Therabody JetBoots Pro Plus Review: 3-in-1 Recovery Tech
Compression is still the main feature here, and it’s the part that provides the most consistency. The boots apply even, targeted pressure up and down the legs, which helps increase blood and lymphatic circulation and reduce lactic acid buildup. After use, my legs feel lighter and less stiff the next day. Competitive athletes will especially appreciate this recovery tool, as it makes consecutive training days more achievable.
The vibration feature adds another layer of relief, especially around the calves and hamstrings. It feels great post-workout and helps relieve delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) by alleviating tenderness and restricted range of motion, but I found the vibrations most helpful beforehand to warm up my muscles and improve mobility.
As for infrared LED therapy, that’s where my skepticism comes in. I can’t say with certainty that it has noticeably improved my healing. Therabody also hasn’t released key specs online, making it difficult to gauge its effectiveness beyond just vibrations. I contacted Therabody for more information, and according to the company, the JetBoots Pro Plus offer 850 nanometer infrared light, which is typically used to reduce inflammation.
I also asked about irradiation – how powerful the lights are, basically – to which a company representative responded in an email: “Irradiance varies depending on treatment duration to ensure that you get the optimal dose of infrared light energy for your lower leg muscles. Our proprietary system uses treatment time to ensure that each muscle receives 60 to 300 J (Joules) of energy.” These values come from this systematic review of the amount of energy needed to improve muscle performance and reduce muscle fatigue.
Personally, this seems like just a luxury supplement, but LED therapy is a common technique for athletes and people recovering from injury, so the inclusion makes sense. If you plan to use it, you’ll want bare legs. Wearing pants, especially synthetic ones, blocks contact with the skin and can cause overall itching with the compression and vibration functions.
The JetBoots Pro Plus are TSA approved, which frequent travelers and athletes who want consistent recovery will appreciate. Even though they are not waterproof, they are very easy to maintain. The interior uses medical-grade materials designed to limit moisture and microbial growth, and after months of testing, I haven’t noticed any lingering odors. Cleaning is simple: wipe the interior with a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution, clean the exterior with a soft cloth, and let everything air dry.
They’re expensive, but if you want a fancy three-in-one system, the JetBoots Pro Plus are the best on the market. Additionally, they are FSA/HSA eligible.
