The concept of a sauna seems quite straightforward these days – at least to us Finns. We are, after all, rather certain about what a sauna is supposed to be. It’s a wood‑paneled room with two or three levels of benches and a sauna heater.
But does this leave room for hifistely – overthinking and fine‑tuning? It does. Paradoxically, in the sauna, that’s exactly what we Finns don’t like. A sauna should be plain and simple, and every new gadget you bring in is often seen as a sign that something wasn’t right in the original setup.
But should everyone aim for the same thing – a plain, simple sauna?
If we Finns were able to talk with strangers, we would surely spread the magic of the sauna across the world in person. But since that isn’t quite our strength, we try to communicate our wisdom in other ways. And while we may be shy, one of the best things that can happen to a Finn is finding themselves in a sauna abroad – just in time to rescue a confused stranger with our superior sauna knowledge.Outside Finland, many funny things happen in saunas, and we can never get enough of these stories.
The classic tale involves a hotel sauna – specifically, the absence of sauna stones. This is when a Finn completely loses it:
“Guess what, Pertti! They said there’s a sauna at the hotel. But when I got there, there were no stones on the kiuas!”
Laughter, disbelief, and facepalms follow. There are many lucky people walking the streets of Finland proudly carrying this very story on their sauna belt – and we are proud of them.
At Narvi, we are fortunate to have a couple of these heroes among us. One of them stands out as even more Finnish, and more bitter, than the rest. Some say he gets so angry when a sauna is misused that you could get häkälöyly simply by pouring water on him. He also spends more time reading Sauna‑lehti than actually going to the sauna.
In the halls of Narvi headquarters, we call him the Angry Sauna Man.
To serve the international sauna community, our journalist stepped into the heat and interviewed him. The topic was Sauna Gadgets – Hot or Not? The mission: to find out which gadgets, if any, truly belong in a sauna – and to share the wisdom worldwide.
We started with a warm‑up question:
Should there be a thermometer inside the sauna?
After a moment of calculation and deep thought, the answer was surprisingly clear:
“No.”
As is his habit, the Angry Sauna Man followed up with a question of his own, showcasing his loyalty to true sauna heritage:
“Why would you want to know how hot the opposite wall is? Whatever number it shows, you feel the same. If you feel bad – you should probably check the ventilation.”
Since the thermometer is one of the most popular sauna accessories, we dared to continue.
What about a pail and a ladle?
Ask him something too obvious, and the answer will most likely be sarcastic or childish.
“Did Sauna‑Timo tolerate löyly? Wrong question, and too soon.
Next up: Sauna scents. Those cute little spa bottles. Surely they spice up the sauna experience, right?
Surprisingly, this question made him genuinely happy.
“Yes! I love those. They’re delicious. Either straight, or mixed with some nice tonic water. Those fine liquids really help keep your hydration in balance.”
How about all the decorative items that can be placed among the sauna stones? You know, the Saunatonttu, for example?
The Saunatonttu is a respected part of Finnish sauna history, much like the Makkaraputki. After thinking for a moment, the Angry Sauna Man gave an answer with perhaps too much detail:
“Saunatonttu, that little prick. I know him. We had this small incident. Years ago, he challenged me to a sauna battle. He climbed to the top bench, and so did I. The next second, I was alone. The Saunatonttu had disappeared somewhere.”
Surely at least one gadget must be acceptable?
The sand timer.
How else would you know when to leave – or when you’re enjoying it so much you should stay?
He may not have understood the question. As the sand ran out, the silence remained. The interview ended by mutual agreement.
Listen to your body and mind – not to commercial instruments.
At Narvi, we deeply appreciate Angry Sauna Man. To prove it, we still allow him to roam freely and speak to people. For his own safety, his identity must remain secret – and, frankly, his important role in international sauna sales could be compromised.
Gadgets or not, our advice is simple: make sure whatever you bring into the sauna truly adds something to the experience.
When it comes to temperature and time, our pro tip is this:
listen to your body and mind – not to commercial instruments.
Sauna Vocabulary
- Hifistely – Getting overly excited about something and wanting to optimize every detail: extra gear, endless adjustments…
- Häkälöyly – Steam created by pouring water on the stones before the sauna is properly heated. This steam contains ash and residues we definitely don’t want to breathe.
- Saunatonttu – A small stone sauna gnome that guards the spirit and sacred elements of the sauna.
- Makkaraputki – A practical sausage holder. Place a sausage inside it and put it on the sauna stones. A few minutes later, your snack is ready.