Dozens of red light therapy brands have popped up over the last five years.
Trying to cash in on some of the many potential benefits of therapeutic light:
- Wound healing
- Pain relief
- Testosterone boosting
- Hormone optimization
- Cognition
- Mood
- Energy
- Longevity
- Skin
- Beauty
- Sleep
- Circadian health
Most are overpriced, underpowered, and poorly constructed—basically, complete rubbish.
Every once-in-a-while I test a light therapy device that impresses me enough that I want to share it.
So in this article, I’m sharing my experience with and reviewing Lightpath LED devices.
What is Lightpath LED?
Lightpath LED is a new and rapidly growing brand that produces some of the best, highest-tech consumer light therapy products.
Founded by Scott Kennedy, Lightpath LED sets itself apart by constantly innovating and delivering powerful therapeutic light panels at a reasonable price.
You’ll find all kinds of different devices, from handheld lasers to massive whole-body panels.
Coming in different lighting options like red and infrared, but also blue. Yes, blue light has benefits too.
At the same time, their industry-leading five-year warranty attests they won’t compromise on quality.
How light improves human health
Thanks to the work of Arthur Haines et al., we know humans can derive cellular energy not just from food, but also from light.
Technically, this ability to produce energy directly from the sun makes you a photohetereoautotroph.
Light plays countless fundamental roles in your health including:
- Setting your circadian rhythm
- Producing hormones & peptides
- Stimulating healing
- Naturally alleviating pain
- Boosting energy & cognition
And many others of which we’re still years or even decades away from understanding.
Natural sunlight contains the full spectrum of light wavelengths, including ultraviolet.
But sometimes, you can’t get enough natural light. That’s why many take extra steps to have healthy lighting at home.
Or…
You need more of certain spectrums of light and less of others for particular goals Share on XThat’s where therapeutic light comes in.
What I Look for in Quality Light Therapy Devices
After looking at hundreds of light therapy products, I’ve noticed a few areas that the top brands do differently.
Here are several of the key factors I look at.
Warranty
Businesses either focus on product quality or quantity. One of the easiest ways to strip away the marketing and determine quality is to check the warranty.
The longer the warranty period, the more likely the company has built the device to last. Otherwise, they couldn’t afford a longer warranty.
Most light therapy companies offer warranties of 1-3 years. So Lightpath LED’s 5-year warranty stands out.
The best product doesn’t do much good if it breaks after a few months.
Power
You can get red or near infrared light bulbs for extremely cheap. Yet those don’t output nearly enough light (irradiance) to improve your health.
Many panels look professional and still aren’t powerful enough.
There are two factors to consider regarding power:
- Number of bulbs & wattage
- Lens angle
The total number of bulbs and watts per bulb determines the amount of light the panel emits.
Then, the lens angle is a measure that determines the degree concentrated (or spreading out) of the light.
Top products use a 30 to 90-degree angle for the most focused energy.
Anything larger than 90 degrees and much of the light spills into the rest of the room instead of penetrating into your body.
Triple chip LEDs
One of the biggest advancements in light therapy devices is multi-chip LEDs.
Dual chip LEDs had two semiconductor chips in each LED. Triple chip LEDs have a third.
This gives you enhanced performance:
- Increased brightness: More light output compared to single-chip LEDs
- Better coverage: The device covers a larger area more effectively
Instead of each LED being either on or off, you can now make it output 100% red or infrared or a mix of both. Giving you more power and greater customization over your sessions and use cases.
Safety
Light therapy is generally quite safe and well tolerated. The main safety concern is the amount of “electrosmog” (non-native EMF) emitted from the device.
These micro-currents interfere with your body’s intricate wiring system.
Some brands also go through the trouble of proving the safety and efficacy of their devices by getting them registered with the FDA as Class II Medical Devices.
Check out my EMF radiation protection guide if you want to dig deeper.
Pulsing
Compared to constant light, pulsation causes greater cellular effects. It’s superior for a bunch of benefits like:
- Cognition
- Mood
- Energy
- Circadian rhythm
- Bone healing & pain relief
The speed of pulsation is measured in the number of times the LED turns off and on per second. This is called Hertz (Hz).
10 Hz, for example, means the light turns off and on 10 times per second.
Generally, the faster the pulsing (i.e. 40 Hz), the more stimulating. Whereas, slower pulsation (i.e. 10 Hz) is better for sleep.
Lightpath LED Product Line & Pricing
Lightpath LED offers a range of panels and light therapy devices for every possible use case and budget.
| Diesel XL Shortie | Diesel Combo XL Shortie | Diesel XL | Mini Red | Pro Table Top | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbs 💡 | 273 | 273 | 357 | 16 | 85 |
| Modes 🔢 | Red, NIR, Red & NIR | Red/NIR, blue/red/NIR | Red, NIR, Red & NIR | Red, NIR, Red & NIR | Red, NIR, Red & NIR |
| Irradiance 🚨 | 74mw/cm2 at 12 inches | 76mw/cm2 at 12 inches | 78mw/cm2 at 12 inches | 83mw/cm2 at 3 inches | >100mw/cm2 at 6 in |
| Pulsing 🔌 | 10 presets, 1-9,999hz manual | 10 presets, 1-9,999hz manual | 10 presets, 1-9,999hz manual | 40hz and off | Not indicated |
| Wave Length ☀ | 620, 670, & 810 | 450, 670, 810 | 620, 670, & 810 | 620, 670, & 810 | 620, 670, & 810 |
| Beam Angle 📡 | 30 degrees | 30 degrees | 30 degrees | 30 degrees | 30 degrees |
| Warranty 📆 | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 2 years | 5 years |
| Inclusions 📦 | Door mount, goggles, remote | Door mount, goggles, remote | Door mount, goggles, remote | Goggles, charging cable, manual | Door/wall mount, goggles |
| Price 💲 | $ 1,624.00 | $1,624.00 | $1,874.00 | $374.00 | $376.00 |
Their product lines include:
- Diesel: premium-grade, latest technology
- Pro: budget, contains red and infrared LEDs
- Combo: multi-mode with red, blue, and infrared LEDs
Get a discount on your LightPath LED purchases:
Use discount code URBAN to save 5%
They also offer torches, contour-able pads, and mini portable panels.
If you have the budget, I recommend the Diesel line of products.
My Experience With Lightpath LED Diesel XL Shortie
Lifespan: 50,000 Hours
Product Size: 86.6* | 37* | 7.8cm
Beam Angle: 30 Degree
Light Wavelength: 630nm, 670nm, 810nm
LED Quantity: 273 pcs
Modes: 3 (Red, Near Infrared, Both)
Timer Increments: 10, 15, 20, 25, 30-90
Pulsation: 2.5hz, 10, 40, 73, 147, 294, 587, 1147, 2349, 4,698-9,999 Hz
Irradiance @ 6”: 296 mW/cm²
Weight: 27 Pounds
Warranty: 5 Years
Power Draw: 1140W
When I picked up the panel from my buddy Freddy, the sturdiness of the build immediately stood out to me.
Other devices I own and have used subjectively feel lighter and more fragile. The Diesel XL Shortie feels clinical-grade—like it’s built to last.
Setting it up took just a few minutes. I opted to use the stand included for free. Making it super easy to wheel the system around my room.
What really struck me, however, was the light.
While LightPath LED's Diesel XL Shortie has a similar light power (irradiance) to other panels on paper, its light looks considerably brighter Share on XI’m 6’3, so I was concerned that I’d be too tall for this system (they recommend choosing the XL model for anyone over 6’). I usually use it seated, so I had no problem.
I couldn’t exactly figure out what each of the different control buttons did—I had to consult the instruction manual.
I wish they made it easier to remember the modes (0 is red, 1 is infrared, 2 is both).
Other brands just have LED indicators next to R/I and light up either one or both to indicate the mode currently active.
With the red + infrared mode, 66 percent of the light is near infrared—closely mimicking the sun during optimal exposure times (dusk and dawn)
This also leads to better absorption rates and optimally targeting different cells as compared to normal red panels.
I tested a few different pulsation modes and found them quite intense. I could see a long session in front of pulsed lights inducing psychedelic-like states (almost like a device called the roXiva).
Even after long sessions, I’ve had no issues with heat dissipation. Nor has my EMF meter registered any kind of spikes.
These days, I’ve really enjoyed stacking my light therapy sessions with Brown’s gas and brain training. Letting me knock out three health optimization practices simultaneously.
Lightpath LED Light Therapy Review: Final Verdict
Light therapy is among the most versatile health practices.
Since the early days, doctors even prescribed “heliotherapy” for a wide variety of ailments Share on XI’m a huge proponent of natural sunlight exposure and even smart “sun-gazing”, but it’s not always available.
Red and near infrared are considered the most healing spectrums of light.
Most of us don’t get nearly enough. Ultimately, acting like nutrient deficiencies.
I’ve tested dozens of red light panels and most don’t meet expectations. For the last year, the Diesel XL Shortie has been my daily driver.
If you want to try it for yourself, code URBAN will save you 5%.
Use discount code URBAN to save 5%
If you have experience with Lightpath LED, I’d love to hear from you. Please drop a comment below and let me know!
LightPath LED
Lightpath LED is home to innovative & powerful red light devices, from hand-held to whole body light therapy panels. Rapidly gaining traction for their well-built hardware and quality light technology, LightPath LED should be one of your go-tos for red light.
4.55
Pros
- Quality build
- Easy set-up
- Top-tier irradiance
- Great targeting
- No EMF
- No heat dissipation during long sessions
Cons
- Modes not clearly indicated
- Some pulsation modes can be intense
