Sunlighten mPulse, Clearlight Sanctuary 2 and SaunaSpace Faraday are the three premium IR saunas serious buyers shortlist when IR is the chosen heat source. Three different bets within premium IR — Sunlighten on programmable full-spectrum, Clearlight on Jacuzzi-backed combined full-spectrum, SaunaSpace on near-IR incandescent with Faraday-cage shielding.
Sunlighten mPulse 3-in-1, Clearlight Sanctuary 2 or SaunaSpace Faraday: which is better?
WINNER: Sunlighten mPulse 3-in-1
Sunlighten mPulse wins on wavelength rigour and per-wavelength control. Clearlight on its Jacuzzi-backed lifetime warranty. SaunaSpace on near-IR purity and EMF discipline. Three premium picks, three different philosophies.
Sunlighten mPulse 3-in-1 vs Clearlight Sanctuary 2 vs SaunaSpace Faraday — head-to-head comparison by criterion
Criterion
Winner
Why
Wavelength implementation
Sunlighten mPulse 3-in-1
Sunlighten: separate near/mid/far emitter systems with per-session programmable control. Clearlight: combined full-spectrum True Wave heaters. SaunaSpace: near-IR-only via tungsten incandescent.
EMF discipline
SaunaSpace Faraday
SaunaSpace: full Faraday-cage shielding (most rigorous). Sunlighten: <1 mG at seated position. Clearlight: marketed as low EMF/ELF without published third-party figures, no Faraday cage.
Model-specific research
Tie
None has an outcome trial of the reviewed model. Sunlighten: one 20-person 2010 pilot on an older model (Sunlight Armana 3). Clearlight: one 12-person, single-session 2026 core-temperature study on the Sanctuary 2, sauna supplied by Clearlight. SaunaSpace: we found no peer-reviewed study.
Practically equal between Sunlighten and Clearlight: both are cabins that need dedicated floor space (Sunlighten 1-person from 4 × 4 ft; Clearlight 2-person 52 × 48 in, 120 V on a 20 A outlet). SaunaSpace is smaller (tent-style or compact cabin), but the tent needs assembly.
SaunaSpace tent: ~$5,000. Sunlighten: ~$6,000. Clearlight Sanctuary 2: $7,299 basswood (official store, 2026-10-01). SaunaSpace is cheapest; Clearlight is now the priciest of the three.
Choose Sunlighten mPulse 3-in-1
Choose Sunlighten mPulse if programmable per-wavelength control (near + mid + far separately) is the deciding criterion.
Choose Clearlight Sanctuary 2
Choose Clearlight Sanctuary 2 if you want Jacuzzi-backed lifetime heater warranty and full-spectrum IR, and the higher price ($7,299 basswood) is acceptable.
Choose SaunaSpace Faraday
Choose SaunaSpace Faraday if near-IR-only incandescent delivery and full Faraday-cage EMF shielding are your bet on IR-sauna philosophy.
The short version
Three premium IR saunas with three different philosophies. Sunlighten on programmable full-spectrum, Clearlight on Jacuzzi-backed combined full-spectrum, SaunaSpace on near-IR-only with Faraday-cage shielding. All three premium-tier; pick on which philosophy fits your IR-sauna goal.
When is Sunlighten mPulse the right pick?
For users wanting programmable per-wavelength control (near / mid / far separately). The category reference for premium full-spectrum.
When is Clearlight Sanctuary 2 the right pick?
For users wanting Jacuzzi-backed lifetime heater warranty and full-spectrum IR and willing to pay the most of the three ($7,299 basswood). The basswood and mahogany options suit buyers who want to avoid cedar.
When is SaunaSpace Faraday the right pick?
For users specifically wanting near-IR-only via tungsten-filament incandescent bulbs and full Faraday-cage EMF shielding. The biohacker premium for near-IR purists.
Common questions
Which premium IR sauna is best?
Sunlighten mPulse for programmable full-spectrum. Clearlight Sanctuary 2 for its Jacuzzi-backed lifetime warranty. SaunaSpace Faraday for near-IR-only and full Faraday-cage EMF shielding. Three philosophies, three premium picks.
Is full-spectrum IR better than near-IR-only?
Different bets. Full-spectrum delivers heating across near, mid and far wavelengths — broader thermal effect. Near-IR-only (SaunaSpace) targets the wavelengths closer to natural sunlight, which the maker says penetrate deeper into tissue; a health benefit of that has not been shown. SaunaSpace bets on spectrum specificity; Sunlighten and Clearlight bet on spectrum breadth.
Does the EMF difference between these matter?
For users specifically prioritising EMF discipline — SaunaSpace’s Faraday cage is in a class of its own. For most users, Sunlighten’s documented low EMF (<1 mG) is more than adequate; Clearlight markets low EMF/ELF, so ask for its current test report if EMF matters to you.
Which has the deepest research backing?
None has strong device-specific research. Sunlighten’s only published trial is a 20-person 2010 pilot on an older model (Sunlight Armana 3); the Clearlight Sanctuary 2 has one small, single-session 2026 core-temperature study, on a sauna Clearlight supplied; we found no peer-reviewed study of SaunaSpace saunas. Sauna outcome evidence comes mainly from traditional Finnish sauna cohorts, which do not apply to infrared cabins.
Are warranties comparable?
Clearlight wins on paper with lifetime heater warranty (Jacuzzi backing). Sunlighten: 7-year. SaunaSpace: 5-year. In practice premium IR sauna heaters in any of these brands rarely fail before 10–15 years.