I Tried The Sunlighten Solo For Two Months — My Honest Review

Saunas are the ultimate longevity tool. Research shows intentional heat exposure from saunas can boost cardiovascular health and immunity, as well as support mood and mental health.

But let's face it: Who really has space for a full-sized sauna in their home? And while infrared sauna blankets are all the rage right now, they don't make me sweat as much as I want (even as a naturally sweaty person!).

Then Sunlighten offered to send over a testing sample of its Solo System. The portable infrared sauna has five infrared heaters that warm the dome up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit—and there's even optional chromotherapy, or color therapy.

Unlike other portable saunas, Sunlighten's design actually compares to its full-sized counterparts, yet it still takes up less space than a dresser.

Now I've had my Sunlighten Solo System for nearly two months, which has given me ample time to test out the unique features of the portable design.

Sunlighten is an infrared sauna brand that launched in 1998. As a leader in the space, the company has 23 global patents for various technology and designs.

Currently, the brand offers four designs: the ultra-luxe mPulse Smart Sauna, the juiced-up Amplify Full Spectrum Sauna, the Signature Far Infrared Sauna, and the Solo System.

All four designs feature the brand's patented SoloCarbon infrared panels, which emit optimal far infrared waves at near-perfect emissivity (99%), meaning your body can absorb high-quality and quantity infrared.

In fact, the brand's mPulse Smart Sauna delivers four wavelengths (far, mid, near-infrared and red light) from a single source. (Typically, you need a different source for each infrared wavelength due to their differing frequencies.)

This three-in-one design is not only entirely unique to the brand but also has additional elements to increase the sauna's emissivity, or ability to emit infrared energy.

The best way to describe the Solo System is like a massive cocoon; it envelops your body with a plush memory foam base and sturdy arched dome.

This requires two components: the Solo Dome and the SoloPad. Each part has at least four digital heaters that heat your body from every angle—and I mean every angle. You'll feel the warmth from the tips of your toes to the small of your back.

My first impression? The Solo System is shockingly heavy. The domes weigh 46 pounds, while the pad weighs another 13. This puts the total weight at just under 60 pounds for the system.

However, when I realized just how much technology was tucked into each component, I was shocked that they didn't weigh more. Here's why:

The Solo Dome can easily be deemed the pièce de résistance of this portable sauna. It has five digital heaters, which can be adjusted using the Coconut Controller.

The domes are split into two heating zones, which allows you to adjust the temperature of both the upper and bottom panel separately. I found this helpful because the bottom of the dome often got warmer than the top of it due to external air.

Additionally the domes are responsible for the optional chromotherapy. You have the choice of 16 colors at four brightness levels. My personal favorite was the red—which felt like a sensory reminder of the heat—and violet for relaxation.

Pro tip: If you want to save money, you can buy just the Dome without the SoloPad (however you'll miss out on the perks below).

Also available separately, the SoloPad has an additional four infrared heaters encased in a plush memory foam. The digital controller lets you choose between nine heat settings with a 12-hour timer.

I found the pad helped lock in heat from all angles while also providing a plush place to lie comfortably during my sessions.

I was hooked the very first time I used the Sunlighten Solo System—and it's not hard to see why. With nine heaters spread throughout the system, it heats quickly and efficiently.

As someone who is prone to sweating, I expected to sweat a lot from using this system, but I was surprised by how quickly my feet, face, and lower back began dripping sweat. And yes, I do mean dripping.

This excess sweat made me extremely grateful for the Celliant SoloPad cover. The SoloPad is technically covered in a stain-resistant, nontoxic material, but I didn't love the idea of my sweat sticking around in the long run.

If you want a portable infrared sauna that actually delivers against its full-sized counterparts, then you can't go wrong with the Sunlighten Solo.