A Complete Guide to SaunaCloud Models: How We Engineer Each Sauna for Different Needs

When people ask me about SaunaCloud models, they usually expect a simple product catalog. But that’s not how I think about our lineup. Each model we build represents years of engineering refinement, real-world testing, and honest feedback from thousands of customers who’ve trusted us with their wellness investments.

I didn’t start SaunaCloud to make incremental improvements on existing designs. I started it because I was frustrated with what the infrared sauna industry was offering—cheap imports with minimal engineering, inflated marketing claims, and components that failed within years.

Over the past decade, we’ve developed a lineup of SaunaCloud models that each serve distinct purposes, from compact personal healing spaces to architectural statement pieces. This guide will walk you through every model we build, why we designed them the way we did, and how to choose the right one for your specific needs.

The Philosophy Behind Our Model Lineup

Before we dive into specific SaunaCloud models, let me explain the engineering philosophy that guides everything we build.

First principle: therapeutic efficacy comes before aesthetics. A beautiful sauna that doesn’t deliver real infrared and red light therapy is just an expensive wooden box. Every model starts with heater placement, wavelength optimization, and thermal engineering.

Second principle: build it to last decades, not years. We use furniture-grade joinery, premium solid lumber, and components we manufacture ourselves because we want your grandchildren to inherit a working sauna.

Third principle: Customize where it matters, standardize where it doesn’t. Some aspects of sauna design are universal, such as the ideal wavelength for infrared absorption or the optimal bench height. Other elements, like dimensions and layout, should be tailored to your specific space.

These principles shape every decision we make about our model lineup.

The Atlas Custom Sauna: Our Flagship Indoor Model

The Atlas Custom is what most people envision when they think of a custom infrared sauna. It’s our most popular model, and for good reason—it adapts to virtually any residential space while delivering clinical-grade infrared and red light therapy.

Why “Custom” Matters More Than You Think

When I say “custom,” I don’t mean we’ll add a cup holder if you ask nicely. We engineer each Atlas from the ground up, based on your space constraints, electrical capacity, and therapeutic goals.

Here’s what “custom” actually means:

Dimensional Flexibility:

• Width and depth are configured for your available square footage
• Door swing direction optimized for your room layout
• Bench heights customized for your body dimensions

Electrical Integration:

• Power supply matched to your panel capacity (240V or 208V)
• Circuit requirements calculated for your specific configuration
• Load balancing for homes with limited electrical capacity
• Integration with smart home systems is desired

Therapeutic Configuration:

• Heater placement optimized for your height and seating preferences
• Red light infrared sauna therapy is positioned for maximum skin exposure
• Temperature zones customized for single or dual occupancy
• Bench layouts designed for your intended use (sitting, reclining, stretching)

The VantaWave™ Advantage

Every Atlas Custom includes our proprietary VantaWave™ carbon-crystal heaters. These aren’t off-the-shelf components—we engineered them specifically to solve problems I saw in every other infrared sauna on the market.

Traditional carbon heaters run too cool and deliver inconsistent infrared output. Ceramic heaters often run too hot, creating uncomfortable hot spots. Our VantaWave system achieves the sweet spot: a 190°F surface temperature with a peak wavelength of 7.9 microns.

Why does this matter? Because infrared absorption is wavelength-specific. Your body absorbs far-infrared most efficiently in the 7-9 micron range. Too short and you get surface heating. Too long, and the energy passes through without being absorbed.

We spent three years dialing in this specification, and it’s now the foundation of all our SaunaCloud models.

Who the Atlas Custom Is For

The Atlas works brilliantly for:

• Homeowners with dedicated wellness rooms
• Biohackers who want optimized recovery protocols
• Health professionals installing saunas in their clinics
• Anyone who wants a sauna that looks like built-in millwork, not a prefab cabin

I’ve installed Atlas customs in everything from 800-square-foot apartments to 10,000-square-foot estates. The model scales beautifully because we’re not working from a fixed template—we’re engineering each one individually.

The Sierra Custom Sauna: When Premium Becomes Paramount

The Sierra Custom represents the absolute pinnacle of what we can build. It starts with the Atlas foundation—same therapeutic engineering, same VantaWave™ heaters—but elevates every aesthetic detail.

What Makes the Sierra Different

Premium Wood Selection: While the Atlas features premium kiln-dried Western Red Cedar, the Sierra offers exotic hardwood options, such as Clear Alaskan Yellow Cedar or reclaimed wood with unique grain patterns. We source these materials specifically for clients who want their sauna to make a bold architectural statement.

Enhanced Lighting Systems: The Sierra features our most sophisticated lighting architecture, including integrated indirect lighting, color temperature control, and custom fixture placement, which creates an almost ethereal ambiance. This isn’t just mood lighting; it’s carefully engineered to complement the therapeutic red light without interference.

Hardware and Finishing Details: Every visible element receives an upgrade, featuring premium bronze or brass hardware, hand-rubbed oil finishes, and leather or exotic wood accents. The Sierra doesn’t just function like a precision instrument—it looks like one too.

The Sierra Client Profile

I build Sierras for:

• Luxury residential projects where the sauna is a showpiece
• High-end spas that need equipment to match their brand aesthetic
• Clients who specifically request particular wood species or custom finishes
• Design-driven projects where the architect wants total control over aesthetics

The Sierra isn’t for everyone, and that’s intentional. It’s for clients who’ve already decided they want the absolute best, and they’re willing to invest accordingly.

The Atlas Outdoor: Engineering for the Elements

Designing the Atlas Outdoor was one of our biggest engineering challenges. Please ensure the thermal precision of indoor SaunaCloud models, then make them weatherproof without compromising performance.

Weather-Sealed Construction

Outdoor saunas face challenges that indoor units never encounter:

• UV radiation degrades wood and finishes
• Moisture intrusion is causing rot and mold
• Temperature extremes affecting dimensional stability
• Wind and rain penetrate gaps and seams

We solved these problems with:

Exterior-Grade Cedar Construction: We use thicker stock lumber with natural weather resistance, then seal all exterior surfaces with marine-grade finishes that protect without creating toxic outgassing when heated.

Reinforced Structural Engineering: The Atlas Outdoor has a more robust framing system than indoor models, with additional cross-bracing to handle wind loads and snow weight on the roof.

Advanced Weatherproofing: Every seam gets sealed. The roof system features a proper pitch for adequate drainage and a commercial-grade membrane beneath the cedar shingles. The door uses automotive-grade weatherstripping.

Electrical Integration for Outdoor Use: The power supply and control systems are rated for outdoor installation, with proper moisture barriers and ventilation to prevent damage from condensation.

The Outdoor Experience

There’s something magical about using an infrared sauna outdoors. The contrast between the cool air on your face and the radiant heat surrounding your body creates an entirely different experience than indoor use.

I have clients who use their Atlas Outdoor in Minnesota winters, stepping directly from the sauna into a snowbank for contrast therapy. I have others in Florida who sauna at sunrise with the door cracked, listening to birds while they recover from morning workouts.

The Atlas Outdoor isn’t just a weatherproof version of our indoor model—it’s an entirely different therapeutic experience.

Standard Sizing and Customization

The standard Atlas Outdoor configuration is 7 feet wide × 5 feet deep × 7 feet tall. This footprint works for 95% of residential installations, fitting on standard deck structures without requiring additional framing or permits in most jurisdictions.

But like all SaunaCloud models, we can customize dimensions if your space requires it. We’ve built Atlas Outdoor units ranging in size from 5′ × 4′ to 10′ × 8′.

The Atlas One: Compact Power for Personal Use

The Atlas One represents everything I’ve learned about efficient sauna design, compressed into a 4′ × 4′ footprint.

Why We Created a Single-Person Model

Not everyone has space or budget for a full-size sauna. But that doesn’t mean they should settle for inferior therapy. The Atlas One delivers the same VantaWave™ heater technology and full-body red light capability in a package that fits in almost any room.

Engineering Challenges of Compact Design

Building a single-person sauna may seem simple until you begin working through the thermal engineering. You need:

Optimal heater placement in minimal space: We position four VantaWave™ panels to create 360° infrared coverage while maintaining proper clearances from the user’s body. Too close and you make hot spots; too far and you lose therapeutic intensity.

Adequate ventilation in a small volume: Air exchange is actually harder in compact spaces. We engineered a passive ventilation system that refreshes the air without creating drafts or heat loss.

Comfortable ergonomics despite size constraints: The bench height, door clearance, and interior layout went through dozens of iterations before we found the configuration that feels spacious despite the compact footprint.

The Atlas One User Profile

The Atlas One works perfectly for:

• Apartment dwellers with limited square footage
• Home gym installations where space is at a premium
• Wellness studios offering individual sauna sessions
• Anyone who wants daily sauna access without dedicating a full room

I know biohackers who have Atlas Ones in their bedrooms. Recovery athletes who installed them in garage gyms. Wellness practitioners who use them between client sessions.

The Atlas One proves that therapeutic quality doesn’t require square footage—it needs proper engineering.

What Every SaunaCloud Model Includes

Regardless of which of our SaunaCloud models you choose, certain fundamentals never change:

VantaWave™ Carbon-Crystal Heaters

Every panel is tuned to 7.9-micron peak output, manufactured in-house, and backed by a lifetime warranty. These aren’t sourced from overseas vendors—we build them ourselves.

Full-Body Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy used to require separate expensive devices. We integrated it directly into our heater panels, positioning LEDs within 3 inches of your skin—the clinically proven range for cellular activation.

If you want to understand why red light positioning matters so much, read my detailed guide on red light infrared saunas.

Medical-Grade Power Supplies

We manufacture our own power supplies specifically for commercial-grade reliability. While other companies source third-party components that fail under continuous use, ours are engineered to run for decades.

Industry-Leading Warranty

• 7 years of comprehensive coverage on residential installations
• Lifetime warranty on VantaWave™ heaters
• 10 years in electronics and power supplies

We can offer these warranties because we control the entire manufacturing process. When we say something is built to last, we’re willing to guarantee it in writing.

Choosing Between SaunaCloud Models: A Decision Framework

Here’s how I help clients choose:

Start with space constraints: If you have limited square footage or live in an apartment, the Atlas One is the most sensible option. If you have a dedicated wellness room, the Atlas Custom gives you complete flexibility.

Consider usage patterns: Is it for solo daily use? Atlas One. Couples or family use? Atlas Custom. Outdoor cold plunge integration? Atlas Outdoor. Architectural showpiece? Sierra Custom.

Evaluate budget realistically: The Atlas One is our most accessible entry point—the Atlas Custom scales with size and features. The Sierra is for clients who’ve specifically requested luxury-level finishing.

Think long-term: A correctly specified sauna will last 20 years or more. Don’t base your decision purely on upfront cost. Consider the total experience you’ll have over thousands of sessions.

The Custom Consultation Process

Every SaunaCloud model purchase starts with a detailed consultation. I want to understand:

1. Your space: dimensions, electrical capacity, access for installation
2. Your goals: recovery, detox, longevity, stress management
3. Your preferences: sitting vs. reclining, temperature ranges, aesthetic priorities
4. Your constraints: budget, timeline, any special requirements

From there, we create custom CAD drawings showing exactly how your sauna will fit and function in your space—no surprises, no guesswork—just precision engineering translated into a buildable plan.

Installation and Support

Installing a sauna isn’t like assembling furniture. Proper installation requires:

• Electrical work by a licensed electrician
• Structural evaluation of your floor and ceiling
• Proper ventilation integration
• Access planning for significant components

We provide complete installation guidance, electrical specifications, and ongoing support. Many clients hire local contractors for the electrical work, while we handle the assembly and commissioning of the sauna.

For DIY infrared sauna enthusiasts, we offer additional technical documentation and phone support throughout the installation process.

Beyond the Model: The SaunaCloud Difference

What sets our SaunaCloud models apart isn’t just the engineering specifications—it’s the philosophy behind them.

We don’t cut corners. We don’t source cheap components. We don’t make therapeutic claims that we can’t back up with physics and biology.

Every model represents the best sauna I know how to build at that price point. And when I discover a better way to engineer something, I update all our models—even if it costs us more to manufacture.

This commitment to continuous improvement means SaunaCloud models you buy today incorporate lessons learned from thousands of installations and millions of sauna sessions.

Ready to Choose Your Model?

Whether you’re drawn to the versatility of the Atlas Custom, the luxury of the Sierra, the outdoor capability of the Atlas Outdoor, or the efficiency of the Atlas One, you’re choosing a sauna engineered to deliver clinical-grade therapy for decades.

Visit our homepage to start the consultation process, or explore our custom infrared sauna options in more detail.

Because in a market flooded with cheap imports and inflated marketing claims, SaunaCloud models stand apart—appropriately engineered, built to last, and designed actually to deliver on the promise of infrared therapy.