Glasses, Jewellery, Contact Lenses in the Sauna: What Can Come In?
Just before the first sauna session, almost everyone asks the same question: What do I do with my glasses, jewellery and contact lenses in the sauna? Can the wedding ring stay on, will you even see the steps without your glasses, and what about the smartwatch? Here is a clear overview – item by item, with the reasons behind it and practical ideas for keeping everything safe.
Contents9
- Glasses, jewellery, contact lenses in the sauna: the overview
- Jewellery in the sauna: why rings and necklaces are better left outside
- Wearing glasses in the sauna?
- Going into the sauna with contact lenses
- Watch, tracker, hearing aid: technology stays outside
- Where to put everything: storage on sauna day
- What really matters in the cabin: your towel
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Glasses, jewellery, contact lenses in the sauna: the overview
The basic rule is simple: only what can handle 80 to 100 °C without damage goes into the sauna cabin – that is, you and your towel. Everything else stays in the locker or in the pocket of your bathrobe. The table shows what is common in most saunas.
| Item | Into the cabin? | Why | Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rings, necklaces, earrings | Better not | Metal gets hot, fingers swell in the heat | Small pouch in the locker |
| Glasses | No | Steam up instantly, metal parts and lenses suffer in the heat | Case in the bathrobe pocket, shelf outside the cabin |
| Contact lenses | Ask your optician | Dry air, water when cooling down | Often daily lenses, spares in the locker |
| Watch, fitness tracker | No | Batteries and electronics are not made for sauna heat | Locker; use the hourglass in the cabin |
| Hearing aid | No | Heat and moisture damage the technology | Dry box in the locker |
| Metal hair clips | No | Get hot and press on the scalp | Hair tie without metal |
| Phone | No | Heat, quiet and other guests' privacy | Locker, on silent |
The house rules of each sauna always come first. Some places have their own shelves outside the cabin, others expressly ask guests not to bring valuables at all.
Jewellery in the sauna: why rings and necklaces are better left outside
Metal conducts heat
Metal absorbs heat quickly and passes it straight on to the skin. A necklace resting on your breastbone or a wide bangle can become unpleasantly warm in the hot cabin – especially on the top bench and during an infusion. This applies to gold just as much as to silver or stainless steel.
Fingers swell
In the heat, blood vessels widen and hands and fingers often get slightly thicker. A ring that sits loosely in the morning can feel tight after three sauna sessions. If that worries you, take it off before the first session while it still slides off easily.
Materials and care
Silver can tarnish faster in the warm, humid climate and from the essential oils used in infusions. Pearls, wooden beads, leather and fabric bands also cope badly with the combination of heat and sweat. Glued-in stones or coated fashion pieces have no place in the cabin either.
And the wedding ring?
Many people don't want to take off their wedding ring – which is understandable. If it stays on, pay attention to how warm it gets and put it in the locker for a while if necessary. A fabric pouch or a small box in your bag keeps it from getting lost between towels.
Piercings
Piercings that are easy to remove are best put in the pouch as well. For fresh or fixed piercings, ask your piercer what they recommend.
Wearing glasses in the sauna?
For many, glasses are the biggest hurdle. Without them you feel unsure; with them you can't see anything in the cabin after a few seconds because the lenses steam up. There are two more reasons why glasses stay outside:
- Metal parts get hot: Metal temples, hinges and nose pads heat up just like rings and sit directly on your skin.
- Lenses and frames can suffer: Many lenses have coatings, and plastic frames can warp in high heat. Your optician knows what your pair can take.
How to manage without your glasses
- Wear them to the door: Keep your glasses on until you reach the cabin and only take them off there – many saunas have a shelf or hooks for this.
- Case in your pocket: A bathrobe with pockets is worth its weight in gold here. With the Trimita Barok bathrobe, the case disappears into the pocket while the robe hangs outside the cabin.
- Remember your spot: For your first session, choose a seat near the door on a bench level you can reach easily. Next time you will find it again.
- A recognisable towel: A towel in a strong colour is easy to spot on the lounger, even when everything looks blurry.
Going into the sauna with contact lenses
For many, contact lenses are the more convenient solution because you can see without anything steaming up. Whether and which lenses suit you is best discussed with your optician or eye doctor. A few points are often mentioned:
- Dry air: In a Finnish sauna the air is hot and dry. Your eyes may feel dry. Don't rub them – blink more often instead.
- Water and lenses: When cooling off under the bucket shower, in the plunge pool or while swimming, keep your eyes closed. That way no water gets under the lens and you can't lose it.
- Daily lenses: Opticians often recommend daily disposable lenses for a sauna day, which you throw away afterwards.
- Plan B: A lens case and spare lenses in the locker never hurt.
Watch, tracker, hearing aid: technology stays outside
Smartwatches and fitness trackers are built for everyday life and sport, not for 90 °C. Manufacturers usually state a maximum operating temperature that is far lower. The same goes for hearing aids – the manufacturer or your audiologist can tell you how to store them on a sauna day. In the cabin, it is better to keep track of time with the hourglass on the wall or simply by feel.
Where to put everything: storage on sauna day
A fixed routine helps make sure nothing gets lost:
- Sort things out at home: Don't bring valuable jewellery you don't wear all the time.
- Pack a pouch: A small fabric pouch for rings, earrings and necklace, a case for your glasses, a box for your hearing aid or lenses.
- Put it in the locker: Always place the pouch in the same spot in the locker, for example on the top shelf.
- Check before leaving: Before you close the locker, do a quick count.
We have put together everything that belongs in your bag in the article Packing your sauna bag.
What really matters in the cabin: your towel
Without glasses and jewellery, you only need one thing in the cabin: a towel big enough for your body and feet to rest on. The Ocean hammam towel measures 180 × 100 cm and is flat-woven, so it dries quickly between sessions. It comes in six colours – handy if you want to find your towel on the lounger even when you can't see clearly. If you like a longer towel for the lounger, also take the Ocean StayOn hammam towel with its pocket for the backrest.
Related reading: Sauna with long hair: hairstyles, protection and care · Make-up and the sauna: why you should remove it first · Sauna hat: what the felt hat is good for in the sauna
Conclusion
Only you and your towel belong in the sauna cabin. Jewellery, watch, hearing aid and phone stay in the locker, and your glasses wait in their case outside the door. As for contact lenses, decide together with your optician. With a small pouch, a bathrobe with pockets and a fixed routine, nothing gets lost – and you can enjoy your sauna session without distractions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my wedding ring on in the sauna?
It is usually not forbidden. But metal gets hot and fingers swell in the heat. That's why many people take the ring off before the first session and keep it in a pouch in the locker.
Can I go into the sauna with contact lenses?
Many people do. The important thing is to close your eyes when cooling off with water and not to rub them. Ask your optician which lenses are suitable.
Where do I put my glasses?
In their case in your bathrobe pocket, or on the shelf outside the cabin if there is one. That way you have them to hand right after your session.
Can my smartwatch come into the cabin?
Better not. Most devices are designed for much lower temperatures. If in doubt, check the manufacturer's specifications.
What about hair clips?
Metal clips and pins get hot. A hair tie without metal is the better choice.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.