is infrared heat and a 660nm + 850nm red light panel, in the same seat.

What do you get for the extra money?

The Solara costs $1,902 more than The Sauna Pod 2.0. That buys a 100% Canadian Hemlock cabin with a reflective glass door, not a fabric pod.

It also buys built-in chromotherapy with 10 colours, Bluetooth audio, a 0-90 minute timer, and a cabin certified free of toxic heavy metals and phthalates after Intertek tested 20 of its components.

It still plugs into a standard 110V outlet, assembles in under 30 minutes without tools, ships with free curbside delivery, and carries a 2-Year warranty. It may also be eligible for HSA/FSA through TrueMed.

Straight answer

Where each one wins.

Where the Solara wins

  • Near, mid + far infrared instead of hot air
  • Medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel built in
  • 100% Canadian Hemlock cabin with a reflective glass door
  • 10-colour chromotherapy and Bluetooth audio
  • Certified free of toxic heavy metals and phthalates, low-EMF verified by Intertek

Where the Sauna Pod 2.0 wins

  • Price: $697, which is $1,902 less than the Solara
  • Hotter air: up to 185°F
  • Portable: 37.5 lb, 5-10 minute setup, rated for indoor or outdoor use
  • More headroom: 67" inside height, fits people up to 6'7"

What reviewers said

Rated 4.6 out of 5 across 160 Solara reviews.

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

Sam

"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

"We really love our Solara!"

MJS

SaunaBox Solara

Infrared heat and red light, in a cabin built to keep.

$2,599$3,000
  • 1-person 100% Canadian Hemlock infrared cabin
  • Near, mid + far infrared, heats up to 158°F
  • Medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel, made in an FDA-registered facility
  • 10-colour chromotherapy and Bluetooth audio
  • Free curbside delivery and a 2-Year warranty
  • 30-day return guarantee, may be HSA/FSA eligible through TrueMed
Shop the Solara
SaunaBox Solara

Questions

Solara vs The Sauna Pod 2.0: common questions.

Does the Solara get as hot as The Sauna Pod 2.0?

No, and it is not built to. The Sauna Pod 2.0 lists hot air up to 185°F. The Solara heats up to 158°F, adjustable from 77°F, because it uses infrared panels that warm you directly instead of heating the air around you.

Does The Sauna Pod 2.0 use infrared?

The Pod Company describes The Sauna Pod 2.0 as a pop-up dry heat sauna with a patent pending 1500W hot-air heater, and its page contrasts it with infrared saunas. The Solara uses near, mid and far infrared.

What red light does each one have?

The Solara has a medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light panel with 60 LEDs delivering up to 192 mW/cm² of irradiance, on a swivel so you can reposition it. The Sauna Pod 2.0 lists LED lighting with a red light to improve the ambiance, and no wavelength is published.

Will the Solara fit in my home?

The Solara measures 35" W x 37" D x 63" H and weighs 172 lb assembled. It plugs into a standard 110V outlet (1600W) with an 8-foot cord, and it assembles in under 30 minutes without tools.

What warranty and return policy do they have?

The Solara comes with a 2-Year warranty and a 30-day return guarantee. The Pod Company lists a 2-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee on The Sauna Pod, for items in good condition without signs of use.

Is the Solara tested for toxic materials?

Yes. Intertek tested 20 components of the Solara and certified it compliant with California Proposition 65. It is certified free of toxic heavy metals (lead and cadmium) and phthalates, and its low EMF is verified by Intertek.

Can I use HSA or FSA funds?

SaunaBox is a TrueMed partner, so the Solara may be eligible through TrueMed.

Where these numbers come from

Every competitor fact on this page comes from The Pod Company's own website. Prices change, so check both sites before you buy.

  1. https://podcompany.com/products/the-sauna-pod
    The Pod Company, The Sauna Pod 2.0 product page: temperature, heater, size, weight, materials, certifications, warranty, returns, shipping, setup. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
  2. https://podcompany.com/products.json
    The Pod Company product catalog: The Sauna Pod 2.0 price $697, compare-at $999. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
  3. https://podcompany.com/products/the-infra-pod
    The Pod Company, The Infra Pod: a red light therapy panel, not a sauna, so not used as the comparison. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
  4. https://saunabox.com/products/solara-full-spectrum-infrared-sauna
    SaunaBox Solara live product page: specs, warranty, testing, returns, reviews. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
  5. https://saunabox.com/products/solara-full-spectrum-infrared-sauna.js
    SaunaBox Solara live price: $2,599, compare-at $3,000. Retrieved September 14, 2026.
SaunaBoxThe Sauna Pod and The Pod Company are names of their respective owner. SaunaBox is not affiliated with The Pod Company.
$2,599$3,000Shop the Solara