Hooga PEMF Mat review: Premium recovery without the premium price?

After trying BON CHARGE Infrared PEMF Mat Max, I thought I was done testing PEMF mats. But my curiosity kicked in, and I started to wonder if a much cheaper PEMF mat would really feel that different.

That’s what led me to try Hooga PEMF Mat. It costs a lot less than many premium options, but it still promises many of the same things, including support for relaxation, sleep, and energy.

Instead of judging those claims, I reviewed it the same way I do with every wellness product. I focused on what I could actually notice in daily use: build quality, comfort, heat, controls, portability, setup, and what it’s like to use the mat regularly.

So, if you’re curious whether spending less means giving up a good experience, keep reading as I will share my insights.

Product	Hooga PEMF Mat with Infrared Heat
Price	$699
Weight	24lbs (10.9kg)
PEMF frequency presets	8
Heating function	Yes (up to 158°F/70°C)
Controller type	Wired handheld controller
Timer	20-minute sessions
Warranty	3 year

Visit Hooga PEMF Mat with Infrared Heat

Unboxing

Inside the box, you get everything you need to start: the Hooga PEMF mat itself, a carrying case, the controller, a user manual, and one thing that really caught my attention. There was a small, clear plastic tube with a tiny metal ball inside (I’ll explain more about that soon).

Other than that, the contents are what you’d expect from a PEMF mat. Nothing fancy, but everything is neatly packed and easy to spot.

A mat you can actually move

The first thing I noticed was the weight. If you’ve read my BON CHARGE PEMF Mat review, you’ll remember I talked about how heavy that mat was. Carrying it around the house felt like a mini workout. Thankfully, Hooga is a different story.

At about 24lbs, it’s much lighter, so it’s easier to move from room to room or put away when you’re done. I even joked that maybe it just has fewer crystals and gemstones inside.

Speaking of crystals and gemstones…

What's inside the mat?

Hooga says the mat has 5.5lbs of crushed amethyst and 5.5lbs of black tourmaline inside. If you believe crystals have special properties, you might like that.

Personally, I’m a bit skeptical. As I said in my BON CHARGE review, there’s no solid scientific proof that crystals or gemstones have healing powers or create energy fields that help your health.

Because of that, I just saw them as part of the mat’s build. Whether they were there or not didn’t really affect my opinion during testing.

Finally, the mystery tube explained

Now, back to that tiny plastic tube. I really couldn’t figure out why it was there. It seemed so random that I thought it must have ended up in the box by accident.

So I decided to do a bit of digging to see whether I was right. And after some research, I found out it’s actually a simple tool to check if the PEMF coils are working. When the mat is on, you place the tube over different spots. If it’s over one of the coils, the little metal ball inside moves a bit.

It’s a clever little extra. You might not use it often, but it’s a nice way to check that the mat is working as it should.

My experience with Hooga PEMF Mat

This time, I tried using the PEMF mat in a different way. Instead of putting it on my office chair as I did with the BON CHARGE mat, I left it on my bed.

Most nights, I turned it on while watching TV or a movie before falling asleep. At first, I played around with the different settings to see which one I liked best.

Although you can pick the PEMF frequency yourself, I ended up using Hooga's preset programs. My favorite was the first one because Hooga says it's meant to support relaxation and sleep. Since I usually used the mat before bed, it just made sense.

What are Hooga's PEMF presets?

Hooga offers eight preset PEMF programs, each meant for a different purpose according to the company:

• Preset 1. The first 10 minutes focus on sleep and relaxation support, followed by another 10 minutes aimed at promoting calm.
• Preset 2. Also called Schumann Resonance. Hooga says it may help lower stress and make you feel more connected to nature.
• Preset 3. Designed to potentially help you feel relaxed while staying alert.
• Preset 4. Intended to support focus, productivity, and cognitive performance.
• Preset 5. Marketed as a program for memory and learning.
• Preset 6. Aims to support overall brain function.
• Preset 7. Designed to potentially help you feel more alert and ready for the day.
• Preset 8. Mixes energizing and grounding frequencies.

Don't forget the heat

Like most PEMF mats, Hooga also has adjustable infrared heat. You can set the temperature anywhere from 86°F to 158°F, so it's easy to find what feels best.

I only tested the heating function once since it's summer now, and I didn't want to get too warm. Still, I can imagine how nice it would feel in winter. Coming home from the cold and lying on a warm bed with the mat on sounds really good. That's probably when I'll enjoy this feature the most.

Is Hooga PEMF Mat worth using every day?

I think this is something you have to answer for yourself. If you enjoy using the mat, it fits into your routine, and you feel it is worth the time, then there is no reason to stop using it.

The reason I am not telling everyone to use it every day is that research on PEMF is still developing. I cannot promise you will experience the same results as someone else.

Scientists still continue to study how it works. There are different opinions among researchers and healthcare professionals about its effectiveness for various purposes. However, there is potential.

For example, one of the earliest recognized uses of PEMF was to support the healing of slow-healing bone fractures. A PEMF device received FDA approval in 1979 after studies suggested it performed better than a placebo for this purpose.

PEMF has also been studied for pain and inflammation. A recent systematic review found that PEMF therapy may reduce pain and potentially improve physical function in people with non-specific low back pain. While these findings are encouraging, more high-quality research is needed before stronger conclusions can be made.

Safety and important considerations

Although Hooga PEMF Mat is marketed as a wellness product, it uses low-frequency electromagnetic fields that may not suit everyone.

We recommend avoiding PEMF mats if you:

• Are pregnant
• Have epilepsy or a seizure disorder
• Use a pacemaker, insulin pump, or another active implanted medical device

Keep in mind that research into the benefits of PEMF is still ongoing. If you have a medical condition or concerns about whether this device is right for you, talk to your healthcare professional before using it.

Hooga PEMF Mat vs. competitors

I wanted to see how Hooga PEMF Mat compares to two other popular premium mats: BON CHARGE Infrared PEMF Mat Max and HigherDOSE Infrared PEMF Pro Mat.

As you can see in the table below, Hooga offers a similar set of features for a much lower price. You still get PEMF technology, infrared heat, a high-quality design, and a good warranty, all without spending around $1000 or more.

The main difference is that some pricier mats come with extra features. For instance, the BON CHARGE mat includes red light therapy, which Hooga does not have. But if your main focus is PEMF and infrared heat, Hooga is a great value.

Product	Hooga PEMF Mat with Infrared Heat	BON CHARGE Infrared PEMF Mat Max	HigherDOSE Infrared PEMF Pro Mat
Price	$699	$974.25	$1295
Weight	24lbs (10.9kg)	42lbs (19kg)	43lbs (19.5kg)
Infrared heat	Yes (up to 158°F/70°C)	Yes (up to 176°F/80°C)	Yes (up to 158°F/70°C)
Red light therapy	No	Yes	No
Warranty	3 years	1 year	1 year

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Other PEMF and recovery device reviews:

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Verdict: Should you buy Hooga PEMF Mat?

After using Hooga PEMF Mat, I can confidently say it offers great value. The reason is that Hooga gave me a very similar experience to the pricier PEMF mats I tested.

The only reason why you should consider looking at premium options is if you need extra features. For example, the BON CHARGE mat includes red light therapy, which Hooga does not.

However, if you are only interested in PEMF and want a solid mat without spending too much, Hooga is a good choice. In the end, it depends on what features you care about and how often you plan to use them.