The 10 Best Sauna Suits
Special Honors
Supra Infrared Sauna Blanket It's not a suit, but for those who have the time to spend at rest, the Supra Infrared Sauna Blanket will get the job done with its temperature range of 40 to 85 degrees. The waterproof construction ensures that it lasts, which is a big plus when you consider the rather beefy price tag. spaandequipment.com
Saunas.com It doesn't take a massive leap of the imagination to grasp that, when it comes to shedding water weight, the perfect complementary conclusion to your sauna-suit workout is an actual sauna session. This company offers a variety of kits, heaters and accessories, so there's a good chance that they have a solution that's suitable for your home. saunas.com
Editor's Notes
May 04, 2021:
We removed the BioSweats Unisex Jacket and Kutting Weight Original due to availability issues, but it should be mentioned that the latter offering’s company still managed to retain some representation on this list through our inclusion of the Kutting Weight Hoodie.
We added the BoxRaw Hagler to our rankings, because it was reviewing extremely well and we liked its understated style, but we would have ranked it higher if it had a hood. We still thought it was worth including, recognizing that not all users are going to want a hood, but as a general rule you want a sauna suit to be as stifling as possible. We also thought that the headphone hole on its pants pocket was a nice touch. If you like the look of this suit, you might also be interested in some of the company’s other offerings. They’re yet to start manufacturing or branding boxing gloves of any sort, but do have a nice selection of active wear and hand wraps to choose from.
The FightSense MMA impressed us with its notably wide range of 11 sizes, and clinched a spot on our list based largely on that merit. We also liked that it had zippered closures on its pants and velcro cuffs on its wrists, which provides the option to allow for a little ventilation the moment you finish your workout. Again, this option might have ranked higher on our list, but its hand-wash-in-cold-water-only laundry instructions were a hassle that had to be considered.
For other ways to help take your cardio to the next level, you might also be interested in our lists of weighted vests and ankle weights.
February 27, 2020:
A sauna suit can help athletes make weight, and there is even a small body of evidence suggesting that they can boost a body's fat burning ability. On the other hand, it's crucial to note that when used improperly, they can cause dangerous dehydration or hyperthermia. Exercise newbies or those with health problems, especially, may want to seek professional advice before attempting exercise in such attire.
Even though the styling is attractive, we've ultimately decided to remove the Title Pro Hooded at this time. Unfortunately, it's more prone to ripping than many others, which is frustrating in the long run. We still like the Kutting Weight Original as a top choice, however, as well as the Kutting Weight Hoodie. This popular manufacturer produces gear that can handle your toughest workouts, and unlike some other choices, the sizes aren't confusing or too small. For an alternative form-fitting suit, you might consider the 4Fit Flex DS, or, for women, the Body Spa Light. The latter is not exactly easy to get into and out of, although it does come in many eye-catching colors that will match your water bottle and other workout gear. Finally, we've opted to keep the ARD Champs Track. It looks more like a casual tracksuit than a high-tech piece of athletic clothing, but it will do the job by making you sweat.
The Science Of Sweat
However, your body needs a certain amount of fluid to maintain healthy operation, and it will strive to retain the amount of water it needs.
Perspiration, also known as diaphoresis or, more commonly, as sweat, is the human body's primary method of thermoregulation. In other words, sweat helps to cool you down when your body temperature has risen. Sweat is effective at regulating body temperature thanks to the process of evaporative cooling, whereby the liquid secreted by the millions of sweat glands spread across the human body evaporates into the surrounding air. Thus it is that perspiration is more effective in drier climates. In extreme humidity or in colder areas, the efficacy of sweating is reduced and a person must take care to maintain a safe body temperature through other methods as well, including proper layering of clothing, hydration, and through the modification of physical activity.
The average adult in relatively good health can produce between two to four liters of sweat per hour during periods of active exercise, and this extreme loss of fluids requires proper hydration in compensation. Sweat consists primarily of liquid water, but the trace elements comprising the rest of human sweat is responsible for much of the odor of perspiration.
The primary minerals found in sweat are sodium (frequently but not entirely accurately referred to as salt), potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These minerals are foundational important for the electrolyte compounds the human body relies on for proper muscle and neuron function, so it's important to replenish that which your body loses through sweat with purpose designed sports beverages after intense activities, and with a healthy diet rich in nuts, fruits, and vegetables, many of which are excellent source of electrolytes (avocados are one fine example).
Sweat is often perceived to be more than just a thermoregulatory byproduct of exercise, serving as a regulated part of a larger fitness regimen. In the short term, a human can lose several pounds of weight in a single day via sweat. This can be useful for the boxer, wrestler, or gymnast who needs to meet a certain maximum weight limit to qualify for an event and who can then rehydrate prior to their actual physically demanding performance. However, your body needs a certain amount of fluid to maintain healthy operation, and it will strive to retain the amount of water it needs.
In fact, for every pound of sweat lost during exercise, experts recommend you ingest as many as sixteen or even 24 ounces of water to replenish yourself (much of the liquid taken in will be excreted, thus the larger than one to one ratio). Thus sweat itself is not a route to real, lasting weight loss, but it can serve as one of the metrics to how much exercise (also known as work) you are doing, and exercise, which burns calories, is critical for weight loss -- as of course is the moderation of caloric intake in the first place.
Choosing The Right Sauna Suit For You
If you are a competitive athlete who needs to shed several pounds of weight prior to a weigh in, then by all means consider using a full body sauna suit complete with cuffs at the ankles and wrists and a hood. These garments ensure maximum retention of body heat and will produce excessive sweat quickly and for a protracted period. However they are not suitable for use as part of a long term workout regimen: not only can you not safely sweat profusely and then rehydrate day after day, but you can also not hope to achieve lasting weight loss and toning results in this manner, either.
These garments ensure maximum retention of body heat and will produce excessive sweat quickly and for a protracted period.
Form-fitting sauna suits that hug the body around its core (in other words the torso) are a better choice for the individual hoping to gradually and permanently shed pounds and build muscle. (Keep in mind that gradual, steady progress tends to be the only way to ensure it will be permanent; quick losses and gains are quickly reversed in the field of human physiology.) These core warming sauna suits are often made of neoprene, a material that is highly flexible and comfortable and which can be washed repeatedly without loss of form or function, all of which are necessary attributes.
As sauna suits create excess body heat, they can lead to excess calorie burning while you work out, and that is where you can achieve enhanced yet healthy weight loss, not through sweat alone. A sauna suit is also a great idea for anyone who is going for a jog or bike ride in cold weather. These suits can help to keep you warm and comfortable even when the ambient temperature has dropped, and that makes for easier breathing and for looser, more responsive muscles without a long warm up period.
A Word Or Two Of Caution
Being dehydrated is worse than being overweight; the latter may have long term health implications, but the former can see you grow acutely achy, nauseous, comatose, and can even lead to death in very short order. Do not over exert yourself during a workout no matter your perceived level of fitness and your experience with sports and exercise. And never begin a regimen involving intentional heavy sweating without at least a foundational knowledge of safe exercise practices and/or the guidance of a professional.
And if you are considering using a sauna suit to help your body rid itself of "toxins" then you might want to consult with a medical professional, or simply reconsider this approach to health and wellness. The human body rids itself of most toxins via processing them in the liver and kidneys and through subsequent voiding using the urinary system; sweating removes comparably minimal toxins, so promoting excess sweat may not produce any valid increase in toxin removal, but might lead to other issues mentioned above, such as dehydration and overheating.