SaunaBox Pulse PRO vs Vital+ SaunaPod Infrared
SaunaPod Infrared or Pulse PRO? For £695 less, you get 10°F more heat.
Both are portable infrared pods on a 36" x 36" footprint, both about $700. The Pulse PRO runs 1600W, adds 850nm near-infrared to its red light, and its fabric is OEKO-TEX certified and lab-tested PFAS-free.
Up to 160°F
660nm + 850nm, 320 LEDs
PFAS-free tested fabric
Up to 160°F30-day return guarantee · 1-Year Limited Warranty · Ships via UPS from Los Angeles · May be eligible for HSA/FSA through TrueMed
The short answer
Pick the Pulse PRO. For £695 less than the SaunaPod Infrared, you get up to 160°F instead of 150°F, 1600W instead of about 1,380W, and red light that adds 850nm near-infrared to 660nm. The SaunaPod Infrared has chromotherapy and free shipping. On heat, light and published fabric testing, the Pulse PRO gives you more.
Tested and certified
What the Pulse PRO is certified for
Red light made in an FDA-registered facility. The Pulse PRO's medical-grade 660nm + 850nm red light is produced to strict manufacturing standards.
ThermoCell® panels, ultra-low EMF certified by Intertek. The Pulse PRO's 6 ThermoCell® infrared panels are certified ultra-low EMF under the IEC 62233 standard by Intertek, a globally accredited third-party lab.
Certified cover, PFAS-free fabric. An OEKO-TEX® certified insulated cover, and sauna fabric independently tested and certified PFAS-free.
Four numbers that decide it
Same price range. Not the same sauna.
Top heat on the Pulse PRO. Vital+ lists the SaunaPod Infrared at 77-150°F.
Heating power on a standard 110V outlet. Vital+ lists six 230W panels, about 1,380W.
Near-infrared added to 660nm red light, from 320 LEDs. Vital+ lists 2x 660nm strips.
Side by side
Two portable pods, about $700 each
SaunaBox Pulse PRO
Up to 160°F from 6 ThermoCell infrared panels, 1600W- 320 LEDs of 660nm red + 850nm near-infrared light
- OEKO-TEX certified cover, PFAS-free tested fabric, Intertek verified low-EMF
110V outlet
No tools
Ultra low EMF
HSA / FSA
Vital+ SaunaPod Infrared
- 77-150°F from six 230W infrared panels, about 1,380W
- 2x 660nm red light LED strips and 4-colour chromotherapy
- Free shipping to mainland USA, 1 year warranty (2 years for $69 more)
36" x 36" x 75"
About 1,380W
10-15 min setup
The numbers
Pulse PRO vs SaunaPod Infrared, spec by spec
| Spec | SaunaBox Pulse PRO | Vital+ SaunaPod Infrared |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Sep 14, 2026) | $695 (was $995) | |
| Max temperature | Up to 160°F | 150°F (adjustable 77-150°F) |
| Infrared heaters | 6 ThermoCell infrared panels | 6 infrared panels, 230W each |
| Heating power | 1600W, 110V | About 1,380W (voltage not published) |
| Red light | 660nm red + 850nm near-infrared, 320 LEDs | 2x 660nm LED strips |
| 850nm near-infrared | Yes | Not published |
| Red light irradiance | 63.19 mW/cm² at surface | Not published |
| Chromotherapy | Not listed | 4 colours |
| Fabric | OEKO-TEX certified insulated cover, MylarMax reflective lining | Polyester taffeta, ThermoShield insulated cover (product image: DMF-free, REACH compliant) |
| PFAS testing | Independently tested, 650+ PFAS compounds Not Detected (EN 17681-1:2025) | Not published |
| EMF | Low-EMF verified by Intertek, IEC 62233 | "~1-3 mG", "3.8 mG at 20mm" |
| Size | 36" x 36" x 68" H | 36" x 36" x 75" H |
| Max user height | Up to 7'1" | Not published |
| Controller | Bluetooth remote: temperature, time, light intensity | Remote control |
| Seat | Foldable wood stool | Portable chair |
| Also in the box | SweatLock floor mat, carrying case + cords | Sweat-absorbing floor mat (carry bag not listed) |
| Setup | About 15 minutes, no tools | 10-15 minutes, 5 minute pack down |
| Warranty | 1-Year Limited Warranty | 1 year (2 years with $69 extension) |
| Shipping | UPS from Los Angeles: 1-2 day processing, then 2-5 business days | Free to mainland USA, 2-5 business days |
| Returns | 30-day return guarantee | 30 days; restocking fee and return shipping deducted |
Vital+ figures are from Vital+'s own US and global product pages. SaunaBox figures are from saunabox.com. All retrieved September 14, 2026. "Not published" means we could not find the figure on the brand's product page. Prices change, so check both sites before you buy.
Does 10°F and 220 more watts matter?
A portable pod has no stove and no wood walls. All of the heat comes from the panels inside a fabric shell, so the panels and the watts behind them set the ceiling.
Vital+ lists the SaunaPod Infrared at 77°F to 150°F, from six 230W panels. That is about 1,380W.
The Pulse PRO runs 1600W through 6 ThermoCell panels and lists up to 160°F, with a MylarMax reflective lining to hold the heat in. Both brands note that the top temperature depends on your room.
What does the light actually add?
Both pods use 660nm red light. Vital+ lists two 660nm LED strips.
The Pulse PRO uses 320 LEDs across two integrated panels, at 660nm red and 850nm near-infrared. 850nm is a longer wavelength than 660nm red.
SaunaBox also publishes the output: 63.19 mW/cm² at the surface. Vital+ does not publish an irradiance figure for its strips, so you cannot compare that number side by side.
What are you sitting inside?
A sauna session means sitting in hot fabric for 20 minutes or more. So the fabric is worth a look.
The Pulse PRO cover is OEKO-TEX certified, and its sauna fabric was independently lab-tested against EN 17681-1:2025 for over 650 PFAS compounds, with every result Not Detected. Its low-EMF heating is verified by Intertek to IEC 62233.
Vital+ lists polyester taffeta with a ThermoShield insulated cover, and a product image on its site says DMF-free and REACH compliant. It publishes an EMF reading of 3.8 mG at 20mm. We could not find a PFAS test on its product page.
Straight answer
Where each one comes out ahead
Where the Pulse PRO wins
- Hotter: up to 160°F vs 150°F
- More heating power: 1600W vs about 1,380W
- 660nm + 850nm light from 320 LEDs, with published irradiance
- OEKO-TEX certified cover and a PFAS-free lab test on the fabric
Wood stool, Bluetooth remote and carrying case in the box
Fits users up to 7'1"
Where the SaunaPod Infrared wins
- Free shipping to mainland USA stated on the product page
- 4-colour chromotherapy lighting
Taller at 75", and a warranty extension to 2 years for $69
What reviewers said
What the press said about SaunaBox
"We tested nearly all portable saunas on the market - SaunaBox was by far the winner"
Men's Journal"Best affordable at-home sauna winner in the 2024 Gadget Awards"
Esquire"Pulse Pro brings spa-level infrared heat and red light into a truly portable form factor, trading only a bit of headroom and the initial purchase price for everyday convenience and recovery gains."
RecovatechThe Pulse PRO
Everything you need to start, in one box.
Portable infrared sauna tent with 6 ThermoCell infrared panels
Integrated 660nm-850nm red light panel (320 LEDs)
Bluetooth controller- Foldable wood stool and SweatLock floor mat
- Carrying case + cords
30-day return guarantee. May be eligible for HSA/FSA through TrueMed
Questions
SaunaBox vs Vital+: common questions
Is the Pulse PRO hotter than the Vital+ SaunaPod Infrared?
Yes, on paper. SaunaBox lists the Pulse PRO at up to 160°F (varies by environment). Vital+ lists the SaunaPod Infrared at 77°F to 150°F, reaching 150°F depending on ambient temperature.
Which one costs less?
On September 14, 2026 the SaunaPod Infrared was $695 (was $995) on the Vital+ US site and the Pulse PRO was on saunabox.com. That is a £695 difference. Vital+ states free shipping to mainland USA on its product page.
Do both have red light therapy?
Both use 660nm red light. Vital+ lists 2x 660nm LED strips. The Pulse PRO uses 320 LEDs of 660nm red plus 850nm near-infrared light, with a published irradiance of 63.19 mW/cm² at the surface.
How much space do they take?
Both sit on a 36" x 36" footprint. The Pulse PRO is 68" tall and fits users up to 7'1". The SaunaPod Infrared is 75" tall and Vital+ says it fits 40" x 40" corners.
What warranty comes with each?
The Pulse PRO comes with a 1-Year Limited Warranty from a U.S.-based support team. The SaunaPod Infrared comes with a 1 year warranty, and Vital+ sells a 1 year extension (2 years total) for $69.
How long does setup take?
The Pulse PRO assembles in about 15 minutes with no tools. Vital+ lists 10 to 15 minutes to set up the SaunaPod Infrared and a 5 minute pack down.
Can I use HSA or FSA funds?
The Pulse PRO may be eligible through TrueMed. Check eligibility at checkout on saunabox.com.
Where these numbers come from
Every Vital+ figure on this page comes from Vital+'s own website. Every SaunaBox figure comes from saunabox.com. Where a brand does not publish a figure, this page says Not published.
- Vital+ SaunaPod Infrared, US store product page: https://us.getvitalplus.com/products/saunapod-infrared (retrieved September 14, 2026)
- Vital+ SaunaPod Infrared, US store product data: https://us.getvitalplus.com/products/saunapod-infrared.js (retrieved September 14, 2026)
- Vital+ SaunaPod Infrared, global store product page (spec cross-check): https://getvitalplus.com/products/saunapod-infrared (retrieved September 14, 2026)
- SaunaBox Pulse PRO product page: https://saunabox.com/products/pulse-pro-portable-ir-sauna-with-redlights (retrieved September 14, 2026)
- SaunaBox Pulse PRO live price: https://saunabox.com/products/pulse-pro-portable-ir-sauna-with-redlights.js (retrieved September 14, 2026)