Panels, Masks, Hats, and Pods: How to Choose Your Red Light Therapy Device

‍Red light therapy used to be something you could only get by booking an appointment at a boujee studio with a waterfall soundtrack for $200 a session. Now, you can do it in your own home while your coffee brews. The category has exploded, and Stridekick is here for it. The shop carries masks, panels, hats, wands, torches, and a full body pod for whatever type of glow up you need. 

Which device you settle on completely depends on what you need it for, so let us help you choose among the best.

Red vs. Near-Infrared, Super Quick

Most of these devices use red light (roughly 630 to 680 nm), near-infrared light (NIR, around 800 to 850 nm), or a combo of the two. Red light works closer to the surface, working on the skin to stimulate keratinocytes and help with healing and inflammation. NIR penetrates deeper into the muscle and joint tissue, which is why you'll find it in recovery devices. Underneath, both do the same thing by feeding your mitochondria so your cells make more ATP and have the energy to repair themselves.

If you're wanting a device for skin health, most research says 10 to 12 minutes is enough, so long as you're hitting it two or three times per week over several weeks to months. Being consistent is key with these devices, and is even more important than intensity. Cranking the dose can actually backfire as well, since too much light inhibits repair instead of speeding it up. 

Best Overall: MitoADAPT 4.0 Panel

Panels are the ideal do it all option because you can set it up and point it at whatever ails you, like your face, back, sore knee, or quads after leg day. The MitoADAPT 4.0 has multiple wavelengths and treatment modes that can treat skin and help with pain and recovery. You'll need enough space for it on your floor or all, so be sure to measure ahead.

Shop the MitoADAPT 4.0 | HSA/FSA Eligible 

Best for Muscle Recovery: MitoPRO X Panel

If your main goal for getting a red light device is to bounce back faster from your training, then this higher output panel with app controls is a great option. A meta-analysis found near-infrared light applied before exercise reduced creatine kinase (a marker of muscle damage) and calmed soreness. Plus, using phototherapy before training might increase reps and time to exhaustion. Set it up and point it at the muscles you just trained because hitting them directly has the strongest evidence for recovery.

Shop the MitoPRO X | HSA/FSA Eligible 

Best Face Mask: Omnilux Contour Face

Masks are super convenient because they are hands free and you can wander around the house like a cyborg while you wear it. The Omnilux Contour is one of the most clinically recognized LED masks out there, and it can help with fine lines, firmness, and texture all at the same time. On the research side, a three-month trial of a 630 nm LED mask used twice a week improved wrinkles, firmness, tone, and the look of pores, and those benefits were still visible a month after people stopped using it.

Shop the Omnilux Contour | HSA/FSA Eligible

Best for Acne: Omnilux Clear

Omnilux also makes a device combining red with blue light for breakout prone skin. Combining red and blue LED therapy can reduce inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne. Plus, the red light also calms general inflammation and positively impacts your oil glands for clearer, nicer looking skin.

Shop the Omnilux Clear | HSA/FSA Eligible

Best Portable Device: Lumebox 2.0

If you travel a lot or don't want to give up a lot of space for a red light device, the Lumebox will work for you. It's battery powered and FDA cleared as a Class II device (meaning it's considered equal to a medical device for safety and effectiveness). It has both 660 nm red and 850 nm NIR, which is the classic combo supported by research. It's got a smaller panel, so the treatment area isn't as large, but so long as you're ok with repositioning it more often, it's a great option for your carry-on or smaller living space.

Shop the Lumebox 2.0 | HSA/FSA Eligible

Best Budget Handheld: Hooga Red Light Therapy Torch

If you have one nagging spot you want to treat, like an elbow, plantar fasciitis, or a sore wrist, then getting a torch like this one will save you a lot of money compared to a panel. Photobiomodulation (fancy word for light therapy) can reduce inflammation and pain in joints and soft tissue, according to the science. As well, the FDA has cleared it for pain relief in arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. The Hooga Torch is the best value on this list by a mile.

Shop the Red Light Therapy Torch | HSA/FSA Eligible

Best for Hair Growth: HigherDOSE Red Light Hat

Seems like a gimmick, but this high tech cordless baseball cap can really increase hair density. You just pop it on for 10 minutes and go about your business while it works. And it works in both men and women, so long as you use it for several months before expecting results (hair growth is a slower process). 

Shop the Red Light Hat | HSA/FSA Eligible

Best Full-Body Experience: HEALiX Glow Pod

To blast your entire body in one go, all you need to do with the Glow Pod is lie down and you're covered from head to toe. It's relaxing and efficient since you're treating everything at once. Whole body treatment may help your sleep, too, since research shows red light can raise melatonin levels. Just be aware that research still favors targeted treatment for exercise recovery, so this one is more of a spa like experience with sleep and general wellness benefits.

Shop the HEALiX Glow Pod | HSA/FSA Eligible

Best Skincare Wand: Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Wand

Wands are a lower commitment entry point device you can try if you want red light therapy. This one by Solawave also has warming and massage, and is meant for three to five minute sessions, so you can tack it on to your existing skincare routine pretty easily. It's a great starter device if you're red-light curious but not quite ready to strap on (or pay for) a full mask.

Shop the Solawave Wand | HSA/FSA Eligible

Pick the Thing That Bugs You Most

If you're having trouble choosing a device, pick the one that will treat the thing bugging you the most. That could be some skin discoloration, hair loss, or an achy elbow, or it could be your quads after too much squatting. If you're unsure, you could always grab a panel or the torch to address a few things with one device. Of course, your budget is also a factor. Speaking of which, all of these red light devices are HSA/FSA eligible (though eligibility varies by plan administrator, so check with your provider first).

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