Essex 4 Person Barrel Sauna

The only 4-seat barrel in our data with an 8 kW heater, at $5,984, which is 13 percent above the barrel median per seat.

Essex puts a larger heater in a 4-seat barrel: 8 kW against 6 kW on every other four-seat barrel. That is 2 kW per seat, above the 1.5 typical here. It is 71 inches long and 82.4 by 85.9 in cross section, roomier than the 78 by 75.4 of the Watoga or Audra.

It costs $5,984, $1,319 more than the Watoga, and per seat it is $1,496, 13 percent above the barrel median. The extra buys a faster warm-up and headroom, not seats. Choose it if you sauna in cold winters, or if you are tall. If not, the Pinnacle gives the same length for $681 less. Almost Heaven states a Limited Lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects; the Harvia heater has its own, 1 year on the elements and 5 on other parts. No weight is listed. Finnish Sauna Builders is the one store we list.