Wood vs Gas Sauna Tent
They chop wood. You turn a dial.
A portable gas sauna tent gives you the same rolling löyly as a wood-fired one — without chopping, carrying, lighting or tending a fire. Hot in about 15 minutes, no smoke, no ash, no chimney.
First UK retail partner for FinSteam · CE-certified gas heater · Hot in 15 min
The honest trade-off, up front
Wood-fired sauna tents are brilliant, and they're cheaper to buy — we won't pretend otherwise (we sell them too). But every single session, a wood tent asks the same things of you: chop and carry the wood, light it, feed it for 30–45 minutes, sit with the smoke, then clear the ash and keep the chimney swept.
A gas sauna tent removes all of that for one trade: it costs a bit more up front, because the gas heater is the difference. If that trade — convenience for a higher buy price — sounds worth it, gas is for you. If you love tending a fire, buy the wood one, and buy it from us.
Wood vs gas, side by side
| Wood-fired tent | Gas tent (FinSteam) | |
|---|---|---|
| Getting hot | 30–45 min, keep feeding the fire | ~15 min, then leave it |
| Every session | Chop / carry wood, light, tend, clear ash | Turn a dial |
| Smoke & smell | Yes — plus a chimney to sweep | None — fine in smoke-control areas |
| Safety | Open fire, hot flue, embers | Sealed flame, oxygen cut-off (ODS), press-button ignition |
| Running cost | ~£2–£4 a session | ~£2–£3 a session |
| Buy price | Lower | Higher — the gas heater is the difference |
| Best for | Fire lovers, lowest upfront cost | Anyone who wants the sauna, not the chores |
Yes, it's a real sauna
The purists are right that löyly — the soft wave of steam off hot stones — is what makes a sauna a sauna. Here's the part people miss: that heat comes from the mass of the stones and the water you throw on them, not from how the stones were warmed. A FinSteam heater holds over 20 kg of real sauna stones and brings them to full heat with a clean propane flame. Same rolling löyly, same deep enveloping heat — you just skip the smoke, the embers and the hour spent feeding a fire.
What it actually costs to run
A typical hour-long session burns about 0.6 kg of propane. What that costs depends on your bottle:
- Portable 6 kg bottle — best for a tent you move around (~12 kg full): ~£3 a session.
- 13 kg bottle — cheaper, for a tent that stays put: ~£2–£2.50 a session.
You buy the bottle once (a one-off £40–£70 Cylinder Refill Agreement — not a deposit), then only ever pay the cheap refill. Always propane, not butane — butane fails near freezing, and winter is peak sauna season. Gas isn't the cheapest fuel to run; it's about level with electric and in the same band as wood. The saving was never the fuel — it's the fire you never have to light.
Built safe, certified in Europe
- The cylinder stays outside, connected with the UK propane regulator + hose we include.
- Oxygen Depletion System — if the flame fails or oxygen drops, the gas shuts off automatically.
- Press-button piezo ignition — no open flame to light, no matches.
- CE-certified — FinSteam is the first LPG sauna heater in Europe certified under the EU Gas Appliance Regulation, tested to −20°C.
The gas tent range
Ember Base
A real gas sauna tent, floor seating — the simplest way in.
From £2,495Ember Complete
Adds a cedar bench so you sit up in the heat.
£2,695NOIR (premium)
Aurora heater with a 60-min safety timer, two-tier benches.
From £3,995NOIR Dome
Commercial: up to 12 people, twin heaters — for hire & events.
From £6,295Browse the gas tents → · Prefer the fire? Our wood entry starts at £1,850.
Why Steam & Oak
- First UK retail partner for FinSteam — we import it, stock it in the UK, and stand behind it.
- Chosen and checked by our founder, a BSc Biology specialist.
- 24-month UK warranty & UK support, plus 0% finance over 12 months.
- Find us on Instagram.
Questions, answered
Is a gas sauna tent a "real" sauna?
Yes. The heat and löyly come from 20 kg+ of real sauna stones and the water you throw on them — the flame just heats the stones cleanly, without smoke or ash.
Is it cheaper than a wood-fired tent?
No — it costs a bit more to buy, because the gas heater is the difference. What you get for it is no fire to chop, light or tend, no smoke, and heat in about 15 minutes. Running cost is about the same (~£2–£3 a session).
Do I need an electrician or a gas engineer?
Neither. It runs off a portable propane bottle that sits outside, connected with the included UK regulator and hose — a freestanding appliance you self-connect, like a gas barbecue.
Which gas bottle should I use?
A portable 6 kg bottle for a tent you move around (~£3 a session), or a 13 kg bottle if it stays put (~£2–£2.50). Always propane, not butane.
How long does it take to heat up?
About 15 minutes, lit at the press of a button.
Can I use it in a smoke-control area?
Yes — gas produces no smoke, so it sidesteps the wood-burning restrictions in most UK cities.
Not sure which gas tent fits?
Tell us your space and how many people you sauna with, and we'll point you to the right one. No call centre — just a real conversation.
