NOIR L Elite — FinSteam Premium Portable Sauna for 2-4 People (Aurora Heater)

Steam & Oak is the first UK retail partner for FinSteam.

The premium upgrade — Aurora heater + bigger bench, complete in one buy

NOIR L Elite is the FinSteam package built around the newer Aurora 81 — the design-led 8.1 kW gas heater that's become FinSteam's flagship. Premium black tent, premium heater, a longer 1600 mm Poppel bench, 40 kg of stones, and the UK gas kit. Delivered in one consignment, ready to use the day stock arrives. Pitched in under a minute, hot in 15, comfortable for 2 to 4 people. No electrician, no chimney, no consumer-unit upgrade, no fire to tend.

Why a gas sauna at all (and why it beats wood-fired or electric)

The UK portable-sauna market is split between two compromises. Wood-fired tents bring a chimney to fit through the roof, smoke and ash to clean up, a 30-45 minute warm-up, fire-tending mid-session, and the standing fire risk of a live flame in fabric. Cheap electric steam pods are dry, lightweight, frequently unrated for safety, and tied to a wall socket so they don't work where the mains can't reach. The FinSteam NOIR is the third path: gas-powered, no electricity, no chimney, no live fire — engineered as a sauna from the start.

A clever piece of engineering — the certified safety case

Running gas safely inside a small, enclosed, oxygen-hungry space is genuinely hard — which is why most "gas saunas" you see online aren't certified for it. FinSteam solved it with patented burner technology delivering clean, stable combustion, wrapped in two layers of automatic safety. The Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) continuously monitors the oxygen level and automatically shuts off the gas if it drops to approximately 18% — well above any level dangerous to occupants. Flame monitoring cuts the gas instantly if the flame is lost. FinSteam's stated claim: the only CE-marked, electricity-free sauna gas heater on the European market. AENOR-tested under EU Gas Appliance Regulation 2016/426. Zero warranty returns on the heater across the last 12 months.

What's in the L Elite package — every piece explained

1. FinSteam Fritid X premium black sauna tent

The premium version of FinSteam's portable sauna tent system, in deep matt black with a two-entrance connectable design. The tent and the heater are designed and manufactured as a single safety-engineered system — vent openings sized to match the heater's airflow, fabric specified to handle combustion warmth, certified together under EU Regulation 2016/426. You don't add ventilation, modify the tent, or specify a base — FinSteam have done that work and it's on the EU certificate.

• Floor: 180 × 180 cm. Height: 180 cm at the sides, 207 cm at the centre.
• Internal volume: 8 m³ — sized for 2 to 4 people comfortably.
• Required pitching space: 240 × 240 × 220 cm.
• Setup time: under a minute. Integrated pop-up frame, no tools, no loose poles.
• Fabric: 3-layer engineered insulated construction. Outer Oxford 420D polyester with waterproof coating (2000 mm rating). Middle 150 g/m² polyester fibre fill. Inner Oxford 210D smooth heat-retaining liner.
• Vent openings sized and positioned for the FinSteam heater's airflow. Most sauna tents on the market do NOT meet FinSteam's ventilation and safety standards — the Fritid X is engineered around the heater from day one.
• Two entrances — one for sauna use, the second is built-in and sealed, and connectable to a second Fritid X if you scale to NOIR XXL later.

2. FinSteam Aurora 81 R14 gas sauna heater (the upgrade vs M)

The Aurora 81 is FinSteam's newer premium 8.1 kW heater — the modern design language, intended for builds where the heater itself is part of the aesthetic. Heating performance is identical to the Botnia 81 in NOIR M — same chassis, same patented burner, same certifications, same heat-up time. What you're buying with the L upgrade is the newer design and the heater FinSteam currently consider their flagship, not extra power or extra safety.

• Power: 8.1 kW.
• Gas: UK propane (I3P 37 mbar). Included regulator + hose ships pre-configured.
• Gas consumption: 0.6 kg/h at full output. A UK 13 kg propane bottle runs the heater at full output ~20 hours; throttled, much longer.
• Heat-up: 15-20 minutes from cold to 70-75°C in normal UK conditions.
• Dimensions: 61 × 51 × 30 cm. Weight: ~9.8 kg.
• Sauna size range: 4-12 m³ insulated. The Fritid X (8 m³) sits mid-range.
• Includes the Orbis 14 stone cage fitted. 20-25 kg+ stone capacity.
• Certification: EU Type-Examination Certificate, AENOR-tested under Gas Appliance Regulation 2016/426. ODS + flame monitoring.

3. Poppel 1600 sauna bench (the bench upgrade vs M)

Spanish-made solid poplar wood, 200 mm longer than the 1400 mm in NOIR M. Poplar is the traditional sauna-bench wood: lightweight, stays cool to the touch when the sauna is hot, naturally low resin so it doesn't bleed sap. Made in Spain by FinSteam's bench supplier.

• 1600 mm length — comfortable seating for 3 people across the Fritid X.
• Solid wood, no veneers, no panel-board.
• Drops into the Fritid X without adjustment.
• The size FinSteam build into the NOIR L tier specifically — proportional to the heater tier.

4. 40 kg pre-washed FinSteam sauna stones

Sized to fit the Orbis 14 cage. 40 kg is the right thermal density for proper löyly response — ladle water on, the stones hiss and release a real steam burst, not the underwhelming puff you get from skimped stone loads. Pre-washed, ready to load. Burn off outdoors or with the sauna open on first use (normal new-stone procedure). 40 kg lasts most domestic users 3-5 years.

5. UK propane regulator + 1.2 m CE-marked gas hose

The bit that's missing from FinSteam's standard heater shipment by design — they don't ship country-specific gas fittings. Steam & Oak include the UK kit with every NOIR package so you can light the heater on the day stock lands.

• UK propane regulator, I3P 37 mbar — the FinSteam-specified pressure for propane.
• 27 mm clip-on connector — fits standard UK Calor 13 kg propane bottles.
• CE-marked gas hose, internal Ø ≥ 9 mm, 1.2 m length — to FinSteam's spec.
• For commercial / hire use with larger propane bottles (POL screw, 19-47 kg), get in touch before ordering.

Made in Finland. Designed as a system. Backed by a track record.

Every component is FinSteam-engineered and matched. The Aurora 81 is manufactured in Finland by FinSteam Ab Oy with all components sourced from Europe. Spare parts ship direct from the factory. As the official first UK retail partner, Steam & Oak holds UK stock, handles UK service and warranty work, and gives you a real phone number when something needs attention.

Portable by default. Gas Safe registered if you fix it down.

The heater ships as a portable LPG appliance — connected outside to a propane bottle via the included 37 mbar regulator and CE-marked hose, like a patio heater. Used this way, you do not need a Gas Safe registered engineer. If you choose to permanently fix or build the heater into a fixed structure, UK regulations require the gas connection to be made by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

L vs M, and what the step up to XL adds

Two specific upgrades from M to L:

• Heater: Aurora 81 R14 instead of Botnia 81 R14. Same power, same safety case, newer design language.
• Bench: Poppel 1600 instead of Poppel 1400. 200 mm more seating, more comfortable for 3-person regular use.

If those two upgrades aren't important to you, the M is the smarter buy — identical heating performance at £500 less. If you want the FinSteam current-flagship heater and a slightly bigger bench, L is the right choice. Step up to NOIR XL Signature (£4,495) for the Aurora R14S — the same heater plus the Halo safety rail and Njord heat shield included as standard, and the bench scaled to 1800 mm. Step up to NOIR XXL Signature (£5,495) for two Fritid X tents (sauna + connectable changing room / cold-plunge antechamber / sleep tent).

Who it's for

• Buyers who want the newer Aurora heater rather than the original Botnia, and care about the design distinction.
• Households where 3 people use the sauna together routinely.
• Buyers for whom the M's £3,495 isn't the deciding factor — buy the better version once.
• Anyone who wants the current FinSteam flagship heater in a complete package without sourcing components separately.

Not included

• Propane bottle — buy a UK 13 kg Calor propane locally.
• Non-combustible base for the heater (≥30 mm thick, ≥300 × 300 mm).

FAQs

What's actually different about the Aurora vs the Botnia?
Design language and finish. The Aurora is FinSteam's newer line — modern aesthetic, broader sauna-type compatibility (intended for builds where the heater is visible as part of the design). The chassis, power, certification, ODS, flame monitoring, heat-up time and löyly response are identical to the Botnia. You're paying for the newer design, not extra capability.

Is the Aurora safer than the Botnia?
No — safety is identical. Both heaters share the same ODS auto-shutoff (cuts gas at approximately 18% oxygen), the same flame monitoring, the same EU Type-Examination Certificate. The Halo safety rail and Njord heat shield are optional add-ons (or standard in NOIR XL / XXL via the R14S configuration), not an upgrade between Aurora and Botnia.

Why is the L's bench longer than the M's?
Because the L is designed for buyers who use the sauna with 3 people routinely. The Fritid X interior comfortably accommodates a 1600 mm bench; the 200 mm extra over the M's 1400 mm gives the third person proper seating instead of squeezing.

Do I need a Gas Safe engineer?
Not for portable use. Yes if you fix the heater permanently into a structure.

What about ventilation in the tent?
Engineered in. The Fritid X's vent openings are sized and positioned by FinSteam to match the heater's airflow. You don't modify anything.

Can I upgrade to a safety pack later if I change my mind?
Yes — Halo (~£249) and Njord (~£189) are sold standalone, or you can spec NOIR XL Signature which includes both as standard.

Delivery + documents

Free UK delivery. Stock status and lead time shown above the buy button.

Documents available on request: EU Type-Examination Certificate (AENOR) · EU Declaration of Conformity · Installation & safety manual · Ventilation spec · UK gas connection guide.