The Sweat Barrel

A 2-seat red cedar barrel at $5,145, the dearest barrel per seat in our data, with a 3-year warranty.

At $2,572 per seat the Sweat Barrel costs 94 percent above the barrel median of $1,326. The nearest rivals, the Almost Heaven Salem at $4,037, the SunRay Solace at $4,790 and the Golden Designs St. Moritz at $4,999, are all cheaper, and the Salem has the same 6 kW heater.

What you get for it is a 3-year warranty, stated by Sweat Kingdom. That is better than the 1 year Redwood Outdoors gives, but below SunRay's 10. The shell is 48 by 72 inches and 72 tall, small for a barrel, and no weight is given. A kit like this makes sense only if you value the brand, as the numbers do not favor it. Sweat Kingdom is the only store we list.