Bathing in intense heat dates back to 2000 years in the Finnish land. This multipurpose recreational activity brings about thousands of physical and mental health benefits. It is one of the most preferable relaxation activities which can be an ultimate experience with the music of your choice!
Can you wear headphones inside a sauna? Yes, no one is stopping you from doing so. Will Headphones Break in the Sauna?
It depends.
Heaven to the human body, this harsh environment can be a hell for electronic devices for various reasons. As a music enthusiast, I would love to have my headphones accompany me to the sauna. And just like you, I had several concerns before going to a steamy sauna with my headphones on. I asked myself several times “Will headphones break in the sauna?” You might be wondering whether it is safe to use headphones in the sauna or not.
So here’s the cat out of the bag: about 90% of headphones are not built for extreme temperatures and humid environments. Saunas usually have temperatures of 150°F+ and are 100% humid, damaging headphone components and compromising performance. So, your average headphones set doesn’t stand a chance against long-term exposure to the harsh conditions of a sauna.
Wait! Before getting heartbroken, hear me out. Read on to find out which models are heat-hardy and are recommended for sauna use.
In this article, I will break down, why headphones break in the sauna, what are some sauna-safe options available in the market, some precautionary measures to take for the safety of your headphones in the extremes of a sauna, and what you should do to maintain your vibe! Read on for a detailed and comprehensive answer to “Will headphones break in the Sauna?”
Will Headphones Break in the Sauna?
To answer this million-dollar question, let’s first understand how sauna conditions impact a headphone:
Battery Life and Performance
Headphone batteries drain quickly in hot environments. As the temperature range in Suana is quite high, it is safe to assume that a headphone with long-term use in the sauna might face battery and performance issues.
Impact on Material
Soaring heat and hovering moisture might be a recipe for disaster for various consumer-grade headphones. Delicate headphone components can be deformed or melted by high heat, costing your precious gear’s life. Not only the heat, but moisture can also wreak havoc on the headphone’s integrity. Moisture sneaks into the tiny openings of earcups (such as microphones and open-ear headsets) causing electrical shorts.
Durability
Headphones exposed to this tech hell for more than 20 minutes on a routine basis have a risk of decreasing their life span.
Comfort
Besides the negative impact of high temperature on the material and performance of headphones, moisture spells disaster in terms of comfort. The open-ear headphones were uncomfortable due to the accumulated moisture and sweat around the ear.
Health and Hygiene
Earpads can also become the victim of harsh sauna environments, moisture combined with dirt build up over time make these earpads a breeding stage for bacteria and mold. If not cleaned properly, consequences range from ear infections to additional hearing-related issues.
Tip: If you opt to wear headphones during a sauna session, take off your headphones after about every 10-12 minutes. This way, you will avoid the accommodation of heat around your ear and inside ear canals.
Acceptable Temperature range for Headphones
Most popular headphone brands do not recommend using headphones in saunas or extreme environments exceeding the recommended temperature range.
Most consumer-used headphones have an average heat tolerance of 35 to 40 degree Celsius, and can’t withstand the extremes of a sauna.
Acceptable Temperature range Specified by Popular Headphone Brands
| Brand Name | Recommended Operating Temperature |
| Bowers & Wilkins | 0°C and 35°C |
| Apple AirPods | 0º and 35º C |
| Sennheiser | 55 °C (131° F) |
Sauna-Safe Headphones
The use of headphones has drastically increased in a couple of decades. Given the situation where people have their headphones on while doing nearly everything in a day, the headphone brands are now invested in upgrading their headphones and earbuds that can withstand extreme weather like rain and summer as well as are resilient to extreme activities like swimming, skiing and spending time in sauna. H2O Audio and Swimbuds are enthusiastically invested in engineering headphone models that will not break in the sauna. That being said, don’t lose hope, there are some good sports-oriented models available to handle heat and moisture for short-duration exposures. The following headphones and earbuds are commonly recommended due to their higher IP ratings.
- TREBLAB WX8
- Jabra Elite 7 Active
- AfterShokz AeroPlayz
NOTE: Even with the right gear, prolonged exposure to extreme conditions can still take a toll. Higher IP ratings may tolerate sweat and humidity but these were not originally built for prolonged exposure to heat, so always take caution to avoid mishaps.
Alternative to Headphones in Sauna
Modern saunas are built with various entertainment options that will be much safer than using headphones.
Internal Setup
Waterproof TVs
Modern Sauna are built keeping in mind the entertainment and leisure aspects. While there are good waterproof TV options available in the market, my personal favorite is AVEL Sauna TVs.
Sauna Speakers
Sauna speakers are placed on the ceilings of sauna cabin or room. The audio is managed with Bluetooth settings on your cell phones or Tablets.
Tip: Put your cell phone in a waterproof bag and keep it near the floor to avoid heat up.
Note: Get your waterproof TV or Speakers professionally installed to ensure the safety of your devices
External Set up
Placing TVs or speakers outside the sauna room with high-quality audio output is a common practice for enjoying music, audiobooks, and favorite Netflix series.
Actionable Takeaways
We have established that the extreme conditions in the Sauna negatively impact your electronic devices while investigating “Will headphones break in sauna?”
Take the following precautionary measures if you still want to wear headphones regularly in the Sauna:
- Avoid wearing your headphones in the Sauna for long durations.
- Sport-oriented headphone models with higher IP ratings may tolerate sweat and humidity but these were originally not built for prolonged exposure to humidity in sauna rooms.
- Headphones with bone conduction option do provide better heat and sweat resistance but their performance might be compromised in high-temperature environments.
- Always verify your waterproof wireless earbuds’ humidity claim for wearing them in Sauna.
- To determine your headphones’ suitability for Sauna use, consult manufacturers’ guidelines for your headphone model.
- Look for high-IP-rated headphones that have been tried and tested for extreme heat and humidity.
- Consider alternatives during the sauna sessions, and protect your gear; they are not Invincible!
- Consider Bluetooth speakers placed outside the sauna room as an alternative to headphones for listening to music during the sauna session.
Frequently asked questions
Do warranties cover damage caused by using headphones in a sauna?
No, warranties do not cover damage caused by using headphones in Sana. Most headphone companies explicitly and implicitly exclude damage to gear caused by “sauna misuse” from warranty clauses. Some headphone brands specify the operating conditions of their devices. If the user cannot meet those operating environments and conditions, the headphone brand will not cover the damage. So it is safe to say that, if you are using your headphones in the Sona when your headphone company forbade exposure to Extreme heat and humidity, it can result in the void of warranty of that headphone, then you will be responsible for repairing and replacement cost.
Can You Take AirPods Into A Sauna?
No, you can not take AirPods into a Sauna. The operating temperature specified for Apple pods is 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F) while the temperature for a sauna room is higher. If you use your AirPods in an environment with higher than the specified temperature, it will damage your device and compromise its performance.
I am Michael a Texas-based recording engineer and sound enthusiast. I contribute to Headphones Pedia’s efforts to educate readers about intriguing new devices and other audio-related issues by drawing on their experience working on several sound projects. I also use AI tools to assist with content creation.
