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THESE Forbes “expert-approved” Home Saunas are a SCAM... and I can prove it
By Jefferson Turney
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I almost bought one on the spot.
Not because I had tested it. Not because I had compared every spec. Just because it had the one thing that makes you let your guard down when you are about to spend serious money.
A Forbes badge.
When you are shopping for a home sauna, that kind of endorsement feels like relief.
Finally, someone already did the research. Finally, someone narrowed the field. Finally, someone saved you from spending three weekends buried in tabs, spec sheets, and customer reviews.
That is exactly what I thought.
Then I actually read the list.
And the deeper I went, the more I realized this was not really a buyer’s guide. It was more like a polished roundup of very different products, at very different price points, for very different people, all wearing the same “expert-approved” halo.
Forbes says it looked at construction, safety features, temperature range, and user-friendliness. Fair enough. But as a real buyer, I still had one question the article did not really answer:
Who is actually giving me the best sauna for the money?
Now, to be fair, I do not think these brands are fake. I do not think Forbes made up the products. When I say “scam,” I mean something more common, and honestly more frustrating.
I mean the kind of recommendation that makes an ordinary buyer think they are making the smart choice, when really they are just paying for editorial framing, brand prestige, and missing features they would have noticed if they had compared things side by side.
So that is what I did.
I went sauna by sauna.
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1) The “Best Home Sauna Overall” was not even the right category for most people
Forbes gave its top overall spot to the Redwood Outdoors Haven Indoor Sauna, a traditional 3-person model that runs a 240V/30A heater plus 120V lighting, reaches up to 195 degrees, and comes with a 1-year limited heater warranty plus 5 years on other components. Forbes also says assembly is not exactly quick, and can take around half a day.
That might be a perfectly good choice if what you want is a traditional Finnish-style experience.
But that is exactly where I started getting annoyed.
Because if I am a normal homeowner searching “best home sauna,” there is a good chance I am not looking for a 3-person traditional unit that needs higher-power electrical work, takes half a day to assemble, and solves a completely different use case.
I am probably looking for something I can actually use, consistently, inside my home, several times a week, without turning the whole project into a renovation.
That is… literally the entire purchase.
For me, the more relevant comparison was something like Peak Everest or Peak Fuji. Both are indoor 2-person full-spectrum infrared models with built-in red light and smart app control. Everest is listed at $6,750, Fuji at $7,250, both with Peak’s lifetime warranty language and lifetime support language on the product materials. That is a completely different ownership experience than the traditional “overall winner” Forbes crowned.
So right away, the list lost me.
Not because Redwood is bad.
Because “best overall” sounded objective, when it was really just “best overall if you already wanted a big traditional sauna.”
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2) The “Best Infrared Home Sauna” looked a lot less impressive once I read the fine print
Next up was Forbes’ pick for best infrared home sauna, the Sun Home Equinox 2-Person Full-Spectrum Infrared Sauna.
At first glance, it sounds like exactly what most buyers want. Forbes highlights full-spectrum heat, Bluetooth audio, chromotherapy lighting, 170-degree max temp, 120V/20A power, and a limited lifetime residential warranty structure with 7 years on cabinetry and heaters and 3 years on controls. Then Forbes drops one line that changed the entire comparison for me:
“Skip if: You want to remotely start your sauna.”
That was the moment I stopped reading like a shopper and started reading like an investigator.
Because Peak Everest, the model I kept coming back to, includes smart WiFi app control, built-in XL medical-grade red light therapy, full-spectrum infrared, and a listed price of $6,750. Sun Home currently lists the Equinox at $6,399. So no, Peak is not cheaper on the raw sticker here. It is about $351 more. But for that tiny gap, you are getting the one feature Forbes itself says the Equinox lacks, plus built-in medical-grade red light.
And that is where the Forbes framing started to feel misleading.
Because the article presents the Equinox like the clear winner in the category. But once I looked at what was actually included, it did not feel like a clear winner at all. It felt like a partially equipped premium model.
Then I found the part that really made me laugh.
If you actually want red light inside Sun Home’s own lineup, the brand’s Eclipse 2-person Red Light & Infrared Sauna is currently listed at $10,399. Suddenly, Peak Everest at $6,750 stops looking expensive and starts looking like the more complete buy.
That was the first time I thought, okay, this is how people get nudged into overpaying.
Not with lies.
With omissions.
I started to understand why traditional sauna lovers dismiss infrared saunas as "not real saunas." Because most of them simply aren't hot enough to trigger the physiological benefits that make saunas therapeutic.
The budget Amazon units were even worse, barely reaching 120°F and emitting chemical smells that gave people headaches.
One review mentioned needing to air out their garage for days because of the toxic fumes.
I was about to give up…
3) The outdoor winner is where the whole thing really fell apart
Forbes picked the Sun Home Luminar 2-Person Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna as its best infrared outdoor home sauna. The specs Forbes lists are impressive enough: 2-person capacity, 240V/20A, 170-degree max temp, app-enabled controls, Bluetooth surround sound, and chromotherapy lighting. Forbes also says the big downside is assembly, and recommends a contractor if you are not comfortable putting it together.
Then I checked the current price.
Sun Home currently lists the 2-person Luminar at $11,399.
Then I checked Peak Patagonia.
Peak currently lists the 2-person Patagonia at $9,750. The product page shows 170F max temp, dedicated 240V/20A power, built-in full-body red light therapy, smart WiFi app control, and lifetime warranty language.
That is a difference of about $1,649.
This was the comparison that made the headline click for me.
Because now we were finally looking at two outdoor 2-person infrared saunas that actually belong in the same conversation.
And once I did that, the Forbes “expert-approved” glow stopped mattering.
If one option costs more, still needs contractor-level assembly attention, and the other gives me red light plus app control for less money, what exactly am I paying the premium for?
The badge?
The name?
The fact that one of them got written up first?
This is the kind of thing that frustrates buyers, because by the time you figure it out, you have already spent hours trusting a list that was supposed to save you time.
4) The budget pick is not the scam. It is the category mixing
To Forbes’ credit, I actually think the Dynamic Barcelona is a fair budget mention.
Forbes lists it as a compact 1 to 2 person infrared sauna with a 140-degree max temp, 120V/15A power, light therapy, Bluetooth capability, and a shorter warranty structure. Forbes also says to skip it if you want temperatures above 140 or if you want a sauna you do not have to use solo. Recent retailer listings put it around the under-$2,000 mark.
That is not a premium sauna pretending to be something it is not.
It is a starter sauna.
My issue is that this kind of budget booth gets stacked into the same grand “best home sauna” narrative as premium indoor builds, outdoor cabins, sauna blankets, and even portable tent setups.
At that point, the article is not really helping you compare like with like.
It is just widening the funnel.
And that makes flashy recommendations feel smarter than they really are
5) The highest-temp pick made me realize how easy it is to confuse “more” with “better”
Forbes also highlights Plunge’s standard sauna as the best home sauna with high temps. On paper, it is a beast: 4 to 5 people, 240V/30A, up to 230 degrees, app control, and Forbes lists a 2-year warranty. Plunge’s current site lists The Sauna at $10,390.
And honestly, if your dream is a big, high-heat traditional setup, that may be a great fit.
But that is when I had to ask myself a brutally simple question:
Do I actually need that?
Because a lot of buyers do not need 230-degree bragging rights. They need a sauna they will use on a Tuesday night after dinner. They need something that fits the home they already have. They need something their spouse will enjoy. They need something that feels premium without quietly turning into a five-figure project.
That is why I kept circling back to the same conclusion.
The smartest buy is not always the loudest one.
Sometimes it is the one that quietly includes the stuff you were going to wish you had six months later.
But it wasn't just the smart features that impressed me. I noticed I was handling work pressure better and staying calm when things got chaotic.
4. My Doctor Couldn't Believe My Heart Health
At my annual checkup, my doctor actually did a double-take at my results. "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it," she said. My blood pressure and heart rate had improved more in 6 months than in the previous 5 years combined.
Turns out there's real science behind this. A clinical study with heart failure patients showed that just 15-minute infrared sauna sessions significantly improved cardiovascular function, with one group seeing dramatic reductions in heart irregularities (Beever, 2009).¹
5. I Started Looking Noticeably Younger
The medical-grade red light therapy was working in ways I could actually see. My skin became tighter, fine lines around my eyes started disappearing, and my complexion improved dramatically.
My wife was the first to notice the change. "Your skin looks amazing!" I started getting similar comments from friends and colleagues.
What I ended up believing after all the research
By the end of this whole rabbit hole, my view changed completely.
I stopped asking which sauna had the nicest media badge.
I started asking which one had the fewest compromises for the money.
For indoor use, that made Peak Everest really hard to ignore, especially once I realized the gap from Sun Home Equinox was only a few hundred dollars, while the included feature set was meaningfully stronger. And if I wanted cedar instead of hemlock, the Peak Fuji gave me the same core idea in a more premium wood package at $7,250.
For outdoor use, the answer felt even clearer. Once I compared the Sun Home Luminar at $11,399 to the Peak Patagonia at $9,750, the value difference stopped being subtle. It became obvious.
So no, I do not think every Forbes-approved sauna is fake.
But I do think the list can absolutely make smart people spend more than they need to.
And when a badge makes you stop comparing, that is when it starts to cost you.
That is what I wanted to prove.
And after going sauna by sauna, I think it does.
⭐ Here’s What Other Customers Are Saying
“I saved over $3,500 and still got the same features as my friend’s $10,000 sauna. Peak is the best kept secret in wellness.” — Jason M.
“Customer service was amazing. I had my questions answered within minutes. Couldn’t be happier.” — Sarah L.
“My Peak sauna is gorgeous. Smells incredible, heats up fast, and saved me a fortune.” — Mike R.
His Doctor Was Blown Away
At his next check-up, Jim’s blood pressure was down, resting heart rate improved, and his weight was back in a healthy range.
The doctor asked what changed.
Jim just said, “We finally found something that works.”
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“Austin and his team are AMAZING to work with. You can have peace of mind knowing that they will communicate throughout the process and go the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction.”
Brian
The customer support was the best that I have ever experienced. The sauna heats up quick and the lighting and Bluetooth systems are a very nice feature.
Kim C.
I received my sauna and I am ABSOLUTELY loving it! Even my husband is enjoying the benefits of using it. It was packaged very well when it arrived. It was pretty easy to put together.
If you are on the fence like I was for many months don't wait, get one asap you won't regret it! I have more energy and just overall feel better. What sealed the deal for me was the company’s lifetime warranty on the sauna.
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Bottom Line
At the end of the day, you're not buying a designer bag.
What matters is how it performs and how it makes you feel.
Every time I step into my Peak sauna, I’m reminded:
✅ I didn’t fall for the hype.
✅ I didn’t pay thousands more for marketing fluff.
✅ I got the same luxury experience—without the luxury markup.
If you’re even thinking about buying a premium sauna, do yourself a favor:
Check out Peak before you spend $10,000 elsewhere.
You might save thousands—and still get the best sauna experience of your life.
FAQ
Q: Are there any discount codes live?
Yes! While supplies last, you can use code PEAKHEALTH for the best discount available at checkout.
Q: Is Peak as good as Sunlighten and other top brands?
Yes. Peak uses the same suppliers, same premium wood, and same advanced tech. They just skip the marketing fluff.
Q: How long does shipping take?
Arrives in ~2 weeks if your sauna is in stock. Peak ships in protective crates to avoid damage.
Q: Do they offer financing?
Yes. Up to 24 months with 0% interest depending on personal credit
Q: What warranty do I get?
Lifetime warranty on your sauna and electronics.
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In This Article
I Spent 3 Months Researching the "Perfect" Home Sauna
I Became the Guy Who Tests Everything
What I Found Nearly Made Me Give Up
The Discovery That Changed Everything
The Moment I Knew This Was Different
5 Health Changes That Shocked Me Most
I'm Not the Only One
Limited-Time Opportunity
Don't Wait Like I Did
References
1 Beever R. Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence. Can Fam Physician. 2009 Jul;55(7):691-6. PMID: 19602651; PMCID: PMC2718593.
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Comments
Johny Devon
Can anyone vouch for this sauna? Thinking about ordering but wanna be sure it’s worth it.
Wilma Vernon
Honestly, I thought I’d have to live with back pain and low energy forever. But Peak Saunas changed everything. I’m sleeping better, my pain’s gone, and I finally feel like myself again. It’s been a total game-changer for my health and routine!
Mike T.
I bought mine at full price and now they’re offering over $3,500 off plus bonuses? Seriously!?
Skyler Graig
Anyone know how long shipping usually takes?
Mine got here in just under a week! Delivered in a super sturdy wooden crate too. Honestly, it was all way smoother than I expected.
Ugh, being a mom is just exhausting. I was feeling it HARD—sluggish, achy, and like my body was running on empty. A friend mentioned infrared saunas helping with recovery and energy, so I did some digging. I ended up getting a Peak Sauna. Honestly? I'm shocked at the difference. I’ve got more energy, my joints feel way better, and I actually look forward to that quiet time every evening. If you're a mom feeling the burnout, this might be the best thing you do for yourself.
Rosie Herbert
James Peyton
No second thoughts, just grab one. Totally worth it.
Wow looks amazing, has anyone actually tried it?
John M.
Yeah, I’ve had mine a few weeks. My knees used to ache constantly and I was always drained. The red light therapy and heat combo is unreal—less pain, more energy, and just a better vibe overall.
Mark Bradley
I want one so bad, I'm gonna buy it this weekend when my paycheck hits!!
Anyone know how quick the delivery is? Want to surprise my sister with one.
Mine showed up in just a couple days, super fast.
Your sister will be happy! Perfect gift
Alex Prescot
Okay, so I was feeling completely drained. Tired, achy knees, just worn out by the end of the day. Then I heard about the Peak Saunas Everest with its full-spectrum infrared heat and red light therapy. Decided to give it a shot. Honestly? After a few weeks, I’m actually feeling energized and way more comfortable. If you’re feeling run down like I was, this might be exactly what you need. 🙌
I don’t like taking pills, but I couldn’t ignore how off I felt anymore. Saw someone post about Peak and figured, why not? It’s only been a few weeks but I feel lighter, more alive. Just better overall.
I’ve actually been using mine right after workouts, and it’s made a huge difference. My recovery time is way faster, and I’m not as sore the next day. Honestly didn’t expect it to help this much.
Michael Orson
Totally get that! I’ve been using it post-run too and it’s become part of my routine. Muscles feel looser, and I sleep better on those days. It’s like active recovery without the ice packs 😂
David Mayson
Just got my Peak Saunas Everest delivered. Wasn’t sure what to expect, but wow — I felt a difference almost immediately! Can’t wait to see how I feel after a few weeks. Definitely feeling more like myself already!
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