Why WIRED recommends: The compression and vibrating pairing is therapeutic, to say the least; it consistently left my legs feeling less stiff after workouts. Everything is controlled from an LCD screen built into the lead boot, so there’s no separate controller to keep track of. You can tailor every session to your preference, with durations ranging from 10 to 60 minutes in five-minute increments and manual controls to adjust both pressure—measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)—and vibration intensity. You can also choose from four compression modes and eight preset routines.
The trade-offs: Therabody doesn’t publish key specs about the LEDs, and I didn’t notice a significant difference in my post-workout recovery that I could attribute to the infrared light therapy. The boots also don’t connect to the Therabody app, which may disappoint some users, but I didn’t find it necessary. At $1,150, these are also among the priciest compression boots on the market.
Buy if: You want the most premium, customizable recovery system available and don’t mind the splurge. They’re especially suited for athletes and anyone who exercises regularly, or for people managing conditions like lymphedema, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
Best Entry-Level Compression Boots
If all you want is effective pneumatic compression, the Therabody JetBoots Prime delivers the essentials at a more affordable price point.
Why WIRED recommends: For half the cost of the JetBoots Pro Plus, the Prime skips the vibration and infrared LED therapies but still offers four compression levels (25, 50, 75, and 100 mmHg) and three session lengths (20, 40, or 60 minutes), all controlled from a built-in panel on the boot. They’re wireless compression boots, offer up to three hours of battery life, and can even be used while charging. Weighing about 6 pounds, they’re surprisingly portable and fold down into the included drawstring backpack.
