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
Heats up to 158°FFree curbside delivery · 2-year warranty · 30-day returns · May be HSA/FSA eligible through TrueMed
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.
Tested and certified
What the Solara is certified for
Red light made in an FDA-registered facility. The Solara's medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light is produced to strict manufacturing standards.
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.
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.
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.
Near, mid and far infrared from ultra-low EMF panels. The Pod uses a resistance-coil hot air heater.
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.
SaunaBox Solara 1-Person
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
The Sauna Pod 2.0
- 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
The numbers
Every spec, from each brand's own site.
| Spec | SaunaBox Solara 1-Person | The Sauna Pod 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Sep 14, 2026) | $697 (was $999) | |
| Type | Indoor 1-person infrared cabin | Portable 1-person pop-up dry heat sauna |
| Heat source | Ultra-low EMF infrared panels: near, mid and far infrared | Patent pending 1,500W resistance-coil heater, "Low-EMF appliance" per maker |
| Max temperature | Heats up to 158°F (adjustable 77-158°F) | Up to 185°F |
| Red light | Medical-grade 660nm + 850nm panel, 60 LEDs, up to 192 mW/cm² | Red LED ambience strip, "not red light therapy" per maker |
| Chromotherapy | Built in, 10 colours | Not published |
| Audio | Bluetooth speaker system | Not published |
| Timer | 0-90 minutes | Not published (time and temperature adjustable) |
| Build | 100% Canadian Hemlock, reflective tempered glass door | 100% natural cotton, stainless steel poles, TPU window, PVC floor |
| Size | 35" W x 37" D x 63" H | 39" diameter x 68" H (67" inside) |
| Weight | 172 lbs | 37.5 lbs |
| Power | 110V, 1,600W | 120V, 1,500W |
| Setup | Under 30 minutes, no tools | 5-10 minutes |
| Safety listed | Certified free of toxic heavy metals and phthalates | UL-listed electrical parts, CE & ETL electronics, FSC certified cotton |
| Warranty | 2-year limited | 2 years (extendable) |
| Returns | 30 days, unused items, buyer pays return shipping | 30 days, unused items, buyer pays return shipping |
| Delivery | Free curbside delivery | Free 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.
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 , which is £697 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 ownerThe Solara 1-Person
A real cabin, red light included.
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
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 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.
- 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
- The Sauna Pod 2.0 second listing: https://podcompany.com/products/the-sauna-pod-presale, retrieved Sep 14, 2026
- SaunaBox refund policy: https://saunabox.com/policies/refund-policy, retrieved Sep 14, 2026
- SaunaBox Solara 1-Person product page: https://saunabox.com/products/solara-full-spectrum-infrared-sauna (specs, warranty, delivery, TrueMed, reviews), retrieved Sep 14, 2026