Quick Summary
GreatHealthGear RatingThe Relaxator is a useful low-cost tool for users who want a simple physical constraint to slow their breathing and develop longer exhalation habits. At $30 it is accessible, and the CO₂ tolerance and nasal breathing benefits it supports are real, if modest. For users who want respiratory muscle training or biofeedback, it is not the right device. For users who want a practical breathing pacer, it is the cheapest credible option available.
Ideal for
- Users who want a simple, affordable tool to slow their breathing and develop longer exhalation habits
- Those interested in CO₂ tolerance improvement and nasal breathing retraining
- Beginners to breathwork who want a low-cost entry point before committing to more expensive devices
- Users who practice slow breathing protocols (box breathing, 5.5-second breath cycles)
Not ideal for
- Users who need respiratory muscle strength training (choose POWERbreathe)
- Those who want app-guided training with metrics (choose Airofit)
- HRV biofeedback users (choose HeartMath Inner Balance)
- Athletes who want evidence-based IMT for performance
Available at
Relaxator Official
From $30
Pros & Cons
- + $30 — the lowest-cost structured breathwork tool available
- + No setup, no app, no battery — instant use
- + Adjustable resistance levels to progress exhalation difficulty
- + Portable and discreet
- + Useful for breath-slowing, nasal breathing retraining, and CO₂ tolerance
- - No respiratory muscle training — exhalation resistance only
- - No feedback, no metrics, no guidance
- - Evidence base for CO₂ tolerance training devices is limited vs IMT research
- - Very basic — appropriate for the price but not for users who want a comprehensive training tool
Respiratory contraindication note: Consult a healthcare professional before beginning respiratory muscle training if you have asthma, COPD, cardiovascular disease, or other respiratory conditions. Do not use respiratory trainers during acute illness.
Design & Build Quality
The Relaxator is a small plastic mouthpiece device — lightweight, portable, and simple to clean. Build quality is basic but adequate for the price: the resistance mechanism is functional and provides several adjustable settings for different exhalation resistance levels. It feels like a $30 product — not premium, but not fragile.
Setup & Ease of Use
No setup. No app. No charging. Put it in your mouth, set the resistance level, and breathe through it. The simplest setup of any device in this category — immediate use from unboxing.
The absence of guidance means users need to research their own breathing protocol. The Relaxator website provides guidance, and the device is commonly paired with slow breathing practice (5.5 breaths per minute, box breathing, or similar).
Training Performance
The Relaxator is not a respiratory muscle trainer in the clinical sense — it does not load the inspiratory muscles or provide threshold resistance. It slows exhalation, which trains breath-pacing habits and supports CO₂ tolerance development through regular practice.
For respiratory muscle strength training, the POWERbreathe is the correct device. For learning to breathe more slowly and developing nasal breathing habits, the Relaxator is effective at its price point.
Features & Programmes
One function: adjustable exhalation resistance. No programmes, no modes, no guidance, no metrics.
Battery Life
No battery. Fully manual mechanical device.
App & Software Experience
No app. Standalone device.
Data Privacy
No data collected.
Value for Money
At $30, the Relaxator is the lowest-cost credible breathwork tool available. As a breath-slowing pacer with adjustable exhalation resistance, it delivers its function at minimum cost. For users who want the simplest possible entry to structured slow breathing practice, the value is clear.
Final Verdict
The Relaxator is a useful, low-cost tool for users who want a physical constraint to slow their breathing and build exhalation length habits. It is not a respiratory muscle trainer and not a biofeedback device — it is a breath pacer, and it does that effectively at $30.
For respiratory muscle training, the POWERbreathe Medic Plus is the correct device. For app-guided training with metrics, the Airofit range is the step up.
Who Should Buy?
Buy the Relaxator if: You want a simple, affordable tool to slow your breathing and develop longer exhalation habits, or you are exploring CO₂ tolerance training at minimum cost.
Skip it if: You want respiratory muscle strength training, app guidance, or measurable performance metrics.
Final Verdict
The Relaxator is a useful low-cost tool for users who want a simple physical constraint to slow their breathing and develop longer exhalation habits. At $30 it is accessible, and the CO₂ tolerance and nasal breathing benefits it supports are real, if modest. For users who want respiratory muscle training or biofeedback, it is not the right device. For users who want a practical breathing pacer, it is the cheapest credible option available.
From $30
at Relaxator Official
Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you
Who Should Buy the Relaxator Review?
Buy it if you...
- Users who want a simple, affordable tool to slow their breathing and develop longer exhalation habits
- Those interested in CO₂ tolerance improvement and nasal breathing retraining
- Beginners to breathwork who want a low-cost entry point before committing to more expensive devices
- Users who practice slow breathing protocols (box breathing, 5.5-second breath cycles)
Skip it if you...
- Users who need respiratory muscle strength training (choose POWERbreathe)
- Those who want app-guided training with metrics (choose Airofit)
- HRV biofeedback users (choose HeartMath Inner Balance)
- Athletes who want evidence-based IMT for performance
Comparison With Alternatives
Relaxator vs POWERbreathe Medic Plus
These devices train different aspects of breathing. The POWERbreathe ($80) trains inspiratory muscle strength through threshold resistance — well-evidenced for athletic performance. The Relaxator ($30) trains exhalation pacing and CO₂ tolerance through exhalation resistance. They are complementary rather than competing. If you can only buy one, POWERbreathe has the stronger evidence base for measurable outcomes.
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