Best Sauna Suit: What It Is, How to Use It Safely and Our Picks

A sauna suit is a non-breathable jacket and pants (or a vest, belt or shorts) that you wear while exercising to trap body heat and sweat, so your workout feels hotter and you sweat more. The best sauna suit is one that fits well, is easy to get on and off, and is used carefully for short sessions with plenty of fluids, and it is important to be clear up front: any weight you lose in a sauna suit is water, which comes back when you rehydrate, not fat.

Below we explain what sauna suits are made of, how to size one, how to use one safely (including heat illness warning signs from medical sources), how to care for it, and picks from our sauna suits range by use case. We have not hands-on tested these products; picks are based on each listing's specs and prices.

What is a sauna suit?

Healthline describes a sauna suit as "a waterproof tracksuit that retains your body heat and perspiration when you work out." Because sweat cannot evaporate through the fabric, heat builds up inside. That is the whole point of the garment, and it is also why it needs to be used with care: Mayo Clinic lists "overdressing, particularly in clothes that don't allow sweat to evaporate easily" among the causes of heat exhaustion.

People typically wear sauna suits for warm-up sessions, cardio, boxing or MMA training and other short workouts where they want to feel warmer. You will also see related "sweatwear": vests, waist belts, arm bands and shorts that cover only part of the body.

A clear word on weight

Sauna suits are often marketed with weight-loss language. We do not make those claims. Healthline notes that "weight loss during periods of heavy perspiration is primarily due to fluid loss," and that this fluid should be replaced. In other words, the scale may drop after a sweaty session, but that is water, and it returns when you drink. Do not use a sauna suit to "cut" weight quickly. In 1997, three collegiate wrestlers died while trying to lose weight rapidly before weigh-ins; a CDC report found they wore vapor-impermeable suits while exercising in hot conditions, which "promoted dehydration and heat-related illness." The NCAA then prohibited vapor-impermeable suits, saunas and steam rooms for weight loss.

Sauna suit materials

• Coated polyester and nylon: the most common full-suit fabric. Lightweight, packable and usually with elastic cuffs and waist to hold heat in. Our full suits list polyester fiber.
• Polyester/spandex with a PU lining: common on vests and waist belts. The stretch helps fit; the polyurethane lining holds heat.
• Neoprene: the "diving fabric" used in wetsuits. Thicker and warmer, used for belts, shorts and some vests. It is snugger and less breathable than coated polyester.

Look for flat seams, a zip or hood if you want one, and cuffs that seal without cutting into your skin.

How to size a sauna suit

• Measure first. Chest, waist and height, in inches and centimeters. Compare to the listing's size chart rather than your usual size; our men's sauna vest uses Asian sizing, which can run smaller.
• Full suits should be roomy. You want to move freely and layer over a T-shirt. A suit that is too tight is harder to remove quickly if you overheat.
• Belts and vests should be snug, not crushing. You should be able to breathe deeply and bend comfortably. Our polyester/PU waist belt, for example, fits waists of 23.62" to 29.53" (60 to 75 cm) and comes in S/M only.

How to use a sauna suit safely

Talk to your doctor before using a sauna suit if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, take medications that affect sweating or hydration, or are pregnant. Then follow these basics:

• Hydrate before, during and after. Mayo Clinic advises drinking cool water or sports drinks if heat exhaustion symptoms start, and Healthline notes fluid lost through sweat should be replenished.
• Keep sessions short and easy at first. Start with a light workout and build up gradually.
• Do not wear a sauna suit in a sauna, steam room or hot weather. Stacking heat sources raises the risk of overheating.
• Never use one to cut weight or combine it with food or fluid restriction.
• Train where you can stop and cool off, ideally with someone nearby.
• Take it off and stop at the first warning sign.

Heat illness warning signs

The CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lists these symptoms:

• Heat exhaustion: headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, elevated body temperature and decreased urine output. Mayo Clinic also lists faintness, fatigue, a weak rapid pulse, low blood pressure on standing and muscle cramps.
• Heat stroke (a medical emergency): confusion, altered mental status or slurred speech, loss of consciousness, hot dry skin or heavy sweating, seizures and very high body temperature.

If you notice heat exhaustion symptoms, stop, remove the suit, move somewhere cooler and sip cool water; Mayo Clinic says to contact a healthcare professional if symptoms get worse or don't improve within one hour. If anyone shows signs of heat stroke, call 911 and cool them quickly, as NIOSH advises.

How to care for a sauna suit

• Rinse or wipe the inside after every session; sweat sits against the lining.
• Follow the care label. Our polyester/PU waist belt listing, for example, says to hand wash in cold water after use and hang to dry.
• Turn suits inside out and air-dry fully before storing to avoid odor.
• Store loosely folded, away from direct heat and sharp objects that could puncture coated fabric.

Our sauna suit picks by use case

None of these products changes body shape or burns fat; they hold heat in while you move. Prices are from the current listings.

Best budget full suit: Men's Sauna Sweat Suit

The Men's Sauna Sweat Suit for training, boxing and MMA is from $38.99. It comes in hooded and non-hooded versions in black/gray, black/green or black/red, in sizes M to XXXL. A simple jacket-and-pants set is the easiest way to try a sauna suit.

Best for men and women: Boost Your Workout Sauna Suit

The Boost Your Workout Sauna Suit is from $127.20 and is listed in polyester fiber. It is offered in men's gray, black and red and women's black, pink, red and green, with sizes from M up to 5XL depending on color.

Best premium set: Men's Fitness Sauna Suit Set

The Men's Fitness Sauna Suit Set is from $226.40, with a hooded collar, five colorways and sizes M to 4XL.

Best women's vest: Women's Sweat Vest

The Women's Sweat Vest & Sauna Suit is from $35.10 in terylene (a polyester fabric), in silver or blue, sizes S to XXL. A vest keeps your arms free for lifting or boxing.

Best men's vest: Men's Sauna Sweat Vest

The Men's Sauna Sweat Vest is from $16.90 in polyester and spandex, in four colors and sizes S to 5XL. It uses Asian sizing, so follow the chart: for example, size M is listed for a 30" to 33" (76 to 84 cm) chest.

Best waist belt: Sauna Sweat Waist Belt

The Sauna Sweat Waist Belt is $63.98, with a 92% polyester, 8% spandex outer and a 100% polyurethane lining, thin enough to wear under a T-shirt. It is S/M only (23.62" to 29.53" waist). For more sizes, the Neoprene Sauna Sweat Belt is from $31.60 in sizes S to XXXL, as one belt or a two-belt pack.

Best for arms and legs: Arm Sweat Bands and Neoprene Sweat Shorts

The Arm Sweat Bands 2-Pack is $65.58 with an adjustable fit. The Women's Neoprene Sweat Shorts are from $14.86 in sizes S to 3XL.

Sauna suit comparison table

Use case	Product	Type	Listed material	Sizes	Price
Budget full suit	Men's Sauna Sweat Suit	Jacket + pants	Not stated	M–XXXL	From $38.99
Men and women	Boost Your Workout Sauna Suit	Full suit	Polyester fiber	M–5XL	From $127.20
Premium set	Men's Fitness Sauna Suit Set	Hooded set	Not stated	M–4XL	From $226.40
Women's vest	Women's Sweat Vest	Vest	Terylene	S–XXL	From $35.10
Men's vest	Men's Sauna Sweat Vest	Vest	Polyester, spandex	S–5XL	From $16.90
Waist belt	Sauna Sweat Waist Belt	Belt	Polyester/spandex, PU lining	S/M	$63.98
Waist belt, more sizes	Neoprene Sauna Sweat Belt	Belt	Neoprene	S–XXXL	From $31.60
Arms	Arm Sweat Bands 2-Pack	Arm bands	Not stated	Adjustable	$65.58
Legs	Women's Neoprene Sweat Shorts	Shorts	Neoprene	S–3XL	From $14.86

Sauna suit FAQ

Do sauna suits help you lose weight?

Any weight you lose while wearing a sauna suit is water lost through sweat, and it comes back when you rehydrate. Healthline notes that weight lost during heavy sweating is "primarily due to fluid loss." We do not claim sauna suits cause fat loss, and you should never use one to cut weight quickly.

Are sauna suits safe?

They raise heat strain, so they carry real risk if misused. Mayo Clinic lists clothing that doesn't let sweat evaporate as a cause of heat exhaustion, and a CDC report linked vapor-impermeable suits, hard exercise and heat to dehydration and heat illness in three wrestler deaths. Use one only for short, moderate workouts, hydrate well, stop at the first warning sign and talk to your doctor first if you have a heart condition or are pregnant.

Can I wear a sauna suit inside a sauna?

We advise against it. A sauna already raises your body temperature, and a suit stops sweat from cooling you, which stacks the heat load. Wear normal sauna attire, and consider a sauna hat to keep your head comfortable.

How long should I wear a sauna suit?

We can't give you a safe time limit, so keep sessions short, start with a light workout and stop immediately if you feel dizzy, nauseated, weak or confused. Remove the suit and cool down after each session.

What size sauna suit should I buy?

Measure your chest and waist and compare to the listing's size chart. Full suits should be loose enough to move and remove easily; vests and belts should be snug but let you breathe deeply. Our men's vest uses Asian sizing, which can run small.

How do I wash a sauna suit?

Follow the care label. Rinse or wipe the lining after each use, hand wash in cold water where the label allows, and hang to dry fully before storing.

Sources: CDC/NIOSH, Heat-Related Illnesses; Mayo Clinic, Heat exhaustion: Symptoms and causes; CDC MMWR, Hyperthermia and Dehydration-Related Deaths Associated with Intentional Rapid Weight Loss in Three Collegiate Wrestlers (1998); Healthline, Sauna Suit Benefits; product specifications from each linked SaunaMoose product listing.