Sauna accessories worth buying (and what to skip)
Buy a thermometer and hygrometer first: the Andelov reads 68 to 212°F and 0 to 100% humidity, needs no batteries and is the cheapest thing here. Add a wool felt hat if your sessions run long, and a backrest only if your bench has no back. Skip the 10-piece kits and the sand timer; a clock on the wall does the timer's job.
Worth it or skip it
Worth buying
Thermometer and hygrometer, a wool hat, a backrest. Each has a job, and each is below.
Skip
Bundled kits, the sand timer, the aroma cup. A clock times the session, and most kit pieces go unused.
Three accessories that earn a place
Specs are as each maker or seller states them. Scores are our reading of those specs, out of 5; we have not tested these accessories. Price bands compare the picks on this page, from $ (lowest) to $$$$. Amazon shows today's price.
1Buy this first: the cheapest, and the one you read every session
Andelov sauna thermometer and hygrometer with lanyard mount
- Made of
- Aluminum alloy case, no batteries (listing)
- Size
- Lanyard adjusts from 5 to 21 in (listing)
- What it does
- 68 to 212°F and 0 to 100% humidity, dial display (listing)
- Returns
- Free 30-day refund or replacement (listing)
- Price
- $ lowest price of the picks here
4.4 / 5 our spec score
One dial for temperature and one for humidity, on a lanyard that hangs or mounts to the wall. The seller states the ranges and says it needs no batteries, which matters in a hot room. It does not tell you your sauna is safe; it tells you the number, and your sauna maker's manual says what is safe.
Good
- Cheapest here
- Ranges stated
- No batteries to fail in the heat
Watch for
- Fahrenheit only
- Few reviews yet
2Worth it for long sessions, and it comes as a pair
Halsa wool felt sauna hat, 2 pack
- Made of
- 100% wool felt (seller)
- Size
- One size, sold as two hats (listing)
- What it does
- Heat protection for the head in sauna, steam room or banya (seller)
- Returns
- Free 30-day refund or replacement (listing)
- Price
- $$ mid price of the picks here
3.5 / 5 our spec score
A wool felt hat is the traditional Finnish and Russian answer to a hot head. The listing states 100% wool felt and one size, and little else: no weight, no dimensions. It comes as a pair, so it suits two people or a spare. Whether a hat helps you is personal; try a folded wet towel first.
Good
- Two hats in the box
- 100% wool felt (seller)
- Free 30-day refund
Watch for
- Few details on the listing
- No weight or size given
3Only if your bench has no back
Northwood Sauna cedar backrest
- Made of
- Canadian red cedar wood (seller)
- Size
- 20.47 x 15.51 x 2.76 in, 1.59 lb (listing)
- What it does
- S-shaped back support with non-slip pads, for dry, barrel or infrared saunas (seller)
- Returns
- Free 30-day refund or replacement (listing)
- Price
- $$$ higher price of the picks here
3.5 / 5 our spec score
A single piece of cedar shaped to your back, with non-slip pads on its base. Northwood states the weight and size, so you can check it against your bench. The seller says it also covers your back from infrared panels. It costs the most here, and is the only item on this list that is a comfort, not a tool.
Good
- Size and weight stated
- Non-slip pads
- Fits dry, barrel or infrared
Watch for
- Costs the most here
- Skip if your bench has a back
Also worth a look
- Classic wool felt sauna hat, deep black, single hat
One hat, not a pair, in black. Its listing gives few details beyond the material.
Most sauna accessories are padding. Three are worth your money.
What we left out, and why
We did not rank a bucket and ladle set. A bucket and ladle is for throwing water on hot stones, and most infrared cabins have none. The sets we checked on Amazon were bundled kits with few reviews, mixed ratings, or no stock. We also left out the sand timer: your phone or a wall clock does the same job, and the timer we checked was not worth a slot. Aromatherapy cups and kit extras came last.
Thermometer and hygrometer: the one to buy
A hygrometer measures humidity. A traditional sauna’s feel changes with humidity as much as with temperature, and many infrared cabins show only temperature, so a second gauge is useful. Check the range matches your sauna: Andelov covers 68 to 212°F, enough for the two cabins in our one-person sauna guide, which stop at 140°F.
Hats and backrests: nice, not needed
A wool hat is for people whose heads get hot first. A backrest matters if your bench has no back. Both come down to how you sit, so try a session at a studio first. We review products; we are not clinicians. If you feel unwell in a sauna, get out and cool down.
Try a sauna before you equip one
Find a sauna near you and see what a studio gives you for the price, or read our home sauna guide before you buy accessories for one you do not own yet.
Questions people ask
- What do I need to start a home sauna?
- A way to read the temperature. Many infrared cabins have a built-in display; if yours does not, a thermometer is the first thing to buy. A towel to sit on and water to drink come next, and neither is on this page.
- Is a sauna kit worth it?
- Rarely. The kits we looked at bundle a bucket, ladle, thermometer, hourglass and extras, and their reviews were thin or low. Buying the one or two items you will use is cheaper and lets you pick each one.
- Do I need a hat?
- No. A wool felt hat is a tradition, and some people find it makes a long session easier. A folded wet towel does a similar job for nothing.
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Products and stock checked on Amazon Oct 5, 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.