Gymproluxe sauna review: A spa in a tent

Dec 5, 2025 - 12:00

If you’d love a post-workout sauna to warm up and relax muscles, but you don’t fancy squeezing in with strangers at the gym, there is an alternative.

The Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod is a pop-up tent that heats to 55 °C in about 10 minutes, delivering targeted warmth to make you sweat and unlock a wide range of health benefits.

The Gymproluxe sauna pod is a cross between a sauna and a steam room

Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod, £295 (was £395)

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Unlike outdoor saunas, it folds down to just 15cm when not in use and no poles, screws or DIY skills are needed to get it up or down.

Using saunas frequently can help promote relaxation, improve sleep, reduce inflammation, and loosen muscles and tissues.

Eager to see if I could get all of these lovely side effects from such a small piece of fitness equipment without having to suffer strangers’ sauna chat, I couldn’t wait to put the Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod to the test in my home.

How I tested

Zoe enjoyed using the shower after a long run to ease stiff muscles

Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod, £295 (was £395)

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As a sauna fan, I jumped at the chance to review the Gymproluxe home sauna, especially since delivery occurred in October, when the weather was starting to turn for the worse.

For four weeks, I used it to enjoy saunas at home around three to four times a week.

Sometimes, I used it after getting back from a run, turning on the sauna while I did my warm-down routine, then jumping in to relax my muscles before a shower.

Other times, I used it for about 15 minutes before bed to wind down and de-stress after a busy day.

Throughout testing, I looked at how simple it was to set up, how easy the instructions were to follow, how easy it was to adjust the settings, and the overall design and quality of the materials.

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Gymproluxe sauna pod: Quick summary

Pros:

Super easy to set-up
Includes free sauna chair and steam mat
15 adjustable heat settings
Carry bag makes it easy to store

Cons:

Have to wait 15 minutes to reach the top temperatures
Not suitable for anyone who is claustrophobic

Rating: 4/5

Gymproluxe sauna pod: Quickfire Q&A

How much is it? The Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod is currently reduced to £295, which is £100 off its usual £395 price.

Who is it best for? Home fitness fans and runners who want steamy, post‑workout muscle relief without a gym trip. People who struggle with sleep who want a relaxing and effective warm-down routine.

What we loved: Super quick pop‑up set‑up with sturdy materials, smooth zips and a compact footprint. Effective steam that mostly stays inside, plus a waterproof mat that protects floors. Adjustable heat (15 settings) and genuinely helpful health benefits for muscles, sleep and sinuses.

What we didn’t like: Can get a little claustrophobic. Takes a lot longer to collapse than it does to pop up.

Gymproluxe sauna pod review

Set-up

Setting up the Gymproluxe sauna is no more difficult than erecting a pop-up camping tent.

All I had to do was place it on the floor, and it sprang up by itself.

The Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod is 194cm tall

Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod, £295 (was £395)

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At 194cm tall (6ft4), it was taller than I expeted but the width is narrow at 54cm by 54cm, so it didn’t take up much floorspace overall.

Setting up the heat / steam element for the first time was a little trickier as I had to attach two plastic tubes flush against heater and then to the inside of the tent, and I really had to use some body weight to get them to fit into place.

Strangely, the instruction booklet included with the sauna did not give any guidance on how to set up, and I had to go to the Gymproluxe YouTube channel instead.

Fortunately, the YouTube video was super simple to follow and gave me some tips to get the plastic tubes on properly.

Design

Once erected, the Gymproluxe pod looks and feels more premium than I expected for a pop-up.

I liked that the fabric has a thick, slightly rubberised feel, and the stitching and taped seams give it a sturdiness that reassured me it would stand up to repeated use.

The frame springs into shape and holds it without wobble, even when I brushed against the sides as I got in and out.

There are two zips: one long, two-way zip for the door and another to help with venting and cable routing and I was pleased to discover that both ran smoothly and didn’t snag.

The included chair is basic but stable; I never felt like I was perching or about to tip.

There’s also a decent quality floor mat so that my home floor never got damp.

Performance

Once I’d set up the Gymproluxe sauna, it took around 10–15 minutes to reach its full power, which is about perfect for turning it on during a stretch or shower prep and then hopping in.

Once in, a lot of steam escapes, so I’d advise keeping some windows open if you’re using it inside.

Some steam escapes from the Gymproluxe sauna when the door is opened

Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod, £295 (was £395)

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The heat feels enveloping and humid, and the sweat comes quickly.

Compared with an infrared sauna, which uses dry radiant heat to warm the body directly, this is classic steam: moist, comforting and brilliant for the airways.

I found my lungs and sinuses felt noticeably clearer after each session, especially on chilly evenings.

If you’re prone to feeling bunged up, the steam makes a tangible difference.

Muscle-wise, it did exactly what I wanted, as tight calves and hamstrings from running softened within minutes.

My sleep also felt deeper on nights I used the Gymproluxe sauna, most likely thanks to that drop in tension, followed by an endorphin-boosting cold shower.

But what I gained in muscle relief, I lost in grooming, as all the moisture made my hair frizz up every time.

The only way to avoid this is to plan to wash it afterwards or wear a hat when you leave the house.

Second, if you stay in the pod for around five minutes, then be prepared for the front door to mist up so that you won’t see very much at all.

After 15 minutes, the Gymproluxe sauna pod is full of warm steam

Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod, £295 (was £395)

BUY HERE

Noise from the heater is a low hum — present but not intrusive — a similar sound to the average kettle.

The worst part for me was packing it down between uses, since it’s like an IQ challenge to fold it back into its carry case.

The first time, it took me 20 minutes of struggling alone before I asked my husband for help and then we worked on it together for 10 minutes, watching the YouTube pack-down video about five times in slow motion.

Again, my advice would be to ignore the instruction booklet and go straight to the Gymproluxe YouTube channel.

Finally, don’t forget that while it may be compact, the Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod gets very hot and steamy, so make sure to hydrate well afterwards and limit use to around 15 – 20 mins a session.

Overall, the downsides are minor compared to the significant stress relief I got from using it.

Verdict

If you want real, steamy sauna sessions at home without shelling out for a cabin or queuing at the gym, the Gymproluxe tropical sauna pod is a cracking compromise.

It’s sturdy, quick to set up, easy to store and properly adjustable, with a waterproof mat that protects your floors and a design that keeps most of the steam contained where it should be.

It helped clear my sinuses, loosen tight muscles, and I really enjoyed the “me” time it offered while I was inside it.

The minor downsides are that you’ll need to give it 10–15 minutes to hit peak heat, it’s not one for the claustrophobic, and your hair will have a mind of its own afterwards.

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