Clearlight Sanctuary™ 1 Infrared Sauna Review: Is This the Best Full Spectrum Infrared Sauna for a Solo Wellness Ritual?

You Want a Sauna, But Your Home Says No

You’ve probably had the same thought I have: gym saunas are kind of gross.

You’re crammed on a damp bench next to strangers, staring at your knees, waiting for the timer to run out. Not exactly relaxing, right?

So you start looking into home saunas. Then reality hits. Most require an electrician, a 240V circuit, and a whole spare room you probably don’t have.

I dug into the Clearlight Sanctuary™ 1 infrared sauna to see if it actually solves that problem, or if it’s just another overpriced wellness gadget. Here’s what I found after going through the manufacturer’s specs, independent reviews, and the research behind its health claims.

What Exactly Is the Clearlight Sanctuary 1?

The Sanctuary 1 is a one-person, full-spectrum infrared sauna made by Clearlight, a company founded in 1997 that has sold more than 85,000 units in the U.S.

Unlike a traditional sauna, which heats the air around you (convection heat), an infrared sauna uses infrared light to warm your body directly. That’s why infrared saunas typically run at a much lower ambient temperature, usually between about 48.8°C and 65.5°C, compared to the 90°C+ you’d find in a traditional Finnish-style sauna.

The “full spectrum” part matters too. Cheaper infrared saunas usually emit only far infrared. The Sanctuary 1 emits near, mid, and far infrared wavelengths at once, using Clearlight’s patented True Wave® carbon/ceramic heaters. Each wavelength penetrates the body to a different depth, which is the basis for most of the benefits Clearlight advertises.

It’s built for one adult. If you’re picturing a couple’s spa night, this isn’t that. It’s a solo wellness box, and it’s designed to be one.

Key Features and What They Actually Mean for You

Full-Spectrum True Wave® Heaters

This is the core of the product. The unit has two 500W front-wall heaters plus far-infrared heaters on the back wall, side walls, behind your calves, and under the floor.

Why does surrounding you with heaters matter? In cheaper single-panel saunas, you get uneven heat—your back roasts while your legs stay cold. Full-body heater placement is meant to avoid that.

• Far infrared penetrates deepest into muscle and soft tissue, which is the wavelength linked to a heavier, deeper sweat and the raised core temperature behind most heat-therapy claims.
• Near infrared stays closer to the skin’s surface. Photobiomodulation research shows near-infrared light (in the 810–830nm range) can stimulate collagen and elastin gene expression in human skin, which is the mechanism behind claims about skin tone and firmness. Worth noting: some of that research used LED light panels, not sauna heaters, so treat “anti-aging” claims from any full-spectrum sauna as a plausible mechanism, not a guarantee.
• Mid infrared sits between the two, targeting local circulation.

Under-Floor Foot Heater

If your feet are always cold in a regular sauna, this addresses that directly. Heat radiates up through the floor instead of only coming from the walls.

Low EMF and ELF Design

This is genuinely one of the more important features if you plan to sit inches from a powered heater multiple times a week. Clearlight states the Sanctuary 1’s EMF output is under 1 milligauss (mG).

For context, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s EMF safety data shows a hair dryer can emit 60–20,000 mG at close range, and a microwave 750–4,000 mG. Standard background EMF in a home is typically 0.5–2 mG. So a heater panel producing under 1 mG is sitting near normal household background levels, not spiking above it. Clearlight achieves this by running the heater’s internal wiring in opposing loops so the magnetic fields cancel each other out.

To be clear, current scientific consensus from bodies like the WHO and international radiation-protection agencies is that typical low-level EMF/ELF exposure in homes hasn’t been shown to cause health effects. But if minimizing exposure is a priority for you, a verifiably low-EMF unit is a real advantage over cheaper unshielded models.

Standard 120V Plug-In Design

This is the feature that actually removes the biggest barrier to home sauna ownership. The Sanctuary 1 plugs into a normal 120V/15A wall outlet, the same type your TV or lamp uses. No electrician, no breaker panel upgrade.

If you rent, live in an apartment, or just don’t want a renovation project, this is the difference between “not an option” and “a weekend setup.”

Smartphone App and Chromotherapy

The sauna includes Wi-Fi/app control, Bluetooth audio, a digital keypad, and 12-color chromotherapy lighting. In theory, you preheat it from your phone before you get home.

In practice, this is the weakest part of the product (more on that below).

Weight and dimensions:

That exterior footprint is roughly the size of a small office desk, so it can realistically fit in a corner, a home office, or a basement nook. Clearlight recommends leaving about 4 inches of clearance around it if you’re building it into an enclosed space.

Pros and Cons

Here’s the honest breakdown after weighing the engineering against real owner feedback.

Verdict

The Sanctuary 1 delivers on the engineering claims that matter most: full-spectrum heat, low EMF, and a plug-and-play electrical setup. Where it falls short is the smart features layered on top, which several owners describe as more frustrating than useful.

On the health side, it’s worth separating marketing language from evidence. A 2009 systematic review of far-infrared sauna research published in the Canadian Family Physician found moderate evidence for blood pressure and heart-failure symptom improvement, weak evidence for chronic pain and weight effects, and explicitly no evidence that infrared sauna use lowers cholesterol. That’s a more measured picture than most product pages suggest, and it applies to far-infrared sauna use broadly, not this model specifically.

Read more: Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors (PMC)

Who Is the Clearlight Sanctuary 1 Really For?

This might be a good fit if you live alone, work from home, or simply want a private daily heat-therapy ritual without renovating a room. It’s also worth considering if you rent or live in an apartment where a 240V electrical upgrade isn’t possible, and low EMF exposure is a priority for you.

• You want a solo wellness ritual, not a shared sauna experience
• You have a small space (a corner, office nook, or bonus room) but not a spare bedroom
• You can commit to using it consistently, since sauna research generally shows benefits build with regular use, not one-off sessions
• Budget isn’t the main constraint, and you’re comparing this against other premium models rather than entry-level saunas

If you want to sauna with a partner or family, or you’re on a tighter budget, this specific one-person model probably isn’t the right starting point. Clearlight’s larger Sanctuary 2 or 3 models exist for that, though they require more space and a 240V circuit.

What Actual Owners Say

Owner feedback is largely consistent: people are happy with the heat quality, comfort, and how the sauna fits into daily routines, but the smart app draws repeated criticism. Reviews aggregated from Clearlight’s site and independent sauna review outlets show a similar pattern.

Notice the pattern: almost every complaint is about software or logistics, not the actual heat therapy experience. That’s a meaningful distinction if you’re deciding whether this product fits you.

FAQ and a Few Things to Know Before You Buy

How much does it cost? Expect somewhere between roughly $5,000 and $6,900, depending on wood choice (mahogany or basswood) and any active promotions. Clearlight also offers financing plans starting around $138/month.

Where do you buy it? Directly through Clearlight’s website, which also lists occasional seasonal discounts.

How long does delivery and setup take? Assembly typically takes two people about 3–4 hours. Budget a full afternoon rather than assuming a quick solo job.

What’s the warranty? Clearlight offers a lifetime warranty on the wood, heaters, and electrical components for residential use, which is unusually strong for a high-heat electrical appliance.

How often should you use it? Clearlight recommends 3–4 sessions per week, starting with 10–15 minutes and gradually working up to 20–30 minutes as your body adjusts. Staying hydrated before, during, and after each session matters, and you should exit if you feel dizzy or lightheaded.

Does it actually help you lose weight? Be cautious here. The cardiovascular demand of cooling your body down in heat does raise heart rate, but the broader research on infrared sauna and fat loss specifically is mixed. The 2009 review cited above found “inconsistent data” on weight loss across infrared sauna studies. Treat this as a possible supporting habit, not a substitute for diet or exercise.

Final Verdict

After going through the specs, the safety data, and real owner experiences, the Clearlight Sanctuary™ 1 infrared sauna holds up as a solidly engineered, low-EMF, full-spectrum sauna that solves a real problem: fitting a legitimate sauna into a home without a renovation.

If the price fits your budget and you’re buying it for the heat therapy itself rather than the smart features, this might be worth checking out. If the app frustrations or the price tag give you pause, it’s worth comparing against Clearlight’s other models or a simpler far-infrared unit before deciding.