I Tried This $250 At-Home Sauna, and I’m Never Going Back to My Gym’s Steam Room

To me, there's nothing better than a sauna session. Not only are the benefits of a sauna endless, from pain relief and muscle recovery to better sleep and glowing skin, but it also just feels amazing. Especially in the throes of a freezing winter, stepping into a warm and cozy sauna is the ultimate self-care treat. Whenever anyone asks me what I want in my dream home, my answer always includes a sauna—which is why I jumped at the opportunity to test out the brand-new at-home sauna from Homedics.

You're telling me I can pop a sauna up in the middle of my living room without missing a second of The Traitors? Sign me up. The Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna ($249.99) boasts up to 60 minutes of uninterrupted sauna time at 115 degrees right in your own space—something I couldn't pass up. Here's my full review of the Homedics Portable Sauna.

About the Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna

The Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna is a compact and efficient way to reap the benefits of a sauna at home. Designed for both indoor and outdoor use—as long as you can access an outlet—this pop-up setup includes a collapsible tent, a small steamer tank, a hose attachment, and a foldable stool. It can be assembled in under two minutes, and only takes about 5-10 minutes to heat up.

Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna, $249.99

Pros:

• Easy setup
• Heats up to 115°F very quickly, with 100% humidity
• Folds up neatly, making it ideal for small spaces
• Ready to use in about 5-10 minutes
• Affordable

Cons:

• Seating could be more comfortable
• Steam hose sometimes requires repositioning to ensure proper steam flow

Setting the sauna up

Putting this sauna together is shockingly easy. The tent itself pops up instantly—no complicated assembly required—and the steamer just needs to be filled with water and connected via the hose. The trickiest part (which isn’t even that tricky) is making sure the hose is fully inserted into the tent so the steam flows properly. The brand recommends laying a towel on the bottom of the sauna to catch any drippings, and then you place the little stool on top and prep for sauna-ing. From start to finish, the whole process takes less than two minutes, and then it’s just a matter of letting it heat up. I usually give it about 10 minutes to really fill with steam (though it’s probably ready in five), and then it’s time to sweat.

Homedics SaunaZen Portable Steam Sauna review

The first time I set up the HoMedics home sauna, I was fully prepared for some complicated, time-consuming process—but it was ridiculously easy. The tent popped up instantly, and all I had to do was fill the steamer with water and connect the hose. I did have a brief moment of confusion when I turned it on and realized no steam was coming through, but a quick adjustment to the hose fixed that (lesson learned: make sure it’s fully inserted!). Within minutes, the sauna started filling with thick, humid heat, and by the time I stepped inside, it felt exactly like a real sauna—hot, steamy, and almost instantly relaxing. I could feel my muscles loosening, my sinuses clearing, and that deep, satisfying sweat kicking in within minutes.

I will say, the little foldable stool isn’t the most comfortable because it's backless, and I did feel a bit like a gremlin hunched over in the middle of my apartment, but honestly, for the full sauna experience at home, it’s worth it. You could also add in your own chair to heighten the experience. There's a little window at the front of the sauna as well, which is nice because I can pop on a show and enjoy the sauna while catching up on a show.

Final thoughts

If you’ve been dreaming of an at-home sauna experience without the sky-high price tag, this is absolutely worth it. It delivers real, spa-like heat and steam, sets up in minutes, and is compact enough to store easily. While the stool could be more comfortable, the overall experience makes up for it. If you love a good sweat session, this is a no-brainer.

Shop the sauna now.