Last checked: 2 November 2026. Prices shown are the brand’s own RRP in AUD and change often, so check with the brand before you buy.
Quick answer
If you already own a sauna, the add-ons worth looking at are a temperature controlled mattress topper for sleep (Eight Sleep Pod at the top end, cheaper water based pods below it), an insulated ice bath tub for contrast sessions, an electrolyte drink for after a hot session, and a massage gun. Red light panels are popular, but the evidence for most marketed benefits is still thin, so treat them as optional. For anything that plugs into the wall, look for an Australian electrical approval (an SAA or similar certificate number, or the RCM mark) before you buy.
How we picked
We only listed products you can buy in Australia today from an Australian brand or the brand’s own Australian site, with an RRP in AUD. We read each product page, noted what the seller claims, and checked whether that claim is backed by anything published. Every entry has at least one honest caveat.
None of this is medical advice. If you have a heart condition, low or high blood pressure, are pregnant or take medication, talk to your GP before combining heat, cold and new devices.
Sleep tech
Your body is wired to cool down to fall asleep. In the evening, blood flow to the hands and feet increases, heat escapes through the skin and core temperature drops, and how quickly that heat loss happens is one of the strongest predictors of how fast people fall asleep (Kräuchi and colleagues, Nature, 1999). A bedroom that is too warm works against this, increasing wakefulness and cutting deep and REM sleep (Okamoto-Mizuno and Mizuno, 2012), which is why Australia’s Sleep Health Foundation puts the ideal sleeping temperature at around 17 to 19°C. Put simply, getting into a cool bed beats lying in a hot one.
This matters even more around menopause. Around 3 in 4 women have hot flushes and night sweats at this time (Jean Hailes for Women’s Health), and the Sleep Health Foundation notes a clear link between hot flushes, night sweats and poor sleep, with many women waking just before a flush starts. The NHS also says sleep problems can be worse with night sweats. The Sleep Health Foundation’s practical advice is to keep the bedroom cool, use a fan if you can, and swap heavy bedding for light cotton sheets and layers you can throw off. If night sweats are wrecking your sleep, talk to your GP, as there are effective treatments.
Bed cooling devices aim to keep you in that cooler zone all night, and the device research is still early. A study funded and run by Eight Sleep, whose authors are mostly company employees, found 54 adults got about 14 more minutes of deep sleep (men) or 9 more minutes of REM (women) with cooler settings early in the night (Moyen and colleagues, 2024). An independent, randomised trial from La Trobe University in Melbourne tested the same kind of cover on 34 adults and found people rated their sleep much better, but measured sleep, heart rate and HRV did not change, and the authors said expectation may explain part of the effect (Stevenson and colleagues, 2025). So the case for a cool bed is strong, but claims that any particular device improves your sleep stages are not yet proven.
Eight Sleep Pod 6
- RRP: A$4,199 for the Pod 6 (Eight Sleep AU)
- What it is: a cover that fits over your existing mattress, with water channels that cool or heat each side separately, plus built in sleep tracking and a vibration alarm.
- What the evidence shows: independent Australian reviews (Man of Many, SMH) report that split side temperature control genuinely helps couples who sleep at different temperatures. The SMH reviewer found tracking less accurate than a wearable ring.
- Caveat: the full feature set needs an Autopilot subscription. On the Pod 5 this was A$499 a year and compulsory for the first 12 months, so check the current terms for Pod 6 at checkout. Man of Many also disclosed its review unit was supplied free.
- Good to know: 30 night trial and a 5 year warranty listed on the AU product page.
Kiva Wellness Circadian Sleep Pod
- RRP: A$795 for the Single size, rising with bed size (Kiva Wellness)
- What it is: a water based topper and control unit that heats or cools the bed surface. Queen and King sizes have two pods for dual zone control. There is a remote and buttons but no app or sleep tracking.
- What the evidence shows: the listed specs are clear: 150W per pod, 51 dB at 30 cm, 10 hour auto shut off, low water alert and overheat protection. It lists an electrical safety certificate, SAA-231945-EA. We found no published study or independent test of this device, and the page claim that it “promotes longer REM sleep” is not backed by a cited source.
- Caveat: the page says “No EMFs” because it uses water, but the pod is a mains powered 150 to 300W device, so that claim does not hold up as written. The same page also gives two temperature ranges (12 to 48°C and 12 to 42°C). The warranty is 2 years, and it needs a flush every 3 months with distilled water. Cooling works best in rooms at 28°C or below.
- Good to know: at about a fifth of the Eight Sleep RRP, the trade off is no tracking, no app and a shorter warranty.
Ice baths and cold plunges
Alternating sauna and cold water is a long standing tradition. Studies on cold water immersion show people often report feeling less sore afterwards, but evidence for bigger claims is mixed, and very long or very cold plunges may blunt some strength training adaptations if done straight after lifting.
Cold plunge safety: start at 10 to 15°C for one to three minutes, never plunge alone or after alcohol, get out if you feel numb or dizzy, and avoid cold immersion with heart conditions unless your GP clears it. Cold shock is a real risk. Chillers sit next to water and mains power, so check for Australian electrical certification (AS/NZS, SAA or the RCM mark) and run them off a circuit with a safety switch (RCD).
Ritual Recovery The Stoic
- RRP: from A$1,090 (Ritual Recovery)
- What it is: an Australian portable ice bath with reinforced drop stitch walls, available with a chiller.
- What the evidence shows: the product page states the chiller has AS/NZS electrical certification, and Ritual also rents tubs weekly, which is a sensible way to test the habit.
- Caveat: it was showing as sold out when we checked. The chiller carries a 1 year warranty, which is short for a powered unit.
Fjord Sognefjord System
- RRP: A$29,900 (Fjord)
- What it is: a two person, all in one cold plunge with a 1 HP inverter chiller, ozone and UV water treatment and cartridge filtration. Fjord is a Gold Coast company founded by Danish Australian brothers, and it builds its baths at its Burleigh Heads factory from 316 marine grade stainless steel and insulated aluminium.
- What the evidence shows: this is the clearest electrical documentation in this guide. The product page lists certificate GMA-523957-EA, the AS/NZS 60335.2.60 spa appliance standard, an internal 30 mA RCD and an IPX5 rating. It cools to 0°C and can also heat. It comes with a 2 year warranty and local after sales support.
- Caveat: at A$29,900 it costs far more than portable tubs, and it weighs about 1,200 kg when full. It must be hardwired by a licensed electrician to a dedicated, wall mounted isolator, so allow for installation costs and check your floor or slab can take the load.
Red light therapy
Red and near infrared light (photobiomodulation) has early research for skin appearance and some muscle recovery uses, but study quality is mixed and many consumer claims run ahead of it. Buy one for the experience, not as a treatment. Protect your eyes, and do not use it straight after a sauna if your skin is flushed and sensitive.
Infraredi Pro Max 2.0
- RRP: A$1,649 (Infraredi)
- What it is: a Melbourne based brand’s half body panel with 210 LEDs across about 91 cm.
- What the evidence shows: Infraredi says its devices are entered in the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods). It offers a 60 day trial and 3 year warranty.
- Caveat: an ARTG entry means the device is registered, not that every benefit on the page is proven. Its product copy claims pain relief and better sleep, which goes further than the research. Look up the ARTG number yourself and ask for its electrical approval.
Infraredi Pro Mini 2.0
- RRP: A$899 (Infraredi)
- What it is: the smaller 84 LED panel, about 37 cm, for targeted areas.
- Caveat: the page says you can “treat your whole body” with it, which is hard to square with a panel this size. Expect it to cover one area at a time.
Recovery tools
Massage guns are consistently reported to reduce feelings of tightness short term, which is about what you should expect. Marketing claims about lactic acid or faster healing run ahead of the research.
Theragun Relief
- RRP: A$199 (Therabody ANZ)
- What it is: a light, gentler massage gun sold through Therabody’s Australian and New Zealand site.
- Caveat: 1 year limited warranty, and it is less powerful than the Pro models, so it may not satisfy people who want deep pressure.
Hyperice Hypervolt 3
- RRP: A$249 (Hyperice AU)
- What it is: a mid size percussion gun with several attachments, from Hyperice’s Australian store.
- Caveat: check the warranty length and charger approval for Australia before you buy. Like any massage gun, keep it off bony areas, varicose veins and fresh injuries.
Compression boots (such as Normatec from Hyperice) are popular too, but at well over A$1,000 they are hard to justify for most home sauna owners.
Hydration and electrolytes
You lose fluid and some sodium in a sauna. For most people, a glass or two of water is enough. Electrolyte drinks make more sense after long sessions, sauna plus training, or in hot weather.
Hydralyte Electrolyte Powder Sticks
- RRP: Check price with the brand (Hydralyte AU)
- What it is: an Australian oral rehydration brand, sold through pharmacies and supermarkets.
- What the evidence shows: Hydralyte is formulated as an oral rehydration solution and is widely available.
- Caveat: it is designed for rehydration rather than as an everyday drink, so follow the pack directions, and check the sugar and sodium if you have blood pressure or kidney concerns.
How to pair these with your sauna
- Evening: sauna 15 to 20 minutes, one to two hours before bed. Rehydrate with water, or an electrolyte if you sweated a lot.
- Contrast sessions: sauna, then 1 to 3 minutes cold, then rest. Two or three rounds is plenty. Finish warm if you are heading to bed, cold if you want to feel alert.
- Training days: if building strength is your goal, keep cold plunges away from straight after lifting. Sauna is fine.
- Massage gun: a few minutes on tight areas after the sauna while muscles are warm. Keep it off bony areas.
- Red light: if you use it, do it before the sauna or on a separate day, and keep sessions short.
- Bed: set a cooling topper a few degrees cooler for the first half of the night.
FAQ
Is it safe to go from sauna to ice bath?
For most healthy adults, yes, if you build up slowly and never go alone. People with heart conditions or blood pressure problems should check with their GP first.
Do I need an electrolyte drink after a sauna?
Usually not. Water is fine for a normal session. Electrolytes help after long or very sweaty sessions, or when you also train.
Is red light therapy worth it with a sauna?
It is optional. The research is early, and a sauna, cold water and good sleep have more behind them.
Is a bed cooling pod worth the money?
It can help if you sleep hot or share a bed with someone who runs at a different temperature. It will not fix sleep problems on its own, so see your GP if sleep is an ongoing issue.
What should I check before buying a powered device?
An Australian electrical safety approval number or RCM mark, the warranty length, who handles returns locally, and whether any health claims are backed by a published source.