Head to head
Redwood Outdoors Extra-Wide Barrel Sauna (6-Person) vs Almost Heaven Pinnacle 4-Person Barrel Sauna
$7,499 against $5,999. Here is where the $1,500 difference actually goes.
Independent and reader-supported. We buy or borrow the gear we write about and earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Rankings are never sold. Prices verified September 2026. Full disclosure
Higher lab score
Redwood Outdoors
Extra-Wide Barrel Sauna (6-Person)
$7,499
9.0 / 10
Anyone who plans to lie down rather than sit, or who is over 6'2"
Almost Heaven
Pinnacle 4-Person Barrel Sauna
$5,999
8.7 / 10
Buyers who want cedar aroma and dealer-network support
Specifications side by side
| Spec | Redwood Outdoors Extra-Wide Barrel Sauna (6-Person) | Almost Heaven Pinnacle 4-Person Barrel Sauna |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,499 | $5,999 |
| Lab score | 9.0 | 8.7 |
| Shell | Canadian thermowood | Western red cedar (rustic grade) |
| Capacity | 6 seated / 2 lying flat | 4 person |
| Heat-up time | 45–55 min to 175°F | 30–40 min to 175°F |
| Foundation | Level gravel or concrete pad | — |
| Warranty | 5-year structural | 5-year manufacturer |
| Dimensions | — | 6' x 6' |
The verdict
Redwood Outdoors Extra-Wide Barrel Sauna (6-Person) takes the higher score here. Solves the one real complaint about barrels. The wider diameter buys back the headroom and lets two people lie down on the upper bench.
The counter-argument for the Almost Heaven Pinnacle 4-Person Barrel Sauna is straightforward: it costs $1,500 less. The most widely stocked barrel in America, now Harvia-owned. Cedar smells better than thermowood and ages worse — that trade is the whole decision.
Put plainly — if your constraint is budget, take the Pinnacle 4-Person Barrel Sauna and put the $1,500 toward installation, which is the line item most first-time buyers underestimate. If your constraint is that you want to buy once, the Extra-Wide Barrel Sauna (6-Person) is the one you will not be replacing.
What each one is good at
Redwood Outdoors Extra-Wide Barrel Sauna (6-Person)
Strengths
- Wide enough for two adults to lie flat on the top bench
- Same thermowood shell and heater options as the standard barrel
- Noticeably better heat stratification than the narrow barrel
Compromises
- $1,200 premium over the standard 6-person barrel
- Larger volume needs a bigger heater, pushing electrical cost up
- Heavier sections make assembly a genuine two-person job
Almost Heaven Pinnacle 4-Person Barrel Sauna
Strengths
- Harvia ownership means heater and parts support is not going anywhere
- Cedar aroma is genuinely better than heat-treated hemlock
- Sold through many dealers, so delivery is usually faster
Compromises
- Untreated cedar needs sealing every 2–3 years outdoors
- Rustic-grade wood has visible knots and occasional gaps
- Price varies by hundreds between dealers for the same unit
Prices captured September 2026 from manufacturer and retailer pages and subject to frequent promotion. Confirm before buying. See our testing method for how lab scores are assigned.