The Richway Biomat vs Ereada Mats

Introduction

In 1997, Richway International came out with the very first infrared heating pad (or mat).  At the time, infrared saunas had been around for decades and Richway was the first to put infrared therapy into a mat form.  Using science discovered by NASA and Nobel Prize-winning researchers, Richway developed the Biomat.  Like with anything else, many years later, other companies saw the success of the Biomat and tried duplicating it and knockoffs were born.  But like most things, copies are never as good as the original if the inventors continue to innovate.  One such copy, the Ereada Mat, makes claims that it is comparable to the Amethyst Biomat.  This blog post will focus on highlighting the various ways in which the Richway Biomat stands out as the superior choice.

Superior Heat Distribution

Richway Biomat

One of the most significant advantages of the Amethyst Bio Mat is its ability to distribute heat evenly throughout the entire mat so that there are no hot points causing discomfort and so that all of the amethyst in the mat is used to generate infrared heat. This ensures that users experience consistent warmth and therapeutic effects, providing relief for various ailments such as muscle tension, joint pain, and stress.

The Richway Biomat uses a patented heating system based on research done by NASA in order to heat space stations and vehicles. The heat to warm the amethyst is generated by a flexible conductive heating plate that distributes heat more evenly across the mat. Ereada boasts that their mats have more amethyst in them but if just a portion of that amethyst is being heated, what purpose is there to have more?

Ereada Mats

Classic Brown Amethyst Mats by Ereada have uneven heat distribution, resulting in potential discomfort during use. The following is straight from the Ereada website: "Electric Ereada® mats use an advanced EMF-free heating system based on twisted titanium wires in copper net, silicon, and Teflon insulation to preheat the stones."

Twisted titanium wires in a copper net are how heat originates in an Ereada mat to warm the amethyst. This can cause hot points in the mat that feel uncomfortable as the mat attempts to heat itself to the desired temperature.  It also means that not all of the amethyst is being heated evenly.

EMF Protection

Ereada Mats

From the Ereada website: 

"The full protection of the users of our products from harmful EMFs is provided by both passive and active EMI (Electro-Magnetic Interception) technologies integrated into our Ereada ^® amethyst mats.

The passive system consists of the double silicon and Teflon insulation and shielding of low emission titanium heating elements and the special EMI layers inside the mats with copper fiber, carbon fiber, silver fiber to control the remaining EMFs on almost zero level.

The active system includes the special wires and carbon layer catching the peak electric and magnetic waves. It works with the Controller AUTO EMI function, automatically detecting and transferring absorbed by this system EMFs spikes into the wall socket “ground pin” for Earthing.

The active system is like a lighting rod safely conducting the EMFs into the ground. It is available on all Ereada® mats and is more important for 220v European mats than for the USA, where the spikes are quite rare. A similar system is used on Richway biomats.

The measurements showed that even during the spikes, the intensity of the magnetic field was not more than 0.2-0.5 milliGauss (mG) which is even less than typical in the home background (0.5-4 mG) and is generally considered safe for sleeping (less than 1 mG is recommended).

Our mats’ average EMFs blocking levels are less than 10 dB, far below the standards for safety established by FCC for the USA and CE for Europe (40-60 dB). EMF tests in Korean registered laboratories confirm the safety and absence of harmful electromagnetic fields.

In general, our mats are the safest in the market, and they are comparable to Richway Biomats in the EMF levels and interception functions."

Richway Biomat

We would just like to point out that on every selling point on the Ereada website, they compare themselves to the Richway Biomat.  Why?  Because the Biomat is the benchmark, the standard, and has been so long before Ereada ever entered the market.  If you read their information, it always comes back to comparing it to the Biomat but they do so in a deferential way because they know the Biomat is superior.  "A similar system is used on Richway Biomats" and "...they are comparable to RIchway Biomats in the EMF levels..."

Ereada admits their mats give off EMF radiation.  

Richway Biomats emit ZERO EMF.

While the Ereada website is right, the system they use is very similar (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery), it is not the same.  

Biomats are equipped with controllers made by Texas Instruments, America's oldest and most respected electronics manufacturer. The controllers have the most advanced IC Chips available, which intercept EMF waves and send them to the ground pin in the plug receptacle like a lightning rod.  So EMF never enters the mat.  On top of this, Biomats are constructed with multiple layers that shield the user from EMF as added protection. 

On top of that, within the controller, there is technology that converts the electricity from harmful AC (Alternating Current) electricity to DC (Direct Current) electricity which is more harmonious to the body.  This is a feature Ereada mats do not have. 

AC is considered more hazardous because it has a greater potential to enter the body through various pathways. Unlike DC, which flows in one direction, AC alternates its voltage, allowing current to enter and exit the body even without a complete circuit. This occurs because the human body, along with the ground it is connected to, possesses capacitance, which enables AC to pass through. And since DC does not change over time, the electric and magnetic fields from DC do not induce currents and voltages. DC electricity produces static electric and magnetic fields, but these fields have very different properties from AC Electric Magnetic Fields (EMF)

The difference in EMF protection is in the quality of the controller and the extra layers in the Biomat that Ereada mats don't have.  

Medical-Grade Certification

Richway Biomat

The Richway Biomat is the only amethyst mat of its kind to have achieved FDA approval as a medical device. This certification not only speaks to the mat's effectiveness but also assures users of its safety and adherence to strict quality standards. 

Not only is the Richway Biomat registered as a medical device, but it is also FDA-approved for specific health issues and is the only infrared heating pad to have gone through the FDA process for this purpose.  The Biomat is FDA-approved for temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, stiffness, arthritis-related pain, muscle spasms, sprains, strains, muscular back pain, muscle relaxation, and temporary increase of local circulation.

Ereada Mats

Ereada Classic Brown Amethyst Mats are not FDA-approved for anything.  On their site, they state that "FDA registration does not mean that FDA has tested or approved the devices for treatments of any medical condition."  This seems to us like an excuse for being able to get their mats approved.  The Biomat is approved for the treatment of specific medical conditions and that process is lengthy and expensive.  But Richway knows how much that means to their customers and they knew their mats could pass the tests. So why hasn't Ereada done the same thing? Probably because they know they would have to redesign their mats so that the treatment was even across the face of the mat which as it currently stands, it is not.  This is why Richway's patented heating system based on NASA research is so important.  The same infrared heat intensity is felt throughout the entire face of the mat and not just in spots.

Negative Ion Output

Ereada Mats

On their own website, Ereada admits the output of negative ions from their mats is not as much as the Biomat. They claim their output to be 600v.  However, they have no certification to verify this claim available to their customers.

Richway Biomat

Richway's ToCa layer is a revolutionary, proprietary system for the output of negative ion therapy.  The output of negative ions is 700v.  Richway has certification of this output available here.  

Amethyst Quality and Manufacturing

Richway Biomat

First, it's important to know that Richway controls its own manufacturing process.  Richway's full name is Richway & Fuji Bio Inc, which is the manufacturing part of Richway's process.  So manufacturing is in-house.  So is the actual mining of the amethyst crystals since Richway owns its own amethyst mine.  There is no other infrared mat on the market, including Ereada, that owns its own mine and controls the manufacturing process like Richway.  This allows them to oversee quality every step of the way and not rely on a third party to do the right thing.  

Fuji Bio Inc. and the amethyst mine are located in South Korea, while Richway is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Korean amethyst is one of the top places on Earth to get high-quality amethyst.  The amethyst Richway uses in its mats are natural stones of the highest quality.

Ereada Mats

The Ereada Amethyst Mat is manufactured by a third party in Korea, the Hyundai Co., which means they cannot oversee every step of the manufacturing process. They do not own their own amethyst mine so the process and the finished amethyst product are not overseen by the company.

On their site, Ereada claims their amethyst is from Korea and Brazil.  Why would they ship amethyst from Brazil to Korea when there is plenty of high-quality amethyst there?  It's a marketing ploy.  If you Google, "Where does the best amethyst in the world come from", a list of about six countries comes up for the highest quality amethyst.  Korea is one of those countries but Brazil is known to have the most flawless amethyst.  First, this does not mean that Brazilian amethyst emits any better far infrared rays than Korean amethyst.  Those rankings you see when you do that Google search are based on amethyst for JEWELRY purposes.  We do not believe Ereadea ships amethyst to Korea to put in their mats because that would be very costly when Korean amethyst is just as good for infrared purposes.  They state that on their site to give themselves a leg up for those people who have done that search.  It's a very deceiving marketing ploy.

Surface Layer

Ereada Mats

From Ereada website: "The top layer of the Richway Single, Queen, and King biomats is plastic film. The top layer of all sizes of the Brown Ereada® mats is the soft and luxury artificial suede with heat-stable ultrasonic bond lines showing crystals. They never decompose, and the stones will never fall out."

Faux suede (artificial sued) is a synthetic fabric.  Synthetic fabrics are not safe to wear, unheated, much less when they are heated.  So why would Ereada think using a synthetic material that starts breaking down at 120° F is a good top layer for an infrared heating pad?

The "ultrasonic bonding" Ereada speaks of is a process that melds two different materials together.  It says nothing about the quality of the materials themselves.  Faux suede is not a material that should be heated up and used in therapy of any kind.

Richway Biomat

The top layer of the Single, Queen, and King Biomats is NOT a plastic film. It is silicone urethane.  Silicone is a non-toxic, eco-friendly substance that is made from the element Silicon mixed with Oxygen.  Polyurethane is a polymer that is comprised of organic atoms.  This material can be heated to 200°F without being changed, which makes it the perfect material to use on a Biomat. You can see every layer and its purpose by visiting How the Biomat is Constructed - 17 Layers.

Extensive Research and Development

Ereada Mats

Richway mats are the product of 27 years of continuous research and development.  The Biomat 7000mx is the fifth generation Biomat. Ereada Amethyst Mats are the product of Richway's research and development as they are copy-cats.  When you read Ereada's website, over and over they reference the Richway Biomat and compare it to their own with phrases like "comparable" and "equivalent" when the reality is their mats are nothing of the kind and their "research and development" was copied from Richway's R&D.

Richway Biomat

Richway International, the manufacturer of the Biomat, has invested significant resources in research and development to ensure their product's superiority. The mat has undergone rigorous testing and continuous improvement to guarantee the best possible user experience.  Their mats are the product of research conducted by NASA and Nobel Prize-winning researchers.  Ereada does its best to copy the Biomat and keep up with its continuous improvement but falls short because a copy is never as good as the original.

Number of Therapies

Ereada Mats

Ereada took every therapy they could find and threw them all into one mat.  One has to question the quality of any one of these therapies.  More isn't always better if the therapies at hand are watered-down.  There has been no research done on including the therapies that Ereada has in their mats together.  This presents an ethical issue.  

Richway Biomat

Why more therapies aren't necessarily a good thing, Richway came up with the concept of using negative ions with far infrared rays because they complement each other and work together.  There is science that shows negative ion and infrared therapies work in synergy.  Each of the Biomat's two therapies is the highest quality of its kind. When a company, like Ereada, has to say on its own website that they are "comparable", one must wonder why they feel the need.  You won't find any mention of Ereada on Richway's website.  The original manufacturer of infrared mats doesn't need to compare themselves to a copycat.

Books, Studies, and Publications

Richway Biomat

The Richway Biomat has been featured in books about Lyme disease and cancer (4th Treatment for Medical Refugees).  It has been the subject of many publications and many scientific studies.  When researchers want to test the efficacy of an infrared heating pad on a health condition, they use the Biomat.

Ereada Mats

To our knowledge, Ereada Mats have never been used in any books, publications, or studies.

Warranty

Richway Biomat

Ereada does their best, on their website to make their warranty seem better than Richway's but here are the facts.

1. Richway offers a one-year unlimited warranty on all of its products, just like Ereada.  

2. Unlike Ereada, however, it then offers a two and three-year warranty option should anything happen to the Biomat during those years.  If so, the customer pays a small fee and that covers the product for that entire year.  Yes, Richway has the customer pay shipping for warranty issues, but three years of coverage is always better than one.  

3. After three years, most of Richway's products, including all Biomats, are protected by their Care  Program.  This program allows for the customer whose Biomat stops functioning in any year after the three-year mark to buy the same Biomat for 30% of the current price.  

This means that the customer is protected in some way from having to pay full price on the same Biomat they already purchased FOR LIFE.  In the long run, this makes the Biomat the most cost-effective infrared heating mat on the market.

Ereada Mat

Ereada Mats have a one-year unlimited warranty.

But what happens after that year?  What happens if something happens to the mat in year two, year five, year ten?  NOTHING.  The customer must purchase another mat at full price.

Conclusion

When it comes to investing in a high-quality wellness product, the Richway Biomat stands out as the superior choice. Its cutting-edge technology, superior heat distribution and EMF protection, research and development, medical-grade certification, superior construction, and better overall warranty make it a reliable and effective tool for achieving optimal wellness. One only has to look at both the Biomat and Ereada Mat to see the mats made by Ereada were fashioned after Biomats.  This is why, on their site, they reference the Biomat as a "quality product" and say that their mats are "comparable to the Biomat".  But a copy is never as good as the original, is it? By choosing the Richway Biomat, users can experience the countless benefits it offers and know they are getting the most effective infrared heat therapy available from the people who invented infrared heating pads.