Soft Shell vs Hard Shell Hyperbaric Chambers: Which Should You Buy?
Posted by Patrick Bradshaw on
Hyperbaric Buying Guide
Soft shell or hard shell is one of the most exciting choices you'll make. Each offers a distinctly different experience, and both are beautifully suited to the right home. Here's how to find yours.
The Short Answer
Neither is better; they're made for different spaces and goals. Soft shells offer flexibility, a cozy cocooned feel and the widest range of choices. Hard shells offer a spacious, room-like experience, higher pressure options and a permanent centerpiece for your wellness space.
What's the Difference?
Soft Shell
Flexible, reinforced walls are inflated and held at pressure by a compressor, and the chamber closes with a heavy-duty zipper system. Many models can be moved or stored when you need the space.
Hard Shell
A rigid body holds its shape at all times. It becomes a dedicated feature of your home, with a solid, spacious, room-like feel inside, and many models are built for higher pressures.
Side by Side
| Soft Shell | Hard Shell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure | 1.3 to 1.5 ATA | Up to 2.0 ATA, depending on model |
| Experience | Cozy and cocooned | Spacious and room-like |
| Placement | Flexible, can be moved or stored | A permanent centerpiece |
| Delivery | Ships nationwide for home setup | White glove delivery may be available |
| Brands we carry | Newtowne, Summit To Sea, Volaira, OXYREVO | Volaira, OXYREVO, OxyAir |
| Ideal for | Flexible spaces and every kind of home | Dedicated wellness rooms, luxury homes and wellness businesses |
Choose a Soft Shell If...
You'd like the flexibility to move or store your chamber, you love a cozy, cocooned session, or you want the widest choice of styles and pressures. Our soft-shell collection spans Newtowne and Summit To Sea at 1.3 ATA, including models FDA-cleared for acute mountain sickness, and Volaira and OXYREVO at up to 1.5 ATA.
Volaira Horizon
Lay-down, 1.3–1.5 ATA
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OXYREVO Forward 90
Sit, recline or lie down, up to 1.5 ATA
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Newtowne 27"
Lay-down, 1.3 ATA
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Summit To Sea Dive Vertical
Seated, 1.3 ATA
View →Choose a Hard Shell If...
You have a dedicated space and want a chamber that becomes its centerpiece. Hard shells offer a spacious, room-like feel, higher pressure options and a solid, refined build. Our hard-shell collection includes the seated Volaira Legacy and OXYREVO Space60, and the lay-down Volaira Haven and OxyAir OLV-YT01.
Volaira Legacy
Seated hard shell, up to 2.0 ATA
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OXYREVO Space60
Seated hard shell, up to 2.0 ATA
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Volaira Haven
Lay-down hard shell, up to 2.0 ATA
View →About Higher Pressures
Some of our hard-shell chambers reach 2.0 ATA, a pressure also used for medical indications in clinical hyperbaric settings. The hard-shell models we carry are not FDA-cleared, and your doctor can help you decide which pressure is right for you. Hard-shell chambers are made to order and start with a consultation.
Before You Buy
A prescription is required for chambers purchased for private consumer use; clinics and professional facilities do not need one. We can help connect you with a licensed telemedicine provider if you need one. If you're still weighing pressures, read our guide to 1.3 ATA vs. 1.5 ATA chambers.
Keep Comparing
Personal Consultation
Not Sure Which Shell Suits Your Space?
Tell us about the room, your goals and your budget, and we'll walk you through the soft and hard-shell options that fit.
Financing available for qualifying customers.