Here, at MH HQ we try everything in the Striving for a good night’s sleep. After all, it is the key to every single aspect of health and fitness Restoration and performance too weight and wellbeing. You name it, sleep plays an essential role.
So when we heard our favorite massage gun brand therabody Entering the sleep-tech arena in the form of space-age-style SmartGoggles, we tripped over our slippers to get to the front of the line.
What is Therabody?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock (TBH with the state of the world right now we wouldn’t blame you), you’ve heard about it therabody (formerly Theragun – rebranded in 2020). Therabody, the brainchild of chiropractor Dr. Jason Wersland, has been bringing your muscles into painless submission with his iconic collection of percussive therapy since 2016 massage guns (of which Cristiano Ronaldo is a big fan).
Previously focused solely on the body, the brand is now branching out into broader wellness, reflecting the trend in fitness circles away from purely performance-based, punishing workouts and towards a more holistic mind-body connection.
The SmartGoggles are part of what Therabody is calling a new “product ecosystem” dedicated to pain management, performance, mental health, sleep, and preventative physical and mental care.
“We believe that wellness should be accessible to everyone with innovative, personalized and science-based products,” said Benjamin Nazarian, CEO of Therabody. “The new additions to our ecosystem not only bring the future of wellbeing to life, but also represent Therabody’s own evolution as we expand our product portfolio from hardware to biometrics and content to support mind and body.”
And the brand is announcing other products to be launched soon in these areas, so keep an eye on this area.
What are the Therabody SmartGoggles?
Already a favorite of Manchester City FC, the Therabody SmartGoggles are a smart wearable for the eyes and face, or in layman’s terms, massage goggles. The idea is that you use them during the day to increase focus, relieve stress, or relieve facial tension and headaches, and put them on at night to help you fall asleep or whenever you need to relax.
While they appear fairly hefty (they look a bit like a softer VR headset), they weigh less than 1 pound and sit fairly comfortably temple to temple, resting across the bridge of the nose. In the box you get a user manual, a soft case for the folded glasses and a super fast USB-C charging cable.
How do Therabody SmartGoggles work?
Using vibration, heat, massage, and biometric feedback (a chip on one side rests against your temple), the SmartGoggles gently knead your eye area into a state of blissful relaxation or hyper-focus. Depending on your settings, the massage either targets the third eye (between the eyebrows), the temples or pressure points around the eyes, or a mix.
Biometric feedback, which Therabody calls SmartSense technology, kicks in during Relax mode and works to slow your heart rate (and consequently, according to theory, reduce stress and anxiety), and you can track the results in the Therabody app.
Here is a quick overview of the different settings and what they do:
• Focus: Uses heat alongside an invigorating massage on the temples and third eye area.
• SmartRelax: Combines heat, undulating vibrations, and temple and orbital pressure point massage (around the eye sockets) plus that clever biometric intelligence that Therabody claims is scientifically proven to slow your heart rate.
• Sleep: Sleep mode doesn’t use heat (this would be counterproductive as the body naturally cools down while falling asleep), but instead uses a soothing temple massage plus medium vibrations.
Each mode also lets you toggle between different heat and vibration settings to suit your needs. It’s safe to fall asleep in the glasses as they turn off after 15 minutes, but turning over later will likely wake you up, so it’s best to take them off when you feel like falling asleep. However, if it’s just a nap you’re going for then by all means leave them on, just be prepared to freak out on your roommate, partner or child.
The SmartGoggles can also be linked to the Therabody app, which integrates with TheraMind, so it’s equipped with multi-sensory sound therapy designed to work with the goggles’ presets and your heart rate. Expect relaxing and performance-enhancing audio content to listen to when you’re feeling drained or pumped up.
Therabody SmartGoggles Review: Our honest thoughts
First impressions? future, I have arrived. There’s no two ways these have a distinct sci-fi vibe. That being said, they’re lightweight and portable, and fold in half across the bridge so you can take them anywhere in the accompanying case (I imagine they’re a lifesaver on long-haul flights).
- How much do Therabody SmartGoggles cost? £174
The SmartGoggles are comfortable to wear and while the strap could be smoother to adjust, overall it’s a pretty seamless setup experience. You switch between settings with a button above the right temple, with the selected mode being highlighted by a small light, which of course means you can’t see which mode you’re in while using it, so you need to switch to your preferred setting before proceeding. Once you are aware of the switching order, you can operate it while using it if you like.
While I wouldn’t feel comfortable unwrapping these in the office, the glasses offered unparalleled relief in stressful WFH bags, and the simple fact that you can’t open your eyes to check for incoming email notifications , means you really get used to the experience. It’s the product my weary brain didn’t know it needed.
• The focus mode has quite an intense feeling of pressure that takes some getting used to, but when I squinted out from behind the glasses, my head was noticeably clearer than when I put it on.
• The sleep mode is incredibly soothing, and while I don’t tend to struggle with falling asleep, I reach for them night after night because who doesn’t love a scalp massage when falling asleep?
The buzzing of the glasses can be a bit loud. So if you’re not already engrossed in a relaxing soundtrack or sleep podcast, maybe you should invest in something ear plug to use next to them.
- Where can I buy Therabody SmartGoggles? Via the Therabody website.
I have sleep better? It’s hard to say, but I certainly woke up refreshed and ready for a busy day, which I can’t say every morning. What really impressed me is how seamlessly the SmartGoggles fit into my current relaxation routine, especially when compared to many sleep technologies on the market.
Many existing products require you to add an annoying third-party product to your routine or stare at an app that emits blue light—both of which are more of a hindrance than a help. But by their very nature, SmartGoggles force you to close your eyes, they improve on a piece of the sleep puzzle we’ve already put together. And if the gentle massage isn’t enough for overthinkers, they can listen to a free track on the Therabody app. Trust us, you’ll be catching zzz’s in no time.
