Is An Infrared Sauna Blanket Worth It?

The Heat Healer starts at $698. Is it worth it?

On Saturday, I begrudgingly participated in my first-ever Polar Plunge. The lake we jumped in had frozen over eight inches thick, requiring a chainsaw and three hours of manpower to hack out a landing spot next to the pier.

The temperature outside at the appointed time of plunge? 23°. With windchill? 8°. Water temp? A rousing 34°.

For context, I’m someone who outright laughs at articles that suggest I should take cold showers regularly. I don’t consider it hot enough to get in most bodies of water unless it’s over 90° with 80% humidity. I own fleece-lined sweatpants, and I’m not afraid to wear them. When I did hit up a contrast therapy studio this fall during marathon training, the water was a balmy 50° and conveniently located three yards from an infrared sauna—and even that took an inordinate amount of psyching-up.

So what got me onto that deck in my skivvies? (Scroll to the end for a pic.) To be honest, it wasn’t the camaraderie with friends or the chance to support a good cause. It (mostly) wasn’t even knowing that I could brag about doing a Polar Plunge with virtuous smugness for the next calendar month.

It was knowing I had packed a secret weapon for immediate post-Plunge use: my Heat Healer infrared sauna blanket.

What is the Heat Healer Infrared Sauna Blanket?

The Heat Healer is one of brand-name infrared sauna blankets that burst onto the scene in the past few years (the other popular options being HigherDOSE and CurrentBody). Using far infrared heat, the sauna blanket heats up as high as 176° and has EMF blocking technology to shield your body from electromagnetic fields and radio frequency waves. (Infrared heat, ICYDK, means that it heats your body but not the air around you; “far” refers to where the light falls on the light spectrum.)

This particular model distinguishes itself from others with 96 jade and tourmaline stones, which allegedly offer better heat distribution throughout the blanket. And at 75” long, this is one of the roomiest infrared sauna blankets on the market (HigherDOSE and CurrentBody are 72.5” and 71”, respectively). It comes with its own carrying case and a waterproof head pillow if you choose to use this lying on the floor, although it doesn’t come with a sauna blanket insert like some of its competitors. To use, simply unfold the blanket and plug it into your standard 110/120V outlet.

Receipts, Proof, Timeline, Screenshots

Receipts

I got the Heat Healer through my previous job at Shape. Exact dates have been lost to disabled email accounts, but it was in 2023.

Proof

Not only have I tested this sauna blanket several times, but I’ve also assigned, edited, researched, and written multiple articles about the benefits of infrared saunas and infrared sauna blankets in particular. I’ve done product category research and learned the basics of things I never wanted to know about (crucially: EMF blocking technology) to understand why these features matter in an infrared sauna blanket.

Timeline

Over two years of owning the HeatHealer, I’ve used it about a dozen times.

Screenshots

The HeatHealer doesn’t have an app, so we’ll skip this section.

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First, A Quick Soapbox Moment

In general, I am highly skeptical and often downright derisive of any health and wellness products that promise to help you “sweat out impurities,” “detoxify,” or “burn up to 600 calories in one hour” (all of which are actual quotes from the aforementioned leading sauna blanket brands). After 10 years as a health and wellness journalist, it is drilled.into.me. that language around impurities and toxins is, 99% of the time, fear-mongering fake truth without any basis in scientific research. Say it with me now: Your body doesn’t need any help detoxing, that’s what your liver and kidneys are for.

As for the “burn this eye-popping amount of calories in an hour,” those claims are vague at best (consider that “up to” X calories could, technically mean one calorie) and would in fact depend on your activity level, weight, body composition, age, genetics, and more. I would never recommend getting an infrared sauna blanket for the express goals of detoxifying and burning calories; instead, I’d suggest drinking enough water and strength-training.

But! There are some purported benefits of infrared saunas that I think are valid, most of which hark back to increased blood flow:

• May improve heart health: In one meta-study, using an infrared sauna five times a week was associated with short-term improvements in cardiac function. Another study showed there was limited moderate evidence to support using far infrared saunas to normalize blood pressure and treat congestive heart failure. Finally, an evidence review noted that sauna usage may improve circulation (via dilated blood vessels), modulate of the autonomic nervous system (that is, it’ll help you relax), and lower systemic blood pressure.

• May reduce chronic pain, especially in those with rheumatoid arthritis: One study found that in a four-week period with eight sauna treatments, patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis reported decreased pain, stiffness, and fatigue. Another study found that dry sauna therapy may reduce low back pain.

• May speed up recovery: Heads up that this study was tiny (only six males), but endurance runners who took a post-training sauna for three weeks increased run time to exhaustion by 32%.

• May improve sleep quality: I found a ton of anecdotal evidence around this, but not much research: One survey of around 500 people found that 83.5% reported sleep benefits after sauna use. Oura (notably a Finnish company, with many regular sauna users) suggests that the post-sauna cool-off period induces your body to produce melatonin, which helps you fall asleep faster and enjoy a better sleep quality.

• Induces relaxation: No studies cited here. Cocooining in a heated burrito just feels damn nice.

I physically cannot stop myself from pointing out that none of the popular sauna blanket brands have actual research or studies linked to any of their benefit claims on their product pages.

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So, What’s There to Like About the Heat Healer?

Listen. I am not immune to the charms of a fancy, warmed-up sleeping bag. I like being hot! I like lying down! I like doing both at at the same time! And using the Heat Healer is an blissfully enjoyable experience. Here’s what the blanket does well:

• The blanket heats up quickly and evenly, and it retains heat well.

• It’s easy to unfold and plug in, and the auto-off timer ensures I will not roast myself alive.

• It’s incredibly roomy for the average user, even if you’re tall (check the measurements, of course).

• The PVC material feels tough and durable, and it is (surprisingly) way easier to roll up and store than the sleeping bags I struggled with as a kid. I actually timed myself folding it up today, and it was about two minutes from start to finish.

• The Heat Healer blanket has a three-year warranty and a (limited) lifetime trade-in policy, which is best-in-class among the other big players.

Where the Heat Healer Misses the Mark

For being so expensive, the Heat Healer specifically has some clear areas of improvement in user experience and functionality. These are minor quibbles, to be sure, but when you’re paying so much money, you want a perfect product.

• The zipper isn’t double-sided, which makes it harder to zip yourself in and out.

• The control only allows you to go up for both the temperature and time. So if you want to use the blanket at a temperature zone 7 but you accidentally click too aggressively and hit 8, you’ll have to keep click-click-clicking to get back around to 7.

• Same thing for the timer, which is much more irritating because the stakes are higher—if you accidentally click past the 59 minute mark, you’re resigned to spending the next two minutes tapping back through

So, Is the Heat Healer Worth $700?

I’m not sure I’d say *any* sauna blanket is worth $700. That’s just… a lot of money for something that’s heavily marketed with sketchy, pseudo-science adjacent claims.

That said, I like owning it. When I use it, I inevitably think “huh, I should do this more.” (I’m hopeful that in my new house, where we’ll have a guest room with a real bed, I can just leave it out during the winter and cut out that set-up and storage friction.) I can’t say I’ve noticed any obvious benefits after I use it, but I also don’t experience chronic pain or heart issues that may make this a more attractive purchase.

Who would get their money’s worth from the Heat Healer?

• I understand that some people are just sauna diehards, or truly devoted to their contrast therapy. Couldn’t be me—but if that’s you, the Heat Healer or a similar sauna blanket is a much more space- and budget-friendly choice than a standalone infrared sauna.

• I absolutely think it’s worth trying something like this if you experience chronic pain or rheumatoid arthritis (apparently, Lady Gaga swears by her sauna). Just get a doctor’s note and use your HSA/FSA money.

If you are dead set on getting an infrared sauna blanket, I’d suggest considering some of the mid-price options to see if they’d fit your needs. I think the ~$500 options from LifePro, MiHigh, and Hydragun are worth a look.

If my Heat Healer broke today, would I pay to replace it tomorrow?

TBH, I would not. I would be grateful for the time we had together, and I’d spend more time in the sauna at my gym.

Verdict: The Heat Healer (And Most Infrared Sauna Blankets) Are MOSTLY NOT WORTH IT.

Got specific questions about the Heat Healer? Want to yell at me about what I failed to grasp about infrared waves and EMF blocking? That’s what the comments are for!