
Steamist (Delta SteamScape)
Steamist SM Plus SMP-7 Steam Shower Generator
Steamist is the other legacy American steam name — now also sold under Delta's SteamScape branding after acquisition, a detail worth knowing when comparing listings — and the SM Plus SMP-7 is its 7.5kW mid-size generator at about $2,600. The engineering pitch is SteadySteam, which modulates output to hold your set temperature instead of the blast-and-coast cycling cheaper generators do, plus a stainless tank and a sub-gallon water draw per 20-minute session. Plumbers and owners rate the brand's reliability alongside Mr.Steam, with the choice often coming down to which controls ecosystem (TotalSense vs. iSteam) and which dealer you like. All the steam-category realities apply: the enclosure build is the real project and the real budget, hard water is the enemy, and r/Sauna will remind you — accurately — that a steam shower is a different pleasure than sauna, not a substitute.
Specifications
Highlights
Pros
- ✓SteadySteam modulation holds temperature smoother than rivals' cycling
- ✓Stainless tank with the brand's longest warranty coverage
- ✓Uses under a gallon of water per 20-minute session
- ✓7.5kW handles larger enclosures than entry 5kW units
- ✓Delta acquisition secures long-term parts availability
- ✓Reliability reputation on par with Mr.Steam among installers
Cons
- ✗Enclosure construction dwarfs the generator price
- ✗TotalSense controls are a required separate purchase
- ✗Dual branding (Steamist/SteamScape) confuses listing comparisons
- ✗Scale management is mandatory in hard-water regions
- ✗Steam ≠ sauna; expectations must be set accordingly
Compare the Steamist SM Plus SMP-7 Steam Shower Generator
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Cross-shoppers land here after realizing their dream isn't dry 195°F air but a 115°F fog you can barely see through — a steam shower, and Mr.Steam is the name-brand way to build one. The eSeries MS90EC1 is the residential workhorse: 5kW, sized for tiled enclosures up to 71 adjusted cubic feet, about $1,799 at big-box retail for the generator. The critical education, which r/Sauna delivers bluntly in every crossover thread: steam and sauna are different animals (100% humidity at ~110-120°F versus dry 180-200°F), and the generator is the cheap part — a properly vapor-sealed, sloped-ceiling tiled enclosure plus plumbing and electrical routinely runs $5,000-$15,000 in renovation. Owners of finished installs love them daily; the horror stories are all botched enclosures, not failed generators. Buy controls, AromaSteam head, and AutoFlush as a package; à la carte pricing stings.

Golden Designs (Maxxus)
Maxxus Trinity 3-Person Corner Infrared Sauna
The Trinity is Golden Designs' clever-footprint play: a corner-format three-seater at $2,699 (list $3,833) that tucks into the dead angle of a garage gym or basement where rectangular cabins won't fit. The 'Dual Tech' pitch mixes seven ceramic and carbon emitters — ceramic runs hotter and more focused, carbon spreads gentler warmth — plus a floor reflexology heater, red-light chromotherapy, and Bluetooth. Owners report it as a meaningful step up in heat intensity from all-carbon budget boxes. The same house caveats as its Dynamic siblings apply: 'low-EMF' is the marketing tier below the brand's own 'Near Zero' models (which quote under 3 mG only when measured inches from panels), warranty terms shift by retailer, and the hemlock paneling is budget-grade. r/Sauna's take on the whole Golden Designs catalog: functional sweat boxes, priced honestly, marketed optimistically.

The Cilindro is the heater r/Sauna upgrades to when they stop asking 'which sauna should I buy' and start asking 'how do I get better steam.' The open-grate pillar holds roughly 200 pounds of stone — triple a wall heater — so you can ladle water down the sides for soft, rolling steam or on top for a sharp blast. This $3,084 package from a US Harvia dealer bundles the PC90E, WiFi Xenio controller, and the full stone load, which matters because buying stones separately surprises people. Owners' honest notes: 200 lb of stones means a real floor and a patient first heat-up (the mass takes longer than a KIP), the MyHarvia app occasionally drops offline, and you need genuine 280+ cubic feet — in a small room it's overkill that short-cycles.