When people are new to red light therapy, they usually ask: what’s the best device?
But the better question is: what kind of person are you, and what kind of routine do you want?
Because the real difference between a targeted on-skin device like FlexBeam and an arm held lamp head like Helder 2 is not just the light. It’s the whole philosophy around how you use the light.
First, one important clarification, because the market is confusing.
When I say FlexBeam, I mean FlexBeam. Not the thin neoprene “wrap” products you see everywhere.
Those thin wraps just do not pack enough power. And here’s the simple logic I use when I look at devices like that. If there’s no real thermal management, no fan, no serious way to move heat out of the system, then there’s a limit to how hard you can drive the LEDs. And if you can’t drive them hard, you’re not delivering the kind of red and near-infrared intensity that makes these tools actually interesting. That’s the whole game. Real output, real dose, not vibes.
Targeted on-skin devices like FlexBeam
FlexBeam is built for precision and consistency. You place it directly on the body, strap it, and you remove the biggest variable in red light therapy: distance. You always know where the light is going, and you are always close to the tissue.
A big advantage is the multi-angle concept. FlexBeam has three light pods. If you strap it around a knee, you can hit that knee from three angles at the same time. That’s hard to beat for joints, tendons, and those annoying spots that keep coming back.
And then there’s the other side of FlexBeam that matters a lot if you’re into longevity and optimization. They’re taking health optimization to another level with AI and personalization. The direction is clear. Add your biometric data from your watch or ring, get personalized wellness protocols, possibly even more medical-style protocols over time. If you’re the kind of person who lives by biomarkers and wants to track and iterate, they’re going to kill it in that market where minutes count and the longevity crowd wants measurable inputs and feedback loops.
Pros
Very consistent dosing because distance is fixed
Great for small areas and point problems
Multi-angle wraparound light on joints like knees and elbows
Set and forget once it’s strapped
Strong direction toward personalization, biometrics, and protocol-driven optimization
Cons
Covering large areas can take longer because you move it around
It’s not really a beauty form factor, straps and geometry don’t fit face and neck routines well
You’re buying into a more advanced ecosystem, which some people love and some people don’t
Arm held lamp heads like Helder 2
Helder 2 is the opposite vibe. It’s basically a lamp. It’s built locally by people who actually know how this works, and it’s meant to be simple and practical.
No app. No cloud. No syncing. No data. No account.
Just turn it on and do your session.
It’s also not a battery product. That’s intentional. Batteries are convenient, but they add cost, weight, aging, and complexity. Helder 2 is made to be a straightforward tool you can use every day without thinking about charging cycles or battery health.
This is where Helder 2 shines for beauty and daily routines. Face, neck, décolletage, hands. It’s comfortable, clean, and it matches how people actually do a skincare routine.
The honest tradeoff is angles. With a lamp head, you are typically lighting from one side at a time. You can reposition, or you can use two devices from two sides, which many people do, but it’s not the same as having wraparound multi-angle light built into one strapped device.
Pros
Covers bigger areas fast
Excellent for face and neck routines
Simple, local, repairable, no nonsense
No app, no cloud, no data collection
No battery, so less complexity and long-term degradation
Easy to share in a household
Cons
You need to be consistent with distance and angle, or the dose changes
Not as perfect for small point precision unless you really take your time
Does not give you multi-angle wraparound light unless you reposition or use two devices
So what should you get?
If you can only get one, be honest about your main use case.
If your main goal is joints, tendons, knees, elbows, rehab, and you love the idea of wrapping the light around the problem, FlexBeam is hard to beat. And if you’re deep into longevity and optimization and you want protocols that evolve with your biometrics, that’s also very much FlexBeam’s direction.
If your main goal is face, neck, daily routines, and treating bigger areas in a simple way, Helder 2 is the obvious choice. It’s for people who want the benefits without the tech stack.
If you can afford both, it’s actually the dream setup, because they don’t replace each other. They complement each other.
Helder 2 for face and big zones. FlexBeam for the tricky spots and wraparound joints.
That’s the honest beginner guide.