Customer Ratings & Reviews

I have a super busy single mom life with three kids in afterschool activities. This was the absolute perfect addition to my home gym. I leave it up, but if I need the space.. its easily taken down. It gets nice and hot and I feel great after a good workout and about 10 minutes in the sauna! Definitely worth the buy!

I’ve been using the Sharper Image Portable Steam Sauna for a few weeks now, and it’s been a fantastic addition to my home wellness routine. Setting it up was straightforward and took only about 15 minutes, which I really appreciated. The 2.4L steam generator heats up nicely, filling the tent with a soothing, consistent steam that helps me unwind after a long day. I love how portable it is—once I’m done, it folds down easily and doesn’t take up much space. The included chair is comfy enough for a 20-minute session, and I’ve noticed my skin feels softer and my muscles more relaxed afterward. For the price, it’s a great way to enjoy a spa-like experience without leaving home. Highly recommend it to anyone looking to add some relaxation to their life!

Great sauna, easy to put together, and heats up really well. Use it after every workout and makes a huge difference

Setup it up and worked great the two times we used it, now doesn’t heat up at all. Powers on and display works but completely unresponsive to heating up. Purchased as a Christmas gift on December 19th and now about a month later and only 2 weeks setup i cannot return or exchange it. Best Buy’s ridiculous return policy on an item purchased as a Christmas gift doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t recommend purchasing unless you want to deal with the headache of no return eligibility or help after you take it home. Would give it zero stars if I could. Best Buy’s customer service is garbage as well and has taken all the experience of dealing with someone in person away.

Worked amazing untill the neck on the heater broke. Working on getting a replacement. Hopefully it doesnt brake again .

Cheap product will be returning. Opened the package, item was defected and there was a rip in the lining. Can't even use it.

The Sharper Image Steamer Sauna Portable Spa, has really added to my home gym. Setting it up was a breeze; within minutes, I had everything ready to go without any hassle. A couple things to note on the setup is: -Make sure you build it starting on the bottom piece -Once you get the frame together and the cover on push from the inside when your zipper gets to a pole so it doesn't get stuck and break the zipper. This thing is portable and can break down to a small size. An added bonus would have been a storage bag. The 2.4L steam generator gets going about 15 minutes after you start it. I normally let it go for 20 minutes of the 30 minutes at level 9 then bump the time back up and get in. The floor does get wet, I use a towel and take it out when I am done. I have not seen any leaks onto my floor yet but I still use a pool towel just in case. I am 6 ft tall and the included chair isn't that uncomfortable. I have used this several times over the period of the last few weeks. This doesn't get super hot like your regular saunas but I feel like I get a great sweat in just 15-20 minutes. Overall, I couldn’t be happier with the Sharper Image Steamer Sauna Portable Spa. If you’re looking for a convenient and effective way to incorporate the benefits of steam therapy into your life, I highly recommend giving this portable sauna a try!

Very impressed with this portable sauna. This sauna was larger than I thought it would be. Upon setting it up, I thought it would be difficult. At first I didn’t think it came with directions but after I finished putting it together, I found the directions in the water container. As per the directions, I needed to heat it up for around 10-15 minutes before I actually got in it. After it warmed up, I did get in and stayed in for 15 minutes. I was sooooo utterly impressed at how this sauna made me sweat. I was totally drenched when I got out. I have asthma so one of the things I can’t wait to try is some eucalyptus oil to help with my allergies as well as asthma. One of the downfalls is the chair is a little small. I think I will purchase a chair that is a little bigger that the one supplied. There isn’t much room but it is roomy enough to put a slightly bigger chair. I wondered how I was going to zip it up when I got in or out but it has. Pipers on the inside as well as the outside. This is so comparable to the saunas that you go to at resorts as well as swimming places. I love the fact that I can have this in my home where I can enjoy privacy. One of the things I do is deep condition my hair so I can kill two birds with one stone. This is one of the most valued things that they have come up with, I have recommended them to friends. This will work especially well for me considering cold season is coming up. It’s going to be great for the lungs, do yourself a favor, treat yourself to one of these compact saunas, you won’t regret it.

Introduction Sharper Image is synonymous with malls and designing and creating unique items. Going in Sharper Image makes so many items that I shouldn’t have been surprised that they would make a portable sauna, but I was. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a portable sauna, so I was quite excited since I’m up for anything that brings relaxation. What comes in the box? Out of the box you get many little plastic pipes and pieces to create the frame, you get the cover that encompasses that frame, you get the main steaming unit, the steam diffuser, some tubes that connect from the steaming unit to the sauna itself, an interior floor mat, a small chair to sit on, and directions on how to assemble everything. Minor wins The sauna is actually quite large. There’s also a little circular window that you can look through. This can be nice if you want to watch a quick show while getting in some sauna time. Major wins The customer support was great when I asked for a replacement for the cover. I would have been happy if they just sent the cover, but they sent me a whole new box. Usage After assembling everything and placing it where you want, it’s time to get ready for a steam. I used distilled water because I use it for my humidifiers, so why not for this. I think distilled water prevents minerals from creating a mess in the internals of the diffuser. I recommend having a towel or bath mat right outside of the door because you will be covered in some water. Also have a towel to dry off. I added the water, turned it on and then sat in the steam. I left the upper zipper open a bit just to see how much steam comes out. I’m glad to say that this little diffuser does a good job filling up the sauna with steam. Once I felt comfortable with the steam level, I closed the upper zipper with about a 3 inch opening in case I needed to open it fast for whatever reason. The chair is very small… it almost looks like a toddler chair. I do wish they made it a bit larger. On a side note it has a little pocket for a drink maybe? For quick 15 minutes of steam action, this does the trick. Minor issues During my initial assembly the cover tore at the base. This wouldn’t have been as bad would it have tore near the top, but this was right near the tube opening. Sharper Image sent me a replacement, so yay. Major issues When assembling the frame, you really have to make sure that the tubes are pressed together as far as possible. I’m not a big fan of plastic pipes for a frame as they bend easy. For the money though, I guess you can’t use hire grad material otherwise the price would be higher. The fabric tears really easily. The tube where the diffuser plugs into, that opening is quite fragile as well. If you push too far, it’ll also tear. I really do wish they use tougher grade fabric for the cover. I had to use to dryer vent tape to close it up. Primarily for People who have space in their residence and want to be able to take short sauna steams when the mood calls. Probably not for This thing will take up some space. So if space is an issue then this probably won’t fit in your life. All in all The materials are subpar, the fabric especially is of low quality, the instructions are a bit confusing, and the assembly is a chore. Once you get past all of the negatives and actually sit down and enjoy a nice steam, then you forget about the pain of getting it all together. For the price it’s not a bad sauna. I really do with though they invested in better materials for the frame and the cover.

I love it. Very easy build. Even though it says portable, i wouldn't recommend moving it about too much. The material is not the best quality, but it gets the job done. The how to use instructions read weird but very easy to use. The chair is small but it works. Like any steamer ever the steam doesn't start until you stop hearing the bubbling sound.(Takes about 5 minutes) Great after the gym or if you're congested (just add a lil eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil to the diffuser.) If you do use essential oils in the diffuser 2 to 3 drop max. I learned the hard way. Great self car

The Sharper Image -Steamer Sauna Portable Spa is a great addition to your home gym/recovery routine. So I want to preface this review by saying if you were to get a real sauna installed in your home it would cost thousands and to have a portable version at home for a fraction of the cost you’d have to expect to compromise on build quality. For what it lacks in build quality it makes up for in what it provides and its portability. The frame itself is made out of plastic tubing that you connect together to form the structure of the portable steamer sauna. The sauna material itslef that wraps around the frame is a fairly thin quilted looking material that I don’t quite know what it is. The steamer sauna is zippered almost all the way around the whole unit which is not only convenient for getting in and out but also very convenient for cleaning and wiping down the sauna after use. There is also a clear window on the front which is also detachable via Velcro. The steam generator has a total capacity of 2.4 liters and is super simple to use. The left side controls the time duration (5 minute increments) and the right side controls the steam intensity from 1-9. The steamer sauna gave me a great impression from the first use. I was not expecting much because of the build quality but was a believer after I used it. I finished running on the treadmill and afterwards hopped in the steamer sauna and let me tell you it was a great feeling relaxing my muscles in there after a nice workout. I also wanted to mention that the steam generator also has nice features such as if your water runs dry it will sense it a beep then shut off. I’d recommend this if you’re looking for something to add to your recovery routine. Minus one star because I think build quality could be better but it does what it advertises.

I strength train 5 days a week and am always doing some activity that leaves me with muscle soreness, so I was excited to try out the portable Sharper Image Steamer Sauna to see if it could help improve recovery time.  In the box are parts to assemble the plastic frame, the sauna quilted fabric body, a cloth folding chair, fabric foot pad, steam disperser, steam generator, fill pitcher, and the associated hoses for plumbing the steam into the sauna.  Setup is relatively easy, first assembling the plastic frame, being careful not to press too hard when fitting into place.  The frame pieces are strong enough to hold the sauna fabric, but will bend if too much pressure is applied.  Once the frame is setup up, it is relatively easily to fit inside the sauna fabric, with little effort to seat the frame into the corners and then zip the body panel around the frame.  After this is done, insert the foot pad, chair, connect the tubing between the steam generator to the outside fitting on the sauna, and then another piece of tubing between the inside fitting to the steam diffuser.  The steam diffuser sits under the chair, and the steam generator sits outside of the sauna.  To operate, use distilled water to fill the reservoir of the steam generator.  I found this to be trial and error for how much water I needed based on time and steam settings. The steam generator has 9 steam settings and 5 minute timer increments from 5 minutes up to 30 minutes.  I found that the best way was to fill the generator with water, zip up the sauna, and let it warm up on the highest steam setting for at least 5 minutes, preferably 10 minutes.  At this point, if you don't want as much steam you can always dial it back, but this will also reduce the temperature of the sauna.  To test, I set the sauna up in my enclosed porch, with an outdoor temperature of 74 degF, the sauna was hitting 108 degF after 15 minutes on the highest setting.  During the same test, the sauna was hitting 92 degF on setting 4 (mid way point) after 10 minutes. If you use the enclosed pitcher, it takes about 3 full pitchers to fill up the steam generator, which lasts for a full 30 minutes on the highest steam setting. You can also just fill to min line for shorter durations. I never ran out of water, regardless of steam settings, in a 30 minute period. Note that the sauna footprint is 33"x33" square and is 66" tall, so you will need to find somewhere with enough space to use it. I put mine on my outdoor enclosed porch, because there really wasn't much water inside to remove, and it definitely doesn't have to be set up in a bathroom or other area with a drain. The included chair is about 14.5" to the seat, 15" wide, and 12" deep. While the chair is rated to 200 lbs, if you have a larger build, you will want to replace it with something more comfortable. The zipper for the door is easy to use, and there is a velcro window that can be removed if desired. One call out is that the tubing to the steam generator is approximately 2' and the cord is another 3' in length so you will need to be close to a power outlet. I couldn't find a setup that worked for me, so I ended up running an extension cord, which solved this issue. I found that my favorite feature was the various steam settings and the ability to add in essential oils to the diffuser to help with stress or just opening the sinuses. After a few days of use, I do find that I'm less tight. I'm not sure I can say the muscle soreness is better, but the sauna definitely improves mobility when stretching. The other thing is that this may be a huge help in dryer climates, as the hotter it gets, the more steam is released. This is definitely not a dry sauna experience.  Overall, the build is what you'd expect of a portable sauna.  The materials are lightweight, but they seem to get the job done, and I haven't had any issues with structure, zippers, or function of the sauna or generator after the first 10 uses. The material is heavy enough to keep in the steam, but light enough to move around without too much effort.  If you've been on the fence about a sauna, this is a great way to test the effectiveness without building your own. Personally, I'll use it maybe a few times a week now to help with recovery, but I'm really looking forward to using it in the winter months to help relieve dry skin from the cold.

Let me start by saying that I am "now" thoroughly enjoying the steamer. For reference, I am a personal trainer by trade and this is a great way to cap off a recovery session. I will continually use myself and with my clients, and I would absolutely recommend it to others. That being said, you must first adjust your expectations if you have them. Yes, it is a sauna in the general sense, but more of the emphasis should be on steam. While standard steam rooms get to around 110-130 degrees, don't expect to get that range unless your ambient temperature is already above 100, and note it is not airtight, so once the steam stops, the surrounding temperature takes over fairly quickly. The other expectation to adjust is the idea of "portability." The frame is made with plastic poles, elbows and connectors. For the booth to fit over the frame, they must be tightly connected/inserted with no space to spare. I'm sure the pieces loosen up over time, I don't see myself consistently building/breaking down the unit unless necessary. Should you use sparingly, not a problem, but it would have been nice to have a pop-up style wire frame instead. In short, it's portable in the sense that it can move around with some effort, but not efficiently, so place somewhere where it can live days at a time. Alright, now that those are out of the way, once you get a good session going, it does fit the bill. While the manual says run 15 minutes beforehand, the best steam prep I got was running 20-30 minutes beforehand and jumping right in! At a 15-minute pre-warmup, I got the temp up to about 77 degrees. After letting it run for 30 minutes, it was 85, then once combined with my body temperature, it quickly rose to 93-95 degrees, which was great for sweating it out. Note, your surrounding area matters. This was on a cooler California night outdoors, which is pretty great for keeping the steam in during the treatment. The pump is very easy to use, and the best part is there is no separate pieces or compartments for oils, should you want them, you just add right to the tank. The amount of steam produces surpasses my expectation. I felt my sinuses clearing, pores opening, and beads of sweat rolling down. A wish list would be a way to run another session without leaving the booth, but that's just being a bit extra. For size reference, I'm 5'8 and currently weigh 230lbs. While seated, the chair, while short on comfort, held me with no problem and i felt like I had plenty of space while zipped in. Nice and roomy inside. The material is also very easy to clean. If you need to dry and fold quickly, you should be able to towel off the inside fairly quickly and pack up with minimal moisture, but I just allow it to air dry. The last bit is just some recommendations. if, like me, you've got some big legs, I'd recommend replacing the chair for something a bit less rigid and waterproof or at least easily repels. I will be getting a different foot mat, as I want something a bit more insulating and a bit thicker. The included works fine, just want to up the comfort a bit more. Finally, be careful with all the pieces. The plastic rods/connectors are sturdy when together, but when you're trying to tighten them into the connectors while upright, I felt like they could snap. On that same note, the spout on the booth does not have a good "grip," so when attaching both of the hoses, should you pull too hard, there is no doubt it would rip. These can be avoided by simply...taking your time. At least that's what I hope. Ok, so there it is. After adjusting expectations, finding my best setting, and making myself at home, I'm enjoying the steam sauna. As mentioned, combine with compressive/percussive massage, stretching and foam rolling, this is a complete regimen that can be completed at home.

I live with a lizard. Well, not a literal lizard. But my significant other is definitely a tropical creature and hates winter. Unfortunately, we live in the middle of the country and frost warnings are starting to pop up. You know what else pops up? This Sharper Image Steamer Sauna Portable Spa! And it arrived at the perfect time. Assembly of this Steamer Sauna is very simple. I would say that a vast majority of people can put this together in 15 minutes without reading the directions. That being said, I am going to follow up with this in bold: READ THE DIRECTIONS. A majority of the assembly is elementary and very similar to those PVC style children tents that my siblings and I had as a child. The reason I emphasis reading the directions is because you have to make sure that every pole is 100% seated in the couplers, otherwise you will tear the canvas shell that surrounds the structure. I found this out the hard way and upon reviewing the directions, users are advised of this. Dumb mistake on my part, and I will say that the canvas is a little more fragile than I would have anticipated, but I was fortunate and the tear was towards the bottom and has little to no impact on the performance of this amazing contraption. Once the structure is together and wrapped in the outer skin, there is a mat that sits on the bottom that tells you where to place the diffuser and the chair. The diffuser is a snug push connection to a preinstalled bulkhead on the inside using the shorted of the two provided hoses. The actual machine that creates the steam sits outside the Portable Spa, has the same push connection as the diffuser, and is very simple to use. Fill the machine to the fill line with distilled water, set the time (15 minute increments) and the heat level (1-9), allow the Spa about 15 minutes to reach the selected settings, then step in and enjoy! I have had this unit for approximately 1 week and let me tell you this...I have one happy lizard. My significant other has been using this daily and every time I hear sighs of content being emitted from inside the spa and she always emerges with a smile. Even after the first use she felt that her skin was noticeably softer. Also, we are stepping into cold season at Mach II, and with coughs abundant, we have been able to use this spa to assist with congestion and stuffy symptoms before they become too rough. If I had to pick any downsides...I would start with the included chair. The chair is like a lawn chair for children. Now the Sauna itself hits way out of its weight class, so the included chair is just a bonus. But It will be quickly replaces with something a little more...relaxing. Another downside its the fragility of the outer skin of the sauna. I would love for it to be a little more stretchy to prevent tears. I could definitely see this being a bigger issue with purchasers tearing the canvas during assembly and having tears, instead of sweat, running down their faces. But to the credit of Sharper Image, this can be prevented by READING THE DIRECTIONS. Overall, we are extremely satisfied with this Steamer Sauna Portable Spa and would recommend it to anyone. With this portable heaven in our corner, we are ready to take on winter!

Never owning a sauna before I wasn't sure how good this portable 'spa' could be or even what to expect. It took more time to unpack the unit then to actually set it up. Put some polls together to create a frame (like a tent) and then wrap the shell of the sauna material over the frame, zip into place. Connect some hoses, pour in some "distilled" water, unfold the chair and away you go. And yes, honestly it was this simple to setup and get running, it probably took realistically 15 minutes to setup from unpacking to pouring in the water. I will admit though if you do not get the poles snug fitted before attempting to wrap the shell, you will struggle a bit, (i did at first but i realized i had a couple of the poles not completed seated snuggly... so once you get the poles together correctly it fits as it should without fuss.) It is suggested to run one timed session through without you in it, to get that 'factory smell' out, which is advisable, the smell (at least on mine) wasn't bad at all, it was about what you would expect something new to smell like the first time it heats up, honestly wasn't over powering (I am very allergic to alot of things and smells can trigger migraines for me, so honestly the fact the unit was mild in 'factory' smell was a good thing.) though I could imagine if I was sitting in the unit the first time, it probably would of been too much (for me). The unit was very easy to operate, you open the lid, pour in "distilled" water with the measuring pitcher that comes with the unit, close the lid, then power on the device and set how long and hot you would like it to run for, let it heat up a bit and step in. It is suggested to only be in the unit for 10-15 minutes, so i set the timer for 20 and stepped in at 10 my first time then I just found that doing 25 and 10-15 from then on was about the right timing for me anyways .... it definitely will get you sweating, i mean it is a sauna at the end of the day and does what you would expect it to do! I am 6'3" 220lbs. and while even though the unit is small, it's not too small for me to be in, i do have to duck a little bit when standing in the unit but it's not really too bad, i was actually pretty pleasantly surprised it was so roomy. The only things I would have to complain about and the reason I dropped one star from this review, is the chair that comes with this unit reminds me of something i would get for my 4 year old grand daughter to sit in at a firework show (just a petite little foldout lawn chair). Sitting on this chair was a little bit uncomfortable (for me), there are for a better word "buttons" on the chair that are hard and kind of hurt the back of my legs while sitting on it. Luckily I have identical type fold out chairs for myself that i use during the summer so i just replaced this with that and didn't blink an eye, though it was something I personally didn't enjoy so i thought i would mention it here. The other thing i find annoying is the zippers, they feel cheap and for me on my unit seemed to catch the inner material here and there (around the 'hatch/door' area), BUT I have learned that zipping it shut from the inside seems to work alot better than attempting it from the outside, again not too terrible, but annoying. Overall I really liked this sauna, I have used it a few times now since I got it and each time I come out feeilng relaxed and my breathing feels better (if that makes sense). I live in a dry region of the country so it will be nice this winter to crawl into this a few times a week and get the added benefits plus the humidity that will be added to the home will be nice, I can already tell my skin is going to thank me. I would recommend this "Portable Sauna Spa" for anyone wanting the sauna benefits for an affordable price, at home!

Having access to a sauna and using it regularly has always been considered an investment in your health. It's one of the oldest practices that benefits your skin, blood pressure, breathing, and grants a boost to your immune system amongst other things. But building a sauna in your home might not be possible and if it is, the cost can be a bit scary. Sharper Image took notes and delivered a new product that might just work for you. The idea is actually fairly simple: A portable sauna that can be quickly assembled and packed away after use. In theory, it's a great idea, but (yes, there's always a "but") the execution isn't necessarily great. So let's break it down and sweat our way through all the good and the not-so-good. The box is rather big and contains all you'll need, which includes the *tent*, the diffuser, the electric steamer, the hoses, a small collapsible stool and a heat resistant mat. The assembly can be tricky due to the tiny manual with white on black instructions. The frame is made of black, plastic tubes which are held together by plastic connectors. I was a bit worried that it would be too flimsy to hold everything in place, but it turned out to be solid enough. Using a plastic frame instead of metal is smart as metal tubes would start rusting really fast. Now, this is where it got a little more complicated. The thick insulated fabric cover isn't easy to slip over the frame. As a matter of fact, I ended up with one of the zipper ripping one of the corners and coming off altogether as I tried to fit it onto the frame. The zippers are very flimsy and I would caution to not try to force it too hard. After this issue, I was able to finish the setup which only took a couple of minutes. The electric steamer doesn't come with a long cord, so make sure the steam intake faces the outlet you'll use. The plastic hoses connect well and are long enough. The steam diffuser goes under the chair and on the heat resistant mat. I was really excited to jump in once everything was ready and I went in for a 15 minute sweat. The steamer features some functions such as temperature and a timer. It didn't take more than a couple of minutes for the steam to fill the tent. There isn't much room inside (I'm 6 feet tall and average build), so if you're built a bit bigger, you might find it uncomfortable. And if you're claustrophobic, just avoid it altogether. After my session (and a cold shower) I felt really refreshed. It helped with my allergy induced sinus problems, my breathing was better, and my muscles were relaxed. There's no denying that a sauna will have a positive effect on you if you do it regularly and safely. I waited a couple of days and decided to move the whole thing to a different room. Taking things apart and putting them back together elsewhere only took about 15-20 minutes. So here's my verdict: Sharper Image has created a really nice product which only suffers from poor material choices (such as the zipper that broke). It remains to see how it will hold up on the long run, but at this point, I believe it is an interesting product which comes packed with everything you need.

I’m not going to waste any time on this review, so with that said, run, don’t walk, run to get this sauna RIGHT NOW! If you have children, if you work, if you deal with any sort of pressure or stress, GET THIS SAUNA NOW! Ok, let me take a quick step back and tell you about this amazing, must-have item. From the initial unboxing it was quite apparent that setup would be a snap, and it was! the entire package comes with 20 rods/bars, corner and straight connectors, the insulated covering, a folding chair, a washable mat, 2 hoses, a steam diffuser, and the steamer. I assembled the frame of the sauna and wrapped it with the insulated covering, and connected the steamer in less than 5 minutes and voila, mission accomplished. Now, for the maiden voyage I thought it would be best to put it to the test the following morning before going to work. The steamer is very simple and easy to use; including a power button, a timer selection buttons (+\-) and steam level buttons (+\-). The fastest way to heat up the sauna is to set the steam level to 9, and in a matter of 4-5 minutes your sauna is steamy. Stepped inside, zipped the door closed, sat down and instantly I drifted into a zen place. With my eyes closed I couldn’t tell I was still in my house, but yet I was in my own personal steam-filled world. My timer was set for 15 minutes, yet the sweat began to form and drip from my body within 10 minutes. It was pure bliss and relaxation, even with my kids nearby getting prepared for school my zen sanctuary was undisturbed. Once the timer alerted me that it was done, I opened my eyes and felt completely, and I mean COMPLETELY relaxed. Now for the pros and cons. I think it’s a great touch to the sauna that there’s a window on the door flap, attached by Velcro. So, if there’s a need to vent the sauna a little, you can simply open the window. Or you can unzip the door flap as little or as much as you need. Second, the zipper is well-placed, with double zippers allowing you to zip to/from the bottom or top based on your preference. Third, the included mat is quite helpful for the chair to have a sturdy grip when sitting, and it’s especially helpful when the sweat begins to pour. Again, the mat is washable. And fourth, the steamer allows you the option of adding essential oils to the water to further enhance your sauna experience. The basin and unit are easy to clean by simply using a wet rag. Now, for the one and ONLY con, the chair. While the foldable chair is very much a great inclusion to the sauna, the comfort of the chair could be better. I found it a little difficult to comfortably sit back to enjoy my experience as the posts on either side of the back of the chair awkwardly like into my back, making it a less than desirable seat. Otherwise, I think this thing is absolutely amazing. So I’ll repeat, don’t walk, run and get yourself one now! 4.5 stars from me.

I have been wanting to go to a sauna regularly, but do not want to pay for a gym to have access to one and also just do not like the idea of public saunas. This Sharper Image sauna solves these issues for me by providing a budget-friendly, personal, versatile option. Set-up is not as quick as I had assumed. It took me about 20 minutes to set it up. Making sure all the poles were fully pushed in so that the fabric shell would fit in easily, stretching the fabric to fit over the poles, and then struggling with the zipper around every corner all contributed to the time it took to get it up. It seemed to me like it would be something I could easily pop up and take down on a whim, but it is not. Because of this, I had to find a decent spot where I could leave it up days at a time without too much obstruction. Once build the structure feels very durable and stable. I had my kids peeking around it and going in when it was drying, and it held up well. The only thing that came from that is that the Velcro window wasn’t back on right when I went to use it again. The spa is made up of plastic poles that are attached using plastic connectors. The shell is made of a plastic fabric that is quilted, along with metal zippers, and a plastic window that is attached via Velcro. There is a tube that is attached to the fabric from which the internal steam vent is attached from on the inside, and the steam machine is attached to on the outside. The steam machine is plastic on the outside but inside has a metal basin that holds half a gallon of water. I have used the steamer seven times, and it is barely about to run out of water. The spa is taller than the product images suggest, standing at about five and a half feet tall and it is rather roomy. The space feels comfortable and inviting, with flexibility in how to sit and move inside. The chair provided is akin to a kid’s camping chair. It is not very comfortable and hard to lean back on. I am a bit wary about switching the chair out due to the fact that most are not made for hot humid environments, but this one just does not do. I wish Sharper Image would have provided one a tad bit larger. It is manageable for a 10-minute session but after that it begins to hurt my thighs because of the knobs that are on the front corners. Using distilled water, it takes about 5-10 minutes for the steamer to heat up and begin shooting steam into the tent. Depending on the steam setting selected, the steam starts to fill the space until it is notably foggy through the window. Once I go in, I sit there for 15 glorious minutes. I have found so many benefits from this that it is getting harder for me to want to take it down at all. It feels just like a regular gym sauna. I hesitantly tried this on a 100-degree day and was so glad I did when I came out. The air felt so fresh in comparison, and I was able to withstand the heat longer that I would’ve otherwise before turning my ac on. It also provides so many benefits to pain. I have knee pain lately and this helps sooth it immensely. Even my sore throat from allergies ceases to hurt whenever I am inside. I’ll probably be using this to alleviate congestion in my household in the future. Moreover, I used it before giving myself a facial as well and I had so much ease cleaning out my pores. The best part of this is that I did it after toiling throughout the morning, I went in and gave myself the spa treatment and felt so refreshed and rejuvenated when I would normally be beat from the sun and energy expenditure plus skipping a meal. After use, I just leave the door open to ventilate and dry out the interior of the tent and make sure it is completely dry before taking it down to store it. Taking it down is super simple and quick. One thing to watch out for is to ensure that the steam vent has been taken out ahead of time, so the floor has had time to dry. The vent retains water and will keep the floor wet when not in use in addition to it dripping out when it is moved. Overall, I am loving the portability, effectiveness, and benefits of this sauna. I wish it came with a bigger chair and a storage bag, but both factors can be mitigated. I highly recommend it for anyone like me who loves saunas but is averse to public ones.

This is the fourth “portable” sauna that I have owned. I prefer steam sauna over infrared, because many infrared devices have very high EMFs when tested independently. With steam, this isn’t the case—though it takes a little longer to warm up, you get all the benefits without the radiation. As a bonus, you can add essential oils for aromatherapy while steaming. This model from Sharper Image gave me high hopes that it would be the best of the bunch. There are good points to this sauna. It is very spacious, comes with a decent chair, and heats up quickly. The outer material feels strong and water resistant. I liked that the window has a removable cover, this allows you to vent the unit very quickly and easily. However, there are also things that are lacking. The polls used for assembly are made of plastic while the plastic is strong and seems durable, my preference is for metal that is less susceptible to warping or bending in high heat. I found the fabric of the unit to be a little bit too small for the poles. Per the manual, I did make sure that they were all fully inserted into the joints. The boiler unit has a maximum timer of 30 minutes. The unit takes about 10 to 12 minutes to heat up, so you have to reset the timer before you get in if you want to take longer than a 15 minute sauna. The manual actually says that 15 minutes is the recommended time, so that might not be all that bad. If you are looking for a steam sauna with a large cabin that heats up quickly and comes with all of the accessories that you will need to get started this is a great option!

The Sharper Image Steamer/ Sauna Portable Spa is a great addition to anyone who is looking for the little extra in their lives, wether it be your home gym or just a quiet place to spend 15-20 minutes and sweat your stress away. Build quality is ok (7/10). The tent is fine, it is well manufactured and fits snug over the frame. The framing material is sturdy and allows for easy movement within your house. I will say this, once the frame is put together, its is to wide to fit through most doorways. After I put mine together, I had to remove the top portion to allow me to move the unit to my back porch as it would not fit through the sliding glass doors. The steam generator is what caused me to give the 7/10 rating for the build quality. After 2 uses, the baffle plate, which is screwed under the locking top, broke off (see pictures). I noticed it when checking the water level for my 3rd use, while the piece did not affect the overall use of the product, it is obviously a weak point in the build and needs to be addressed. It takes some time to build up the steam. The steam generator pot takes about 10 minutes to get to boiling when full and about 7 minutes when 75%-50% full. I found the best method is to have it at 75% full, put it on 30 minutes for the timer and level 9 for the steam, then go get yourself together for the sauna, you’ll have about 7-10 minutes of free time before its ready for you. You can also add some essential oil to the steam pot, I tried Eucalyptus in the Morning and Lavender at night and it definitely enhanced the experience. The tent is roomy enough, I am 6’2” / 250 LBS and had plenty of room. The chair is sturdy and not uncomfortable at all. I placed the steam distribution puck directly under the chair, as I found this is the best area for it. Be aware of its location because it can burn you during operation. The temperature inside stayed at a consistent 106 degrees once your all settled in. Obviously when you enter you will loose the heat and steam. But once inside and zipped up it took about 5 minutes to get back up to temp. It does this slowly, like easing you into a bath. Overall, this is a good product with a small flaw. It isn’t something I would have displayed in my home for all to see (kind of an eye sore), but definitely something I would want in my house for the health benefits.