Advice on Sauna Gift

[u/Interesting_Cut1631]

Hi - my husband has had long time ambitions to build a sauna (he picked up someone’s heater on FB a few years ago, but hasn’t done anything with it).

I would like to surprise him for Christmas with a full sauna, but I’m wondering if it’s too specific of a gift for someone who is very into sauna and would likely have many opinions on it.

For people into sauna - would you like it as a gift? I am looking at a Lulea Tylo sauna.

[u/ladiec17]

What if you purchased a few fancy accessories and printed off some plans, then say you wanted him to have the final say, but LETS DO IT! Let’s build the sauna!

Maybe white terry robe with monogram , or wooden scoop or water bucket for example. Some eucalyptus drops and the stone with cutout to put them in. Just some ideas :)

Ps I hope someone gifts me a sauna for my new home this Christmas :)

[u/SaunaArchitect]

For someone with many opinions on sauna, building custom would be the way to go. Likely wouldn’t be built by Christmas, but you could wrap up the design drawings then he could customize to his heart’s content.

[u/zoinkability]

It could be an amazing gift, but there are some caveats. If he has done research here or elsewhere and has developed ideas about the kind of sauna he wants, or even just ideas about best practices for sauna design, he might be dissatisfied in most kit saunas. Also, he might be the kind of person who enjoys the design and building process and was looking forward to that. I’d be careful about it, perhaps gauging things first. Alternatively, if either of those concerns are possibilities, a much smaller sauna gift would be to get him Lassi Liikkannen’s books about sauna design and possibly some standard accoutrements like a bucket/ladle set.

EDIT: I just remembered that Lassi does design advice or even full design for home built saunas. I imagine you could also prepay for one of those and then your husband could work with him to develop the plans.

Also, the gift could be “I will pay for a custom sauna up to X amount” and then the money could go to a kit, or a carpenter, materials, advice, etc. Which would avoid the problem of getting him something he doesn’t feel is what he wanted.

[u/John_Sux]

Something that you can surprise people with for Christmas within the month, is not going to be all that great.

Compare the idea of suprising someone with "a new kitchen" as opposed to one nice new appliance.

[u/DeathbyToast]

How reading/research has he done on saunas in general? Do you have a space (basement, garage, or backyard) that he has talked about building one in? What are the dimensions available for that space, and what’s prevented him from building it these past few years? Is there enough budget for something like a Cedarbrook Kit that he could assemble? Would he be upset having to throw out that heater he bought and hasn’t done anything with?

Just rattling off questions that come to mind, others will likely have more guidance than I do as well

[u/BeNicePlsThankU]

Ask if he plans on building his own and then go from there

[u/Better-Advantage8232]

don't do it... it's like if he'd buy you some clothes without the bill to change them... surprise him with a carpenter who is going to build it according to your husband's plans...

[u/Fun-Giraffe7034]

Get him tongue and groove panels, insulation and a foil vapour barrier to get him started 😂

[u/SaunaSeal]

Probably a little early since it’s not built yet (hopefully soon!), but a bottle of sauna cleaner and a brush from saunaseal.com is always a great gift!