Before the pandemic, I regularly had sessions at an infrared sauna studio in Sydney. For 45 minutes every few weeks, I would sit in a private sauna and read a book or watch a show on the iPad provided. It was a self-care activity that I cherished and I always left the infrared sauna session feeling sweaty and content.
And, with the upheaval of the last two years, taking time out to head to the sauna was no longer a priority and I haven’t had a sauna sesh in over two years. So when I was given the opportunity to try the infrared sauna experience at home, I jumped at it. Say hello to the MiHIGH Infrared Sauna Blanket ($699).
This device looks much like a sleeping bag but gives you all of the benefits of a proper infrared sauna. To use it, you simply roll it out on your bed, connect it to a power source, choose the time and heat setting you want and then climb in and let the blanket do its thing.
And the beauty of this baby is that you don’t have to leave home, but you’re still getting all of the benefits of the traditional infrared sauna, which includes clear and higher skin, improved circulation, detoxification, relaxation, improved sleep and relief from sore muscles and joint pain.
When I first opened the MiHIGH Infrared Sauna Blanket, I was struck by how large it really is. I have a double bed and it takes up most of the space. The blanket is super straightforward to set up, you simply roll it out on your bed and connect the plug into power and you’re good to go.
On my first use, I started on level three for a period of 30 minutes, and after a few uses, I now opt for the level five temperature setting for half an hour to 45 minutes. I definitely wouldn’t recommend you ever set it as high as level nine or 10. As someone who regularly used to use traditional infrared saunas, I can confirm that this blanket gets just as hot as the sauna does. I come out of the blanket literally dripping in sweat, much like the real thing! If you’re a beginner, I’d suggest starting at the lowest setting and working your way up.
While you can have your arms in the blanket during the session, I prefer leaving my arms out as it feels a little less suffocating to me that way (as someone who doesn’t love confined spaces). But, I still sweat a bunch with my arms out so it doesn’t hinder your sweaty experience.
An added benefit of the blanket-style sauna is that even though I sweat a lot, I don’t have to wash my hair afterward. Even my best attempts to clip my hair up and save it from sweat in the traditional infrared sauna rarely worked and the humid atmosphere coupled with the perspiration meant that my hair was a bit of a mess after.
The blanket sauna means that while my head does get sweaty (TMI, sorry!), it isn’t so bad that it affects my hair, which is a huge win for me and I can stretch my hair wash a few days longer.
When it comes to clothing, it’s recommended that you wear long-sleeved activewear and socks while in the blanket, so each time I’ve used it I’ve popped on leggings, an old T-shirt and socks. The one time I went sans socks in the blanket, I did notice that my feet were resting right on the elements and it did get a bit uncomfortably hot at times, so I’m back to wearing socks during my sauna sessions.
I don’t think wearing something more skimpy would really make much difference, so it’s up to you what you prefer during the sauna sesh. Whatever you do wear in the blanket will need to be washed pretty soon after you’re finished though, due to the sweat (and the fact that sweat smells can stain your clothing if left too long), so that’s something to factor in.
And finally, when you’re finished using the blanket, let it cool down and then give it a quick clean. The blanket is completely waterproof so you can wipe it down with a cloth and natural anti-bacterial spray, then leave it to dry for a few minutes before packing it back up.
While the packing up process might seem daunting (and much like trying to get a sleeping bag back into the case), it is actually pretty simple. Once the blanket is completely cool, I fold it up into a square and maneuver it back into the bag and it’s ready to go for your next use.
As someone who was an avid user of traditional infrared saunas, I’ve been really impressed with the MiHIGH Infrared Sauna Blanket. It’s easy to use and effectively gets me sweating, while also being a great excuse to chill out and relax during the process.
At $699, the price is definitely steep and won’t be budget-friendly for everyone. If you do have the means and are interested in the blanket, I definitely recommend it, especially for its convenience as it allows you to do it from home. If you’re not in a position to purchase the blanket, I’d still recommend seeking out an infrared sauna studio in your local area to experience the fun for yourself.
For more information, head to the MiHIGH website.
