Review: The Hydragun HeatPod Is as Relaxing as a Sauna—Yet It Takes Up as Much Space as a Sleeping Bag

At $599, the HeatPod is an investment. It’s still cheaper than the $2,000+ it can cost to install an actual sauna in your home, and it takes up a fraction of the space, but still, it’s no impulse buy. So what’s the appeal, and what’s the science behind it?

Sauna blankets are often touted for their ability to soothe achy muscles, shorten post-workout recovery periods, improve blood circulation and potentially accelerate your metabolism. (Musician Jelly Roll recently credited sauna use as part of his 200-pound weight loss routine, though a doctor noted the sweating induced “can contribute to modest calorie expenditure,” making them a nice add-on but not a silver bullet to getting in shape.)

Research on sauna blankets, specifically, is pretty limited, but a 2019 review of studies on the topic in Infrared Physics and Technology found that “IR thermal blanket improves blood circulation and the metabolism of the whole body, accelerate the detoxification, trigger the consumption of calories and fat burning. It is an alternative treatment to saunas but more effective.” (Similarly, a St. Mary’s University study found that using a sauna blanket elevated cardiovascular activity similar to that of moderate-intensity exercise.)

I was drawn to the idea of soothing aching muscles, improving circulation and simply feeling more relaxed, and so, over the past two months, I committed to slipping into the HeatPod one to three times a week.

While Hydragun says the HeatPod is safe for daily use, with sessions spanning up to 60 minutes, I tended to stick to just a few times a week, for 25- to 30-minute sessions, but that was just because it’s hard for me to carve out a full hour to do anything with two young kids at home. For what it’s worth, University of Bridgeport adjunct professor and clinician Dr. Michael Ruscio suggests doing three to seven sessions a week, with each lasting 30 to 60 minutes. He says you could do as little as 20 minutes a session, but “less than that may not have much benefit.” 

Using the HeatPod is as easy as slipping into a sleeping bag. You plug one cable into an electrical outlet and once inside, zip up the side. Magnets along the top allow the blanket to cover your shoulders while still making it easy to get in and out, and there’s a remote control with simple buttons to let you adjust the temperature (ranging from 86  to 185 degrees F) and length of your sauna session.

The brand recommends wearing loose fitting, breathable clothes and socks, unless you spring for the optional towel insert—an extra $50—in which case, clothing is optional.

Made of vegan leather, the HeatPod is sleek and easy to wipe down, which is crucial for a product designed to make you sweat. It’s decently padded and surprisingly comfortable, and even when I cranked the heat past 150 degrees (Hydragun recommends starting at 140 and working your way up), I didn’t feel scorched, like I worried I would.

The remote is pretty much foolproof, and the blanket itself preheats quickly, so you’re not waiting around to get in.

Best of all, despite being nearly 6 feet tall, I can zip in easily. At nearly 75 inches long, it’s spacious enough for someone up to 6’3”.

How It Feels

The HeatPod has the heft of a weighted blanket, and due to the zipper/magnet seal, it really envelops you in warmth, creating a cocoon-like experience. I’m glad the remote beeps and the blanket automatically turns off when your time is up, because I could easily fall asleep in it. (I haven’t, but I could.) Afterward, I feel glowy; that radiant, warm feeling you get from visiting a regular sauna, though I find I’m not nearly as sweaty.

My Only Issue with It

Yes, it’s compact! Yes, it fits in the included storage case! But it’s a bit of a struggle to fit it back in the bag, so I often fold it up (once cooled) and stick it in the corner of my living room until its next use. It’s not ideal, and I’m looking for a sleeker storage option (perhaps stuffed into an ottoman?), so that’s my one qualm.

Yes, if you love being warm and cozy, or exercise regularly and regularly struggle with sore muscles (or cramps), you’ll love the HeatPod. It really envelops you in warmth, and I can see it being the secret to surviving New York winters—especially the mid-February dreariness—when my limbs constantly feel half-frozen. If you get claustrophobic easily, you may not like the zipped up, weighted feeling of the pod.

As for me? I’ll take my husband’s quips; I’m more comfortable than ever. (And he’s probably just jealous he isn’t lounging in it, TBH.)

FAST FACTS

• Made of: vegan leather with zero-EMF far-infrared heating coils
• Dimensions: 75×71” unfolded
• Return policy: Free returns and a 30-day trial
• Warranty: 1.5 years