If you've been shopping for a red light mat or bag lately, you've probably noticed the wavelength count creeping up. Four wavelengths. Six. Seven. It sounds more advanced every time.
I get asked about this a lot, so here's how I think about it.
The two wavelengths that matter most
Most of the red light research focuses on two ranges:
- 660nm red light is absorbed close to the surface, which is why it's the go to for skin.
- 850nm near infrared light travels deeper, into muscle and around joints, which is why it's the go to for recovery.
Together they cover the surface and the deeper tissue. That pairing is what you'll see again and again in the studies.
Why six wavelengths sound better than they are
When a device lists six wavelengths, it's usually a few reds close together (around 630 and 660nm) plus a few near infrareds close together (around 810, 830 and 850nm). Wavelengths that close to each other behave very similarly in your body. The reds still work near the surface and the near infrareds still go deeper.
So a longer list mostly makes for a more impressive product page.
Power is the number that matters
Every device has a set number of LEDs. If those LEDs are split across six wavelengths, each wavelength gets a smaller share of the light. What you want is plenty of light at the wavelengths that count.
That's measured as irradiance, in mW/cm². It tells you how much light is actually reaching your skin. A device with two strong wavelengths and high irradiance will do more for you than one with a long wavelength list and weak output.
What we use
Our GloMat and GloPod both use 660nm red and 850nm near infrared at high power. The GloMat measures 141.5 mW/cm², and we publish that number because I think every brand should.
Before you buy any red light device, ask:
- What are the wavelengths? Look for red around 660nm and near infrared around 850nm.
- What's the irradiance, in mW/cm²? If a brand can't tell you, that tells you something.
- How many LEDs, and how much of the body do they cover? Full body sessions need full body coverage.
- Who do you call if something goes wrong? A real person in Canada beats a ticket queue overseas.
If you have questions about any device, ours or not, email me at hello@redglolabs.com. I'm happy to help you figure out what you're looking at.
Amber, Founder, Red Glo Labs
