Saunas are a fantastic pastime with some incredible benefits. If you haven’t tried a sauna session, now might be the best time to start. Spending time in a sauna can help detoxify your body from harmful chemicals, promote weight loss, increase blood circulation, and more. Spending time in a sauna is a great way to relax, but you may want to think twice before planning to listen to music or your favorite podcast during your sauna session.
Should you wear AirPods in the sauna? Any kind of electronics should stay outside of the sauna. Most saunas can negatively impact your electronic devices, and that includes your AirPods. Apple recommends against it as well. Not only is the vaporized water better at getting into electronics, but the high heat can lead to the failure of devices like Airpods.
Instead of taking in anything electrical, you should focus on mindfulness or meditating to get the best benefits from your sauna session. This can be one of the best times to reflect and focus on how you’re feeling. Leave the extra stuff outside to prevent damage and to get the ultimate relaxation session.
What Does Apple Say About AirPods Pro And Saunas?
Apple highly recommends against taking your AirPods into a sauna. These may be one of the best set of headphones to work out in, but that’s entirely different than going into a sauna. Why? The answer is that saunas are purposely heating a room so hot that you sweat out all the toxins in your body. This is different from getting a little sweaty during an intense workout, which AirPods can tolerate just fine.
And it’s worth noting that, although most people work out in their AirPods without any issues, Apple clearly claims that your AirPods are water and sweat-resistant, not water and sweat-proof. So, in a sauna, not only are you going to be sweating, but the amount of sweat will be more than a normal workout, which may stress the sweat “resistance” before the question of finer vaporized water particles or the high heat are even considered.
The best way to keep your AirPods safe is by following some easy safety tips. Do not put them in water, do not swim with them, keep them in the case when not using, and do not take them in steam rooms or saunas. You can look through all of Apple’s recommendations here.
How Do Saunas Affect Headphones and Other Electronics?
With any electronic, you are taking a huge risk by bringing them into the sauna for long periods of time. There is extremely high heat involved, and this can quickly overheat your electronics and gadgets, taking them outside their normal operating temperatures to a point where they shut down or even fail. Internal components glued into place can loosen, and plastics can even melt if heated enough.
Steam-based saunas also produce a certain amount of moisture in the air. This moisture can often leak into your phone, headphones, or other devices and cause severe water damage. They may be fine for a short period of time, but it is not worth the risk. The vaporized water in a steam sauna is able to penetrate devices in a way that liquid can’t because the gas molecules are so small.
Apple is open and transparent about what their devices can and can’t do. Since one of the biggest tips is not going into a steam room or sauna, you should always take that warning and follow the advice. A sauna may shorten the life of your expensive AirPods, or even short them out and ruin them.
Non-Technical Reasons To Reconsider AirPods In A Sauna
Saunas are meant to be a quiet place where you can be with yourself. This is one of the best places to sit, meditate, and think about your day. Listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks is a way to keep your mind continuously entertained, sure, but it also keeps your mind distracted, and part of the benefits of sauna use come from the time spent thinking and being alone with your thoughts. This solitude and reflection is harder to find nowadays, making a quiet sauna a real oasis.
It’s also a great time to body-scan and really work on feeling your body. This sounds a little hokey at first, but if you’re using the sauna after intense workouts, this is a great time to do some stretching and otherwise pay attention to your body and the sensations of sore muscles and tight joints, and to factor those sensations into your future workout plans and stretching routines. Think of it as a time to run a personal diagnostic on yourself.
What Happens When AirPods Get Too Hot?
High temperatures can damage any electronic device you have, and AirPods are no exception. Apple is a fantastic brand that has created high-end products that are hard to destroy, but it is still possible. If you’ve ever left your phone in the car during a hot day, you may have seen the heat warnings they display sometimes. The AirPods don’t have a screen, but they will simply shut down if they get too hot.
What To Do If You Accidently Take Your AirPods In The Sauna
We’ve all been there; sometimes, you stick your headphones in your pockets and totally forget they’re there. This especially can happen if you are working out and going directly into the sauna. Some people don’t like to undress and redress; it’s easier to take sweaty clothes and just sit and relax directly after a workout.
If you get your AirPods wet or moist from the sauna, don’t panic. If it happens, you can take a microfiber cloth and wipe them off, along with the case. If they don’t work after that, you may have to look into getting a replacement. But, although we’ve talked about how sensitive the AirPods can be in this article, at least to saunas, there’s also a good chance they’ll be fine if they were simply forgotten and left in the case. Try to stash them in a locker next time.
In Conclusion
If you’re thinking about trying a sauna, you should leave behind all electronics. Focus on yourself and being present without the background noise. The extreme heat and moisture can kill more than just AirPods, and Apple claims you should not take them into the steam room or sauna at all.
A certain etiquette is required to go into the sauna, and bringing your electronic devices can disturb other people. If they can hear your podcast or music, even faintly, that’s a distraction to them too. This is not the best place or best time to bring your headphones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What electronics can you bring into a sauna?
If you are willing to risk damage and exposure to high heat, you can take any device into the sauna. However, the extreme temperature may shorten the lifespan of your device, and the fine water particles in a steam sauna can penetrate devices that you may consider waterproof.
How long should you sit in the sauna?
You can sit in the sauna for 15-20 minutes and receive the amazing benefits. This is plenty of time to meditate and an easy enough time to be away from your phone and electronic devices. If this feels like too long away from your phone or AirPods, then that’s a sign you should definitely not be bringing them in with you.
