A traditional sauna uses a wood or electric stove to heat rocks, which then warm the air to between 180 and 195 degrees Fahrenheit, creating the dry heat that defines the experience, while infrared saunas use light panels to heat your body directly at lower air temperatures of roughly 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Stove and Rocks That Define Traditional Heat
At the heart of every traditional sauna sits a stove, either wood-burning or electric, heating a pile of rocks until they glow. These rocks function as a thermal battery: they absorb and store heat during the firing cycle, then radiate it steadily into the room, holding air temperature in the 180 to 195 degree Fahrenheit range that characterizes the Finnish-style dry sauna [1]. When you pour water on them, the löyly (steam) creates the signature burst of humidity, but the dry heat always returns as that moisture dissipates.
Why Air Temperature Matters
Traditional saunas work by heating the air first. That hot air then warms your skin, and your skin warms the rest of you. This indirect path explains why the air needs to be so punishingly hot: it is the middleman in the heat transfer. The rocks' ability to store and radiate heat creates the stable high-temperature environment that Finnish researchers have tied to long-term health benefits. Infrared cabins, by contrast, run at roughly 150 degrees Fahrenheit, because they bypass the air and heat tissue directly with light, which is precisely why they require a lower ambient temperature [2].
The Finnish Evidence for Frequency
The strongest case for traditional saunas comes from Finland, where researchers followed over 2,000 men for about twenty years. Those using a sauna four to seven times weekly showed about 40 percent lower all-cause mortality than men going just once a week [3]. The same group had roughly half the fatal cardiovascular events [4]. Temperature wasn't the variable: frequency was.
One Physical Reality Worth Knowing
The testicles evolved to sit a few degrees below core body temperature, and whole-body heating at 180-plus degrees raises scrotal temperature along with everything else [5]. A study following men through three months of twice-weekly sauna sessions documented a measurable rise in scrotal temperature alongside significant reductions in sperm count and motility [6]. It is simply the physics of immersing your entire body in very hot air, and it is worth accounting for if frequency is high.
Cooling the scrotum
Oakman addresses the one downside of traditional sauna heat without changing the experience. The boxer briefs feature a removable cold pack in a medical-grade nylon shell that sits in a front pocket, with a layer of soft fabric between it and the skin. This keeps the testicles nearer their ideal temperature while the rest of you soaks in the full 195 degrees.
The fabric is TENCEL-branded MicroModal, derived from beech wood pulp and blended with ROICA V550, a Japanese clean stretch fiber. The fibers are about 20 percent finer than standard modal, and the Siro-spun construction twists two strands into one stronger yarn. An athletic fit with a gusset, an extra panel of fabric, gives the testicles room and airflow whether you're in the sauna or going about your day.
Join the Founding 100
Oakman is sauna cooling for men, launching early fall 2026. Founding members get first access and founding pricing locked in. Reserve your spot.
Frequently asked questions
How hot should a traditional sauna be?
Aim for 180 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Start lower if you're new to sauna use, and gradually increase temperature as your body adapts over several weeks.
Can you use a traditional sauna every day?
Finnish research shows the most benefit at four to seven sessions weekly. Daily use is common in Finland and aligns with the strongest health outcomes in the studies.
What's the difference between traditional and infrared saunas?
Traditional saunas heat the air to 180 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit using a stove and rocks, while infrared saunas use light panels to heat your body directly at lower air temperatures of roughly 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why do traditional saunas use rocks?
The rocks store and radiate heat, maintaining the high air temperature that defines the traditional sauna experience. They also create steam (löyly) when water is poured on them.
This is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It makes no claim about fertility, sperm, or testosterone outcomes from any product. Always talk with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health routine. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Oakman products are apparel and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
References
- Hussain J, Cohen M. (2018). Clinical Effects of Regular Dry Sauna Bathing: A Systematic Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. [Link]
- Beever R. (2009). Far-infrared saunas for treatment of cardiovascular risk factors: summary of published evidence. Canadian Family Physician. [Link]
- Laukkanen T, Khan H, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen JA. (2015). Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality Events. JAMA Internal Medicine. [Link]
- Laukkanen T, Kunutsor SK, Khan H, Willeit P, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen JA. (2018). Sauna bathing is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and improves risk prediction in men and women: a prospective cohort study. BMC Medicine (Springer Nature). [Link]
- Ivell R. (2007). Lifestyle impact and the biology of the human scrotum. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (BioMed Central). [Link]
- Garolla A, et al.. (2013). Seminal and molecular evidence that sauna exposure affects human spermatogenesis. Human Reproduction. [Link]
