Soft Shell vs Hard Shell Hyperbaric Chambers: Which Should You Buy?

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.

What's the difference?

A soft-shell chamber has flexible, reinforced walls that are inflated and held at pressure by a compressor, and it closes with a heavy-duty zipper system. Many models can be moved or stored when you need the space.

A hard-shell chamber has a rigid body that 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

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.

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.

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.

Before you buy

Bradshaw Oxygen requires a prescription for chamber purchases. If you need one, we can help connect you with a licensed telemedicine provider. If you're still weighing pressures, read our guide to 1.3 ATA vs 1.5 ATA chambers.