If you're shopping for a hyperbaric chamber for your home, here's the question most buyers don't think to ask until the chamber arrives.
How do I actually get inside it?
Every chamber we sell at Healing The Hyperbaric Way is designed to be operated independently, meaning one person can use it alone, without a technician or helper. But that only works if you can physically get in and out by yourself. The wrong entry style can turn a great chamber into a frustrating purchase.
This guide walks you through the three main ways to enter a hyperbaric chamber: side entry, top entry, and walk-in. With this information, you can pick the one that fits your body, your home, and how you plan to use it.
Why Entry Style Matters More Than You Think
Most people focus on pressure (ATA), size, and price when shopping for a chamber. Entry style can get overlooked, and then becomes the thing you regret.
Things to think about before you choose:
• Can you get on your hands and knees comfortably? Some side entry chambers sit low to the floor.
• Do you use a wheelchair, walker, or cane? A walk-in vertical chamber may be your only realistic option.
• Are you buying for the next 10 to 20 years? What works today may not work as you age.
• Will more than one person in the household use it? Different bodies have different needs.
• Are you claustrophobic? A taller walk-in chamber feels more open than a low-profile lying chamber.
Soft vs. Hard Hyperbaric Chambers: How Entry Works for Each
Before you pick an entry style, it helps to know whether you're shopping for a soft chamber or a hard chamber. The entry method is different for each.
Soft hyperbaric chambers (1.3 ATA, 1.4 ATA, and 1.5 ATA) use a heavy-duty zipper door. The zipper can be on the side, the top, or in a curved shape depending on the model. Most home hyperbaric chambers are soft chambers, and almost every option covered in this guide falls into this category.
Hard hyperbaric chambers (2.0 ATA) use a sealed door instead of a zipper. Entry is typically through a side door that swings open, similar to stepping through a doorway. Hard chambers tend to be heavier, more expensive, and built for higher pressure use, but the entry process is straightforward.
The quick version: soft chambers work for the vast majority of home users and offer a lower price point. Hard chambers are better suited to advanced users or clinics who need 2.0 ATA pressure.
The rest of this guide focuses primarily on soft chamber entry styles, since that's what most home buyers are choosing.
Shop Hyperbaric Chambers By Pressure
Now let's break down each entry style.
Side Entry: Horizontal Hyperbaric Chambers
A side entry hyperbaric chamber has a zipper door on the side, near the floor. To enter, you typically get down on your hands and knees and scoot inside, then lie down or sit up once you're in.
Best for: People who are mobile, flexible, and comfortable getting low to the floor. Also a great option if you plan to raise the chamber on a platform.
The platform solution: If side entry sounds like it might be uncomfortable, you can raise the chamber on a sturdy platform so the door is closer to seat height. This turns a hands-and-knees entry into a simple sit-and-scoot.
Hyperbaric Chambers we offer with side entry:
- Newtowne C4-34 and C4-40. Both can be configured with either side or top entry when you order. We do not recommend the C4-27 as a side entry unless raised on a platform. Its lower profile makes hands-and-knees entry harder than necessary.
- Oxy Air 36 Side Entry. The same Oxy Air chamber comes in a top entry version, so you can pick the layout that works best for your space.
- Airvida Ultra Hard Shell (2.0 ATA). Available in 30, 34, and 36-inch widths. Hard chamber side entry works differently from soft chamber side entry. Instead of a zipper, you step through a sealed door. Higher pressure, more durable build, and a more substantial entry experience.
Browse Lying Hyperbaric Chambers
Top Entry: Step-In Horizontal Hyperbaric Chambers
A top entry hyperbaric chamber has a zipper door that runs along the top. You step into the chamber, sit down, lie back, and zip the door closed over your head.
This is the most traditional entry style for home hyperbaric chambers and often the most economical. It feels intuitive, almost like stepping into a tent, and the transition from standing to lying down is gentle.
Best for: Mobile home users looking for a straightforward, budget-friendly chamber.
Hyperbaric chambers we offer with top entry:
• Newtowne C4-27, C4-34, and C4-40. All three can be configured as top entry. The number indicates size. The higher the number, the larger the chamber.
• Oxy Air 36 (top entry version). Same chamber as the side entry Oxy Air, just configured differently.
One thing to note.
Newtowne chambers do not include an oxygen concentrator or dehumidifier. If you want a complete out-of-the-box setup, the Airvida, and Oxygen Health Systems chambers all come with concentrators and dehumidifers included.
Browse Lying Hyperbaric Chambers
Walk-In Hyperbaric Chambers: The Easiest Entry of All
Walk-in hyperbaric chambers have a tall, wide door that lets you walk in standing up, sit down on a chair inside, and start your session sitting upright.
Best for: Wheelchair users, people with mobility challenges, anyone who's claustrophobic, anyone who wants to read or work during sessions, and anyone who simply wants the easiest possible entry.
Walk-in chambers we offer:
• Newtowne Tent Hyperbaric Chamber. A nice walk-in option at 1.3 ATA. Walk in, sit down, and start your session.
• Airvida Chair Pro. A great choice if you use a wheelchair or just want a larger, more comfortable seated experience. The Chair Pro has a wide door for easy entry, a roomy interior, and runs at 1.4 ATA. It includes an oxygen concentrator and dehumidifier.
• Oxygen Health Systems MC4000, MC4400, and MC4500. Our wheelchair-accessible line. Available in 1.3 ATA or 1.4 ATA. The higher the number, the larger the chamber. The MC4000 is the smallest, the MC4500 is the largest. All three come with air conditioning and dehumidifying options.
A Hybrid Option: The Airvida Pro90
The Pro90 deserves its own mention because it doesn't fit neatly into any of the above categories, and it's one of the best values in our mix.
The Airvida Pro90 is 1.5 ATA, 7.5 feet long, and 4 feet wide. You can sit up or lie down inside it. You're seated on a legless chair on the floor (not a raised chair), which keeps the profile low while still letting you sit up comfortably.
What we love about it:
• Large opening with a curved zipper door, easy entry compared to standard side-entry chambers
• Includes oxygen concentrator and dehumidifier
• Optional air chilling system upgrade
• Strong value at 1.5 ATA pressure
If you want flexibility, sit up to read, lie down to nap, all in the same chamber, the Pro90 is hard to beat for a 1.5 ATA pressure.
Two other contenders:
Newtowne Shoe and Long Shoe. Both are sit-or-lie chambers with top entry. The Shoe is 5.5 feet long, the Long Shoe is 6.5 feet long. Great options if you want the flexibility to sit up or lie down inside the chamber.
Quick Decision Guide: Which Entry Style Is Right for You?
|
If you... |
Choose |
|
Want the most traditional and economical option |
Top entry horizontal |
|
Use a wheelchair or have mobility challenges |
Walk-in (Chair Pro or MC4 series) |
|
Feel claustrophobic |
Walk-in vertical, sitting up and being able to see out is more relaxing |
|
Want to sit up and read during sessions |
Walk-in or Pro90 |
|
Are tall or large-framed |
C4-40, Pro90, or any walk-in |
|
Want sit-or-lie flexibility |
Airvida Pro90, Newtowne Shoe, or Newtowne Long Shoe |
One More Thing: You Can Use Any of These Alone
Every hyperbaric chamber covered in this guide is designed for independent use. You don't need a clinic, a technician, or a helper standing by. As long as you can physically get inside, you can operate the chamber yourself, start to finish.
That's the whole point of a home hyperbaric chamber. Pick the entry style that lets you actually use it.
Still Not Sure Which Chamber Is Right for You?
Take our quick 2-minute quiz and we'll match you with the right chamber for your body, your space, and your goals.