Traditional heat, explained.

What is a traditional sauna?

A traditional sauna is a small, wood-lined room heated by a stove loaded with stones. The heater warms the stones and the air, and the air warms you. It's the style Finland has used for centuries, and it's what the 21 Cube is built around — in Canadian hemlock, with electric heating.

Today most home saunas use an electric heater. You get the same enveloping heat and the same steam from the stones, with the simplicity of flipping a switch.

Heat, humidity and löyly

Traditional saunas are typically enjoyed somewhere between 150°F and 195°F (about 65–90°C). The air starts out dry. Ladle water onto the hot stones and it flashes into a wave of steam that Finns call löyly. The humidity rises for a moment and the heat feels more intense on your skin.

Because hot air rises, the top bench is always the hottest spot. Sit higher for more intensity or lower for a gentler session.

How to take a sauna

1. Heat it up. Turn on the heater and give it roughly 30–45 minutes to reach temperature.
2. Hydrate. Drink a glass of water before you go in.
3. Rinse off. A quick shower helps you sweat and keeps the benches clean.
4. Sit on a towel. Start on the lower bench, and stay 5–15 minutes — or less, if that feels right.
5. Cool down. Step out for fresh air, a cool shower or a jump in the pool.
6. Repeat. Many people do two or three rounds, resting in between.
7. Rest & rehydrate. Relax for a while afterwards and drink plenty of water.

Traditional vs. infrared

Traditional saunas heat the air (and the stones) to high temperatures, and let you add steam. The experience is intense, social and classic.

Infrared saunas use panels that warm your body directly while the air stays cooler — usually around 120–140°F. There are no stones and no steam.

Neither is "better" — they're different experiences. If you love the feeling of real heat, the smell of warm wood and the hiss of water on hot rocks, traditional is for you. See the comparison below.

Why people love it

Ask regular sauna users and you'll hear the same things: it helps them unwind, they sleep better, their muscles feel looser after a workout, and it's a great excuse to put the phone down and talk.

Researchers have studied sauna bathing too. Several long-term studies from Finland found that people who used a sauna frequently tended to have better heart-health outcomes than people who rarely did. These studies show an association, not proof of cause — but they're a big reason sauna culture is growing.

Safety first

• Stay hydrated, and don't use the sauna after drinking alcohol.
• Get out if you feel dizzy, nauseated or uncomfortable.
• Keep sessions short when you're new — you can build up over time.
• Check with your doctor first if you are pregnant, have heart or blood-pressure conditions, or take medications that affect heat tolerance.
• Always supervise children, and never leave them alone in the sauna.
• Never sleep in the sauna, and keep towels and objects off the heater.

Caring for your sauna

• Sit on towels. It keeps sweat off the benches.
• Air it out. Leave the door cracked after a session so the wood can dry.
• Wipe down benches now and then with warm water and a mild soap; a light sanding brings back tired wood.
• Don't seal the interior. Paint, varnish or stain on interior wood can give off fumes when heated.
• Refresh the stones. Rearrange them yearly and replace any that crack or crumble.