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

The first time I went to an outdoor sauna, I massively overthought it.

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.

After a few sauna visits, you’ll probably figure out your own little routine and the things that make you most comfortable. But for your first visit, you can keep things very simple.

The few things I’d genuinely call essential

For most outdoor saunas, I’d say you only really need swimwear, two towels, water, some slip-on sandals and warm clothes for afterwards.

That’s honestly about it.

The two towels thing is important though. One towel is usually for sitting on in the sauna, and it can get surprisingly damp because the heat is often much more humid than people expect. The second towel is for drying off afterwards, but it’s also handy for wrapping around yourself outside whilst 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.

You definitely don’t need expensive sauna gear to enjoy yourself.

Going “sauna-ready” makes life easier

One thing I do now is arrive “sauna-ready”.

All this means is wearing my swimming suit underneath my clothes, then wearing comfy layers over the top. It makes the whole experience much easier, especially because some outdoor saunas have private changing huts or cubicles, while others might only have a sheltered area or no facilities at all.

What I usually wear is fleece leggings, a t-shirt and whatever jacket suits the weather. In colder weather — which in Scotland is most of the time — I’ll wear trainers or hiking boots with suitable socks, then change back into them afterwards. In summer, chances are you’ll already be wearing looser clothes anyway that aren’t too clingy to put back on slightly damp skin.

One important lesson I learned:
don’t forget to pack underwear if you’ve gone sauna-ready.

I did this once when I was heading somewhere afterwards and had to buy underwear in a supermarket because I was too far from home to go back.

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

Do you need a dryrobe?

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 cheaper version on sale from Mountain Warehouse and, fortunately, it turned out to be a very good investment because I ended up using it all the time.

That said, you absolutely do not need a proper changing robe to try an outdoor sauna for the first time. Plenty of people just use oversized towels, poncho towels, or get changed under layers.

And some saunas do have proper changing spaces anyway and there is often a nearby public toilet that people can use.

What I will say is that changing robes make outdoor changing much easier than I expected. There’s loads of room inside them to properly dry off and get changed.

If you end up getting into wild swimming or outdoor saunas regularly, then yes — a good changing robe becomes genuinely 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 needed all sorts of specialist wild swimming gear.

I bought neoprene gloves, neoprene socks and neoprene shorts because I thought that was what I needed to dip in the sea. I wore them once at a beach sauna, then never used them again.

A lot of that gear makes much more sense if you’re properly wild swimming for longer periods without the heat of a sauna to warm back up afterwards.

For most wild sauna sessions, especially your first one, you really don’t need loads of specialist kit. Normal swimwear, a couple of towels and warm clothes for afterwards are enough.

The same goes for expensive sauna accessories. Sauna hats, fancy water bottles and specialist bags can all be nice if you end up getting really into it, but they’re absolutely not essential.

I actually think 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 are carrying two towels and a shopping bag and hoping for the best.

Nobody really cares.

The things I didn’t expect

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

I think I associated saunas with dry heat, but most of the outdoor saunas I’ve visited in Scotland have been much 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 water with me, even though lots of saunas offer water or herbal tea afterwards.

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

Wild sauna packing list

Essentials

• Swimwear
• Two towels
• Water bottle
• Slip-on sandals (or sliders)
• Warm clothes for afterwards

Nice to have

• Changing robe
• Waterproof changing mat or bag (or just use a plastic bag!)
• Water shoes for pebbly beaches
• Hot drink or flask
• 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
• A £150 Dryrobe
• Special sauna hats
• Fancy wellness water bottles
• Cold-water swimming gear
• Matching Scandinavian-looking sauna outfits

Final thoughts

You really don’t need loads of expensive equipment to enjoy a wild sauna.

Most people are just trying to stay warm, get changed without flashing everyone accidentally, and enjoy the experience.

After a while, you’ll probably develop your own little sauna routine and figure out the things that make you most comfortable. But for your first visit, a couple of towels, warm clothes and a willingness to give it a try are more than enough.

You can absolutely turn up with a Tesco 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