Infrared Sauna Comparison:
Gargellen Hybrid Sauna vs Sun Home Luminar
Regarding personal wellness, infrared saunas stand out for their profound therapeutic benefits. Besides improving your blood circulation, they also help your body detoxify better. These sweat boxes even offer you much-needed stress relief and give your skin that healthy glow we're all after.
However, if you've ever visited the market for an infrared sauna, you probably already know there's a whole world out there. While some prioritize energy efficiency and low-EMF features, others have spacious interiors and customizable settings.
To streamline your search, we've explored two crowd favorites: the Gargellen Hybrid Sauna by Golden Designs and the Sun Home Luminar Sauna. In this infrared sauna comparison, we'll hash out everything from their high-tech heating power and sleek design aesthetics to the additional features that leave you saying, "Wow, I need that!"
Let's get started!
Infrared Sauna Comparison Between Gargellen Hybrid Sauna and Sun Home Luminar
Both Gargellen Hybrid Sauna and Sun Home Luminar are top-notch choices for soothing sweat sessions. However, as we all know, the devil's in the details, so let's see how these sweatboxes stack up against each other!
Material and Construction
The material of a sauna dictates its durability, insulation, and longevity, not to mention directly affecting the user's experience. If the wood is not up to mark, it may distort over time, trap moisture, lose its insulation properties, or, even worse, become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Gargellen Hybrid Sauna is crafted from robust Canadian hemlock and features a waterproof stain, while Sun Home Luminar is constructed from carbonized red cedar wood.
Canadian hemlock wood has a distinct scent and offers a uniform texture with minimal resin pockets. It's strong, stable, and less likely to warp or crack under high sauna temperatures or humidity.
Carbonized red cedar wood is another top-notch choice due to its stunning visual appearance and powerful inherent properties. This wood boasts natural oils that resist moisture, mold, and termite attacks and provides natural insulation, so you can sweat it out without worrying about cold spots. Plus, that signature cedar smell is enough to warrant a positive sauna session!
Both materials are suitable for infrared sauna, but if you want to crank up the heat, Sun Home Luminar might be a better choice. Crafted from cedar, it has exceptional heat resistance and is engineered for omni-season durability. However, the Gargellen Hybrid Sauna will be right up your alley if you're shopping on a budget.
Heating Technology
Regarding the heating technology of infrared saunas, the Gargellen Hybrid and the Sun Home Luminar saunas bring unique innovations.
The Gargellen Hybrid Sauna doesn't just rely on any single type of heat. Instead, it uses far-infrared carbon heating panels, which are known for even heat distribution. This means you're getting consistent deep-tissue warmth throughout your sauna session.
What sets the Gargellen sauna apart is that it combines the modernity of far-infrared heating with the classic rocks and steam approach. This pairing allows you to choose between a dry sauna or create a steamy environment by pouring water over the heated rocks.
Conversely, the Sun Home Luminar doesn't hold back when it comes to providing warmth from all sides. It boasts 15 strategically positioned heaters for maximum coverage and intensity.
Five of them are far-infrared heaters for even deeper penetration, while the remaining 10 are full-spectrum heaters offering near, mid, and far infrared rays. This inclusive setup ensures that every part of your body is exposed to the heat, which can be a great way to relax and unwind after a long day.
The best part? These saunas have low EMF output, reducing the risk of harmful exposure.
In comparing the two, while the Gargellen carries the day by offering a dual experience with traditional and far-infrared heat, the Sun Home Luminar takes the crown for comprehensive heat coverage with its impressive array of heaters.

Size and Capacity
The Gargellen Hybrid Sauna and Sun Home Luminar are both designed to accommodate up to five people comfortably. These saunas have similar interior designs, bench configurations, and floor space. This means stretching out, relaxing, or even performing yoga without feeling cramped or constrained.
However, you should consider the space you have available at your home before making your pick. As appealing as a five-person sauna may sound, it should also fit quite realistically into your planned space.
Extra Features
As comfortable as it is to flick on the heat and start your session, some additional features can transform a regular sweat session into a full-blown spa-like experience.
The Sun Home Luminar sauna comes with a mobile-app-enabled control center that allows you to preheat your sauna from the comfort of your living room. The Bluetooth premium surround sound also channels your favorite tunes or calming meditation soundscapes right where you're soaking up the heat.
This sauna even comes with medical-grade chromotherapy lights that go beyond creating ambiance. Studies have underscored various health benefits associated with chromotherapy, like mood enhancement, increased energy, and improved circadian rhythms.
On the other hand, the Gargellen Hybrid Sauna also features interior chromotherapy lighting that offers the same health benefits as Luminar. This hybrid sauna also includes an interior backrest with accent lighting that sets a mood, while the exterior front overhang lighting takes it a notch higher.
The sauna experience is not only about visuals and comfort, though. The built-in performance speakers integrated with a touchscreen control panel host an FM radio and Bluetooth connection. This allows you to enjoy a relaxing radio show or your personally curated playlist while you sweat out stress under the heat. The Gargellen Hybrid sauna also includes some classic sauna elements such as sandglass, thermometer, bucket, and scoop for a traditional sauna ritual.
While both saunas offer phenomenal features, the Gargellen Hybrid Sauna edges forward as the champ. The integrated control panel, immersive sound, and light therapy tip the scales.
Design and Aesthetics
Design is another factor that cannot be overlooked when comparing infrared saunas. The Gargellen Hybrid Sauna, with its rich, natural finish and uniform texture, is better for those who want an earthy and rustic touch in their space.
On the other hand, the Sun Home Luminar has a modern black exterior with a clean, sharp, and undeniably chic appearance. This sauna is less about blending in and more about making a bold statement — perfect for those with modern, contemporary decor.

Best Tips for Using Infrared Saunas
Whether you choose the Gargellen Hybrid Sauna or the Sun Home Luminar, consider the following tips to help optimize your results:
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Hydrate before and after your session. Drinking water helps prevent dehydration, as sweating during the sauna can cause fluid loss.
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Start low and slow. Begin with lower temperatures and shorter sessions if you are new to infrared saunas. A good starting point is 110 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. You can gradually increase the temperature and duration as your body adapts.
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Choose the right time. While doing sauna anytime can help with your wellness goals, consider using infrared saunas early in the morning or before bedtime in the evening, as they can help you relax and sleep better. Avoid using the sauna right after a heavy meal or alcohol consumption, as these can interfere with your body's ability to regulate temperature and blood pressure.
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Wear comfortable clothes. You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in, such as a bathing suit, shorts, or nothing at all. Just make sure to bring a towel to sit on and wipe off the sweat.
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Listen to your body. If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or uncomfortable at any point, stop the session and cool down. Do not force yourself to stay longer than you can handle. You can always try again another day.
Infrared Sauna Comparison: Wrapping Up!
When it comes to choosing between the Gargellen Hybrid Sauna and the Sun Home Luminar, it really comes down to your personal style and wellness philosophy. Are you all about that rustic, back-to-nature feel, or do you want the smart, up-to-the-minute, spa-like sophistication?
The Gargellen Hybrid Sauna is your go-to if you want to enjoy both infrared and traditional sauna therapy. On the flip side, the Sun Home Luminar shines for its modern, sleek design and tech-savvy features, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy all the infrared sauna benefits without fiddling with the rocks, steam, or other elements.
Take a moment and think about what you value most in your sauna sessions, and go for the one that matches your vibe! When in doubt, feel free to contact us, and our friendly team will help you choose the right model for your needs.
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About the Author
Adam Fromson
Adam Fromson, co-founder of My Sauna World, loves saunas and their transformative health benefits. With years of experience exploring sauna culture and its impact on health and wellness, Adam is passionate about helping others discover the life-changing benefits of saunas for themselves.
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from 384 reviews
Good communication, easy delivery, easy set up, easy operation, great value. Recommended!

We ordered the 4 person barrel sauna and love it! We wanted a little extra space for the 2 of us/guests and it’s great. We could definitely fit 4 people in it if we needed. We use it every single day. It took about 10 weeks to get here because they build it specifically for the order. Putting the barrel together was fairly easy with 2 people. The electrical and the heater definitely required an electrician to install as we could have not done it alone.
We ordered the biggest heater (harvia spirit 8kw) and it heats up the sauna in about 15 mins inside our 40-50° garage. Overall this style of sauna is hotter and you sweat a lot faster than in an infrared sauna. I truly 10/10 recommend!
Pic is of us in the middle of building it.

Took me about 6 hours over 2 evenings to assemble almost all by myself. Had a pro run a new circuit from my panel. Very well made and assembly was straightforward. Heater is well sized and reaches operating temperature in under 30 minutes.

Great sauna very easy to assemble

The salt panel was a great addition to our Madison Sauna. It has excellent grain which is accented by the amazing color lights that glow through the panel. Also when you hit the rocks with a splash of water you can feel the heat bounce off the panel. Great addition if you are considering this option.

We can say enough about Sauna World there customer support is great! Our Pinnacle Sauna from Almost Heaven is epic.

The finish and quality is outstanding and it was quick and easy to assemble.

We are thrilled with our mini pod!! It came well shipped and our friend assembled it in 11 hours! Wow! We cannot wait to get healthy and sauna it up!

Beautiful sauna!!! Much easier than I expected to assemble, took a total of 4 hours. Can't wait to get warm by the pool on those cool evenings. Customer service was excellent..

Purchased a 2 person Almost Heaven barrel sauna and were delighted with the product. The order process was quick and easy, the sauna arrived on-time, installation was simple, following the provided instructions, and the sauna is extremely high quality. We’ve used it daily for over 2 weeks and quite frankly I don’t know how we lived without it. If I had it to do over again I wouldn’t change a thing... except maybe purchasing a 4 person model to easier share with friends!

Great Customer Service and a breeze to put together.Excellent shipping and the Sauna is top notch, couldn’t be happier