SweatTent: The Portable Sauna We Use for Events, Recovery & Regulating Our Energy
Discover why this portable wood-fired sauna is our go-to tool for nervous system recovery, event healing spaces, and connection. Plus: our affiliate code to save on SweatTent.
From Burnout to Body Wisdom
There’s a moment—right before the stove starts to crackle—when everything shifts.
The air is still, the space is set, and I know what’s coming: a regulated, reset nervous system, deep sleep later that night, and the kind of connection that only happens when people sit in fire-warmed silence together.
That’s what this sauna does.
That’s what the SweatTent has offered us, over and over again.
And yes, it’s portable. Yes, it’s wood-fired. But for us, it’s more than a product—it’s part of our healing ecosystem.
Why We Chose a Portable Wood-Fired Sauna (and Bought Four)
Living in Austin, Texas, the idea of a sauna might sound insane. It gets hot. But as we discovered firsthand, sauna is actually the best way to cool down, because it activates your body’s natural cooling mechanisms.
My partner Kai is an MMA athlete with a focus on Brazilian Jiujitsu, and the recovery benefits were impossible to ignore. Saunas helped us sleep deeper, bounce back faster, and feel mentally clear.
That’s why we co-founded Big Wave—to bring this kind of accessible, primal wellness to more people.
When we discovered SweatTent—a portable, wood-fired sauna you could pop up in your driveway or at an event?
Say less. We were in before it even hit the market. We purchased 3 of the pre-orders before they were even available. We found this was our favorite wood-fired sauna for home use and especially the best wood-fired sauna for home renters, because of ease of set up, no need for a permanent location, and could fit in a closet once in it’s storage bags. You do need to have an out door space with adequate clearance.
What Makes SweatTent Different
This isn’t a cheap pop-up or a flimsy gimmick. Here’s what we’ve personally experienced:
🔥 10-minute setup (yes, really)
🔥 20–25 minutes to heat (up to 200–260°F if you want to push it)
🔥 Fits in the back of a Ford Fusion (no SUV required)
🔥 Holds up over years of event use
🔥 Portable, wood-fired, and ritual-ready
While you’ll want to stay organized (there are several components), we just use a plastic storage bin to keep everything together. We’ve brought these to a dozen events, from retreats to veteran healing events, and they’ve delivered every time.
One thing we always recommend: treat it like a high-end tent. Don’t leave it up in direct sun or wild weather for weeks on end. Respect the materials and they’ll last you years. Since we have the first versions, your stove may look upgraded from ours, which is great news because who doesn’t love a company who keeps working to improve and make the best product available?
Infrared vs. Wood-Fired Sauna: What's Best?
We get this question a lot. The truth? Both are powerful, but they serve different purposes.
Infrared Saunas:
Better for gentle detox
Ideal if you have respiratory issues or prefer lower heat
Uses radiant heat to penetrate the skin and support circulation
Wood-Fired (like SweatTent):
Hotter, more intense experience
Allows for steam, which infrared (typically) cannot provide
Best if you crave that traditional, elemental heat
Doubles as a community ritual in a way few other tools can
We personally don’t think one is better than the other, because it’s all about the context of your health goal. I love infrared some days and other days I’m all about that classic fire. As someone who used to avoid heat, I was shocked to find that I loved the regular sauna and how I could work with it to actually trained my body to regulate temperature better. And once I felt the sleep upgrade? I never looked back.
Our Favorite Part? It’s Not Just Physical.
One of my favorite SweatTent memories was during a veterans wellness event. We had our cold plunges set up, the fire stoves lit, and the saunas steaming.
People stepped in from all walks of life—warriors, parents, friends—and the minute that heat wrapped around us, a stillness settled in. Phones were left behind. Conversations softened. Something settled around us. We weren’t just sweating. We were remembering.
Connection. Ritual. Challenge.
And yes—healing.
That’s something people don’t talk about enough: how this portable sauna has become a community-building tool, not just a wellness device. Whether it’s close friends, clients, or strangers at a pop-up event, something sacred happens when we sit in heat together.
Who SweatTent Is For
We recommend this sauna to:
Wellness-minded women who are craving more rest, regulation, and ritual without relying on screens or supplements alone
Mothers and caregivers ready to carve out intentional time for themselves—to reconnect with their body with sovereignty. This is sacred self-care, not background noise.
Coaches, facilitators, and retreat hosts who want to create meaningful, body based experiences using heat, presence, and natural elements
Creative entrepreneurs and conscious professionals seeking nervous system support that’s portable, powerful, and unplugged
Athletes, dancers, and performers who want real recovery and muscle growth without expensive memberships or static locations
Veterans, trauma survivors, and healing-centered humans exploring non-verbal, body-first ways to reconnect with themselves
Anyone ready to reintroduce sacred sweat, self-trust, and grounded connection into their daily life—on their own terms
You don’t need a backyard spa.
You don’t need to remodel your house.
You just need a little fire and a space to breathe.
After going full in we decided to become an affiliate!
We’ve been using SweatTent for years—personally and professionally. We believe in it so much, we became affiliates.
So if you're ready to invest in something that supports your body and builds connection?
👉 Use our affiliate code BIGWAVE at checkout to $100 off your order.
(And yes, we receive a small thank-you from the company when you do.)
This isn’t just a product. It’s a practice.
And it’s one I’ll never stop recommending.
With you on the journey,
Kelly & Kai
