Health Mate: is there a cheaper alternative?
On the Belgian infrared sauna market, Health Mate is a very well-known name. An extensive distributor network, promotion on TV and fairs have contributed to this. Health Mate is an American company from California with a factory in China and exclusive importers in several countries. Infrared cabins are pricey, so a common question is; is there a cheaper alternative with the same performance? In this article, you will find a comparison between Health Mate and Infraplus sauna.
Differences in cabins between Healthmate and Infraplus
Whereas Health Mate clearly opts for a unified design which is reflected in almost all infrared cabins, Infraplus Sauna offers a wide range of designs and finishes from modern to classic. As a result, there is a suitable infrared cabin for almost every interior. There is also a difference in infrared emitters. As explained further below.
Wood types HealthMate and Infraplus Sauna
HealthMate mainly uses Canadian Red Cedar wood. This type of wood has a number of advantages over other types of wood. For instance, Red Cedar wood naturally kills fungus and bacteria and has a nice aromatic smell. The price of Red Cedar wood is higher, so an infrared cabin in this type of wood will almost always be more expensive. Infraplus Sauna supplies most infrared cabins in two wood types, namely Canadian Red Cedar (the same wood type as HealthMate uses), but also in Hemlock (also called White Cedar wood). The reason is that these cabins are about €500 cheaper. Both companies use FSC-certified wood.
Used electronics and bedding
If we compare the Infraplus models with the Healt Mate models, we see great similarities in the control panel. The logos are obviously different and the Infraplus control panel has the ability to play audio (bluetooth, USB stick or radio). The Health Mate control panel has a timer function. Apart from these two differences, the control panels of the Health Mate Professional edition and the Infraplus Heat edition are almost identical.
Control panels
The differences in infrared radiators
Health Mate mainly uses incoloy emitters in its infrared cabins and, in some models, also carbon emitters in the floor. The incoloy M-shaped radiant element with reflector behind it in the long-wave region (around 6340 nm). With infraplus, it is possible to combine three different emitters. For back muscle and joint pains, one uses the intense stalers with reflector behind them. But for the shoulders and back, infraplus uses another infrared radiator: namely the carbon radiator, as it has a better infrared distribution. As a third option, Infraplus can equip the cabin with a so-called Full Spectrum radiator with a short-wave section. This allows you to treat a certain part of the body with extra intensity. There is still the option to take a seat in front of the normal radiator if you find the full spectrum radiator too intense. This is one of the main reasons we chose Infraplus Sauna's infrared cabins. This is because the different emitters ensure better absorption of the infrared over the entire body. Another advantage is that the moment the user adopts a relaxed position during the session, infrared emitters are also placed in the cabin's side panels. Health Mate does not have side radiant heaters on many of its models (HM-NSE-2-CD BASIC, HM-NSE-3-CD BASIC, HM-NSE-1-CD Deluxe, HM-NSE-2-CD, HM-SSE-3-CD Deluxe, HM-NSE-3-CD Deluxe) Health Mate gives a lifetime warranty on the radiant heaters, the steering, the control panels and on the LED colour therapy. At Infraplus Sauna, the lifetime of the lamps is 20,000 burning hours and a lifetime guarantee is also given on the infrared emitters.
Price differences between the two brands
Prices vary greatly, the standard public price of a Health Mate starts from € 2745.- model HM-NHE-2-Economy Edition (source: Health Mate brochure on website Jan 2019 (version: September 2017)) for a two-person basic infrared cabin with Red Cedar interior and Hemlock exterior. Infraplus Sauna prices at official main distributor SuperSauna.be start from €1295, with an average price of around €2200 for a two-person cabin in Red Cedar wood (Infraplus sauna prices). Where is this big price difference? It actually has to do with several things. For instance, SuperSauna.be supplies the Infraplus Sauna brand together with a number of large distributors, without the intervention of importers and other companies. This direct distribution model is more efficient and saves a lot of money for the end user. In addition, Infraplus Sauna spends much less money on marketing, TV advertising and trade fairs. Did you know that Red Bull spends 50% of its turnover (!) on advertising? This is why Red Bull is often three times more expensive than any other energy drink. Advertising for the Infraplus Sauna brand goes from word of mouth.
Price comparison accessories
Two person cushion costs at Health Mate € 199.-
Two person cushion costs at SuperSauna® € 119.-
A cushion for a lying sauna costs at Heath Mate € 285.00
A cushion for a lying sauna costs at SuperSauna® € 159.00
Open back support costs at Heath Mate € 60.00
Open back support costs at SuperSauna® € 39.00
Customer reviews Infraplus sauna and Health Mate
Both manufacturers score well in customer satisfaction. Although complaints can be found from other infrared cabin manufacturers for service and after-sales. At Health Mate and Infraplus Sauna, users are very positive. Looking at the review numbers, a clear difference can be seen though, between the Health Mate shops and the SuperSauna® shops. The SuperSauna® shops have many more positive reviews than the Health Mate shops.
Review overview
SuperSauna® even achieves 98% user satisfaction with a rating of 9.3 with a whopping 2202 reviews (link to independent site feedback company).
Conclusion comparison
If you are looking for a good infrared cabin with a good therapeutic effect, it is not necessary to choose a Health Mate. There are alternatives which are very well tested and about 50% cheaper. Also, if you like to take a relaxed position, there are other brands of infrared cabins that also have radiators placed in the side walls and are therefore the perfect alternative to the much more expensive Health Mate cabins.
Strengths Health Mate
+ Lifetime warranty on radiators and electronics
+ extensive distributor network; always a distributor nearby
+ reliable player
Minus points Health Mate
- Very high price
- Limited choice of infrared emitters, does not offer short wave.
- Many models such as HM-NSE-2 PROFESSIONAL SERIES do not have side emitters for shoulders and neck Plus points
Plus points Infraplus Sauna / SuperSauna
+ Very good value for money, up to 50% cheaper!
+ Also emitters on sides of cabin
+ Possibility of combining different emitters.
+ Very wide choice of different infrared cabin models.
+ Reliable player Min points Infraplus Sauna
+ Lifetime warranty on most models
Minus points Infraplus Sauna / SuperSauna
- No lifetime warranty on the Full Spectrum radiator which can be bought as an option
- less extensive distributor network making a showroom sometimes a longer drive.
Health Mate loses lawsuit against SuperSauna®
Following this published article by SuperSauna®, Health Mate has launched a lawsuit against SuperSauna®. This article was alleged to contain misleading advertising. However, the court in Antwerp ruled otherwise. As can be read in the following paragraph. During the lawsuit it also emerged that Health Mate has its radiators manufactured in Shenzhen China. This is quite remarkable because several Health Mate shops tell their customers that you should ‘be careful’ with Chinese radiators. In the end, the court ruled in favour of SuperSauna.
Judgment of the Antwerp court
The judge ruled that there was no misleading advertising or unlawful comparative advertising infringing the Health Mate brand. Also in a second case, the judge in Antwerp ruled in favour of SuperSauna®. We are pleased with this ruling and will do everything we can to offer people in Belgium and the Netherlands the best therapeutic infrared saunas at fair prices.