I Tried This Infrared Sauna Blanket For 6 Months — Here's My Honest Review (+ Save 15%)

Oftentimes all I want at the end of a long workday is an hour on the couch with my favorite show. But while I fully believe mindless television is a form of self-care, I found a new daily habit that's doing a bit more for my well-being: the Bon Charge Infrared Sauna Blanket.

Turns out, this sleeping bag-like device is exactly what my tired body and mind were craving. Keep reading to learn why I love the this sauna blanket, how it's impacted my health, and what sets it apart from other infrared sauna blankets I've tested.

To say I live an active life would be an understatement. When I'm not training for my next marathon, I'm typically out for a walk exploring Brooklyn neighborhoods or getting steps in at my desk.

And my mind stays active throughout the day, too, juggling deadlines, to-do lists, and so on.

Still, I'm just as obsessed with recovery as I am with movement. I geek out on my Oura sleep scores, and I make an effort to carve out time for self-care each day. But a few months ago, I found myself in desperate need of a post-dinner wind-down activity. 

After testing a few of the best infrared sauna blankets, I landed on Bon Charge. Over the past six months, it's become an integral part of my self-care regimen. Three to five days per week, I set aside 45 minutes to relax inside the sleeping-bag-style design. 

Even compared to a similar brand with the same 176-degree Fahrenheit maximum temperature, this blanket feels noticeably warmer.

Since integrating this into my recovery routine, I've noticed a significant decrease in stress. As I mentioned, I'm a bit obsessed with my Oura ring, and the first time I used my Bon Charge Sauna Blanket I was floored to see a monumental spike in my heart rate variability (HRV).

HRV is a metric used to understand how our nervous system affects our heart health3, specifically as it relates to stress and physical activity. Board-certified cardiologist Michael Twyman, M.D., previously told mindbodygreen, "Low heart rate variability is associated with increased stress and lower parasympathetic tone, while high heart rate variability is associated with decreased stress and higher parasympathetic tone."

HRV isn't the only metric I've seen improve since using this sauna blanket. On the nights when I opt for sauna time over TV time, my sleep scores skyrocket.

The marathon runner in me would be remiss not to mention muscle recovery. My body feels more at ease immediately after sessions in my Bon Charge Sauna Blanket.

If sweating up a storm sounds uncomfortable to you, rest assured this blanket is beyond relaxing. The cotton cushioning gives an extra layer of comfort, and the heat is just the right amount to not be overwhelming (the biggest perk of infrared saunas over traditional ones). 

Of course, you don't have to go up to the maximum heat; once you unroll the blanket and place it on a firm, dry surface, simply set your desired temperature using the remote control. 

I choose to keep my arms inside the blanket to really elevate my body temperature (and take a break from screens), but others prefer to multitask on the phone or read a book while lying inside. 

Cleaning the blanket is easy, too. When I'm done with my session, I simply wipe down the inside with a damp towel and let it cool and dry before packing the blanket away in the incredibly convenient carrying case.

Needless to say, I truly value time spent in my sauna blanket. This particular model warms up quickly, keeps the heat trapped in, and has resulted in some pretty significant, data-backed benefits. 

My one qualm is that, at nearly 20 pounds, the blanket is fairly heavy. So, while the carrying case is convenient, the blanket still isn't very easy to transport. 

My sleep scores don't lie: The Bon Charge Infrared Sauna Blanket helps my muscles recover faster and keeps my mind and body at ease. Of course, some nights I still plop down in front of the TV—but I feel significantly better when I opt for a sauna session instead. And I swear my skin is glowing, too.