Setting up your sauna
Your sauna is a portable steam SaunaPod. It needs no tools and no permanent installation. This guide takes you from unpacking to your first session, and through packing it away.
Setting it up yourself? If you didn't book our set up and pack down, you set it up yourself and you take full responsibility for it, including the power point you plug it into.
Watch this before you start: the VITAL+ SaunaPod setup video (youtu.be/CxA0znn_VN0).
Before you begin
Choose your spot before you put it together.
- Surface: flat, level and stable.
- Indoors or out: it can be used indoors, or outdoors with weather protection. It works best in a warm, sheltered room.
- Power: within reach of a power point for the steam generator. Use a dedicated 10 to 15 amp outlet with RCD protection, and never one you're unsure about.
Putting the frame together
Unzip the sauna cover and spread it out on the floor with the inside wall facing up. Build the frame and place it on top. Angle the open entry door (the side with no middle crossbar) to the bottom end of the cover.
Then unfold the pod, open the front zip fully and put the folding chair inside.
Step by step
Step 1: Unpack and unfold
Take the pod out of its bag and unfold it on a flat surface.
Step 2: Put the chair in
Open the front zip fully and place the folding chair inside.
Step 3: Fill the steam generator
Fill the generator to the MAX line with clean water. Distilled or filtered water is best because it reduces mineral build-up. Make sure the lid is hand tight, and don't overfill it.
Step 4: Connect the hose
Connect the steam hose from the generator to the inlet on the pod.
Step 5: Power on and set the temperature
Plug it in, switch it on and set your temperature. It heats to about 50°C.
Step 6: Build the steam
Give it 5 to 10 minutes for the steam to build inside the pod (longer in a cold room, see below). Then sit on the chair and zip it closed, threading your arms through the openings.
During your session
- Keep your head outside the pod at all times.
- Drink plenty of water before and after every session.
- Never put essential oils or anything else in the steam generator. Use only the small round dispenser inside the tent for oils.
How long
| Recommended | About 10 to 20 minutes a session |
|---|---|
| Maximum | 30 minutes |
| Best results | A few rounds, with a cool-down and a drink of water in between |
Using it in a cold room
The sauna heats best at normal indoor temperature, around 18 to 24°C. The colder the room, the longer it takes to heat up and the harder it works to stay hot. In a room below 15°C, allow up to 40 minutes to pre-heat.
- Warm the room first. Turn your heating on 15 to 20 minutes before you start pre-heating the pod.
- Put something underneath. A yoga mat, foam mat or thick rug stops cold floors (tiles, concrete, decking) pulling heat out of the base.
- Keep away from draughts. Set it up away from open doors, windows and vents.
- Allow extra pre-heat time. In the cold, give it the full 40 minutes rather than the usual 10 to 15.
- Keep it zipped while it pre-heats. Every time you unzip it to check, the heat escapes and you start again.
Outdoors, or in a garage or shed in winter, expect longer heat-up times. A small space heater to warm the space first helps.
After your session
- Switch it off and unplug it after every use.
- Open the pod and let it air out for 15 to 20 minutes before closing it up.
- Wipe any moisture off the inside with a dry cloth.
- Let the steam generator cool completely before you handle or store it.
- Empty any water left in the generator after every use. Water left sitting in it causes mineral build-up and shortens its life.
Booked our pack down? Leave the packing away to us.
Looking after the zip
The zip is the most used part of the sauna, so please treat it gently.
- Open and close it slowly and smoothly. Rushing is the most common reason it comes off track.
- Never force a stiff zip. If it catches, stop and check for fabric caught in the teeth.
- Keep the teeth clean. Wipe them with a dry cloth to clear lint and dust.
- Leave it partly open when it's packed away. This takes tension off the teeth.
- Let the pod air out fully before zipping it closed. Closing it while the fabric is damp or hot makes the zip stiff over time.
Safety
Please read our safety guide before your first session, including who should check with a doctor first. Never use it alone, no alcohol before or during, and stop straight away if you feel dizzy or unwell. Call 111 in an emergency.
Questions or problems during your hire? Call or text 020 4143 5144.