Vidalux Sauna Buyers Guide
A Vidalux sauna is built around Complete Heat Technology, which pairs nano-carbon heaters with Carbon Fibre Ruby Quartz Glass Full Spectrum Heaters to cover near, mid and far infrared in the same cabin. Most of our infrared saunas also plug straight into a standard 13A socket.
In this guide
- Why Vidalux?
- Sauna Innovation
- Complete Heat Technology?
- Full Spectrum
- What Is Infrared?
- The Development
- Can you control each heater’s output?
- Which Vidalux sauna design suits your room?
- Traditional Saunas
- Hybrid Saunas
- How much space do you need for a home sauna?
- How do you power a Vidalux sauna?
- Frequently Asked Questions
9.4 microns, the same wavelength produced by the human body
minimum room height of 2050mm
plug straight into a standard 13A socket
Why Vidalux?
This, of course, is the first question and perhaps the easiest to answer because the Vidalux range of saunas aims to be the healthiest and best looking saunas available in this category of saunas
No one on the market today can offer the same design, level of health benefits or customer satisfaction as Vidalux……. FACT!
Sauna Innovation
Innovation That Others Envy Leading Where Others Follow
Just what makes Vidalux the best-reviewed sauna and shower brand? Well, there is a lot to unravel as we’ve been at the forefront of design and manufacturing and breaking the mould for over 15 years.
Our UK R&D team are leading the field in innovation and whilst we are constantly imitated. It’s true to say that Vidalux stands at the front while others follow our lead. Many aspects found on the market today were introduced by us and while others work to imitate, we’re hard at work on the next improvements to keep us the best
*Please note – All the features below are not present on all models – Please refer to the product listing for the model’s individual features
Lighting and heater details (features vary by model)
What lighting does a Vidalux sauna have?
Our saunas carry two kinds of built-in lighting: a white uplight on the side-wall nano-carbon panels and, on many models, a colour-changing Star Light in the roof.
The uplight built into the nano-carbon side panels is always white.
The Star Light is a series of small LEDs spread across the roof area. You can let it cycle through the colours, or pick one colour and keep it for the whole session, using the hand remote control. It isn’t fitted to every model, so check the product listing for the one you’re looking at.
Complete Heat Technology?
If you’ve been researching saunas for more than an hour or so, more than likely you’ve seen the ‘Carbon Vs Ceramic’ argument being put forward before we look into our Home saunas, lets first get rid of the jargon and let’s move to the facts.
Let’s first explore the advantages and disadvantages of all the saunas types briefly. We explain in more detail towards the bottom of the article
Ceramic Only Heaters
PROS – Heats cabin quickly, produces a strong FAR infrared close up which is the most beneficial
CONS – Only FAR Infrared, short spread of wavelength, Does not penetrate the user deeply. Long sessions not advised. Less beneficial than carbon & full spectrum
Carbon Only Heaters
PROS – Works better at a lower temperature, user can withstand longer use, penetrates much deeper into the user, more energy efficient, better spread of heat, no cold spots, more beneficial versus regular ceramic saunas
CONS – Only FAR infrared, Long time for sauna to heat up, large panels required
Far Only Saunas
Missing the benefits of short and medium range
| CERAMIC | CARBON | |
|---|---|---|
| COST | £££ | £££££ |
| HEAT DISTRIBUTION | Heat is the most concentrated close to the heaters. | Heat is distributed evenly throughout the sauna. |
| HOW DOES IT HEAT YOU? | Heat is most intense closest to the heaters, Heats you evenly. Ideal for spot treatment. | Heat is evenly distributed, so your body is evenly heated all over. Ideal for a full body treatment. |
| SURFACE AREA | SMALLER | VERY LARGE SURFACE AREA Evenly distributes heat |
| WARM-UP TIME | Quickly heats up, heat is most intense closer to the heaters | Quick, smooth, evenly dispersed heat fills sauna |
| DURABILITY | DURABLE Ceramic rods can be fragile | THE MOST DURABLE Flexible and less fragile than ceramic heaters |
| ENERGY EFFICIENCY | HIGHLY EFFICIENT Low cost of operation | THE MOST EFFICIENT Lowest cost of operation |
The Solution?
After months of testing, our Vidalux R&D department confirmed that the ideal way to deliver the best and healthiest saunas was install a hybrid of both nano carbon and Ruby Quartz Full Spectrum Heaters inside the same sauna to COMPLETELY ELIMINATE all the disadvantages, whilst keeping all the advantages of all the old fashioned sauna types
PROS – Full spectrum of near, medium and FAR infrared, Strong wavelength, no cold spots, penetrates deep into the user, energy-efficient, user can turn off back heaters and have the carbon only heaters, much more beneficial for health, increased perspiration at low temperatures
CONS – None!!
Full Spectrum
Full-spectrum is a reference to the entire coverage of the infrared spectrum: near-infrared, mid-infrared and far-infrared wavelengths.
Our full spectrum range incorporates our thoughtfully engineered ‘Complete Heat Technology’ Ruby Quartz Full Spectrum Heaters. These heaters are high-output infrared heaters producing near, mid and far-infrared waves.
While the majority of the benefit you’ll receive in your sauna will come from the far-infrared band, there are added benefits and enhancements by adding in the Near and Medium wavelengths.
Adding these two additional wavelengths not only adds these additional benefits but also vastly improves the effectiveness of the Far Infrared band.
With the deeper penetration, full-spectrum infrared will raise your core body temperature faster, better aid in healing the body, greater reduce inflammation as well as other all-round performance increases.
It is thought an additional 10-15% benefit is gained from a full spectrum sauna versus a FAR only sauna.
Simply search Google and you find companies that offer these heaters as a £200 to £500 upgrade on their ceramic heaters, such are their advantages. Not only that, but we’ve also redeveloped our next generation of carbon fibre to offer a 20% increase in the infrared output (emissivity) versus regular carbon fibre heaters and with low EMF.
Near-Infrared – between 0.75 – 1.5 microns. The shortest wavelength absorbed and penetrates just below the surface of the skin and creates perspiration that promotes and acts are the gateway to expel the bodies toxins and promotes healing and revitalisation of the skin
Mid-Infrared – between 1.5 – 5.6 microns Penetrates deeper into the body’s soft tissue increasing circulation, releasing oxygen and white blood cells from the immune system
Far-Infrared – between 5.6 – 15 microns is the longest wavelength which penetrates the fat cells causing vasodilation, where the fat cells vibrate to expel toxins, resulting in the greatest levels of detoxification and stimulation of your metabolism to aid in weight-loss.
Therapeutic Benefits of Infrared Frequencies
| Benefit | Near IR | Mid IR | Far IR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cellular Health | Yes | No | No |
| Wound Healing | Yes | No | No |
| Skin Rejuvenation | Yes | No | No |
| Pain Relief | Yes | Yes | No |
| Improved Microcirculation | No | Yes | No |
| Weight Loss | No | Yes | Yes |
| Detoxification | No | No | Yes |
| Blood Pressure Reduction | No | No | Yes |
| Relaxation | No | No | Yes |
What Is Infrared?
All humans send and receive Far infrared waves naturally. The range of far infrared waves generated by the human body is 6 to 20 microns. The optimal micron output range of an Infrared heater, which is best absorbed by the body, is between 6 and 12 microns, this range is close to the resonant frequency of a water molecule which makes perfect sense since our bodies are made up of almost 70% water.
Our ‘Complete Heat Technology’ heaters cover all three Infrared ranges but are developed to concentrate on this 6 to 12 micron range specifically. A large percentage of the wavelengths are at 9.4 microns, the same wavelength produced by the human body.
This results in the body being able to naturally absorb more infrared than at any other range, making our saunas more beneficial
How it Works?
When far infrared waves are applied to water molecules, these molecules begin to vibrate. This vibration reduces the ion bonds and causes a release of cellular toxins such as mercury, aluminium, cholesterol and toxic gasses such as sulphur and formaldehyde. This optimal micron output also allows for deeper penetration of far-infrared heat, which improves pain relief, detoxification, circulation, and increased peripheral blood flow.
Vidalux clinical testing demonstrates that our heaters, only available on our saunas, produce near-perfect far-infrared rays that work naturally in harmony with your body.
The Development
‘Complete Heat Technology’ Nano-Carbon Crystal Heaters
Sited on the walls and floor of a Vidalux sauna, these long-life, next-generation low-EMF panels produce the high-quality FAR infrared spectrum that this technology was designed to deliver. The unbeatable level of health rewards obtained by the user also ensures the cabin is heated throughout with no cold spots while keeping the running cost down.
‘Complete Heat Technology’ Carbon Fibre Ruby Quartz Glass Full Spectrum Heaters
Underneath the ergonomically designed backrest, located close to the user and those large muscle groups, just where the body needs it. These full quartz embedded next-generation, low EMF carbon fibre heaters begin to heat the sauna instantly, producing a powerful, well balanced, high emissivity full spectrum infrared heat. The Near, Middle and Far wavelengths from these heaters not only delivers additional benefits, but it also increases the benefits of the most useful spectrum, the FAR wavelength.
Concaved/Coiled Heaters And Why it is Important
Because Far- Infrared Rays travel in a straight line, conventional Infrared heating elements found in over 90% of ceramic heaters in saunas on the market cannot reach every part of your body.
Partly because on the face of things, items can look like a bargain, most saunas are sold at the bottom end of the price market and this is a false economy in every sense.
All our Ruby Quartz Full Spectrum Heaters are coiled in a concave shape and use surgical-grade stainless steel deflectors designed to maximise the infrared output. This increase the user/benefits of the heater, DRAMATICALLY
Can you control each heater’s output?
On our Platinum saunas, yes. Each heater has its own control dial, so you can set its output level rather than simply switching it on or off. On our Premier saunas, each front-panel heater has its own on/off switch, so you can turn off the heaters nobody is using.
It comes into its own when two people share a sauna. One person can turn the heaters nearest them down, or off, while the other runs theirs at full, so each of you gets the session you want from the same cabin.
We’re rolling the output dial out across more of the range, so the product listing shows which controls the model you’re looking at has.
Which Vidalux sauna design suits your room?
Choose Solara for a classic wood finish, Premier for a sleek modern style, or Platinum for black accents and a luxury finish. All three share Complete Heat Technology and are built with premium Canadian Hemlock.
Solara keeps a classic design, with a traditional wood finish, clean lines and external downlights. You’ll find it on the Solara 2 Person and the rest of the Solara range.
Premier has a sleek, modern design with a stylish lighting strip and a minimalist aesthetic. The Premier 2 Person shows the look at two-person size.
Platinum shares its heater layout with Solara and adds contrasting black accents and high-end finishes. Take a look at the Platinum 2 Person to see it.
Platinum’s ‘S01’ design was made to offer a modern finish that differs from the pure wood finish seen on most saunas. It has curved door styling and a large glass front, treated to keep the heat inside while letting the interior lights show through, so the sauna becomes a feature within the home.
If you’re weighing up timbers, our Western Red Cedar vs Canadian Hemlock guide sets out how they compare. You can see every model in our infrared saunas range.
Every Vidalux sauna comes with a five-year warranty against manufacturing or product failure.
Traditional Saunas
Our Traditional range of saunas looks to offer all our quality assurances and service in a quick build, sleek-looking modern sauna . The Traditional range uses a High-Quality traditional sauna heater.
This would be a popular choice for someone who is wanting an experience more similar to a sauna found in a gym or Finnish-style spa for example.
The heater disperses the heat through the ‘sauna stones’ and this allows you to use the bucket and ladle provided to pour water over the hot stones, which in return gives a burst of refreshing steam, Which has several health benefits for the user.
This is a simple and easy-to-use process which will be familiar to lots of regular sauna users.
Hybrid Saunas
You have probably read through this guide and seen there are several options to choose from, It can be hard to decide which model to choose , But with the Hybrid range, they contain both the Full Spectrum Infrared heating elements and also the traditional style heater.
This is the pinnacle of home saunas as it allows you to choose your heating source on the fly, Only have a short time for a sauna session. Then the full spectrum will heat up in no time or if you’re wanting to immerse yourself into a full spa experience at home. then the traditional heater is there and waiting for you.
So with the best of both worlds, The Hybrid range is a fantastic choice if you prefer to have the amazing benefits of both sauna heating systems on demand
How much space do you need for a home sauna?
You need a minimum room height of 2050mm, because our saunas typically stand 1950mm tall and need at least 100mm of clear space above the roof. The sauna itself is freestanding and stands on any flat, level floor.
Ceiling height. That clearance above the roof, at least 100mm, is for ventilation and for making the initial connections to the components housed in the roof.
Room to build it. During assembly, you need enough space for a person to reach at least one side and the back of the sauna to make the clip connections on the walls. Once it’s built, the sauna slides back into place, corners included.
Walls. The sauna sits flush against any wall or corner and doesn’t need fixing in place, so there’s no special requirement for the wall finish behind it. Painted walls, plasterboard and tile all work.
Floor. Around 99% of users install their sauna on carpet. The floor of the sauna is enclosed and raised on feet blocks of around 40mm, so heat doesn’t travel downwards and carpet is perfectly safe for our infrared saunas. For traditional and hybrid saunas, we recommend a moisture-resistant finish such as tile or sealed vinyl, and our sauna flooring guide covers the options.
With your measurements in hand, browse our full range of home saunas.
How do you power a Vidalux sauna?
Most of our infrared saunas are plug-and-play. They connect to a standard 13A socket, with no hardwiring and no Part P certificate needed.
The higher-wattage infrared models, the 4 Person Solara, the 4 Person Premier and the 4-5 Person Solara Bench, are hardwired, as are every outdoor model and all our traditional and hybrid saunas. For those, the connection is made by a Part P certified electrician. The Solara 4 Person Corner is plug-and-play, and each product listing confirms which group a model is in.
To work out what your model costs to run on your own tariff, see our running costs guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every Vidalux sauna comes with a five-year warranty against manufacturing or product failure.
DISCLAIMER: All specifications, claims, and advice relating to any internal or external procedure, practise, product, or service were true at the time of writing. For more accurate and up-to-date details in relation to Vidalux services, please visit the relevant dedicated on-site page. For any product-related information, specifications, or guidance, the information on the product page should be considered the governing source.
- About the Author
- UK’s best-rated?
With over 22 years in the home spa industry, Andrew has overseen every stage of the journey—from initial product design and manufacturing to final installation. An author of multiple technical publications and scientific papers, he founded Vidalux to replace industry hype with engineering-led reliability. His focus remains on delivering gym-quality wellness through honest design and technical truth.
DISCLAIMER: All specifications, claims, and advice relating to any internal or external procedure, practise, product, or service were true at the time of writing. For more accurate and up-to-date details in relation to Vidalux services, please visit the relevant dedicated on-site page. For any product-related information, specifications, or guidance, the information on the product page should be considered the governing source.
