iComfort Sauna Features and Review Summary
iComfort infrared sauna are known as recreational. They are similar to other forms of recreation such as jogging or cycling. They will provide some health benefits by elevating your heart rate, providing a passive form of cardiovascular workout. Additionally, they will warm you up and promote sweating.
However, this is a surface sweat that does not release substantial amounts of toxins. The release of toxins occurs when the care human body temperature is increased, resulting in thermoregulation.
In this iComfort sauna review, we will show you why we think you will not be pleased with them and will offer alternatives.
An iComfort Sauna is a Poor Choice
They are a mass-produced low-quality product. These low-quality products will warm you up but will not provide any desired healing or detoxification.
Excellent Alternatives
We suggest you look at review of Heavenly Heat if you want the best product with no toxic components. You could also consider Vital saunas if you are looking for a good quality product with a low price tag. You should want to own and use your infrared sauna for a lifetime.
This brand of iComfort saunas provides low power light waves. In contrast, true quality infrared waves will penetrate the skin and deep into tissues. They will penetrate into the fatty cells and cause the fat cells to release toxins to be sweated out of the body.
So, while you will sweat and feel like you are in a sauna, deep detox is not taking place. One indication of this is the large amounts of square inches of carbon heater panels used. On most models such as the SAU1490-H the panels go almost to the ceiling to increase overall temperature. This is done to try to heat the surfaces of the wood to compensate for the lower amount of heat and infrared.
In contrast, a top quality infrared sauna such as made by Clearlight provides exceptional, deep penetrating infrared that will release toxins from the deeper tissues.
Sauna Specifications
Appearance Over Functional
iComfort primarily focuses on appearance and their units do look interesting. As well, exterior lighting and USB ports are other amenities added.
However, the critical feature of a sauna should be its high level of infrared. This level should also be near the optimal wavelength of 9.4 to penetrate deeply. The other important feature should be a long warranty. A strong warranty demonstrates two things. First, that the company believes the product to be quality that will last a lifetime. The second critical aspect is the company believes it will be in existence for decades as well.
One serious problem which has plagued this industry is the number of companies that resell saunas and then are out of business within 5 or 6 years. We have been contacted by numerous consumers with cheap products wanting to know where to get replacement parts and heaters. Unfortunately, in most cases the company no longer exists and the consumer is stuck with an unsupported broken product.
Suggested Retail
iComfort saunas have a suggested retail MRSP of $2000 – $4300. However they are often sold at prices between $500 and $1000 per unit. Typically, when you can obtain a unit for under $1000 at a large retail chain, you will get an inferior product.
The reason is how these are manufactured and that parts that are used in the assembly.
Sauna Reseller
As we have mentioned previously, most saunas are mass-produced on 5 assembly lines in China. Almost anyone can become a reseller of these units, which is what iComfort has done. I have not found another review of iComfort saunas that points out that these are simply generic low-quality units produced with the iComfort name placed on them. This process is how 95% of all products on the market are made.
These companies are what we term resellers as they simply resell the mass-produced units. Some resellers will go as far as to add a few extra small features, such as exterior lights or additional stereo components, to differentiate them from the competition.
iComfort Product Lines
iComfort primarily has three different product lines. The 1200 series is made of hemlock with some walnut exterior panels, giving this line a rather unique look. Very few brands have used walnut wood in the construction.
To give the units even more stylish design, a lot of vertical wood slats are used in front of the heater panels.
However, similar to the Rocky Mountain Sauna products which utilize this same design, these vertical wood slats have drawbacks. The main drawback is a further reduction of the low amount of infrared reaching your body. Infrared waves do not penetrate wood. Therefore, all of the vertical slats block up to 50% of the infrared. This is the opposite of what you want in a sauna session.
1200 Series Product Line
Like all of the iComfort units, the 1200 series, which includes the SAU1200-H and SAU1220-H carries a very limited one-year warranty on electrical, heaters and cabinet wood.
1400 Series Product Line
The 1400, like the 1200 series, is sturdy and assembles in less than one hour with two people. This includes the SAU1409-H, which is a very small 1 person unit which does not have slats blocking the heater panels but also has a reduced number of carbon heater panels. The SAU1410-H uses a standard wall outlet and is for 1 person.
SAU1490-H is a larger, two-person corner unit that has many heaters but blocks most of them with vertical slats, which is common in this brand.
1500 Series Product Line
The 1500 series which was supplied in hemlock and red cedar and has a few amenities such as control panels on the exterior and interior is generally no longer available. As with all units, stereos and lighting are included. The 1300 series has been mostly discontinued.
Warranty
Limited 1-year warranty.
Contrast this to the warranty of our top recommended companies – Clearlight and Heavenly Heat. These recommended companies carry 10-year to full lifetime warranty on heaters, wood, radio, electrical and all parts of the units. That is what you want to look for. Unfortunately, it is extremely rare in this industry. It is an easy industry to enter and leave and many companies do exactly that.
When you understand the healing power of infrared and sauna heat, you will want to purchase a product you can own for a lifetime. At Healing Heat Therapy, we want you to gain health benefits from it for decades. Please see our best rated infrared sauna listing and comparison table for your best choice.
Instead of an iComfort sauna, buy a product you will be proud of that will benefit you and your health. We recommend you read our review of Heavenly Heat.