What are the pros and cons of an infrared mat? The main advantages of an infrared mat are its ability to provide safe, deep penetrating heat to your entire body, its ease of use, and its affordability. Its main cons are that the mat needs to be rolled out each time you need to use it and it requires a suitable flat floor space. Let’s take a closer look at infrared heating pad pros & cons.
INFRARED MAT PROS AND CONS
An infrared heating mat is an excellent way of delivering soothing, relaxing, and healing infrared heat therapy to your entire body. They offer several advantages over traditional heating mats and are a very affordable way of introducing infrared heat therapy into your home.
Are you thinking about investing in an infrared heating mat? Check out our infrared mat advantages and disadvantages below – we cover everything you need to know. An infrared mat is a significant investment and this guide will help you assess if it is the right device for your needs.
PROS OF INFRARED MAT
What are the advantages of an infrared mat? If you are considering purchasing an infrared heating mat – you will need to know all the potential benefits. Let’s take a look at the pros of an infrared mat.
INFRARED HEAT THERAPY
Infrared heat is an excellent way of heating the body. All infrared mats use infrared light energy to gently heat your body. This light energy is deeply penetrating and unlike other heat sources – it heats your body directly without heating the air between you and the mat.
It’s a great way of delivering heat to tired, tense muscles and relieving minor body pains. Infrared heat is highly effective and it’s safe. It is even used in hospitals to gently warm newborn babies.
FULL BODY COVERAGE
Full body coverage is high up on the list of infrared mat benefits. Infrared mats provide a surface area that covers your entire body. This means you can deliver all-over heat therapy in a single session.
When you lie on an infrared mat your whole body from your shoulders right down to your feet will rest on the mat surface. And, the infrared heat will pass directly from the heating element within the mat to this entire body area. Unlike a heating pad that covers a small area – an infrared mat is a great way of achieving an all-over heat therapy experience.
TARGET SPECIFIC AREAS
Another great advantage of an infrared mat is that you can also target specific areas. If you just want to target a specific area of your body with infrared therapy you can position yourself on the mat so that only that area is being heated.
For example, if you have a pain in your right knee and only want to heat that area – you can lie sideways across the mat so that only your right knee is resting on the mat surface. An infrared mat gives you the option of heating your entire body or just specific target areas.
COMPETITIVE PRICE
An infrared heating mat is a lot cheaper than an infrared sauna. If you want to introduce infrared heat therapy into your home but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on an infrared sauna cabin – then an infrared mat is a great option.
Installing a timber cabin sauna in your home will cost anywhere between $3,000 to $15,000. However, you can pick up the best infrared mats for a fraction of that price – typically about $1,000.
ACCELERATE HEALING & RECOVERY
Another pro of an infrared mat is its potential ability to accelerate healing and recovery. Heating your body with infrared energy stimulates blood flow.
This increase in blood flow to heated areas of the body is believed to play a role in stimulating the natural healing and recovery process. Infrared mats are a great way to wind down after a gym session and speed up the natural recovery process.
EASY TO USE
Infrared mats are very easy to use. All you need to do is roll them out on a suitable flat surface, plug them in, and you’re ready to go. You’ll need to allow some time for them to warm up – but then you are ready to go.
You can adjust the heat intensity and duration of the session on most devices using a controller. When you’re ready to go just lie on the mat surface, relax, and allow the infrared light energy to gently heat your body. It’s that simple. For more, check out our guide on How To Use an Infrared Mat.
EASY TO STORE
Infrared mats are easy to store. They can be set up in minutes and when you’re finished they are rolled or folded up and packed away until they are next needed. You can easily store your mat in a cupboard, under a bed, or any area that accommodates its small dimensions.
Being easy to store makes them a great option for homes that have limited free space. The mat can be taken out and used when needed and then packed away when you’re done.
HIGHLY PORTABLE
Infrared heating mats are highly portable. They can be taken on the road if you are planning s trip. Their small dimensions mean they can be placed in the trunk of a car.
This means an infrared mat provides round-the-clock access to infrared heat therapy even when you travel away from home. This is a great feature for people that have to travel for work and want to be able to roll out their mat whenever it is needed.
PAIN MANAGEMENT WITHOUT THE DRUGS
Infrared heat therapy can be used to provide pain relief for minor aches and injuries. And, it is a drug-free therapy option. If you want to manage minor aches and pains without turning to prescription medication – an infrared mat may offer a good alternative.
However, we recommend that you consult a healthcare professional to discuss the management of aches, pains, or any health issues before self-treating using infrared heat. The recommended course of action is always to first seek professional medical advice.
TEMPERATURE & TIME CONTROL
The best infrared mats allow you to set your desired heat level and the duration of the session. They come with a controller that can be used to adjust the heat intensity and the number of minutes you want the session to run.
Many devices even have an auto shut-off that powers down the unit for safety reasons once a limit has been reached. The auto shut-off is a great feature if you fall asleep while relaxing on the mat.
CONS OF INFRARED MAT
What are the disadvantages of an infrared mat? Let’s take a look at the cons of an infrared mat. What are the main concerns you need to know about before you make a purchase? See below.
FLAT FLOOR SPACE
One of the main disadvantages of an infrared mat is that it needs to be rolled out on a flat floor space. To use an infrared heating mat you will need to find a suitable flat surface in your home that can accommodate the mat.
This can be an issue if you live in a small home with limited free floor space. The good news is that once you are finished using it you can roll or fold it back up and pack it away until next time.
REPEATED SET-UP
Another disadvantage of an infrared mat is that it needs to be set up each time you use it. Unless you have a dedicated floor space or treatment table for your infrared mat you will have to roll it out each time you want to use it.
This set-up process will add a few minutes to your preparation time. However, the set-up is incredibly simple and involves rolling the mat out on a flat surface. It will take no longer than 1-2 minutes.
INFRARED MAT PRICE
Infrared mats are more expensive than traditional heating mats. If you are on a tight budget you find an infrared heating mat on the expensive side.
Infrared heating mats have a bigger price tag because they cost more to manufacture. They are a more advanced heating technology and achieve a more deeply penetrating heat.
YOU MUST STAY IN PLACE
When you use an infrared heating mat you will need to stay in place. This means you will need to lie directly on the mat and stay there to achieve the best results.
There is no freedom of movement, unlike an infrared sauna cabin where you can stand-up, sit-down, or change your position. For an infrared heating mat to effectively heat your body you will need to stay lying on top of it.
WHAT ARE THE BEST INFRARED MATS?
Now that we’ve covered all the infrared heating pad pros & cons let’s take a look at your buying options. Are you planning to buy an infrared mat? Do you need some information on the best infrared heating mats on the market?
Well, you’re in the right place. We’ve reviewed the best mats and have all you need to know over here –
HOW DOES AN INFRARED MAT WORK?
Now that we’ve covered an infrared heating pad pros and cons, let’s take a closer look at how they work. Infrared mats use an infrared heating element to gently heat your body. Infrared heats your body directly without heating the air between you and the mat surface.
It is a deep penetrating form of heat and is a great way to relieve minor pains and speed up recovery. It’s a highly popular tool of athletes engaged in intense training. For more information check out our full guide – How Does An Infrared Mat Work?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here’s a round up of the questions that come our way when discussing infrared heating pad pros & cons, see below.
WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES TO AN INFRARED HEATING MAT?
The best alternatives to an infrared heating mat is either an infrared sauna blanket or an infrared sauna tent. These options are portable, affordable, and offer similar benefits compared to an infrared mat. You can check out the Best Infrared Sauna Blankets – over here.
WHAT IS PEMF THERAPY?
PEMF is a type of therapy that uses electro-magnetic energy to help heal the body. PEMF stands for Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field and it is used to help trigger the natural cellular healing process. Some infrared mats come with PEMF as an added option.
These dual therapy mats combine infrared heat and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy to potentially boost their healing effects. For more information, check out our guide – What Is PEMF Therapy?
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About the Author
MAGNUS KARLSSON (BSc, MSc)
• Senior Editor at Home Sauna Heaven
As a native Swede, Magnus developed a deep fascination with the art of sauna bathing from an early age. Born and raised in the picturesque landscapes of Småland Sweden, he grew up in a family where sauna was deeply embedded in the community and daily routine. He graduated from Linnaeus University with a Master of Science in Health Science with a special focus on the “Comparative Analysis of Traditional Saunas vs. Infrared Saunas”.
Moving to the United States in his late twenties, Magnus worked as a health and fitness advisor in a well-known spa and wellness retreat in Malibu California. Over the next 12 years he became the spa’s leading sauna consultant and mentored colleagues on the benefits and applications of sauna therapy.
In 2019 he relocated to Florida to open his own wellness retreat in the Tampa Bay area. Here he continues to inspire others with the restorative power of sauna therapy. In 2020, he became senior editor of Home Sauna Heaven where he shares his deep understanding of infrared sauna and offers expert advice on its applications, benefits, and periodic product reviews.
