What do US Special Forces and Olympians have in common?
Among the many things, they share a technological secret.
NovoTHOR.
The world’s strongest whole-body red light therapy device validated by researchers, hospitals, and governments in 500+ human trials and 4,000 lab studies.
The downside?
A sticker price of $140,000 per unit.
Whether you call it Red Light Therapy (RLT), photobiomodulation (PBM), or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), strategic light exposure is a hot bioharmonizing trend.
You’ve undoubtedly encountered one brand, Joovv, in YouTube videos, podcasts, or blog articles. They’re the biggest name in consumer red (and infrared) lighting.
Despite what the influencers say, they’re not the only option. For your average person, compared to their competitors:
- Joovv is too expensive
- Joovv isn’t as powerful
- Joovv isn’t as feature-rich
- Joovv isn’t built as well
Today I’m covering all the best Joovv alternatives, the advantages of each red light therapy device, and which one you should choose. Interested in max value and willing to DIY? Toward the end, I’ll explain how to get the cheapest red light devices possible.
The Best Red Light Therapy Devices of 2024
Best Overall: LightpathLED Diesel
Best Value: Luminousred Model 2 Pro
Most Popular: Platinum LED Therapy BioMax 900
Best Portable: Kineon MOVE+ Pro
Looking to understand the science behind this practice?
Toward the end of the post, I review everything you need to know about the benefits of red light and how it works.
The Top Red Light Therapy Devices Reviewed & Compared
“I think that people generally don’t understand that light is a drug. Just like drugs, light can change the timing and abundance of chemicals in your body, hormones, neurotransmitters — all those sorts of things. That’s exactly what drugs do.”
— Travis Longcore
To take advantage of red light therapy, you have three options:
- Build your own panel (advanced)
- Thoroughly test cheap panels (intermediate)
- Buy a pre-made panel (beginner)
DIY: If you enjoy lengthy projects and have a relevant background, building your own panel gets you the best value. The greatest power to price.
I went this route initially, and manually soldering each of the 300 LEDs turned out to be too much of a pain and I abandoned the project. I’d only recommend this option to skilled electrical engineers.
Cheap: You can find hundreds of cheap RLT panels available from no-name brands. If you choose this route, be sure to thoroughly test the panel since the specs online are highly inaccurate and exaggerated.
Sellers frequently lie to customers and dodge questions about specs.
You’ll want an EMF meter (safety), a slow-mo camera to measure flicker (safety), and a light irradiance meter (power) at the very least. Best for those with plenty of time (shipping often takes 30+ days), and willingness to work with international sellers on returning fake products.
It’s a gamble. You may get a great discount, and you may be stuck with worthless product(s). For most, the time cost alone makes it a poor choice.
Pre-made: The most common option, however, is to buy a pre-made panel. You’ll know what you’re getting, have better support should you need it, won’t need to buy additional supplies, and receive your panel quickly.
This is the ideal choice for 99 percent of biohackers and those wanting to try red light therapy.
At the time of this writing, here are the ultimate red light therapy products on the market.
Best Overall: LightpathLED Diesel
Overview
Specialty: High-tech panel
Wavelength: 630nm, 670nm, 810nm
Power: 792W
LEDs: 264 x 3W
Beam Angle: 30 degrees
Warranty: 5 years
Full Price: $1,624 ($1,462 with code URBAN)
A newcomer to selling red light therapy systems, LightpathLED is home to some of the most innovative lighting solutions such as their blue and green spectrum lighting (which have different uses and benefits). Although their creator has used them clinically for quite a while.
Their new Diesel line is the highest-tech, professional, pulsing light therapy machine I’ve come across in my several years of research.
Virtually all the panels on the market only feature continuous wave light. Although the scientific consensus is mixed, a systemic review of all research from 1970 – 2010 concluded, “There is some evidence that pulsed light does have effects that are different from those of continuous wave light”.
This is different than the unhealthy LED flicker that plagues most low-quality panels. With pulsation off, LightpathLED panels don’t flicker. I prefer the low pulse rate between 1-60 Hz.
These panels also contain dual LEDs. Allowing you to use 100% of the output for red or infrared. Or a mixture.
LightpathLED sells four different products in their Diesel line, varying in shape and LED count. Like Luminousred, the modular design of the Diesel line makes connecting multiple panels simple. Housed within an iron casing and backed by an impressive five-year warranty, these panels are built to last.
If, however, you don’t care about pulsing, you’re in for a treat. While supply remains, their older Pro line is a solid contender.
It’s equally as powerful, contains more wavelengths (620, 660, 810, 850, and 930), and is selling for nearly 40% off!
I personally just picked up their Diesel XL Shortie in May 2023. So far it’s quite impressive and customizable!
LightpathLED stocks the best, well-built, pulsing red light therapy systems and currently has an incredible sale on their non-pulsing units too.
Use discount code URBAN to save 10%
Best Value: Luminousred Model 2 Pro
Overview
Specialty: Powerful yet affordable
Wavelength: 660nm, 850nm
Power: 720W
LEDs: 240 x 3W
Beam Angle: 30 degrees
Warranty: 2 years
Full Price: $1645 ($1625 with code URBAN)
Professional RLT machine at a consumer-friendly price. A young but promising company founded in 2019. What I like most is that Luminousred panels have zero flicker and dual LEDs.
Most LEDs work by flickering at a rate unperceivable to the eye, but deeply stressful to the nervous system (see my article on healthy lighting for more info). Few other brands use dual LED technology.
Unlike normal LEDs, you can turn off near-infrared and use all the diodes for red. Or vice versa. This gives your panel the ability to output pure 850nm (infrared), pure 660nm (red), or a mix of both light spectrums.
Their unique 30-degree beam angle emits the light more tightly so that you reap the full benefits.
Features a Joovv-like modular design so that you can connect their panels together. Test RLT with their most affordable panel. When you love it, upgrade and chain the two panels together for the ultimate red light setup.
I was so impressed with their technology that I got my own (pictured above) and wrote a detailed Luminousred model 2 Pro review. 🙂
Use LuminousRed code URBAN to save $20 on all panels
Joovv Alternative #3: PlatinumLED Therapy BioMax 900
Overview
Specialty: Value
Wavelength: 630nm, 660nm, 810nm, 830nm, 850nm
Power: 720W
LEDs: 300 x 3w
Beam Angle: 90 degrees
Warranty: 3 years
Full Price: $1,299
Similar design and appearance to JOOVV panels, the BioMax regularly tests among the most powerful Red Light Therapy devices on the market. It’s also the favorite of Ari Whitten, author of The Ultimate Guide To Red Light Therapy.
Platinum LED uses a patented broad-spectrum light. You get the synergistic benefits of five wavelengths rather than one or two isolates like most panels.
If it’s too pricey, don’t worry. They offer other models to accommodate any budget.
New features allow you to control the intensity of the LEDs via a touch screen and, should you choose to upgrade, you can wirelessly sync to your previous PlatinumLED panel.
PlatinumLED has warehouses in the EU and USA, allowing them to ship globally without insane fees. They’ve also sold panels for twice as long as JOOVV.
Each panel is classified as an official FDA Class II Medical Devices and backed by a 60-day guarantee. If you don’t like it, send it back for a full refund.
Between the build quality, years in business, aesthetics, power, safety, and price, the Platinum LED BioMax 900 has earned a glowing reputation among light hackers.
Click the link to automatically get 5% off PlatinumLED
Joovv Alternative #4: Red Therapy Co’s RedRush 720
Overview
Specialty: Precision dosing
Wavelength: 660nm, 850nm
Power: 720W
LEDs: 240 x 3W
Beam Angle: Unknown
Warranty: 2 years
Full Price: $949
Red Therapy Co released their flagship product, the 720W panel at approximately half the price of the equivalent JOOVV panel.
In terms of electrosmog, unfortunately, the RR720 puts out more electric fields than the others. But makes up for it with low magnetic fields.
Contains both near-infrared (850nm) and red (660nm). The panel comes with an app that helps ensure you get the optimal dose of red light.
Remember, more light isn’t always better.
Overall, a good value especially when on sale.
Use the exclusive discount code URBAN to get $100 off
Joovv Alternative #5: Red Light Man Device
Overview
Specialty: Beginners
Wavelength: 630nm, 670nm, 810nm
Power: 192W
LEDs: 64 x 3W
Beam Angle: 70 degrees
Warranty: Unknown
Full Price: $300
Looking for a mini light? Red Light Man is the go-to.
These panels are compact and well-built. Their signature “Red light device” is the only broad-spectrum device with exclusively red wavelengths (no infrared). Their surge in demand has caused a recent price bump.
Despite the price increase, Red Light Man machines are well-built and good value.
They offer free delivery to USA & UK. Shipping alone for 20+ pounds panels can cost a fortune. If you’re looking for a solid beginner red light therapy product, go for Red Light Man.
Use discount code URBAN to save 10% off Red Light Man
Joovv Alternative #6: Kineon MOVE+ Pro
Overview
Specialty: Joint health recovery
Wavelength: 650nm, 808nm
Power: 40 mW/cm2W
LEDs: 50mW per module, 80mW per emission area
Beam Angle: 60 degrees
Warranty: 1 year + 30-day money-back guarantee
Full Price: $499 ($450 with code URBAN)
This device is special because it’s specifically created as a red light therapy for joints.
As you can see in the image above, you can wrap this product around your knee or any other type of joint. Check out my interview with Kineon CEO Forrest Smith for a deep dive into all benefits and practical use cases.
In fact, I’ll wrap it around my waist to target my gut and around my neck to gently stimulate my thyroid.
The pulsing and still decently high-power output of 40 mW/cm2 makes this product unique among handheld options.
Since you place the Move+ Pro directly against your skin, you don’t waste any light rays and they penetrate deeper into the tissues.
Men’s Health Magazine recently featured the Kineon MOVE+ Pro as one of the best gadgets for 2024.
This device is a top alternative if you’re prioritizing portability, joint health, and optimal recovery.
Use Kineon MOVE+ Pro code URBAN to save 10%
Joovv Alternative #7 (Rechargeable): Mito Red Mobile
Overview
Specialty: Affordable portability
Wavelength: 660nm, 850nm
Power: Power: 60W
LEDs: 12 x 5W
Beam Angle: 60 degrees
Warranty: 1 year
Full Price: $199 (sale)
Mito Red Mobile is the company’s newest offering and caters to travelers and those frequently on the go.
Measuring just 6″ x 3.75″ x 1.5″ and weighing 1.3 pounds, the mobile is compact enough to easily slip into carry-on luggage, backpacks, or even purses. Like Luminousred, this panel has an ideal 60-degree beam angle, ensuring great coverage.
Expect the battery to last 2.5 to 3 hours, long enough for enjoying vacations without lugging charging cords.
With Mito Red, you know that you’re getting high-quality, third-party-approved products. Their mobile device is great for basic spot targeting with minimal space.
Use discount code URBAN to save 5% off Mito Red
Joovv Alternative #8: FlexBeam
Overview
Specialty: Spot treatment
Wavelength: 625-635nm, 815nm
Power: 26W (from internal battery)
LEDs: 9 x 5W
Beam Angle: Unknown
Warranty: 2 years
Full Price: $549 ($468 with code URBAN)
Recharge Health raised nearly $2M on the crowdsourcing platform IndieGogo to fill a necessary void in the red light therapy market.
In 2021 they released their first product, The FlexBeam. As the name hints, FlexBeam excels at spot treatment. Giving you a concentrated dose of infrared (100 mW/cm^2) and red light (60 mW/cm^2) wherever it matters most. The FlexBeam emits more infrared than red light.
Though it lacks full-body coverage, it makes up with portability and wearability. You can put it just about anywhere and it contours to the body.
Each charge lasts up to five 10-minute sessions. Another cool feature in line with current research is that FlexBeam pulses at specific frequencies to harmonize with the body and nature.
FlexBeam is the premium red light device to target and contours around specific parts of the body. Perfect to accelerate recovery and heal nagging injuries.
Use discount code urban to save $60
Joovv Alternative #9: MitoPRO 750+
Overview
Specialty: Broad-spectrum
Wavelength: 630nm, 660nm, 830nm, 850nm
Power: Power: 750W
LEDs: 150 x 3W
Beam Angle: 60 degrees
Warranty: 3 years
Full Price: $669 ($636 with code URBAN)
A new product in their lineup, Mito Red’s MitoPRO stacks up nicely against others in the 750W class.
This panel provides optimal light coverage via the 60-degree beam angle. Multiple red (630nm and 660nm) and infrared (830nm and 880nm) wavelengths generate biologically compatible light that more closely resembles the sun.
MitoPRO is Mito Red’s premium option, and though I haven’t personally tested it, this line looks promising. This panel is a great alternative to Joovv at a reasonable price.
Use discount code URBAN to save 5% off Mito Red
Joovv Alternative #10: Hooga HG300 Red Light
Overview
Specialty: Amazon convenience
Wavelength: 660nm, 850nm
Power: 500W
LEDs: 100 x 5W
Beam Angle: 60 degrees
Warranty: 2 years
Full Price: Visit Amazon
If you’re dead set on getting a panel through Amazon, Hooga is a newer and growing brand. Hooga has been around since 2019, and their HG500 is an okay budget beginner panel.
If it indeed puts out the claimed wattage, it’s a good value. Some users have complained that their HG300 puts out high EMF. Hooga uses a targeted 60-degree beam angle which provides more efficient sessions.
They also offer a two-year full replacement warranty should something go wrong. For the same price, I’d go with the tested and beloved Red Light Man device. But the HG300 is another decent and convenient beginner panel.
Red Light Therapy Explained
Let’s take a step back.
What is red light and why is it important?
Red light is a healing spectrum of visible light. Ever enjoyed the short period around sunset (“golden hour”)? You’ll notice that the sunlight takes on a warmer hue. Throughout the day, the sun constantly shifts from predominantly reddish (morning), to blue (afternoon), and back to reddish (evening).
Sunrise and sunset light are sources of natural healing red light (and little blue).
We need all spectrums of light (as I explained in optimal lighting for your home). Today, however, most of us are bombarded by blue light output from virtually all LED light bulbs, screens, and technology. Our “light diet” has become red-deficient. With too much blue.
Red light therapy helps balance our light exposure, which makes us stronger, healthier, and more resilient humans.
Humans have two options to bioharmonize our light:
- Reduce overexposure to blue light with gear like blue-blocking glasses or technologies like IrisTech (see why I transitioned from f.lux).
- Increase red light by sun-gazing or light therapy.
In other words, RLT is a modern hack that makes light compatible with our bodies. And the easiest way to get more red light?
Through special panels affixed with powerful mini red lights.
Any red light won’t do. Many of the red light therapy panels on the market are complete garbage:
- Exaggerated light output (weak)
- High electrosmog output (toxic)
- Damages retina through LED flicker (toxic)
- Poor engineering (ineffective)
Amazon pick aside, each of the panels below has had their light outputs thoroughly compared and benchmarked online.
So, why do people spend hundreds on photobiomodulation devices?
Why I Didn’t Buy a JOOVV Red Light Panel
Joovv makes THE hottest consumer red light therapy products. Their ads appear in the podcasts of virtually all famous biohackers.
The following influencers, doctors, and biohackers promote (or promoted) JOOVV:
- Dave Asprey
- Dr. Andrew Huberman
- Luke Storey
- Ben Greenfield
- Tim Gray
- Dr Mark Hyman
- Mark Sisson
- Dr. Joseph Mercola
- Dr. Josh Axe
- Dr. Steven Gundry
- Dr. Paul Saladino
- Dr. Jay Wiles
- Kris Gethin
- Alex Fergus
- 49ers
- Dr. Sarah Ballantyne
- Sal Di Stefano
- Ben Pakulski
- Dr. Michael Gervais
So why have I continued to resist the pitch despite strongly believing in red light therapy?
Three main reasons:
- Poor value
- Biological stress
- Light spectrum
I’ll expand on each.
Joovv makes the most expensive consumer light therapy panels. By a long shot. The same third-party tests above found their products no more powerful than other brands.
And in some cases, less. Value-wise, Joovv is the back of the pack.
Biological stress refers to the negative side effects of powerful LED panels. Red light panels have problems with flicker and EMF radiation. JOOVV is no exception.
Again, my post on healthy lighting explains why flicker is such an issue. The last thing you want from therapeutic use is to do more harm than good.
New Generation 3.0 Joovv models all come with a mix of true 660nm red light, and 850nm infrared light. Each spectrum confers different benefits. While combining both is best, I already built my own near-infrared 850nm sauna for ~$150. You can also get affordable near-infrared saunas pre-made.
I get plenty of near-infrared and prefer my red light panels have the ability to output 100 percent red light.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy
Light might seem innocent…
But what if I told you that the benefits are so powerful that sports regulators considered banning red light therapy [R]?
In other words, putting red light on the list of banned ergogenic performance enhancers.
Light therapy has taken off in popularity. Users have reported stunning effects for over a decade.
Some of the research-backed benefits of RLT include:
- Boosts testosterone production
- Anti-cancer
- Anti-stress
- Joint pain
- Anti-depression
- Anti-pain
- Anti-inflammation
- Rapid hair growth
- Enhanced exercise performance
- Greater energy
- Greater stem-cell efficiency
- Increasing energy
- Improving immunity
- Increasing blood circulation
- Slowing aging (via reducing free radicals & oxidative stress)
- Weight loss
- Enhances mood
- Fat loss
- Improves eye health
- Fat reduction
- Improves fertility in men and women
- Helps prevent erectile dysfunction
- Healthier thyroid
- Faster muscle repair
- Better skin repair
- Reduces wrinkles and tightens skin
- Quicker wound healing
I personally use it as a pre-workout along with my homemade pre-workout drink and sometimes again to enhance recovery. Placebo or not, I’ve had better workouts.
If you want to learn more on this topic, dive deeper into all the health benefits of red and near-infrared light therapy.
How to Buy The Cheapest Red Light Therapy Devices
Be warned: buying cheap LED products is a gamble.
You could save a few hundred dollars, or you might get stuck with a faulty product. One that puts out significant health-damaging electrosmog.
I don’t recommend this approach, but if you’re open to risk, here are the steps to getting the best possible value red light therapy panel.
Browse Reddit for popular Alibaba brands. Choose one and start by asking the vendor questions:
- What is the beam angle? 30-or 60-degree beam angles are optimal.
- What is the irradiance across the entire body? Should be between 10mW/cm^2 and 20mW/cm^2. It should be third-party verified.
- How was irradiance tested? Solar power meters give inflated numbers. Instead, ask for the laser-tested output.
- Have the panels been third-party tested for EMF? If so, ask for the test results.
- What is the rated power and true wall draw (in Watts)? Verify the device should be as powerful as claimed.
Next, you’ll want your own equipment to verify the manufacturer’s answers once your panel arrives:
- TES-1333 Solar Power Meter [Amazon] to measure light intensity at the distance you intend to use the panel. Solar power meters are not as good as laser testing, but are far more affordable.
- Cornet ED-88TPlus [Amazon] to measure electrosmog output. If the device produces high EMFs, it may do more harm than good.
I like to see an irradiance of 15mW/cm^2 across my entire body. And minimal EMF output (especially magnetic fields).
Overall, the above meters you’d need have other uses as well. But unless you can get them at discounts, the cost savings and difficulty of DIY importation from China aren’t worth the headaches.
The Best Affordable Red Light Therapy Panels
Red light is a powerful growth, healing, and regenerative stimulus. Whenever possible, I like to get more red exposure by sun gazing during sunrise or sunset.
Still, I spend most of my day on the computer getting blasted by blue light. That’s why I turn to panels that I can use from the comfort of my bedroom.
NovoTHOR is the ultimate and most researched light therapy product in the world. Unless you have $140,000 to burn, however, you’ll need something more affordable that’s almost as powerful.
Compared to NovoTHOR, Joovv is affordable. But there are even higher quality, more advanced, budget-friendly panels available.
I made the mistake of trying to build my own. After $250 of parts and materials, I got something barely working. Certainly not powerful enough for meaningful results.
Buying from Alibaba can be affordable or a huge waste. It takes patience, and equipment to do right.
I bit the bullet and got a pre-made panel. When evaluating products I compared:
- Light irradiance (power)
- Electrosmog, flicker, and build quality (safety)
- Color spectrum (max benefits)
There are great options.
Each light therapy panel listed above appeals to a different type of biohacker.
I’ve found LightPathLED and Luminousred panels significantly outperform their competition. I’ve been using it for years, so I wrote a review of my Luminousred Model 2 Pro device. My LightPathLED panel is new but so far quite impressive. The best red light system I’ve encountered.
Red light therapy alone won’t work miracles. I’ve found that most of the benefits accrue over time. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll begin seeing results and feeling your best.
Do you have one of the light therapy panels above? Something else not listed? Let me know in the comments below.
Ask Nick a Podcast Question
any thoughts on joovv-no phone contact only email
Hi Carol!
I’m not a big fan of JOOVV. Even though just about every influencer hypes them up to be the best. If you’re asking about their support, I can’t speak to that much. For a company of their size, I am a bit surprised, though, to hear that they don’t offer phone support.
Your review do not make sense. In your review for luminous red you state no other panels feature dual LEDs, but the review for the lightpath panel indicates that it too has dual LEDs.
Hey Sue! Appreciate you pointing that out. I wrote this post originally back around 2020-2021. I did buy Luminousred and still have and use it. Recently, I also picked up a LightpathLED panel. It also has dual LEDs. Forgot to update the Luminousred review. Sorry about that.
Hey Nick, thanks for this great info! I’ve been looking at different options for red light therapy at home and was looking solely at Joovv, mostly because it’s talked about a lot. The cost for a full body set up is pretty high though and I think you’re paying for brand more than quality. So, my question is if you had to choose between the Luminous Red Model 2+2 Duo ($3499) and the Platinum LED 2X BIOMAX 900 + 900 ($4885) which one would you choose? Any insight is appreciated! Thanks!
Hey Brent! Glad you found it helpful. Yeah, unfortunately the price of quality panels is still quite high. What exactly are you looking for in a red light system? Personally, I lean more towards a Lightpath LED setup. Great value, especially when on sale. Fantastic build quality and some unique features. Otherwise, I would probably pick the Luminousred Model 2+2 Duo. They’ve upgraded their tech and design since I bought mine, it’s newer than Platinum.
I recently purchased a Hooga 500 Panel. After reading these reviews not sure if I should use the unit. Have you heard anything negative about hooga 500 specifically?
Hi! I haven’t. As I mentioned, it wouldn’t be one of my first choices. Even though it flickers and has some other issues, the Hooga probably is still a net benefit. Just hard to say how much.
Hi Nick, I was wondering about the angle of light beams..how important is that?one of the companies says 90 degrees. My primary use with b e on my face.Thanks for your help!
Hi Brooke! Angle determines the concentration of the light. Too wide, and some of the light rays won’t hit your body. Too narrow, and you’re only spot targeting a very specific part of the body. But if you’re just focusing on one particular place, such as your face, 90 degrees should be great!
Hi Nick! Thank you for writing this. It is INCREDIBLY helpful! My Boyfriend and I are thinking of splitting a red light therapy machine for our shared birthdays in August. We are most interested in the benefits for our brains (Alzheimer’s runs in both of our families) As well as anti-aging of our skin and for various joint pains. Cost is of course also a consideration.
From reading your article, My BF has zeroed in on Luminousred Model 2 Pro, Red Therapy Co’s RedRush 720 and the MitoPRO.
We were wondering, MitoPRO seems to have more spectrums but are they necessary? And have you tested MitoPRO yet? Also, can we use these larger panels for spot treatments? We would love to hear which one you might suggest for us? Thanks Nick!
Hi Sarah, glad to hear it has been helpful! That’s a great idea and one of my primary motivations to use RLT 🙂
Form his selections, I recommend the Luminousred Model 2 Pro, or MitoPRO 750. I personally have the Luminousred and love it. Using it right now, actually! I’ve only looked into the specs and science behind the MitoPRO, so I cannot give my hands-on assessment. The researchers I know in the industry have not yet verified that the Mito really performs as claimed, so there’s that. I like the idea of using multiple spectrums and I suspect that new studies will come up validating the other wavelengths. This would more closely mimic natural light. So I actually lean towards Mito (if they are honest about the output listed). They also have a 60-day trial period.
You can use large panels for spot treatments! I do that. Some devices are constructed to cram more LEDs into a smaller space and, most important, angle (concentrate) the light beam accordingly. Large panels aren’t as optimal for spot treatments, but they do work.
Hope that helps and I am not too late for your birthday!
Thanks for the informative, illuminating article!
Is Luminousred still in business? I can’t seem to find it.
Thanks!
Hey Harry! They are. Are you having problems accessing https://luminousred.com/?
Hi Nick, I know this is only indirectly related but I’m trying to find an easy way to make a similar array for UV light as for IR. I have bad eczema and have found sunlight helps, and also have gotten recommendations of which lamps to use, I just can’t find a panel and stand that I could easily screw them into. Do you know of any? Thanks!
Hey Michael,
I haven’t used UV lights specifically but happy to help. Can you send a link to the product? The type of the bulbs matters. Also, are these UV-A, UV-B, or UV-C bulbs?
Hi Nick,
I was wondering if you are familiar with Vielight. If you are what are your thoughts?
Hey. What’s your goal? I am familiar with it and I’ve heard mixed things. It’s well suited to those wanting light to improve cognition and support the brain. It’s expensive because they patented the delivery mechanism. I believe that they’ve stopped producing the current generation too. If you’re looking for systemic benefits, I would go with one of the others.
Thank you so much for sharing this top quality research. Have you heard of biolight? if so, how would you rate it? Would you recommend it? https://www.biolight.shop/
Thank you so much
(This product sepcifically: https://www.biolight.shop/product-page/restore-plus)
Nick,
I have a dear friend who unfortunately has ALS. He has terrible cramps and pain in his arms and legs. He is pretty much immobile at this point due to the disease. ALS lose the ability to move their body but do not lose sensation. I have been looking for a good brand with red and NIR light therapy that is a belt or something that can be strapped onto my friends arms, legs since he can’t hold anything anymore. He also can’t move around without assistance so the wall panels or devices on stands don’t look like they would work…. I looked to see if Mito had anything in a belt or pad but they don’t…. I’m would spend $500-$600 on a quality device if I thought there was any chance it would help relieve my friends suffering – but haven’t found one yet that looks like it fits the bill. Do you have any suggestions?
Thank you for any information or suggestions you can provide – Louise
Louise,
Sorry to hear that. Hmm, I haven’t heard of any belts specifically. Perhaps something more portable like the FlexBeam would work? I’ll keep my eyes peeled for other options, but that’s all I’ve come across so far.
I hope this helps your friend! Feel free to contact me directly and we can chat via email.
I’ve been looking at the mini Joovv mostly for facial purposes but Joovv isn’t sold in Canada. Is there a brand of RLT that can be purchased in Canada that you recommend?
Hi Barb! Are you looking for a Canada-based company to avoid any additional fees? Many of the options on this list (Luminousred, MitoRed, PlatinumLED, etc) offer international shipping which includes Canada. When I bought my Luminousred panel, despite them being based in Europe, I didn’t pay any additional USA import fees.
Hello Barb
I was looking for the panels online and I found the company based in Canada call The Red Alternative. They ship free even to USA. I purchased Platinum Red Therapy two years ago the biggest panel for $800. I loved it. The only thing that upset me was the price because when I received the panel it came straight from China with the price listed for the panel $300 while I payed $800 for it. The panels sold by this Canadian company look exactly this same like the older models from platinum red therapy company. I wonder if those are this same units and the price for the panel at The red Alternative is way cheaper.
Hey Nick,
Thanks for all the great information!
I’ve been going back and forth between Joovv and Mito Red for quite a long time now. You briefly touched on Mito Red’s mobile option, but what are your thoughts on their new MitoPro Series?
Thanks!
Hey Adam. Glad it has been helpful! I haven’t heard much about the MitoPRO. It also has an idea beam angle and multiple wavelengths. I’d like to see them release the irradiance & EMF data, but aside from that, it looks pretty good. I’ll investigate further and write up more about it.
Do you own any of these panels and if so have you tested the EMF?
I own the Luminousred Model 2 Pro and have tested it with my Cornet ED88TPlus. At 6″ there’s <0.5mG. At 0" I picked up about 2mG.
The problem that I have with the Louminousred is that it is shorter than the other models. You have to purchase 1 and 2 together to create the same height. At that point, you’re spending almost as much as the Joovv. Also, the Biomax does not include a stand so when you pay an extra $300 for the stand, again, you’re almost paying as much as a Joovv. So I’m not understanding why they are better options than the Joovv.
What is it about the height that matters to you? LR is more powerful. With the added power, you can treat additional areas faster. I personally hung my Model 2 Pro from my standing desk and use it while I work.
Okay, you’ve totally sold me on the benefits of red light! But I’m confused about one thing. You mentioned that if you didn’t already own a Luminousred you’d buy a Platinum. Does that mean you prefer the Platinum?
Thanks!
Happy to hear that you’re interested! Just updated the post to clarify my thoughts. I have and love my Luminousred. Wouldn’t trade it for any of the others. What I meant to say was that I’d go for Platinum LED if LR didn’t exist. Hope that helps 🙂
Yes, very helpful. Can you say more about why you prefer the Lumiousred panel to the Platinum? I’m torn because the the Platinum Biomax boasts 5 wavelengths, and I don’t know if that matters. Is that meaningful in terms of actual function? Or are the extra 3 redundant? Thanks again!
Good question. To address your questions and then why I prefer LR:
5 wavelengths is a trade-off. Most of the proven benefits of RLT come from a few wavelengths (ie 660nm, 850nm infrared). I’m confident that emerging research will eventually discover other benefits from these additional colors. But I’m not sure that they will outweight the popular ones. So the more wavelengths used, the weaker the power of each.
I prefer Luminousred because their technology is unparalleled. From the optimal beam angle, to the dual-LEDs, to the strongest power-to-price ratio. There’s a big problem with accurate power measurement in light therapy. Most companies use (inferior) solar power meters which give artificially high power readings. Meaning the devices themselves are actually weaker than they appear.
I’ve talked to several other owners in the red light therapy industry. They’ve tested Luminousred themselves and vouch that they measure properly (making the power specs accurate).
I wrote a comprehensive Luminousred review of why I ultimately chose them: https://outliyr.com/luminousred-review
Thanks for putting together such an informative and high quality post. Red Light Therapy is one of the foundational biohacks for modern living (where we aren’t getting enough natural sunlight) that is unfortunately cost prohibitive for a lot of people. It’s crazy how high the markup is on some of the widely known (Joovv especially) units available. Definitely will consider one of these alternative when I opt for a larger red light unit.
Hey David. Appreciate the words. I completely agree. And it doesn’t have to be as expensive. Let me know if you’d like help deciding for yourself.