what to wear in the sauna

If it’s your first sauna, this is usually the question. The good news: there’s no wrong answer that anyone will notice. Everyone’s in a towel, and nobody on the bench is checking.

public saunas

Most public saunas in the UK, Europe and the US ask you to wear something. A swimsuit or a pair of shorts is normal. Check the venue’s rules before you go, because some ask for no shoes past a certain point, and some have towel rules for the benches.

private and finnish-style saunas

The tradition is simple: nothing, and a towel to sit on. If you’re with friends, do whatever makes everyone comfortable.

fabrics that feel good in the heat

We like natural fibres in the sauna. Linen and cotton towels feel good against hot skin and dry quickly. Wool is what sauna hats have been made of for a long time. Anything with metal trim is worth leaving in the locker, because metal gets hot.

That’s a preference, not a rule. Wear what you’re comfortable in.

the hat

Heat rises, so your head gets hot first. A wool hat slows that down and lets the rest of you catch up. It also makes the person next to you smile, which never hurts. We’ve written more about what a sauna hat does.

what to bring

• A towel to sit on, and one for after.
• Water.
• Flip-flops for the walk to the cold water.
• A wool hat, if you like.
• A friend, if you can talk one into it.

where we come in

For now we make one thing for the sauna: wool hats, in small numbered drops. We’re working on more. When it’s ready, the people on our list hear first.