Sweat Tent Sauna Review (2 Years Later): Honest Pros, Cons & What I’d Change
TRADITIONAL SAUNA, RECOVERY, & CONTRAST THERAPY
Sweat Tent Sauna Review (2 Years Later): Honest Pros, Cons & What I’d Change
After using the Sweat Tent sauna for nearly two years and well over 200 sessions, I wanted to give a full long-term review covering setup, durability, heat quality, recovery benefits, contrast therapy, and the honest pros and cons after real-world use. If you’re considering a traditional wood-fired sauna without spending $10,000+ on a permanent setup, this guide breaks down everything you need to know before buying.
Author
Craig McCloskey
Certified Nutritionist
There’s something about ending the day drenched in sweat, stepping out into cool air, and feeling like your entire body just reset.
That’s exactly why our Sweat Tent Sauna has become one of the most-used wellness tools at our home over the past two years.
When Bethany and I first got it back in the fall of 2024, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’d seen videos online, read reviews, and knew people loved traditional saunas… but I wondered if a sauna “tent” would actually feel legit or if it would end up feeling cheap, gimmicky, or disappointing after the novelty wore off.
Fast forward nearly two years later, and we’ve used this thing well over 200 times.
We’ve used it through Pennsylvania winters, windy storms off our pond, after workouts, during recovery days, with friends, family, and pretty much every season in between. It’s become part of our weekly rhythm.
And while it’s definitely not perfect, it’s honestly one of my favorite health investments we’ve made.
If you’re considering a Sweat Tent sauna and wondering whether it’s actually worth it, this post will walk you through:
What the setup process is like
How hot it actually gets
The pros and cons after 2 years
Who it’s best for
What upgrades made the biggest difference
Here’s the full video review where I break down everything in detail:
Read the full transcript
What’s up, guys? I’m Craig McCloskey. Today, I’m reviewing one of my favorite and most-used health tools over the past two years: the Sweat Tent sauna. We got our Sweat Tent in the fall of 2024, and since then I’ve used it on average two to three times per week. That’s probably well over 200 uses at this point. I’ve used it with friends, family, Bethany — not our baby, obviously. He’s 9 months old, so he’s not in the sauna just yet. Most sauna reviews are typically a week or maybe a month in, but since I’m almost two years into using Sweat Tent, I wanted to give you a full, honest review. It has served us extremely well, but there are a couple things I’d change and a few things I’ve learned along the way. I’ve put this thing through the wringer. It has seen storms, wind coming off our pond, winter, summer, and a lot of regular use. For a sauna tent, it has actually held up really well. If by the end of this video you think Sweat Tent is a great fit for you, you can save $100 off any model with code CRAIG100 through my link. When the Sweat Tent arrived, it came in two separate boxes. The wood burner came in one box, and the longer box had the tent itself, the bag, and some accessories. Overall, it took me about an hour to set everything up by myself. It’s basically a tent that you unfold and get into position. It took me a second to figure out how to get everything unfolded, but once the tent was out of the box and set up, the process was pretty simple. After figuring out where I wanted it to go, I gave everything a once-over and made sure it looked good. Then I took off the chimney cover and put on the chimney hole cover. The chimney does get really hot, but there’s a metal circle around the opening so it doesn’t burn the tent itself. Sweat Tent also has removable windows. If you want better visibility, you can remove some of those panels, which is really nice. Then it was time to unbox the wood burner. The stove came in a matte black finish, which is one of their newer versions. Inside were the chimney pieces, gloves, fire poker, and the tools needed to set it up. The wood burner was very easy to assemble. You screw on a couple small pieces, attach the chimney sections, and adjust the legs so it sits elevated off the ground. After that, you need to off-gas the wood burner. This is highly recommended. You start a fire outside of the tent and let it burn for about an hour, or until you no longer smell any chemical residue burning off. The wood burner is very efficient. It takes about 20 minutes to come up to temperature, and then you’re ready for a great sauna session. Once the stove was set up, I added the weatherproof cover. It attaches with four carabiners on each corner, and you just line the chimney hole up with the tent. Then I put together the rock box. It comes in a few pieces, and after two years, I’ve never had issues with the box breaking, rusting, or the rocks cracking. It’s still the original rocks. When you pour water over the rocks, you get a ton of steam. This thing cranks. It can get over 200 degrees inside the tent. In terms of space, the model I have is 6 feet by 6 feet and about 7 feet tall. The chimney is around 8 to 9 feet tall, so you’ll want enough clearance and avoid putting it underneath anything. I’m 6'1", and I can comfortably stand inside. When it first arrived, I was excited but also a little worried it might feel cheap or gimmicky. But I really didn’t feel that way once it was set up. If you want a sauna that isn’t extremely expensive, and you want your first home sauna experience to be very hot and traditional, this is a great option. I’ve had it over 200 degrees in the summer, and even during Pennsylvania winters, I’ve had it around 185 degrees. If you throw enough wood in — usually four or five pieces for a good session — it gets very hot. For a first home sauna, this has been an incredible experience. The unboxing was easy, the setup was simple, and overall it had a much higher quality feel than I expected. For my setup, I have rocks around the base because we get so much wind coming off the pond. You don’t need to do that, but it gives me peace of mind. Normally, you tie down all four corners with ropes and stakes. I also put rocks on the stakes to keep everything secure. Inside the sauna, it’s surprisingly spacious. I have the large model, not the extra large. We’ve had five people in here before, but I’d say four people is more comfortable. I added a bench from Amazon, and I also use a flower pot holder as a towel holder, which has been super convenient. If you’re sitting closest to the heater, it does get hot near your legs, so I usually throw a towel over my knees. The zippers are glow-in-the-dark, which is nice at night, and they’re plastic so they don’t get extremely hot. After more than 200 uses, the inside does not have a strong odor. I think keeping the doors open for airflow helps, but the material doesn’t seem to trap smell. One upgrade I highly recommend is teak wood flooring. At first, I liked having grass under my feet, but adding the teak flooring made the whole sauna feel much more premium and permanent. I also added a fire-resistant mat underneath the stove on top of the teak flooring for extra peace of mind. The flooring, bench, towel holder, pot, and ladle all make the experience feel much more high quality. Our typical sauna routine is contrast therapy. We usually do 15 to 20 minutes in the sauna, then 2 to 3 minutes in the cold plunge, and repeat that two or three times. Afterward, you feel incredible. It’s relaxing, energizing, and honestly one of the best ways to wind down. For me, doing sauna and cold plunge in the evening has helped my sleep dramatically. I sleep deeper, get more REM, and feel more recovered. I usually bring a big 64-ounce jug of water with electrolytes because I sweat a lot. I’m a salty sweater. Bethany, on the other hand, barely sweats. She just glistens. One thing I like about the Sweat Tent is that you don’t necessarily need to own a permanent setup. If you rent or live in an HOA, it may still work because it’s not a permanent fixture. Of course, double check with your specific situation. After two years, has it seen wear and tear? Yes. Does it still get hot enough? Absolutely. The wood burner gives off intense radiant heat. You’re not going to get that same feeling from a small infrared sauna. There are benefits to infrared too, but this is a traditional sauna experience. It heats up quickly and reliably. In about 20 minutes, it can get to 165 to 170 degrees, which is a great range for sauna benefits. If you want it hotter, it can absolutely go hotter. The tent itself has held up well, but the exterior has faded from sun exposure. It used to be a dark black, and now it has more of a faded purple look. A few zippers on the door have also come apart recently. The wood burner has some discoloration and flaking on the matte black finish. The door hinge also got damaged, which was mostly user error. But functionally, the stove still works the same. The inside and outside of the tent are free of holes. It still holds heat extremely well. I did patch one area with Gorilla Tape after the tent blew over during a storm when I forgot to tie it back down. That was my fault. The weatherproof cover also had one carabiner area rip, so I haven’t been using it recently. But even in rain, I haven’t noticed water coming into the tent. A quick recap of what I love about Sweat Tent: It’s convenient. It was easy to set up. It’s easy to move. It doesn’t require electricity. It’s much more affordable than a permanent barrel sauna. It delivers a legitimate traditional sauna experience. It gets hot. It’s simple to use. And it has been a great entry point into sauna ownership. The biggest reason most people will like it is the cost. It’s considerably cheaper than a wood barrel sauna, and if you take care of it, I think it could last a long time. The sweat quality is excellent. You’re getting real heat from a wood burner and the ability to pour water over sauna rocks. As long as you can start a fire, you can use it. The cons are mainly aesthetic and wear-related. The exterior has faded. Some zippers broke. The wood burner has wear on the finish. And visually, it doesn’t have the same curb appeal as a beautiful wood barrel sauna. Honestly, ours kind of looks like a hunting blind in the yard. But once you’re inside using it, you stop caring. This is not the sauna for you if you want a luxury, premium, permanent sauna feel. If you want a wood barrel sauna, app controls, electric convenience, or a more spa-like experience, this probably isn’t the best fit. But if you’re beginning your sauna journey, you’re budget conscious, and you want a real traditional sauna experience at home, I think Sweat Tent is a great option. It helped me learn what I like and don’t like about saunas, and it gave us a way to use a sauna consistently without spending a fortune. Would I buy it again after two years? Absolutely. Without question. It has created so many memories, conversations, and routines for our family. It has been one of my favorite health tools we’ve ever added to our home. It doesn’t need to be a $10,000 or $12,000 sauna experience to be valuable. For us, this budget-friendly Sweat Tent has been completely worth it. If you want to check it out, you can use code CRAIG100 to save $100 off through my link. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.
What Is the Sweat Tent Sauna?
The Sweat Tent Sauna is a portable wood-fired sauna tent designed to give you a traditional sauna experience without needing to build a permanent structure in your backyard.
Instead of infrared panels or electric heating elements, it uses a real wood-burning stove with sauna rocks that create intense heat and steam.
That’s one of the biggest reasons I was interested in it in the first place.
I personally wanted:
A traditional sauna feel
That more primal and ancestral feel
High heat
Steam
Strong sweating
And something affordable enough to justify trying without dropping $10,000–$15,000 on a permanent barrel sauna
For us, it ended up being the perfect entry point into sauna ownership.
The Setup Process: Easier Than I Expected
One thing I appreciated immediately was how simple the setup process was.
The Sweat Tent arrived in four separate boxes:
One for the tent itself
One for the wood-burning stove
One for the rocks
One for the weather-proof cover
The actual setup took me around an hour by myself.
The tent unfolds pretty similarly to a large camping-style structure. Once I figured out the frame orientation, everything became straightforward.
The stove setup was surprisingly simple too:
Unfold the legs
Stack the chimney sections
Add the rocks
Start your first fire to off-gas the stove
That last part is important.
Like many metal products, the wood burner comes with manufacturing residues and coatings that need to burn off before using it inside the tent. I simply ran a fire outdoors for about an hour before bringing it into the sauna.
After that, we were good to go.
How Hot Does the Sweat Tent Get?
This is probably the number one question people ask.
Yes… it gets HOT.
Much hotter than most people expect from a “tent sauna.”
In the summer, I’ve had ours over 200°F. During Pennsylvania winters, it still comfortably reaches around 185°F.
And honestly, that’s one of the biggest advantages of using a wood-burning sauna.
The radiant heat feels completely different than many infrared saunas.
The warmth feels deeper, more intense, and more immersive. Once you start pouring water over the sauna rocks and filling the tent with steam, it creates that authentic sauna experience most people are actually looking for.
The Sweat Tent easily reaches and maintains those temperatures.
The Biggest Benefits We’ve Personally Noticed
Everyone uses saunas for slightly different reasons.
Some people love them for relaxation. Others use them for recovery. Some care about detoxification or cardiovascular benefits.
For me, the biggest benefits have honestly been:
1. Better Sleep
This has probably been the most noticeable.
On days I use the sauna consistently, especially combined with cold plunging, my sleep quality dramatically improves.
I sleep deeper. I dream more. I wake up feeling more recovered.
2. Recovery & Contrast Therapy
Most sauna sessions for us turn into contrast therapy sessions.
Our 1-hour routine usually looks something like:
15–20 minutes in the sauna
2–3 minutes cold plunge
Repeat for 2–3 rounds
By the end, you feel unbelievably relaxed but energized at the same time.
It’s honestly hard to explain until you experience it yourself.
3. Community & Connection
This one surprised me the most.
The sauna became a gathering place.
Friends come over.
Family hangs out inside.
Conversations happen naturally.
And the best part is you’re not on your phone, so you must connect. Phones tend to overheat in the sauna, so it leads to genuine conversations.
There’s something about sitting together in a sauna without phones, distractions, or noise that creates really meaningful conversations.
That’s probably been my favorite part of owning it.
The Upgrades That Made a Huge Difference
If you buy a Sweat Tent, there are a few upgrades I’d personally recommend immediately.
This completely changed the feel of the sauna.
Originally, we had grass underneath our feet, which honestly felt pretty cool and grounding.
But adding teak wood flooring made the entire setup feel more permanent, clean, and premium.
It elevated the experience instantly.
A proper bench makes a huge difference for comfort and spacing.
We comfortably fit 4 people in the large model.
Probably not absolutely necessary, but it gave me peace of mind underneath the stove.
The Honest Cons After 2 Years
No product is perfect, and I think long-term reviews are way more valuable because you actually get to see how things hold up over time.
Here’s what I’ve noticed after nearly two years of heavy use.
The Exterior Has Weathered
The black exterior has faded quite a bit from sun exposure.
Ours sits near our pond with lots of wind and weather exposure, so it’s definitely taken a beating.
It still functions perfectly, but cosmetically it’s more worn than when it arrived.
Some Zippers Broke
A couple door zippers eventually failed after heavy use.
Honestly, I probably could repair or replace them pretty easily - I just haven’t gotten around to it.
The Stove Shows Wear
The matte black finish on the wood stove has started flaking in certain spots from heat exposure.
Again, functionality-wise, it still works exactly the same.
But visually, it’s definitely aged.
Who the Sweat Tent Is Perfect For
I think this sauna makes the most sense for:
People beginning their sauna journey
Anyone wanting traditional sauna heat without spending a fortune
Families wanting a shared wellness tool
People who rent or live in HOAs
Anyone wanting a non-permanent sauna setup
Budget-conscious buyers who still want real sauna heat
For around the price point it sits at, I genuinely think it delivers incredible value.
Who It’s NOT For
If you want:
Luxury aesthetics
A permanent spa-style structure
One-button electric convenience
App controls
Ultra-premium craftsmanship
…then you’ll probably want a higher-end wooden sauna instead.
This is my favorite non-toxic, premium sauna.
The Sweat Tent is more about function than luxury.
But honestly? Once you’re inside sweating at 190°F with steam rolling through the tent, you stop caring pretty quickly what it looks like from the outside.
Final Thoughts: Would I Buy It Again?
Absolutely. Without hesitation.
Even with the wear and tear…
Even with the cosmetic imperfections…
Even knowing what I know now…
I’d still buy it again.
Because this sauna gave us:
Better recovery
Better sleep
More time outside
More conversations
More intentional downtime
And honestly just a healthier rhythm overall
It became part of our lifestyle.
And for something we’ve used several times a week for nearly two years, I genuinely feel like we got our money’s worth many times over.
If you want to watch the full breakdown, setup process, upgrades, pros, cons, and see exactly how our entire sauna setup looks today, check out the full YouTube review here.
And if you end up trying the Sweat Tent yourself, you can use my code CRAIG100 to save $100 off through my link below:
Craig McCloskey Exclusive Offer
Get $100 off Sweat Tent + bonus sauna essentials
Code CRAIG100If you buy Sweat Tent through my link, you’ll get $100 off plus the full setup essentials included — everything you need to start using it right away.
What’s Included
Use code CRAIG100
$100 off Sweat Tent
Use code CRAIG100 at checkout.
SAVINGS INCLUDEDSweat Tent Thermometer
Track the heat inside your sauna session.
INCLUDEDSweat Tent Sauna Rocks — 20 lbs
For building heat and creating steam.
INCLUDEDSweat Tent Stove
The wood-burning stove that powers the whole setup.
INCLUDEDEucalyptus Essential Oil
A small upgrade that makes the sauna experience feel even better.
INCLUDED2 × Wool Sauna Hats
Helps protect your head during longer sauna sessions.
INCLUDEDCedar Sauna Bench
A simple bench upgrade for a more comfortable setup.
INCLUDEDTap below to view the Sweat Tent offer. Use code CRAIG100 for $100 off.
See the Sweat Tent Offer →Get Sweat Tent - craigmccloskey.com/sweat
Hope this helped make your decision a little easier.
Happy sweating!
