The HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket Lets You Sweat It Out… Anywhere

At first blush, it seems that a huge appeal of infrared saunas are that they let you reap the benefits of a workout without requiring you to do much beyond, well, sit there and sweat. The HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket ($499) takes that healthy-body ease a glorious step further by making those infrared sauna benefits accessible anywhere—including your own bed. Sound too good to be true? Well, on the latest episode of What the Wellness—Well+Good’s YouTube series that investigates whether various wellness practices and products are weird or worth it— host and producer Ella Dove tests the luxe device to sweat it out and find out for herself.

But, before we unwrap the full experience of the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket, let’s get clear on what an infrared sauna actually does for you, and then how this take-anywhere version works. Infrared saunas use infrared heat waves to warm the body from the inside out. This differs from traditional or dry saunas, which warm the air and your body from the outside in. What this means, in effect, is that infrared saunas allow for lower temperatures that make staying put easier and more comfortable without overheating, which, in turn, makes it more likely that you’ll soak up the sweaty benefits of being there in the first place.

And what are those benefits, exactly, when it comes to the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket? “It’s very similar to the sauna, but it’s an infrared wrap; it’s not a full-spectrum infrared,” says Lauren Berlingeri, co-founder of HigherDOSE. “It’s still going to boost immunity, boost blood flow and circulation, and boost mood, because it does increase your endorphins and it does increase your serotonin by virtue of upping the heat.”

“It’s still going to boost immunity, boost blood flow and circulation, and boost mood, because it does increase your endorphins and it does increase your serotonin by virtue of upping the heat.” —Lauren Berlingeri, co-founder of HigherDOSE

And it’s also going to boost your heart rate, just like a cardio-focused fitness class would. “My heart rate got up to 104 beats per minute,” says Dove after a session using the blanket. “And my resting heart rate is like 76, so that’s pretty high.” So, for the heart-health, mood-boosting, and blood-flow benefits the device stands to offer, it may just be worth a try. Plus, wrapping yourself in what looks like an oversized garment bag and making like a baked potato is a wild way to snag a workout.

One question left, though: Is it weird or worth it? Watch the full video to find out!