Saunas Versus Hot Tubs - What Are the Pros and Cons of Both?

There are two major ways in which to heat the muscle tissues and relax the body, mind and soul. Those are the hot tub, or whirlpool, whichever you prefer to call it, and the sauna. Which you prefer really depends on whether you prefer wet or dry heat, but there are some additional pros and cons that you may not be considering when deciding between the two for your personal home spa.

I'm going to discuss my personal opinion of what the pros and cons are between the sauna and the hot tub, and you can decided for yourself which one you think would fit your needs the most. Let me first say that both are known to have great therapeutic benefits when it comes to stress reduction and relaxation, and there are even health benefits that can be realized in addition to that from using them, depending on your situation.

Let's talk first about something that is on everyone's mind these days. Let's talk about the energy consumption of the hot tub vs. the sauna. With everyone concerned not only about the cost of their electric bill, but also about being more "green" or environmentally friendly, the focus seems to be on appliances and other gadgets that run on relatively low energy output.

Although it really depends on where you live and how much you get charged for each unit of electricity you use, it may be safe to say that a sauna could be only slightly cheaper than a hot tub to run. This is really only because a sauna only requires a short period of heat up time before you use it, whereas a hot tub pretty much has to be heating all day long.

When you add to this the fact that you have to pay for chemicals that have to be added to the hot tub all the time to keep it's pH at a safe level for human contact, the sauna is probably the more economical option in the long run. This of course could be debated depending on individual use of the products, however, as a rule of thumb, a sauna would probably generally be the most economical.

Another consideration you want to make when comparing the two is what the primary purpose of the unit is going to be. I know people who have serious problems with arthritis and other joint problems, and they swear that the weightlessness of being in water, along with the heat is the best winning combination to soothe their aching joints at the end of the day. The weightlessness that you experience, and the soothing noises of the jets and bubbles would not be enjoyed with a sauna, so that is a consideration to make.

On the other hand, if you are primarily looking for a way to soothe soft muscle tissue, as we were when we purchased our far infrared sauna, then this product is probably the best way to go. The reason is that infrared saunas actually are supposed to be able to penetrate the tissues better, and reach muscles that are aching and in need of relaxation.

The dry heat may also be therapeutic for those that have allergies or who generally don't react well to moist environments. I chose the dry unit because I love being in dry environments, whereas being wet actually made me feel more clogged up, and when I got out and got cold, it made my sinuses feel like they were being compromised.

The dryness of the sauna is soothing to people like me because it offers a respite from humid environments and it feels soothing to the lungs and passageways. You can also further the therapeutic benefits by choosing an all natural essential oil like eucalyptus to put in your sauna to also enjoy the aromatherapy being dispersed into the immediate area, further rejuvenating the senses and revitalizing the body.

Some say that sweating in a sauna is a way to detox the body. This of course is a controversial statement, as most traditional medicine states that you cannot detoxify your body this way, however, I personally feel that when I am going in the sauna a few times a week, I get sick less, my skin clears up, and I tend to feel more alert and healthy. Could this all be in my head? Sure, I supposed so, but it is a correlation I have noticed.

As far as maintenance goes, I'd have to say the sauna wins here hands down. Although the hot tub doesn't have much maintenance beyond adding chemicals to it on a scheduled basis, the sauna really requires no maintenance other than any repairs it may happen to need throughout it's life. You also do of course have to tidy it up or clean the floors every once in a while, but beyond that, it is pretty much maintenance free.

I suppose I have a bit of a skewed view when it comes to these two spa-like appliances, but I can definitely see how some people would choose one over the other. Like I said, in the end, it all depends on if you're a water person or not. I love to swim, but I think I love to lay on the dry, hot beach even more, and after all, I guess that is what it all boils down to!

Danna Norek writes for and owns several natural health and beauty websites, where she frequently reports on her experiences with products and services within the natural health and wellness realm. For more information on the benefits of infrared heat saunas see Far Infrared Sauna Reviews. You can also read about how to get beautiful, acne free skin by not only getting a sauna, but by using the power of another energy, light, to heal the skin here at Blue Light Acne Treatment.

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