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
Heats up to 158°F2-Year warranty · Free curbside delivery · 30-day return guarantee · May be HSA/FSA eligible through TrueMed
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.
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.
Why Solara
Three things The Sauna Pod 2.0 does not list.
Medical-grade red light panel, 60 LEDs, up to 192 mW/cm². The pod lists a red light for ambiance, no wavelength.
Near, mid and far infrared panels. The Sauna Pod 2.0 uses a hot-air heater.
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.
SaunaBox Solara
- 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
The Sauna Pod 2.0
- 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
The numbers
Solara vs The Sauna Pod 2.0, spec by spec.
| Spec | SaunaBox Solara | The Sauna Pod 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Sep 14, 2026) | $697 (was $999) | |
| Type | 1-person indoor infrared cabin | 1-person pop-up dry heat sauna |
| Heat source | Ultra-low EMF infrared panels | Patent pending 1500W hot-air heater |
| Infrared | Near, mid + far (NIR, MIR, FIR) | None listed (hot air) |
| Max temperature | Heats up to 158°F (adjustable 77-158°F) | Up to 185°F |
| Heat-up time | Not published | 15-20 minutes |
| Red light | Medical-grade 660nm + 850nm panel, 60 LEDs, up to 192 mW/cm² | Red LED light for ambiance, wavelength not published |
| Chromotherapy | Built in, 10 colours | Not published |
| Audio | Bluetooth audio system | Not published |
| Materials | 100% Canadian Hemlock | 100% natural cotton, steel frame |
| Door | Reflective glass door | Not published |
| Materials testing | Certified free of toxic heavy metals and phthalates (Intertek, Prop 65) | UL-listed electrical parts, CE and ETL certified electronics, FSC certified cotton |
| EMF | Low-EMF verified by Intertek | Described as a Low-EMF appliance, no measurement published |
| Power | 110V, 1600W | 120V, 1500W |
| Size | 35" W x 37" D x 63" H | 39" diameter x 68" H (67" inside) |
| Weight | 172 lb | 37.5 lb |
| Timer | 0-90 minutes | Adjustable time, range not published |
| Setup | Under 30 minutes, no tools | 5-10 minutes |
| Indoor / outdoor | Indoor | Both, water and UV resistant (indoor recommended for 185°F) |
| Warranty | 2-Year | 2 years |
| Returns | 30-day return guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Delivery | Free curbside delivery | Free 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.
What do you get for the extra money?
The Solara costs £697 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 £697 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!"
MJSSaunaBox Solara
Infrared heat and red light, in a cabin built to keep.
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
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.
- 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. - https://podcompany.com/products.json
The Pod Company product catalog: The Sauna Pod 2.0 price $697, compare-at $999. Retrieved September 14, 2026. - 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. - https://saunabox.com/products/solara-full-spectrum-infrared-sauna
SaunaBox Solara live product page: specs, warranty, testing, returns, reviews. Retrieved September 14, 2026. - https://saunabox.com/products/solara-full-spectrum-infrared-sauna.js
SaunaBox Solara live price: , compare-at . Retrieved September 14, 2026.