buying-guide Compare Normatec - Recovery Pump - BAO - Air Relax - Game Ready - Elevated Leg - Revita Pump COMPRESSION THERAPY REVIEWS COMPARISONS

Note: Most of the companies do not manufacturer their compression device. Most are imported from Israel and Korea and China. Only a few are built in the USA. So, it was hard to get real answers from all the sales reps answering the phones at these companies on the brands that import. I had to buy each one and do my own review. Every time I asked them questions like how many liters per minute is in each cycle they had no idea what I'm talking about. All they told me is that theirs goes up to the highest mmhg pressure level. I wanted to know how many liters of air their compressor is capable of.

After researching, I know its not about how much pressure or how good their compression boots are designed. Some are mass produced and the cfm of most of these compression machines are only at 4.9 or below. A good compression machine should be at least 7.9 cfm. So, those that are in Colorado or at high altitudes the machine can handle it. So, if the reading is at 100mmhg and there is a lot of pressure at high altitudes, the machine can still read 100mmhg on the screen but in actuality only delivering 80mmhg. That is why I need to know the psi of the compression along with the cfm rating. Knowing those 2 things can tell me if I am about to review a junky import compression machine before I even test it.

Note: I urge people to get a flow rate that is at least 1.25 times what they are looking for to compensate for altitude changes and lower psi over time as the compressor ages. A larger air compressor will provide a higher CFM rate. After taking the compression machines apart most of them had the same size compressor. Only a few brands actually had larger compressors.

Note: by getting a larger compressor and having a higher mmhg rating that one would use helps so that the compressor won't lose efficiency over time.

Note: IF A COMPRESSION MACHINE CLAIMS ON ITS SPEC SHEET IT CAN REACH 100MMHG OR EVEN 200 MMHG MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE CUBIC FEET PER MINUTE IT CAN DELIVER. It takes way more power to delivery 100mmhg at 25 liters per minute versus keeping up 100mmhg at 12 liters per minute. A higher end compression machine should be able to deliver more lpm than the cheap brands that usually cost around 500 dollars. There are a few exceptions but most 500 dollar machines have low CFM ratings.

Also, when I see a company claiming their brands go up to 200mmhg, this can be true but this is may only an advertisement based on the compression machine's peak power, maximum kinetic power, or their breakdown torque without resistance or a compression sleeve attached.

Noise concerns: Some compression machines are 4 times as loud. Going up 10 db higher will double the noise level. The higher quality brands usually have a low hum while some can be very loud and disturbing.

Insurance Coverage: For those looking to get their insurance to pay for their machine, if the brand is not on the FDA website it may not be covered. Also, make sure it is one of the brands that can be sold to the end user otherwise insurance may not cover the bill. Also, the ones that are covered usually have around a $5,000 price tag. If people haven't met their deductible they will still have to pay for it.

Most of the $300 to $500 companies are one man shows. Normatec, BAO, and Recovery Pump, and Game Ready are really big companies and their repair and warranty service are way better. The USA companies are easier to get things repaired since they are not imported. I urge those to do what I did and buy only from companies that do (in writing) a 30 day 100% money back guarantee if you buy their brand and return it. I will say that nearly everyone that was first about to buy the brand that was marketed to them end up buying a different brand when 3 or 4 brands are thrown into the mix when they haven't tried any of them. When I first found my favorite ones, then I tried Normatec and the BAO and Recovery Pump and each of them had one thing about them that I like the best.

Pressure types:

One of the most important questions to ask when finding the right compression machine is “what type of pressure do I like?” Most machines have the same pressure. Normatec and BAO have over 100. Each brand can have the same 100mmhg but how that pressure is applied makes the difference between a cheaper brand and an expensive brand. Also, the low end is one of my big concerns too. Some brands go down to 20mmhg, 30mmhg and some go to 10mmhg.

While everyone has a different comfort level for pressure, some brands felt way more comfortable at the higher mmhg levels than other brands. I have to say that Normatec and BAO felt the best but the other higher end brands were just as effective. When using pressures over 100mmhg that feels like someone's forearms and elbows digging into the deepest muscle layers. The pressures under 100mmhg feel like a deep tissue massage but not like the BAO or Normatec on the highest level that feel like them leaning over and using all their weight into me. That's when I know when a machine really has the power it says it does.

Note: for lymphatic purposes, I don't see any reason to go with a higher powered machine. If you take my compression quiz I can pair up your answers with the machine based on your answers. I am not here to push the most expensive one or try to sell you the cheapest one because that's all you can afford. I take all the answers into consideration and pick out the brand. I have tried each one unlike when I call a person selling these they all give me reasons why I shouldn't buy the Normatec. Like, why are they even mentioning that brand in their comparison when I didn't even mention it. It's like Normatec is a buzz word that they probably figure 99.99 percent of the people must of seen a Normatec advertisement and got pissed off at the price and all the sites claim the same stuff and now they are even more confused. I got tired of the bullshit in just the few phone calls I made.

Note: there has to be enough pressure to flush the lymphatic system. Based on the lymphatic therapists I've talked to, it has to be 30mmhg. Anything above that with too much impact is less effective.

4 vs 8 chambers:

For lymphatic purposes I DO NOT RECOMMEND 4 CHAMBER COMPRESSION SLEEVES.

The compression machine brands that have 4 chambers are what 95% of the people get. These usually have a 60 second cycle unlike the 8 chamber models that have 30 second cycles. The 4 chamber brands that do not have a gradient that the pressure can be customized for the exact leg size and can damage lymph capillaries and vessels and a back flow of fluid in the distal veins. Those who have lymph issues can actually make their symptoms worse.

Calibration: some machines just turn on right when you start it and some take up to 90 seconds to calibrate the machine so you get a session based on your legs. Some people have skinny legs so the machine will account for it. Those with heavy legs will get the same type of session. For the cheaper machines that don't have this the session might not be as comfortable. The more expensive brands usually have a calibration feature built in.

Gradient Types: Nearly every brand under $500 I tested had the same fixed pressure in each of their 4 chambers in their sleeve. Pre-selected pressure gradients are fine for most people. Those that need to custimized the pressure in each of the chambers on their foot or arm sleeve will usually know it after the first session. Many people are OK with a fixed pressure. I would only try these types if the manufacturer has a 30 day money back trial.

Infusing: Any compression boot can be infused. When used at deeper pressures especially when the legs are not cold it makes the biggest difference. I only recommend infusing when my voltage is really low. If not infusing the zippers the sleeves can still be infused by sticking infusions inside the boot which is just as effective.

Brands:

So many people ask me which brand is the best. Nearly all the brands do the same thing but each brand has their own way of doing it. Some have overlapping air pockets, some still have that gap that gives backflow. Comfort is probably the biggest thing people want when I did my review. The Normatec Recovery is the most comfortable to most people. Those that came over and tried each of the brands when it came to comfort they almost always choose Normatec first and then it was between Recovery Pump and Recovery Edge. When I ask people if they would spend more, like 1500 instead of 500 to get the each comfort of the Normatec, the people with the most swelling in their legs usually said yes. Those that were using it for working out that had no health problems, usually the younger athletes I found on Craigslist to help me compare them after their workout didn't want to pay extra for a higher end one as the difference wasn't that much to them. I brought the different brands to the yoga studio at the gym and everyone I asked wanted to try them after their leg workout.

Pricing:

The manufacturer's made me agree to not sell below a MAP price. That is why you always see the same price from authorized dealers on the internet. There are loop holes for people who have a business license, resale certificate or a Tax ID. (little advice.. if you have a doctor friend like your chiropractor or massage therapist that could buy one of these and they can buy it for you, if you can pay them and they can do the ordering, they can buy from our distributors just like we do. As long as someone has the credentials to buy at wholesale the price of the machines we can get can be significantly less. I always try to find ways to get people the brands they want at the lowest price.

Note: warranty is also something most people ask about or the free 30 day trials. If buying a compression machine at wholesale from one of our distributors at the wholesale level it does not come with this. Just say a customer bought a compression machine at 40% off and it is registered to the health practitioner that bought for them, then the warranty would be registered under them.

Pricing for brands under $500

Brands under $500 that I have only found have a pre-set pressure gradient. So, the pressure at the first air chamber near the feet has a higher pressure and each chamber going up the legs has slightly less pressure. But for some people, the standard 60 mmhg pressure at the feet might be too much (or too little). Cheap brands usually take around 60 seconds for an entire cycle and are not able to do it in 30 seconds due to having a lower liters per minute and a smaller compressor. The higher end models that give a full cycle in 30 seconds should mimic a lymphatic massage more and have less chance of damaging the superficial lymphatic capillaries and vessels that are right under the skin.

Note: the biggest giveaway when telling if a $500 to $1000 machine is really a good value is if it can do a 30 second cycle. Many people also complain about the cheaper machines being overpowered or underpowered and they don't have a button to customize it.

Please take my compression quiz and based on your answers I will help you choose a brand and then find out the way to get it to you at the best price. Most of my business is from practitioners but I do get end users that want to buy from me but the prices in the past have been too expensive until I started finding ways around it. Most people want to use their insurance but haven't met their deductible and the prices are jacked even higher for the models that are on the FDA website. It's like either way someone is going to pay out of pocket the same.

After all the misinformation and headaches trying to get these cheaper I have finally put my energy into getting my research out there so people won't have to go through the same thing I went through. I am so glad I was sold the brands I didn't like otherwise I would not have this site. I hope my site helps those looking for this information.

Take my compression quiz below.