I am pleased to provide an objective review of USA Health & Wellness, and of the Therasauna TS5753, a full spectrum infrared sauna I ordered from them on December 9, 2020 and received on January 14, 2021.
Why USA Health & Wellness?
I have been using saunas, etc. for six decades, first in Europe where I spent my teenage years, and then in the United States. I have owned a custom-built Finnish/traditional sauna, a steam bath, a hot tube, and now a full spectrum infrared sauna, and I have used all except infrared saunas in gyms, hotels, etc. Hence I did not approach my most recent purchase as a complete neophyte. Even so, I found the current market place to be rich in inflated claims, with each merchant touting his products as the best, often with unsupported claims. On the USA Health & Wellness site, Garen accurately describes the journey of trying to separate fact from fiction. It was clear that he had carefully navigated the maze I was attempting to navigate, and I determined to pursue that journey in earnest with USA Health & Wellness.
My first call was made at the end of a weekend, in the evening, in early December. To my amazement, Tyler answered the phone and explored the options with me at length. I found it remarkable that he and Garen were always available and never rushed – in the evenings, on weekends, and even on Christmas and New Year's Day when I intended only to leave messages. I posed unusual, sometimes provoking questions, to which they always replied in a forthright, informative, and affirming manner. I'm embarrassed to say that more than 100 emails have been exchanged, with them always welcoming my inquiries and occasional apprehensions. I was treated like their most important customer, as if we had been friends in college. In contrast, questions sent by email to the manufacturer, especially those with technical content, typically have been ignored or treated dismissively. On those occasions when I have been able to reach someone in customer service by phone, the individuals have been consistently welcoming and eager to help. Hence, I do not recommend email communication with the manufacturer.
During the selection and purchase process, I read everything I could find on saunas, investigating product, health, and benefit claims (including many unfounded claims by other vendors), reaching the conclusion that USA Health & Wellness had told it straight, right from the beginning. If they are guilty of anything, they are guilty of understatement (e.g. “I estimate 1 - 2 weeks (for delivery);” it arrived only three days later, and without any damage or blemishes.)
Having never used an infrared sauna and not wanting to use a publicly available sauna during the COVID-19 pandemic, I was left to the literature and to Tyler's guidance. As an extensive user of traditional saunas, my initial leanings were toward a Finnish sauna. Selecting an infrared sauna from Therasauna has proved to be a better choice. It heats up more quickly, the interior heat distribution can be customized, and it draws substantially fewer watts.
My already high confidence in USA Health & Wellness developed to a point where I was comfortable paying for the sauna by personal check (without the protection of a credit card). Tyler graciously reduced the purchase price to reflect the savings of the entire credit card fee. Tyler found other creative ways to reduce my costs without detracting in any way from the product or its quality.
Why an Infrared Sauna from Therasauna?
USA Health & Wellness offers a variety of saunas. As best I can tell, their assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each product is accurate. Wanting a quality product with abundant room for one person and comfortable, symmetrical space for two, I selected the Theresauna TS5753. It is part of the only line of infrared saunas made entirely in the USA; along the way I have developed a healthy aversion for anything made even in part in China. Further, Therasauna has a reputation for taking exceptional pride in their workmanship. This visible surfaces are all nicely finished (the invisible, outside back wall less so).
Recently I began working with a world-class sports medicine physician in Park City, where many Olympic athletes reside and train. During my early January visit with him, I asked him about the possible relevance of a sauna to my regular exercise regimen. He immediately endorsed the idea and proceeded to tell me about the categories (and sub-categories, and sub-sub-categories) of saunas, and the advantages and disadvantages of each, concluding with his endorsement of full spectrum infrared saunas, characterizing them as the saunas of the future, all while I listened politely. His endorsement further solidified my confidence in my choice and in the guidance Tyler had provided right from the start.
How has My Sauna Performed?
One week after my sauna was assembled and usable, I spent a morning ...
