2 weeks Ago By John Lonsdale
The traffic was thick, even for a Tuesday morning during rush hour. After spending close to three hours in the car on the way down from Los Angeles, I had finally reached Carlsbad and was more than ready to take a break, relax, and decompress for a while. Luckily, the house I’d just pulled up to had something special waiting for me in the back: an exclusive first look at a new, state-of-the-art outdoor infrared sauna (and a not-yet-released cold plunge tub for added measure).
Tucked into the backyard under a pergola was Sun Home Saunas ’ latest model, the Luminar XL, what some might argue is the world’s most innovative and versatile full-spectrum outdoor infrared sauna. Part of the brand’s Luminar collection , the XL, which will drop in late summer 2025, can fit up to seven people comfortably, making it an ideal fit for post-group workout classes and families alike. But even if you don’t have a huge crew with you, the extra space is intentional: Sun Home designed the XL to make it easier to incorporate more wellness essentials into your sauna routine (think: practicing yoga, having ample space for stretching, and even sliding in an exercise bike if you’re looking for a new way to break a sweat and recover).
The Luminar line also features two-person and five-person models, ranging in price from $11,199 up to $14,999, which are now available to buy online. While there’s still more research left to do, sitting in a sauna has been linked to a whole host of potential health benefits , like helping to improve blood circulation, boosting your mood, easing sore muscles after, say, a tough workout, and even potentially relieving stress, to name a few. I can’t confirm that my heart health improved after my spin in the Luminar XL, but I can tell you that Sun Home’s latest model instantly helped me relax and improved my mood — all under 15 extremely sweaty minutes at a time.
Let’s step back for a second: Before you walk into the Luminar XL, you notice a control panel that lets you connect your phone via Bluetooth to the Sun Home Saunas app. From there, you have full control over your experience, whether you want to take a breathwork class or even a 14-minute “Grounded Self Meditation.” Put simply, Sun Home gives you the complete recovery toolkit you could need, right down to every last detail.
Inside the sauna, I sat on a comfortable cedar wood bench, wearing a protective sauna hat to keep my head cool in the heat, looking out at palm trees through the Luminar XL’s windows as adjustable LED lights drenched me in a warm, green and red glow. I may have been in the middle of the suburbs, but for a few minutes, Sun Home transported me to a spa-like paradise, helping me relax and release some tension in my body. Unlike a sauna you might find at a local gym, Sun Home ’s Luminar XL offers a full-spectrum infrared experience with low EMF heaters and near, mid, and far wavelengths aimed at delivering the benefits of sauna directly to you instead of simply heating up the room around you and calling it a day.
Beyond the heat, Sun Home also packed its latest model with plenty of tech that sets it apart. The brand built Bluetooth speakers into the unit, making it a true music lover’s sauna dream. With a phone paired to the Luminar XL, I turned up my Spotify playlist and took a seat.
The speakers, like the rest of the built-in connectivity, didn’t interfere with the sauna experience. Instead, it was a convenient extra feature that offered a more holistic sauna session than I was expecting. After sweating out a life’s worth of sins, I made my way outside.
For all of the impressive design packed on the inside of the Luminar XL, the exterior is just as much of a wonder. Sun Home added aerospace-grade aluminum along with a sturdy stainless steel roof on the outside for extra durability, especially for withstanding the outdoor elements. Bonus: It also doubles as the most stylish outdoor sauna on the market thanks to its sleek, badass matte black design.
While infrared saunas like Sun Home’s are undeniably a great addition to your home gym, they may not be for everyone due to their size. That said, the brand does offer a two-person model for homes that don’t have huge backyards or patio spaces available. The brand also offers its own infrared sauna blanket ($499), which is designed to help offer some of the same benefits as a traditional infrared sauna setup without requiring the extra space.
To complete my sauna session, I decided to take the plunge into Sun Home’s upcoming Cold Plunge Pro Apex , the fitness world’s most exciting new ice bath and a vertical version of the brand’s existing model. The brand says it has a lined insulated foam injection that can keep up to a week’s worth of ice. It’s also UV-resistant and waterproof, meaning you can leave it outdoors without worrying about it getting damaged.
I lasted for less than a minute in the frigid water, but I felt rejuvenated immediately. The next step? Drying off in the sauna for a few more minutes. With the heat cranked and the music still playing, it was clear I’d found the best seat in the house.
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