In this review I will share my experience with MITO LIGHT infrared panels, which I have tested not only on myself, but also on my family and friends. I came across red light therapy completely by accident in the context of my work. As more and more people asked me if it really works, I decided to write a review based on personal experience.
Red light therapy has been gaining more and more popularity in recent years – from biohackers and athletes to seniors and everyday people looking for a gentle way to promote recovery, health and overall well-being. There’s talk of faster healing, better sleep, more balanced hormones and healthier skin.
Does it really work that well? What are my impressions? Is red light really revolutionary, or just another fashionable fad flying around on Instagram right now? 👀
How did I get into red light therapy and what is my experience?
Why did I decide to try red light therapy with MITO LIGHT panels?
My main profession is UX design – I create and optimize e-shops that are well thought-out and user-friendly (to put it simply 🙂). When the MITO LIGHT team approached me to help improve their website, I naturally became curious about their products.
Before starting any project, I always make sure I fully understand how the product works and what real benefits it offers. The more I dug into the topic, the more fascinated I became – especially because of the wealth of scientific studies and the many positive user experiences I found online, mostly from international sources.
One of the first steps I take in my work is conducting user research with real customers. I carried out a sociological survey with hundreds of MITO LIGHT customers and personally called several dozen of them to learn more about their needs, desires and experiences with red light therapy, as well as their feedback on the MITO LIGHT products and online store. This gave me tons of valuable insights.
Sample questionnaire for obtaining feedback on MITO LIGHT products
Many users have reported improved recovery after sports, reduced joint pain, better sleep and even improved mood or reduced need for hip surgery. Based on these data, I decided to try MITO LIGHT for myself.
Personally, I have been dealing with several health issues for a long time:
- Overload – three young children, finishing construction on the family home and work (brain and keyboard go until midnight most nights)
- Poor sleep – my night usually lasts a fraction of what it would take to recover (related to point 1 👼🏻)
- Shoulder pain – which has been limiting me at work, in sports and in normal movement for a long time
Trusted references that got me interested
MITO LIGHT is a Czech manufacturer of red light therapy products. They are pioneers of photobiomodulation (not only) in the Czech Republic, setting trends and constantly innovating their product lines. They have many satisfied customers, not only in Europe, but all over the world.
What surprised me was also how many interesting personalities use infrared panels from MITO LIGHT. I did not expect that a Czech brand would have world-class athletes, actors, celebrities, doctors and top businessmen among its customers.
When I saw names like the English actor Scott Adkins, the captain of the Czech national hockey team, Miss World 2024 Krystyna Pyszková and the 2nd best tennis player in the world in the references, I thought to myself:
“This isn’t going to be some random fad or biohack.”
Actor Scott Adkins uses MITO LIGHT to achieve his goals – source: Scott Adkins Instagram
But what got me the most was probably MMA fighter David Kozma. Anyone who follows combat sports knows this dude is literally “smashed to smithereens” after every fight 🎃. Bruises, swollen eyes, trampled feet… just an ordinary day at work 😀. And yet he always recovers incredibly quickly and goes on to the next match.
Slovak fighter Samuel “The Pirate” Krištofič and Czech UFC star Jiří Procházka also use red light therapy in their preparations.
UFC MMA fighter Jiří Procházka uses red light therapy in his training
All this motivated me even more to try red light therapy. At the time, I had no idea how much of an impact red and near-infrared light would have not only on me, but on my entire family and those around me.
Before I get to that, let’s review the facts.
What is red light therapy and how does it work?
Red light therapy (RLT or photobiomodulation) uses specific wavelengths of light (usually between 600–1000 nm) to penetrate deep into tissues and stimulate cellular processes.
Red light penetrates the skin and acts directly on the mitochondria – the small power plants in our cells. The result is increased production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), leading to faster regeneration, less inflammation and the promotion of healing.
Light therapy has been used for decades. NASA, for example, explored it in the 1990s as a way to accelerate wound healing in astronauts. Originally, they were trying to find an effective way to grow plants in space conditions. Today, it is commonly used in medicine, dermatology and cosmetics.
Photobiomodulation was discovered by NASA scientists
What is the difference between light therapy and an infrared sauna?
At first glance, an infrared sauna may seem like a cheaper alternative to light therapy. After all, it also uses infrared light, right? But there’s a key difference in exactly what it does and how deeply it works.
Red and near-infrared light therapy (e.g. MITO LIGHT)
🔴 Uses specific wavelengths (e.g. 660 nm and 850 nm) to specifically penetrate cells and activate mitochondria – therefore promoting cellular energy, regeneration and healing, as well as reducing inflammation.
- 💡 It doesn’t heat the surrounding air or the body – it’s not about sweating, it’s about cellular stimulation.
- 📈 The effects are scientifically supported and used in medicine and physiotherapy.
Infrared Sauna
🔥 Produces heat using long-wave infrared radiation (about 1 000 nm) that warms your body and the air around you. The goal is to sweat, relax your muscles and detoxify.
- 🧖♂️ It helps more for relaxation and blood flow, but doesn’t penetrate as deeply and doesn’t target the mitochondria like light therapy.
- 💰 It may be cheaper, but its effect is of a completely different type.
If you really want to regenerate, improve healing or sleep quality, red light therapy is in a different league.
Differences between an infrared panel (red light therapy) and an infrared sauna
MITO LIGHT and the effects of red light therapy
Red light therapy has been the subject of many studies that have confirmed its positive effects:
- Wound healing and regeneration – RLT accelerates healing of damaged tissues
- Hair growth – Helps with androgenic alopecia
- Reduction of pain and inflammation – Effective against arthritis and chronic pain.
- Improving skin quality – Supports collagen production and reduces wrinkles.
- Promotes sleep – Helps regulate melatonin levels.
These studies confirm the wide use of red light for human health.
In total, there have been over 3 000+ verified studies, some of which can be found on Mitolight.com in the Clinical Studies section.
What does red light therapy do?
Who is red light therapy suitable for?
Red light therapy is not just for athletes – its benefits can be acknowledged by a wide range of people. It is suitable for anyone who wants to support their health in a natural and low-impact way.
Who is it suitable for?
- Athletes – for faster recovery, healing and reducing inflammation
- Seniors – for joint pain, arthritis, fatigue and sleep problems
- Parents and busy people – to boost energy and reduce stress
- People working in office environments – to relieve muscle tension and get better sleep
- Those suffering from chronic pain, eczema, acne and migraines
- Biohackers and healthy lifestyle enthusiasts who want to enhance their body and mind to the next level
💡 Simply put – light therapy is suitable for almost anyone who wants to nurture their body in a natural way.
Is red light therapy safe?
Red and near-infrared light therapy (especially in the 600–850 nm range) does not contain UV radiation, does not heat tissues and is not invasive or harmful when used properly. This is why it is commonly used in physiotherapy, paediatrics and veterinary medicine.
In addition, MITO LIGHT products have strict European CE and RoHS certification.
🧒 Is red light therapy safe for kids?
For children, shorter exposure times and lower light intensity are recommended, ideally after consultation with a doctor. The recommended distance is 40–70 cm from the source for 5–10 minutes. Red light can be useful for example for sleep problems, recovery after sports and minor injuries.
🐶 Is red light therapy safe for animals?
Even animals, especially dogs and cats, can benefit from the therapy since it affects them in the same way as humans – for example, in arthritis, wound healing and reducing inflammation. It is important that the therapy is not carried out against their will and does not take too long or is too intense.
Red light therapy is generally considered safe even for more sensitive groups, but as always – listen to your body (or your dog 🐾) and start slowly.
Red light therapy is safe for children, dogs and all pets
The MITO LIGHT model I chose
To test red light therapy to the fullest, I decided to go straight for the two largest panels from MITO LIGHT – the Biohacker 4.0 and the Mitohacker 4.0.
These are the latest generation 4.0 panels, which have a total of 6 wavelengths, more than the 3rd generation.
Mitolight red light therapy panels
However, MITO LIGHT also offers smaller and more affordable models (available from €659), which can be a great start for anyone being introduced to therapy.
The smaller models have the same technological core, i.e. 6 wavelengths, and advanced features as the larger panels – just with less power and surface area. For topical use, such as on the face, knees, back and joints, they are perfectly adequate.
So, if you don’t want to invest in a large panel right away, but are tempted to try how light therapy will work on you, smaller models like the MITO LIGHT Bulb, Starter or Expert are a sensible and effective choice. Plus, they’re compact, easily portable and ideal for travel.
💡 In my experience, I recommend: if you are tending to a specific area of the body, a smaller panel will do the trick. And if you discover that the light is of service, there’s always the option to gradually upgrade to a larger model.
Smaller, more compact and cheaper MITO LIGHT devices (Bulb and Starter)
Unboxing and first impressions of MITO LIGHT panels
The day after I ordered, a PPL courier rang my bell with a package. I have to say that from the first look at the box it was clear to me that MITO LIGHT had paid attention to the packaging.
No ordinary box, but precisely made packaging, which at first glance already seemed to be of a high quality. The design matched the panel itself and everything was perfectly put together so that nothing was damaged during transport.
Each component had its precise place in the box and nothing in the box travelled carelessly. No expense was spared on packaging – and I appreciate that. From the very beginning you have a good feeling that you are receiving something of high quality and well thought out.
What do you find in the Biohacker 4.0 package?
- MITO LIGHT panel
- Hanging system – for easy fixing of the panel
- Power cable – 1.5 m
- Connection and extension cable – if you want to connect more panels
- Protective goggles – safety during therapy (I personally don’t wear them)
- Instructions in English – detailed and understandable
Package contents of MITO LIGHT panels
What do you find in the Mitohacker 4.0 package?
- The same as for the Biohacker 🙂
The MITO LIGHT Biohacker and Mitohacker differ primarily in size, weight, number of LEDs (204 vs 408) and therefore overall performance. The other parameters are identical.
The MITO LIGHT panel also comes with a wide range of accessories
Panel build quality and first impression
The first thing I noticed was the sturdy and high-quality construction. The panel feels solid, durable and professional – no cheap plastics or poor quality joints. It’s not a little thing that you just throw onto the table. But that doesn’t mean you have to lug it around like a bag of cement.
It has a sturdy handle for hanging, so you can mount it on a wall, hang it on a hook or a door, or leave it leaning against a wall. It’s simply easy to hang or stand up, so you can incorporate it into any space with no problem.
The hanging system is practical and well-designed – I attached the panel to the clamp in minutes using the included hanger and steel cable with a clip.
- MITO LIGHT Biohacker 4.0: dimensions approximately 92 × 25 × 6.5 cm, weighs around 9 kg.
- MITO LIGHT Mitohacker 4.0: dimensions approximately 92 × 41 × 6.5 cm, weighs around 15 kg.
The red light therapy panels have a clean design, robust and high-quality construction
What light do MITO LIGHT panels use?
Both the Biohacker and Mitohacker panels use two types of light:
- red light – wavelengths (630, 660 and 670 nm)
- near-infrared light – wavelengths (810, 830 and 850 nm)
Red light helps the skin, supports collagen production and accelerates wound healing. So if you have problems with scars, acne or want to “rejuvenate” your skin, this is a great option.
Near-infrared light goes deeper into tissues and muscles, helping with recovery, pain relief and inflammation reduction. If you’re an athlete, have achy joints or just feel like your body needs a little “battery recharge”, this is for you.
Measuring the wavelengths of red light from a MITO LIGHT panel with a spectrometer
⚙️ What can I set up?
Operating the MITO LIGHT panels is exactly what you would expect from a biohacking device – simple, intuitive and efficient. No complicated setup, no endless scrolling through menus. You simply switch on, set 1–2 parameters on the touch screen and just enjoy the light therapy.
What I like most is the ability to adjust the intensity of the light. Sometimes I want a more gentle therapy, like at night before bed, other times I want full power when I need a good kick in the morning. The panel makes this easy – just choose the strength of the light and adjust it to your current needs.
Adjusting light intensity and countdown time on MITO LIGHT panels
Another cool thing is the timer ⌛️. I don’t have to constantly watch the time, because I simply set the length of the therapy and the panel turns itself off when the time is up. This means I don’t have to worry about lying there for half an hour and getting fried like a rotisserie chicken (or falling asleep right there) instead of getting the benefits 😆.
What I like a lot is spectrum selection.
Red light is good for the skin, surface tissue regeneration and collagen production, while near-infrared light penetrates deeper into muscles and joints 💪, so it’s perfect after a workout or when your body is sore.
Naturally, you can turn on both at the same time, which I highly recommend. I usually do this because I want the maximum effect – but the ability to choose just one spectrum is great if I have a specific goal in mind.
But both spectrums help with recovery, fight inflammation and increase cellular energy. Just on different levels.
Intense red light should not be shone around the eye area about 2–3 hours before sleep, you might then have trouble falling asleep 💤.
And if you happen to want even more light, MITO LIGHT allows you to connect multiple panels together. You can create your own wall of light and literally “bathe” in light.
A panel can also be controlled via the 📱 mobile app.
Example of 📱 MITO LIGHT mobile app for convenient panel control
My experience with red light therapy
Since I have had the panel at home, it’s the first thing I use in the morning right after my alarm clock and the toilet 🙂. If you think I’m exaggerating, trust me, when you have insomniac kids at home, mornings are often more of a struggle to survive than a relaxing start to the day.
🧠 Morning ritual – light wake up call for the brain
I turn the panel on right after I wake up and give myself a 12–15 minute treatment for my head and upper body. It may sound weird, but instead of wandering around the house like a zombie, I can literally feel it waking up my brain and producing ATP in my body (waking up my muscles). It’s like having an energy drink.
It’s similar to the morning sun, there are even claims that 5 minutes of therapy is like 3 hours in the sun.☀️
🌙 Evening restart – when my energy runs out
I give myself a second dose of light in the evening. For my shoulder, which I have a long-term problem with (no one has yet discovered why), or for any fresh “injuries” from training or matches ⚽️.
Young biohacker – the best toy for children who are naturally attracted to light
Long-term effect or placebo effect?
Before I tried red light therapy, I had read about the effects, I had data from research I did on real MITO LIGHT customers as part of the design process (to help MITO LIGHT improve the e-shop), but I kept wondering if it was just a placebo effect.
After a couple of weeks, I found out that the light literally has a “healing effect”. I take away a souvenir from almost every football match in the form of an imprint of an opponent’s studs, abrasions, bruised ribs, a sprained ankle, a dislocated finger – a kind of football version of a tattoo, only with a shorter lifespan 😆.
Whereas before I was “limping” for a week, today I feel fine in three days. That’s something that can’t go unnoticed. When I had a training session five times a week in my youth, I was fit the next day. Now it’s slower with age 📉. Too bad I didn’t know this when I did KAPAP a few years ago 🥊🥋.
The life of a goalkeeper after forty 🦿
I have three small children, two of them hardly sleepy at all. When I wake up in the morning after four hours of interrupted sleep, I immediately give myself 12 minutes of “light”. I can feel my body waking up, my brain kicking in and I feel energized.
I’ve been battling shoulder pain for a while now. Probably from overworking myself. No one’s figured out exactly what the cause is. I’ve tried everything from conventional medicine, physiotherapy, laser therapy, TCM and Ayurveda. Of course, it also hurts after games and training sessions. Without hands it’s hard to catch 🧤 or throw the ball 🙂. I used to deal with it using tapes, ointments like Tiger Balm or NAMMAN MUAY, home-made remedies, or a massage gun, but the effect was always only temporary.
After a few weeks of using red light, the pain is much less prominent. I don’t know if it’s because the muscles regenerate more efficiently, or the light helps reduce inflammation (which the doctors said was one of the causes).
So when someone asks me if the light really does anything, I say it really does.
TRX Workouts – How To Strengthen The Whole Body in 30 Minutes
Is it possible to work all the muscles in your body in 30 minutes? Try a training plan, which will help you strengthen your whole body. And moreover, you will enjoy it.
👨👩👧👦 My whole family (and friends) use infrared panels
I’m not the only one who has become “addicted” to light. My wife uses it to boost her energy because after a full day with three kids … I probably don’t need to go into it further 👹.
And then there’s my friend. She has an overloaded organism and ongoing inflamed sensation throughout her body, just the classics of today – stress, lack of sleep, running her own business, working full time. I lent her a panel for a month.
After a month, she returned it to me (I couldn’t function without it anymore), and immediately told me she had bought her own, because she couldn’t live without “the light” anymore. 🤷♂️
👍 BIOHACKING TIP – combining red light and an acupressure mat
If you want to take your therapy to the next level, I recommend combining it with an acupressure mat. I have to say that this combination has an even stronger effect on regeneration, as well as on muscle and overall relaxation.
Acupressure mats can help increase blood flow, relieve muscle tension and promote the natural release of endorphins, leading to pain relief and deeper relaxation.
Dr. Michael Reed Gach, acupressure expert and author of publications on natural healing
Acupressure massage mat with spikes
An acupressure mat works on the principle of pressure points that stimulate blood flow, lymph and release tension in the muscles. When you lie down on it and at the same time switch on red light therapy, there is a double effect – increased blood circulation thanks to the mat and deep regeneration thanks to the light. The body is thus relieved of stress and regenerated more quickly.
If you’re a fan of biohacking, try adding an acupressure mat to your red light therapy. It’s a simple trick that can greatly improve the effects of light therapy and boost your overall health 📈. You can also buy it on Amazon.
🏮 “ULTRA hacker” experiment – or what happens when you connect two MITO LIGHT panels?
Given that I was already fully immersed in red light therapy, I couldn’t stop myself from performing an experiment to test the ultimate light combination. I decided to combine two panels – the MITO LIGHT Biohacker and the MITO LIGHT Mitohacker – to create a super combo that I have come to refer to as the “ULTRA Hacker”.
I had a clear idea in my head: more light → more coverage → maximum performance. The idea was simple – if the individual panels work great, what about when they come together? I connected the two panels, mounted them on my Horizontal Stand and hit the ON button with enthusiasm.
Everything is perfectly ready to be connected. You turn one panel on and the other automatically lights up 🏮🏮 and the whole thing acts as a single unit. Naturally, you can also control it via the 📱 mobile app, which is handy so you don’t have to get up and tweak the intensity or countdown, for example.
Connecting two MITO LIGHT panels together
After a few days of testing, I came to the conclusion that the ULTRA Hacker is a great idea, but for my specific needs it is basically overkill. After all, the setup takes up quite a bit of space and I also ran into one minor problem – my stand (Horizontal Stand) is not the right size for a combination of these two panels, it’s better to use the MITO LIGHT Dual Stand, which has a larger load capacity and is specifically designed to connect the largest panels.
MITO LIGHT panels with Horizontal Stand
But it was an interesting experience and in the end it was confirmed that sometimes less is more. If someone is looking for the ultimate biohacking configuration, linking multiple panels definitely makes sense for hardcore users, athletes, medical facilities and wellness centres.
Advantages and disadvantages of MITO LIGHT panels
As with any product, nothing is 100% perfect. While I think the MITO LIGHT panels are some of the best panels on the market, there are some things that can be a hindrance for some people. Let’s break it down objectively.
🔥 Pros
- ✅ Powerful and efficient – As soon as you turn a panel on, you feel its impact. No dim light, but an intense dose of red and infrared therapy that has real effects on the body.
- ✅ Combination of red and infrared light – You can choose just red light, infrared or both at the same time. Perfect for different types of therapies.
- ✅ Premium workmanship – The panels are metal, sturdy and solid, which makes them look professional and high quality. Nothing creaks, nothing wobbles, it’s an honestly built device.
- ✅ Easy to use – Intensity settings, timer, option of connecting multiple panels – simple and clear controls that anyone can handle.
- ✅ Safe to use – You don’t have to worry about harmful UV rays like with sunlight, the light is perfectly safe and you only need a few minutes a day.
- ✅ Use in any position – It can be hung on the door, mounted on the wall or used on a stand, introducing variations of uses.
The panel construction is metal, robust and solid
❌ Cons
💢 Higher price – This is probably the biggest con. Neither the MITO LIGHT Biohacker 4.0 nor the Mitohacker 4.0 are cheap, and not everyone can afford them. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a long-term solution for recovery and health, it’s worth considering.
💢 Not easily portable – It’s not exactly a compact device that you can fit in your backpack. If you want something more mobile, a smaller model like the MITO LIGHT Expert or MITO LIGHT Starter might be better.
💢 Needs to be well placed – Unlike handheld light devices, you need to have a fixed location for a panel. If you’re short on space at home, you’ll need to figure out where to mount it or where to prop it up. Or you can get a MITO LIGHT Floor Stand (and you’ll have a panel on wheels).
MITO LIGHT Biohacker 4.0 vs Mitohacker 4.0 comparison
Comparison of MITO LIGHT Biohacker 4.0 and Mitohacker 4.0 panels
I had the opportunity to test both panels – the Biohacker 4.0 and the largest Mitohacker 4.0 panel. The quality of workmanship, features and technology are virtually the same – both have intuitive controls, a wide spectrum of light and great therapeutic effects. The difference is mainly in size and power.
The Mitohacker is bigger, covers a larger area of the body at once and therefore saves time, as I don’t have to move the light around to illuminate my whole body. With the Biohacker, I would have to divide the therapy into more parts, which would take more time. While the smaller panel is great, I ultimately decided to keep the Mitohacker and return the Biohacker, because for my needs the larger model is simply more practical.
Comparison with competitors
The whole philosophy of MITO LIGHT is amazing and the best efforts are put into development and support. I like that MITO LIGHT is a photobiomodulation pioneer (not only) in the Czech Republic. It sets trends and brings in innovations, the competitors mostly just copy and follow them – the number of such brands has increased in the last six months, as everyone wants a slice of the market, but for products affecting health it’s always a raised warning finger for me ☝️ and it means a certain caution is needed when choosing such an expensive device. 🙂
There are cheaper options, but they don’t provide the same quality, performance or advanced features. Unlike the cheaper panels, MITO LIGHT offers six wavelengths to cover a wider range of therapies and it uses Multi-Wavelength Dual Chip LEDs, which provide higher light intensity and coverage. Another great advantage is the Flicker-free technology, which makes the light flicker-free and more gentle on the eyes.
It comes with an intuitive touchscreen, mobile app and light alarm, taking the user experience to another level. If you want to build the ultimate lighting setup, you can wirelessly connect the panels and control them together.
On top of that, it has European CE quality certification (none of the competitors do), premium customer support, a 30-day money back guarantee and a 3-year warranty.
Make sure to check out the customer support, they’re really great and will hopefully advise you on where to order the best pizza 😇.
💡 Final verdict – is MITO LIGHT worth it?
If you’re looking for high-quality light therapy that has real effects and you’re willing to use it regularly, then go for it.
On the other hand, if you’re not prepared to undergo the therapy every day, it might be better to try a cheaper and smaller version of the panels first and see if light therapy suits you.
For me, MITO LIGHT met all expectations and helped me not only with recovery, but also with energy, focus and an overall health improvement. Yes, the price of the larger panels is higher, but if you really care about your health, it’s an investment that makes sense. 💡🔥
🔴 Discover the power of red light
Now with a 5% discount on the entire purchase.
Simply enter the coupon in the 1st step of the cart on the e-shop www.mitolight.com
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Mito Light panels excel in terms of quality workmanship, use of effective wavelengths and advanced technologies such as Multi-Wavelength Dual Chip LED and Flicker-free technology. Cheaper panels from Aliexpress or Amazon often fall short of these parameters, which can greatly affect their effectiveness, safety and service life. Mito Light is a trendsetter and is constantly innovating its products, while competitors often just copy existing products.
