Review: Therabody JetBoots Pro Plus

Recovery boots have become a familiar sight in gyms, TikToks, and longevity centers. But unlike many buzzy wellness gadgets that promise more than they can deliver, pneumatic compression therapy has long been used in medical and rehabilitation settings. Now popularized for at-home use by brands like Normatec (acquired by Hyperice), these devices use sequential air pressure to improve circulation, helping blood, oxygen, and nutrients through tired muscles. While athletes have embraced compression boots for post-training recovery, the technology has also been used to help manage conditions such as lymphedema, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

As recovery tech gets more saturated, brands are piling on features in an effort to stand out. Therabody's JetBoots Pro Plus do exactly that, stacking compression therapy with vibration and infrared LED light. While the intended user remains the same—athletes, active individuals, and people managing conditions like lymphedema, DVT, or CVI (with guidance from a health care professional)—the price certainly hasn't. The JetBoots Pro Plus may also appeal to frequent travelers, but for $1,150, the real question is whether the added features justify the cost, or if a more affordable Therabody or Hyperice option would do the job. I tested them to find out.

What You’re Paying For

Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

The JetBoots Pro Plus are Therabody’s most ambitious recovery boots to date. Covering the full length of legs (bottom of foot to the thigh), they combine pneumatic compression technology with vibration and infrared LED light therapies for faster, more effective healing. They're fully wireless, controlled by a built-in LCD screen and control panel on the lead boot. Connectivity is seamless, which keeps the user experience smooth. The boots are linked out of the box and automatically reconnect when powered on. If they ever desync—which has yet to happen in my three months of testing—there’s a relinking option in the menu.

The JetBoots don't pair with the Therabody app, which some online reviewers said they missed. Personally, I've found the app to be somewhat redundant across Therabody devices, so I preferred its omission. But at $1,150, it's understandable why some users might want phone controls or the option to connect to the app's breath work and meditation programs.

Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

There are eight preset routines focused on legs, knees, and joints, plus manual controls if you want to fine-tune pressure, vibration intensity, or session length. Sessions run anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes in five-minute increments, with pressure adjustable from 20 to 100 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Vibration has three levels—low, medium, and high—while the infrared LED mode is simply on or off, with an automatic shutoff after 45 minutes.

There are also four compression cycles to choose from: sequential, sequential isolation, flow, and static. All of the controls, excluding compression cycle, can be tweaked mid-session. There's also a Quick Start button that prompts your last custom program, which I appreciated once I had my preferred settings registered.

Battery life ranges from 150 to 240 minutes, depending on which features you’re using; the LED therapy drains it faster. Both battery levels are displayed on the control panel. And you can use the boots while they’re charging, but the battery level won’t increase mid-session.

How They Perform in Real Life

Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

I’ve been testing the JetBoots Pro Plus for the past three months, using them after runs, intense workouts, and on travel days when my legs feel especially heavy. My weekly workouts rotate between cardio, HIIT, and Pilates, which gave me plenty of opportunities to test the boots after low- and high-impact activities. Since you can't move around while wearing them, I used them parked on the couch while reading or watching TV. It's a relaxing way to decompress after a long day, but you do need to plan for some uninterrupted lounging.

Compression is still the core feature here, and it’s the part that delivers most consistently. 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 because they make back-to-back training days feel more doable.

The vibration function adds another layer of relief, especially around the calves and hamstrings. It feels great post-workout and helps with delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) by easing tenderness and restricted range of motion, but I found the vibrations most useful beforehand to warm up my muscles and improve mobility.

As for the infrared LED therapy, this is where my skepticism kicks in. I can’t say with confidence that it noticeably improved my recovery. Therabody also hasn’t published any key specs online, which makes it hard to evaluate its effectiveness beyond vibes alone. I reached out to Therabody for more information, and according to the company, the JetBoots Pro Plus offer infrared light at 850 nanometers, which is typically used for reducing inflammation.

Photograph: Boutayna Chokrane

I also asked about irradiance—how powerful the lights are, basically—to which a company representative responded in an email: “The irradiance varies based on treatment time to ensure you get the optimal dose of infrared light energy for the muscles of your lower leg. Our proprietary system uses treatment time to ensure each muscle is receiving 60-300 J (Joules) of energy.” These values come from this systematic review of how much energy is required to improve muscular performance and reduce muscular fatigue.

Personally, it feels like just a luxe add-on, but LED therapy is a common technique for athletes and people recovering from injury, so the inclusion makes sense. If you do plan to use it, you’ll want bare legs. Wearing pants, especially synthetic ones, blocks skin contact and can feel itchy overall with the compression and vibration functions.

The JetBoots Pro Plus are TSA-approved, which frequent travelers and athletes who want consistent recovery will appreciate. Despite not being waterproof, they’re super 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 straightforward: wipe the interior with a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol solution, clean the exterior with a soft cloth, and let everything air dry.

They’re expensive, but if you want a polished, three-in-one system, the JetBoots Pro Plus are the best in the market. Plus, they’re FSA/HSA eligible.