Buyer's guides

Short reads to help you decide before you buy, built from the manufacturers' published specifications. Where a maker does not publish something, the guide says so.

Saunas

• Infrared vs traditional outdoor sauna: which should you buy?
  Infrared or traditional outdoor sauna? Compare heat, power and wiring, delivery, warranty and price, with real models.
• Outdoor vs indoor sauna: what actually changes?
  What to weigh before choosing a backyard sauna or an indoor one: weather, winter warm-up, clearances, power and permits. Uses Sun Home's published guidance.
• How much space does an outdoor sauna need?
  Footprint, height, weight and power for four Sun Home outdoor saunas, plus what to prepare before delivery. Uses the manufacturer's listed sizes.
• How much does an outdoor sauna cost to run?
  Work out your outdoor sauna's electricity cost with a simple formula and a calculator. Uses real heater ratings and circuit sizes, and your own power rate.
• Sun Home Luminar 2-person vs 5-person outdoor infrared sauna
  Size, heaters, 240V circuit, weight, price and warranty for both Luminar models, from the maker's published specs.
• Sun Home Solaris 4 vs Solaris 6: which traditional outdoor sauna?
  Size, HUUM heater, hardwired power, weight, lead time, warranty and price for both Solaris models.

Cold plunges

• Cold plunge with a chiller vs an ice bath: is it worth it?
  A tub of ice or a cold plunge with a chiller? Compare setup, daily effort, water quality, temperature control and cost, with real chiller bundles.
• What does a home cold plunge need: space, power and water?
  Size, filled weight, plug, water and drainage for three Canuck Cold Plunges tub and chiller bundles, from their listed specs. Includes what the pages do not say.
• What does a cold plunge chiller cost to run?
  A formula and calculator for a cold plunge chiller's electricity cost, with the specs Canuck publishes and the numbers it does not.
• Portable vs acrylic cold plunge with a chiller: which should you buy?
  Canuck Cold Plunges portable and acrylic bundles compared: size, water volume, who fits, shipping and returns.

Backyard pods

• Which backyard pod size is right for you?
  MetroPod, WorkPod or StudioPod: how to pick a backyard office pod by yard size, how you'll use it, ceiling height and windows. Sizes compared in one table.
• Does a backyard office pod need a foundation or an electrician?
  What a WorkPod backyard office needs: ground, power, permits and install time, using Autonomous's listed specs. Includes what the page does not say.
• Do you need a permit for a backyard office?
  How US permit rules usually treat small backyard offices and prefab pods, what still needs approval, and the questions to ask your building department.

Casitas

• Boxabl Casita or backyard pod: which do you need?
  Size, price, kitchen and bath, shipping and approvals compared for Boxabl's Casita and Autonomous's backyard pods, from the makers' published listings.
• What does a Boxabl Casita need before it arrives?
  Foundation, utility hookups, permits and shipping for a Boxabl Casita, from Boxabl's own pages, plus what Boxabl does not say.