Best Red Light Therapy Wrap: Mito vs Nushape vs NovaaLab (2023)
I was recently asked to compare the Nushape Mini, NovaaLab’s new red light therapy wrap, and Mito Red Light’s Advanced Therapy Belt. Which is the best red light therapy wrap?
I compared them based on dimensions, treatment time, quality, LEDs, wavelengths, irradiance, fluence, power bank and returns.
The winner is clearly the Mito Red LIght Mito Wrap.
Coupons
Use code RED for 5% off at Mito Red Light. I don’t have coupons for Nushape.com but if you buy using their TheTherapyWrap website, use coupon RED for 15% off.
Takeaways
Mito Red Light is way ahead of Nushape and NovaaLab on several measures. NovaaLab is right in the middle, and Nushape has the best material quality.
| Nushape Mini | Score | NovaaLab New Wrap | Score | Mito Wrap | Score | |
| Dimensions | Not available | 0 | 15.7 x 9 in. | 5 | 21.5 x 5 | 5 |
| Treatment Time | 20 min. | 5 | 20 min. | 5 | 20 min. | 5 |
| Quality | Excellent | 5 | Good | 4 | Good | 4 |
| LEDs | 160 | 3 | 320 | 4 | 405 (1215 chips) | 5 |
| Irradiance | Not available | 0 | 200 mW/cm^2 | 0 | 10 mW/cm^2 | 5 |
| Fluence | 37 J/cm^2 | 0 | Not available | 0 | 0.6J/cm^2 | 5 |
| Power Bank | Separate | 2 | Bring your own | 2 | Included | 5 |
| Returns | 14 days | 1 | 60 days | 5 | 60 days | 5 |
| Score | 16 | 25 | 39 |
Nushape and NovaaLab get zero points for their irradiance and fluence values as they’re not remotely credible.
Comparing the Specifications
- Dimensions: I can’t find dimensions, they used to be there
- Treatment Time: 20 minutes
- Quality: Highest quality materials of any wrap I’ve seen
- LEDs: 160 LEDs
- Wavelengths: 660 nm and 850 nm
- Irradiance: ?
- Fluence:” 37 J/cm^2
- Power Bank: Add a power bank (cell phone battery or buy theirs)
- Returns: 14 days
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 9 in.
- Treatment Time: 20 minutes
- Quality: Good quality
- LEDs: 360 LEDs
- Wavelengths: 660 nm and 850 nm
- Fluence: ?
- Irradiance: 200 mW/cm^2
- Power Bank: Add a power bank (cell phone battery or buy theirs)
- Returns: 60 days
- Dimensions: 48 x 6.5 in. (21.5 x 5 treatment area)
- Treatment Time: 20 minutes
- Quality: Good quality
- LEDs: 405 LEDs (1215 chips)
- Wavelengths: 660 nm and 850 nm
- Fluence: 0.6J/cm^2
- Irradiance: 5 intensities, 10 mW/cm^2
- Power Bank: Included
- Returns: 60 days
Discussion
Dimensions only matter if you’re doing a flat area, if you’re wrapping the wrap around a body part the coverage is about the same for each. If you put it on your back or tummy, will it be wide and tall enough to cover the ground? Probably yes in all three cases but Nushape didn’t publish the dimensions, I’m sure that used to be on the site. From best to least: Mito, Novaa, Nushape
Treatment time is indicator of power. It’s more reliable than fluence or irradiance which can be easily reported incorrectly. They’re all 20 minutes treatment time which either means some of them are giving higher doses in 20 minutes or their specifications are stated too high and they’re really all closer in strength. I don’t know the answer. From best to least: Tied.
Quality of materials — Nushape, Mito, Novaa
LEDs are a measure of light per square in. (or sq. cm.), the more lights jammed into an area, the more exposure the skin gets from those units. From best to least: Mito, Novaa, Nushape.
Wavelengths appropriate for pain relief and skin care (though skin care on the face with a wrap is pretty awkward: Tied
Fluence is an easier measure of effectiveness than irradiance. However, fluence and irradiance are subject to mis-measurement, and we certainly see that with the Nushape.
Nushape reports 37 J/cm^2 fluence; Novaa doesn’t report; Mito reports 0.6J/cm^2.
Is Nushape really 37 where Mito is 0.6? There’s no way the Nushape number is accurate.
You might set a goal of 20 joules with a wrap, and 60 joules with a panel.
A wrap can’t output much energy because it’s made of cloth, while a panel is made of metal.
37 joules per minute means that the Nushape delivers almost twice the target dose in one minute.
Nushape: 37 joules x 20 minutes = 740 joules over 20 minutes, that is not credible.
Mito: 0.6 joules x 20 minutes = 12 joules over 20 minutes, VERY credible.
Best to least: Mito, Nushape, and Novaa didn’t play this round.
Irradiance is subject to mis-measurement.
Nushape does not report their irradiance.
Novaa claims 200 mW/cm^2.
Mito claims 10 mW/cm^2 presumably at highest intensity of the 5 levels offered.
Is Novaa 20x more powerful than Mito? That is very, very unlikely as they have the same treatment times.
Novaa’s 200 is higher than many panels. A neoprene cloth can’t handle that much energy.
Novaa: (200 mW x 20 minutes x 60 seconds per minute) / 1000 mW per Watt = 240 joules in 20 minutes, which is not credible.
Mito: (10 mW x 20 minutes x 60 seconds per minute) / 1000 mW per Watt = 12 joules in 20 minutes is VERY credible.
Best to least: Mito, Novaa, Nushape didn’t play this round
Power Bank: is is required for portability. Any USB cell phone connection will power these pads. Mito comes with a power bank. You can buy a power bank from Nushape. You cannot buy one from Novaa. Best to least: Mito, Nushape, Novaa.
Returns: Mito: 60 days; Novaa: 60 days; Nushape 14 days. Best to least: Mito, Novaa, Nushape
Results
Nushape excels at quality of materials.
NovaaLab’s strengths are tied with Mito Red Light’s strengths.
Mito Red Light excels at LED coverage (more light per unit of area), irradiance and fluence reporting, and the included battery.
| Nushape Mini | Score | NovaaLab New Wrap | Score | Mito Wrap | Score | |
| Dimensions | Not available | 0 | 15.7 x 9 in. | 5 | 21.5 x 5 | 5 |
| Treatment Time | 20 min. | 5 | 20 min. | 5 | 20 min. | 5 |
| Quality | Excellent | 5 | Good | 4 | Good | 4 |
| LEDs | 160 | 3 | 320 | 4 | 405 (1215 chips) | 5 |
| Irradiance | Not available | 0 | 200 mW/cm^2 | 0 | 10 mW/cm^2 | 5 |
| Fluence | 37 J/cm^2 | 0 | Not available | 0 | 0.6J/cm^2 | 5 |
| Power Bank | Separate | 2 | Bring your own | 2 | Included | 5 |
| Returns | 14 days | 1 | 60 days | 5 | 60 days | 5 |
| Score | 16 | 25 | 39 |
