Where are Barrel Saunas Found?

Aside from their lower cost over more traditional outdoor saunas, barrel saunas attract interest from those keen to get handy in the garden. A barrel sauna kit is a great opportunity to test your DIY skills and have something fun to show for it.

What's more a barrel sauna's mobility can be part of its appeal, with some available on trailers for ease of moving from location to location. This is great if you don't plan on staying in the same home for many years and want your garden sauna to come with you when you do relocate. They can also be used for events, easily packed up and repositioned for outdoor shows and festivals across the country.
Their versatility also makes them suited to snowy, mountainous regions where installation of a high end luxury sauna could be more challenging. These environments also suit the barrel sauna as the snow acts as an insulator.

What Makes a Wildhut Different?

At Wildhut we have used a team of architects and structural engineers to ensure our luxury outdoor saunas are designed and built to the very highest standards, using environmentally conscious materials including sheep’s wool for insulation. They are handcrafted at our workshop in the UK and then delivered and installed in situ. All our saunas have been specifically designed to withstand the temperate British climate and stand the test of time for many years to come.
With a choice of sizes available, from our small outdoor sauna, the Tuli model, through to the large 8 person Maa sauna, when you buy a Wildhut you add style and value to your home, investing for the long term so you can provide enjoyment for generations to come. We offer a freestanding off-grid sauna with rechargeable battery and wood burner, or can supply connected to your water supply and mains electricity. This makes a Wildhut sauna considerably more durable than a barrel sauna. Less of a novelty and more of a genuine sanctuary for those serious about the many health and wellbeing benefits of traditional Nordic sauna bathing.
Additionally, we offer a wide selection of sauna accessories and upgrades to help you customise your sauna experience. From stainless steel outdoor showers to specialist lighting and bespoke window design, our high end saunas deliver everything you need for a relaxing and luxurious sauna experience.

Popularity of Home Saunas in Europe

The popularity of home saunas has been on the rise in Europe in recent years, with many people investing in outdoor saunas for their homes for many of the reasons given above. In Finland, the birthplace of the sauna, pretty much every home has access to a sauna and they are seen as an essential part of everyday life rather than a luxury. In Estonia, sauna use is also deeply ingrained in the culture, with many households having a traditional smoke sauna in their garden.

 

In other parts of Europe however, the trend of outdoor home saunas is also gaining momentum. In the UK, for example, outdoor saunas are becoming more popular as people seek ways to improve their physical and mental health while enjoying the great outdoors. There has been a phenomenal growth in the number of outdoor saunas for public use on beaches and in parks across the country, encouraging people to experience outdoor sauna cabins for themselves, either communally or in private. This has in turn given more people a taste of the outdoor sauna experience and prompted increased enquiries for saunas for the home.

 

In fact statistics have shown that Europe has the fastest growing home sauna market in the world, despite being its birthplace! Though Finland, Estonia and other parts of the Nordics are saturated with saunas, western and southern Europe has shown huge appetite for more at home sauna bathing!

 

What's Driving the Growth of the Home Sauna Boom?

There are several factors influencing the growing demand for home saunas in Europe and beyond, including:

  1. Increased Awareness of the Health Benefits: With more research being conducted on the benefits of sauna use, people are becoming more aware of the positive impact it can have on their health.

  2. Shift Toward Wellness: As more people focus on their health and wellbeing, the demand for products that promote relaxation and self-care is increasing.

  3. Desire for Outdoor Living Spaces: With the pandemic shifting people's priorities toward outdoor living spaces, home saunas have become a popular addition to gardens and outdoor spaces.

  4. Wider Enjoyment of Sauna Culture: Scandi Noir and the Danish concept of Hygge are two recent trends from the Nordics that show no sign of slowing down and embracing sauna culture looks to be the latest to be embraced.

The Future of Wellness: How Home Saunas Will Continue to Shape the Industry

The Year of the Sauna is a celebration of the cultural significance and health benefits of sauna use. As more people prioritise their health and wellness, the popularity of home saunas is only expected to grow yet further.

Whether it's embracing home sauna use to improve athletic performance or wanting to get closer to friends and loved ones by hosting your own garden sauna sessions, it's not hard to see why everybody's talking about saunas right now!

 

Investing in a luxury outdoor sauna is a smart choice for those seeking relaxation, detoxification and social connection. As the sauna industry continues to innovate and evolve, we're excited to see what new trends emerge and how home saunas will continue to shape the future of wellness. What's more you can be sure Wildhut will be celebrating the Year of the Sauna all year long and beyond!