A sauna tent is a portable sauna made of insulated tent fabric, heated by a wood-fired stove with sauna stones. It is set up in a few minutes by the lake, in the mountains or at home in the garden, reaches 90 °C in 10–25 minutes and gives true löyly when you pour water on the stones.
Here we go through how it works, how hot it gets, what you need and what to think about before you light the fire for the first time.
From carry bag to sauna in under half an hour.
Choose a spot
A level surface such as grass, gravel or a deck, at a safe distance from buildings and trees.
Set up the tent
A pop-up tent is up in about 5 minutes, a tent with poles in about 10.
Install the stove
The stove stands inside the tent and the chimney goes out through a heat-protected opening in the roof.
Light the fire
Dry wood and a closed tent. After 10–25 minutes, depending on the size of the tent, it is sauna hot.
Pour water on the stones
The stone magazine on the stove gives löyly just like in a regular sauna.
The heat
Is it a real sauna?
Yes. With a stove that suits the size of the tent you reach normal sauna temperatures of 70–90 degrees, and many get above 100. The multi-layer fabric keeps the heat in, and the stones in the stove's stone magazine give soft steam when you pour water on them.
The difference from a fixed sauna is that the tent cools down faster when you stop adding wood.
Is a sauna tent a real sauna?
Where
A sauna wherever you want to be
By the lake for a swim between rounds, in the mountains after a ski trip, at the campsite or at home in the garden. When you are done you pack everything into the carry bags and take the sauna with you to the next place.
Many also keep the tent up in the garden all season.
Winter
Best when it is cold
A sauna tent works all year round, and for many people winter is the best season – ideally combined with an ice bath or a roll in the snow. Choose a stove with enough output for the tent and you will keep the heat even below freezing.
Tips for winter sauna
Price
A fraction of a built sauna
A sauna tent costs a fraction of what it costs to build a sauna. A temporarily pitched tent is normally not considered a building, so no building permit is needed.
If it will stand permanently, or in an area with shoreline protection, it is wise to check with your local authority.
Sauna tent or regular sauna?Our complete packages include all of this except benches, which you choose to fit the size of the tent.
Ready to sauna?
Complete sauna tents with stove – Gnistan for 2–5 people and Flamman for 4–8.
With the right stove for the tent you reach 70–90 degrees, and many get above 100. Outdoor temperature, wind and how dry the wood is all play a part.
A smaller tent like Gnistan is hot in about 10–15 minutes. A larger one like Flamman takes about 20–25 minutes, since there is more air to heat.
It depends on the size. Gnistan fits 2–5 people and Flamman 4–8.
A tent that is pitched temporarily is normally not considered a building and therefore does not need a building permit. If it will stand permanently, or within a shoreline protection area, it is wise to check with your local authority.
No. A sauna tent with a wood-fired stove must always stand outdoors, with the chimney venting freely into the open air.
Yes, if you follow the instructions: flame-retardant fabric, a spark arrestor on the chimney, stable ground and a safe distance from buildings and trees. Always keep water close at hand. Read about safety distances.
Yes. Campsites, cabin villages and experience companies rent out our sauna tents, so you can try one before you decide. See who is near you on the partner map. If you buy from us, you also get a 60-day return policy.
Our app SaunaLogger
SaunaLogger is our free app for sauna lovers. Log your sessions, see your sauna days in the calendar and follow how your sauna habit develops.
Free for iPhone and Android
