Soft vs hard-shell hyperbaric chambers

The first fork in the road when buying a hyperbaric chamber is soft versus hard-shell. The two families look different, install differently and serve different buyers. This guide compares them across the points that actually affect your decision, and points you to the right CONSIDER range for each.

Construction and portability

Soft chambers use medical-grade TPU with airtight, triple-sealed zippers over an internal support frame. They are light, foldable and installed by one person in a spare room — and folded away when not in use. The COSL15 and COSE15 are good examples of the soft family.

1.5 ATA · Soft Sitting Chambers COSE15 — Extra-Spacious Sitting Chamber Premium oversized sitting cabin with internal support frame. View COSE15 details →

Hard-shell chambers are rigid carbon-steel or stainless-steel cabins on a wheeled base, professionally positioned in a fixed location. They feel like a permanent installation because they are one. The COHT20 single-person and COHB20 multiplace systems represent the hard-shell family.

1.2–2.0 ATA · Multiplace Hard Shell COHB20 — Multiplace Hard Shell — 1 to 5 Users Stainless-steel multiplace chamber for up to five users at 2.0 ATA. View COHB20 details →

Pressure and capacity

Soft chambers typically run at 1.3–1.5 ATA, though professional portable models like the COSL20 reach 2.0 ATA. They hold one user, or two in double and wheelchair models. Hard-shell systems reach 2.0 ATA and, in multiplace form, treat up to five users at once — the key to throughput in a busy facility. If pressure terms are new to you, see ATA pressure explained.

Installation, operation and cost

Which should you choose?

Choose a soft chamber if you want home wellness, recovery or a flexible, budget-conscious system you can install yourself — start with chambers for the home. Choose hard-shell if you are equipping a clinic or facility and need clinic-grade 2.0 ATA pressure or multi-user capacity.

1.5 ATA Soft Lying Chambers

COSL15

Soft Lying Hyperbaric Chamber

Premium portable lying chamber for daily home wellness and recovery.

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1.5–2.0 ATA Single-Person Hard Shell

COHT20

Single-Person Hard Shell Chamber

Q355 carbon-steel sitting chamber with integrated oxygen system.

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Still deciding between single-person and multiplace on the hard-shell side? Read monoplace vs multiplace chambers, or tell us your space and volume and we will recommend a configuration.