Why Aren’t Barrel Saunas Popular In Europe (the truth)

This is everything you need to know about barrel saunas.
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Sauna building can be complex process. Research everything well in advance before building yours. To clarify, barrel saunas are not bad, they can be very enjoyable when done right. As said in the video, this was just an explanation on where the controversy regarding barrel saunas comes from.
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[@AtlanticwayExplorer]

I live in Ireland (Europe) Barrel Saunas are hugely popular

[@thesaunaheater]

Interesting! Thanks for the comment.

[@CC-gv6us]

Thanks for this great intro. If I do get a barrel i'll get a fan

[@thesaunaheater]

Sounds like a great plan. Barrel saunas can be great if constructed right. They're just not the most optimal.

[@ShareTheSphere]

Barrel Saunas is popular in Sweden.

[@darrylthomas4306]

Great information. Thanks. Any opinion about the SaunaLife Cube Luxury 3 Person Sauna?

[@thesaunaheater]

Since SaunaLife is made in Europe, I think they have thought about things a bit further than most made in other parts of the world. Great benches, room for even taller people like me (I tried, I can fit in well and I'm 6.4), good price/quality ratio in my opinion.

[@csuszi11]

I am confused if they complain about the cold air plummetting and hot air in the top doesn't that happen in normal saunas as well? :D or physics don't apply in normal saunas inside a house/gym? :)

[@thesaunaheater]

In a traditional sauna, you sit higher than the sauna heater, not at the same level with it. That's why it doesn't matter that much in a normal sauna, there's no one at the floor level where the cold air is. Also, in a normal sauna it's easier to get the ventilation going correctly that mixes the air :)

[@csuszi11]

@@thesaunaheater but that's matter of number of levels of the benches, you can have the same set up as a traditional sauna that's my take, that is just an outside form whether It is barrel or normal suana. nothing else. :)

[@HHermans1]

I had my bench raised another 12 cm, and will have the other one done as well. And added more rocks to the stove. Take time to heat up properly. Makes a big difference. Best experience when second or third wood has burned completely.

[@NPow94]

As an American who has never truly been in an actual sauna other than ones at the gym, I’ve got to wonder what is the real difference between barrel and a cabins experience. As another mentioned, Costco offers the least expensive barrel option with heater shipped for around 3k. Many cabin kits run about 3x that price.
So for someone who hasn’t been in either. Does it make sense to pay the extra money for a cabin sauna that is agreed to be better, or just go with a cheap hot room and pocket the extra money?

[@thesaunaheater]

That depends. It's a sauna you can get started with, so much better than no sauna. However, Costco barrel saunas are pretty much the worst barrels (smallest diameter resulting in the tightest arc, the roof is not covered with anything meaning bad water management, heater with least rocks so radiant heat, etc.). But again, if you have never been in a proper sauna, you will likely be happy with this so I can't really give a direct answer. In general, you want to be looking at sauna that is as close to fulfilling the best practices of sauna construction as possible: th-cam.com/video/JtSy6WOgdoA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=2SSE0HTPPZLtI_zg

[@mrrberger]

Barrels are poorly insulated, poorly layed out (heater central minimal convection) and perfect for maxamising production profit. That's why they are cheap, yet expensive in the long run, they use more energy and get less use than cabins. Having a newly minted carpenter build one is about the cheapest you'll get quality and durability from. They'll care about their work yet arn't experienced in charging high enough for that care.

[@cbingham40]

So, it sounds like a fan solves everything

[@thesaunaheater]

Probably just getting a higher barrel with Saunum sauna heater makes it as good as barrel can be 🔥

[@cbingham40]

@thesaunaheater I'm looking into a 6 person barrel sauna from Costco. (Almost Heaven) has a 8k harvan heater. I've seen people say adding a fan worked great. What heater would you recommend for that size barrel sauan if no fab was added ?

[@thesaunaheater]

​ @cbingham40 What about EE8G from SaunaLife with Saunum Air10? More expensive but better sauna: thesaunaheater.com/products/saunalife-model-ee8g-sauna-barrel For Almost Heaven Costco barrel Air 7 with Stainless Steel cage, that requires 71.48 in. ceiling height and that barrel seems to have 80" heigh ceiling: thesaunaheater.com/products/saunum-air-7-wifi-sauna-heater-package-1@@cbingham40

[@cbingham40]

@@thesaunaheater what’s the wait time for one to be delivered in the USA?

[@thesaunaheater]

These are warehoused in the US, so typically few weeks if we have stock. Message us to [e-mail] and we will check the exact times for you based on your location and product@@cbingham40

[@marcusaetius9309]

Controversy? Wtf?

[@BobSmith-s7j]

What are you surprised/confused about?

[@mitchellprice3730]

1st!

[@thesaunaheater]

🙌