What to Bring to a Wild Sauna (Without Overthinking It)

The first time I went to an outdoor sauna, I wasn’t sure what to take.

I was going with a wild swimming group for a sea dip and sauna session, and as soon as I decided to go I was already wondering:

Do I need a dryrobe? What do people wear? How do you actually get changed outside? Am I supposed to buy loads of special gear?

It turns out you really don’t need much at all.

Most people are just trying to stay warm, avoid dropping their towel on anything dirty, and work out where they left their sandals.

What you actually need

When it comes to what to bring to a wild sauna, the answer is simpler than you’d think. Swimwear, two towels, water, some slip-on shoes and something loose and comfortable that’s easy to pull on over damp skin.

That’s about it.

The two towels thing is important though. One is for sitting on in the sauna. Most outdoor saunas use water poured over the hot stones to create steam, so it can get surprisingly damp in there. The second is for drying off afterwards, but it’s also handy for wrapping around yourself when walking to the sea or plunge pool if they’re a bit further away.

At Cellardyke Seaside Sauna, for example, there’s a short walk between the sauna and the tidal pool. I remember feeling a bit self-conscious wandering along in just my swimming costume, so I ended up wrapping my towel around myself.

Arrive sauna-ready

I always arrive sauna-ready, wearing my swimsuit underneath my clothes with comfy layers on top. That way I’m not queuing for a changing hut or losing time getting changed, especially useful since some outdoor saunas have private changing huts or cubicles while others might only have a sheltered area or no facilities at all.

It’s an easy mistake to forget underwear if you’ve gone sauna-ready. I did this once when I was heading somewhere afterwards and had to buy some in a supermarket because I was too far from home to go back.

The shopping bag I take everything in also doubles as a changing mat if the ground is muddy, pebbly or damp. I’ve seen wild swimmers using proper waterproof changing mat bags for wet gear, but mine has done the job perfectly well so far.

Not for your first sauna

But I do understand why people love them.

The first time I went to a sauna, my wild swimming friends recommended getting some kind of changing robe because outdoor changing can feel a bit awkward at first. Their advice was basically: “Get a cheap one first in case you never use it again.”

It was good advice, especially when I saw the price of some of them.

I eventually bought a Regatta changing robe and it turned out to be a really good investment. I use it every time I go now. It’s not the most expensive option out there, which is exactly why I’d recommend it to anyone starting out.

That said, you do not need a changing robe to try an outdoor sauna for the first time. Some people use a poncho towel to change discreetly outdoors when there’s no dedicated private changing area. My advice for a first visit would be to pick a sauna with a private changing area, plenty of them have proper changing spaces, and there’s often a nearby public toilet too if not, just be mindful of not leaving it soaking wet for the next person.

What changing robes do well is make outdoor changing much easier than you’d expect. There’s plenty of room inside to properly dry off and get dressed without flashing anyone.

If you get into wild swimming or outdoor saunas regularly, a good changing robe becomes very useful. But for a first visit, I really wouldn’t bother.

Things people think they need (but probably don’t)

Before my first outdoor sauna, I thought I needed all sorts of specialist wild swimming gear.

For most sauna sessions, especially in warmer months, you really don’t need specialist kit. Normal swimwear is fine.

The same goes for expensive sauna accessories. Sauna hats, branded wellness gear and specialist bags can all be nice eventually, but they’re not essential starting out.

One of the nicest things about wild saunas is that everyone turns up differently. Some people arrive with proper wild swimming gear and seem extremely organised, while others turn up with just two towels and a shopping bag and manage fine.

Nobody really cares.

Cold water in winter, when neoprene actually helps

If you’re visiting in winter or planning sea dips in colder months, neoprene gear makes a real difference.

I used neoprene gloves, socks and shorts for my first sauna visit in February and they helped a lot in the sea. The gloves and socks helped most, extremities feel the cold fastest, and neoprene takes the edge off significantly.

You don’t need them for the sauna itself, and in warmer months normal swimwear is fine. But for winter sea dipping, they’re worth having.

The things I didn’t expect

One thing that surprised me straight away was how damp everything gets.

I’d always pictured saunas as dry heat, but most wood-fired saunas use water poured over the hot stones to create steam, which makes the air far more humid than I expected. The towel you sit on can get damp quite quickly, which is exactly why you should bring a second one.

I also didn’t expect how thirsty I’d feel afterwards, especially after going between the sauna and cold water a few times. Now I always bring my Contigo flask. It keeps drinks hot or cold, so it works year round, which is handy in Scotland.

I wear glasses, and before my first sauna I assumed I’d probably have to take them off, especially since some saunas have little shelves or areas for phones, glasses and valuables. I did leave them outside once, but there wasn’t much point. I’m very short-sighted, and a lot of saunas have incredible views I actually want to see.

My glasses usually steam up briefly when I first go in. I wipe them, make a joke about it, and then they’re fine for the rest of the session.

What to bring to a wild sauna, the full packing list

Essentials

• Swimwear
• Two towels (microfibre dries faster and packs down smaller than a normal towel)
• Flask or water bottle
• Sandals or flip flops (Crocs are sturdier underfoot on pebbly ground or beach walks)
• Loose and comfortable clothes, that are easy to pull on over damp skin

Nice to have

• Changing robe
• Waterproof changing mat or bag (or just use a plastic bag!)
• Spare socks (if you don’t want to put old ones back on)

Things you don’t need for your first sauna

• Neoprene gloves and socks (unless you’re sea dipping in winter)
• An expensive dryrobe
• Special sauna hats
• Matching Scandinavian-looking sauna outfits

Final thoughts

You really don’t need loads of expensive gear to enjoy a wild sauna. If you’re new to it and want to know more about safety, the British Sauna Society has a useful guide to sauna and cold water safety.

Most people are just trying to stay warm, get changed without flashing everyone accidentally, and enjoy the experience. After a few visits you’ll develop your own routine and work out what suits you, but that takes time.

You can absolutely turn up with a shopping bag and still have a brilliant time.

Read next

What is a wild sauna?

A simple guide to what wild saunas are, how the hot-and-cold experience works, and what to expect from your first visit.

→ Read the guide