Outdoor Saunas

[Sliver]

Hey, anybody have one of these? I think they look cool AF and I find them a lot more appealing than a hot tub. I'm considering a cedar barrel sauna with a little tiny porch. There seem to be a few places that sell them in Calgary.

We're thinking of going electric. Anybody have one? Do you use it? Do they suck? I wouldn't want a wood-heated one because they take too long to stoke up. Electric ones you can fire up with an app.

[MoneyGuy]

Long time ago at a kids’ camp we made our own with suitable branches, a tarp, large rocks, a shovel and a fire.

[Weitz]

A had a couple friends with them. Both ditched them for hot tubs. More usability was a main driver.

[Torture]

We've got an electric one in the basement - pretty nice particularly after a ski day or when it's -30c and there's not a grid alert.
Keep in mind that some models will require 30amp power supply.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Torture

We've got an electric one in the basement - pretty nice particularly after a ski day or when it's -30c and there's not a grid alert.
Keep in mind that some models will require 30amp power supply.

Yeah, an upgrade is required, but I don't really mind. I actually thought I had upgraded enough already in anticipation of an eventual electric car, but I guess I didn't communicate with my electrician well enough because despite my relatively new panel I need more work still hah.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Weitz

A had a couple friends with them. Both ditched them for hot tubs. More usability was a main driver.

Hmm, I wonder how that's more usable. Hot tubs seem like a maintenance pain and are power pigs. Plus you're floating in sludge, pubes and chemicals.

I want to see if I can become all zen like a Finnish mountain man.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Long time ago at a kids’ camp we made our own with suitable branches, a tarp, large rocks, a shovel and a fire.

Yeah, probably not going to go that route lol.

[calgarygeologist]

What happened to conserving energy and doing our part to reduce overall energy demand? Now you want an electric sweat shack to sit around in?

[undercoverbrother]

What are we Europeans.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Weitz

A had a couple friends with them. Both ditched them for hot tubs. More usability was a main driver.

Yuck

Hot tubs are nasty

[afc wimbledon]

I was looking at having an upmarket garden shed/studio in the back yard installed, I will probably get a sauna that can be used as a shed or if I haul out the bikes a sauna, the price is the same anyway

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Hmm, I wonder how that's more usable. Hot tubs seem like a maintenance pain and are power pigs. Plus you're floating in sludge, pubes and chemicals.

I want to see if I can become all zen like a Finnish mountain man.

Well for example when we would go over to their place no one wants to go in to the sauna - but people want to go in hot tubs. Can set up a tv to watch sports. Etc.

[SeeGeeWhy]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Hmm, I wonder how that's more usable. Hot tubs seem like a maintenance pain and are power pigs. Plus you're floating in sludge, pubes and chemicals.

I want to see if I can become all zen like a Finnish mountain man.

We share the same goal. I'm looking to put in a banya style sauna that is dry by default but gives you the option to pour water on hot rocks to make steam to your liking. I thought there would be a lot of examples of blueprints out there given how popular this is in Finland, but I have found nothing suitable.

Also want to install a cold plunge and a warm pool so we can do the whole cycle.

I plan on using a gas connection already in place to heat the sauna, and tie the warm pool into my tankless water heater. The cold plunge... I was thinking it would just end up being some kind of ghetto deep freeze with a half dead compressor so it gets things cold but not frozen in warm months, and put a cattle trough warmer in it during cold months.

I am also concerned about long term maintenance of the warm pool, but it doesn't seem like an insurmountable issue.

[SeeGeeWhy]

This DIY blueprint caught my attention for the Sauna portion.

Trillium Domes - Acorn Sauna

[greyshep]

I dont understand the appeal of dry sauna's at home. We have been looking at pre-owned homes in some neighborhoods that are from the 70's and 80's and have come across these abominations in basements quite regularly. Dank gross looking things that I would rip out immediately. I would take an outdoor hot tub over one of these any day.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

We share the same goal. I'm looking to put in a banya style sauna that is dry by default but gives you the option to pour water on hot rocks to make steam to your liking. I thought there would be a lot of examples of blueprints out there given how popular this is in Finland, but I have found nothing suitable.

Also want to install a cold plunge and a warm pool so we can do the whole cycle.

I plan on using a gas connection already in place to heat the sauna, and tie the warm pool into my tankless water heater. The cold plunge... I was thinking it would just end up being some kind of ghetto deep freeze with a half dead compressor so it gets things cold but not frozen in warm months, and put a cattle trough warmer in it during cold months.

I am also concerned about long term maintenance of the warm pool, but it doesn't seem like an insurmountable issue.

This is exactly what my wife is goading me into doing. She wants the cold plunge and sauna for that exact reason. She doesn't read here, so I can say this..."what are they good for after the first two weeks?" Make no mistake, I might end up with this, and I might entirely become a hypocrite on the subject once I do!

As far as the cattle trough, I have a friend who used a cattle trough for the pool and has the warmer for the winter to keep it from freezing.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Yuck

Hot tubs are nasty

If you can’t have a bath with your friends then what kind of man are you?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

What happened to conserving energy and doing our part to reduce overall energy demand? Now you want an electric sweat shack to sit around in?

Saunas are very energy efficient. You only have them on when you use them and they require no electricity when you do not. Compare that to a hot tub that is being heated all the time.

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

This DIY blueprint caught my attention for the Sauna portion.

Trillium Domes - Acorn Sauna

I follow these guys on Instagram. Seems like their build are pretty easy overall.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

If you can’t have a bath with your friends then what kind of man are you?

My friends are disgusting animals.

I know where they have been.

I didn’t want the same water they have been in to touch my various orifices.