It comes with a remote, but it’s a little finicky—when I tried it, it had to be close up to the console and pointing straight at it to work. If you want a heated foot massager, you’ll have to look elsewhere—that’s not a setting on this one. And though you can alter the speed and type of massage you receive, you can’t adjust the pressure. This meant that every massage seemed to be on the medium-firm side to me (which I like) but someone who wants a light massage may want to try a different option. You place your feet in or on top of a pad, sleeve, or plate, dial in your preferred setting, and let the relaxation begin. The best part about this design is that it’s hands-free and the closest experience to having your feet rubbed at a day spa.
The massage balls operate in a smooth, circular rotation, delivering a solid massage without overdoing it. Additionally, the grippy underside of the unit helps to secure it in place while you relax into the warmth and comfort of your foot therapy routine. While there is plenty to praise the Nekteck Foot Massager for, it isn’t without some downsides. For one, the unit is pretty aggressive, particularly on the heel portion of the foot. This is largely due to the downward pressure that the airbags put on the foot to keep it in contact with the rollers below. We did discover, though, that if you sit further back and do not lean forward on your feet, it is far more comfortable and produces that ahhhhhh feeling.
During testing, we realized that massaging preferences can be fairly subjective. Some people prefer intense ones that really get the knots out, while others prefer a more gentle and soothing massage; possibly with some heat to relax their muscles. The only variables it offers are a change of direction and the choice of adding heat.
It of course wouldn’t replace the hands of a human being that can accomplish anything they wanted, but it’s a heck of a compromise. It also won’t replace having a full chair from a company like Bodyfriend, but then it also won’t cost you as much as your next car. Finally, you have a heat option, that simply turns the heat on or off. It needs a 3 mode sensitivity control for this as well, with far renpho massage more heat available than there is–unless the one we have is simply defective in this area. We tried it with it on and off and didn’t really notice a difference, and I have sensitive feet when it comes to temperature (which is why you will almost never see me walking around at home without socks). At first, everyone starts off at the lowest of settings and it sure as hell gives you a light tease.
As such, it’s meant to be used over time to improve any condition plaguing you. The unique open design of this foot massager is a plus for those with larger feet or anyone who just wants a little extra breathability. All you need is 15 minutes for a personalized massage that includes heat and air compression from the balls of your foot to the ends of your heels.
In my tests, the Best Choice Shiatsu Massager felt fantastic, particularly for a budget device. The machine kneads the bottoms and sides of the feet with firm yet supple nodes covered in a silky cloth that made it feel more like human touch than any other massager I tested. It also has five massage settings that you can cycle through that involve variations of rolling, kneading, and pushing. It was a little hard to figure out how to use—the machine has a lot of buttons and it isn’t immediately clear what they all do—but each option felt so nice to me, this didn’t matter too much. The next time you’re looking to bliss out at home, don’t leave your feet out of the pampering plans.
You can feel the massagers underneath your feet before you turn it on, but they aren’t knobby. Our testers used it without socks for a fair comparison with other finalists; renpho massage gun however, the manual recommends wearing socks (which does make it more comfortable). The massager as a whole received a score of 8.1 out of 10 for comfort.
The RENPHO – Shiatsu effectively combines Shiatsu-style rollers with air compression and heat to relax the muscles in your feet and remove tension that built up during the day. That said, if you want a sole-only massager, I found renpho foot massager some decent ones for that as well. This deep kneading foot massager packs comfort and convenience in an ergonomic design that comes complete with sanitary features so you can enjoy a massage even after a long tiring day.
It’s also lightweight and small, so you can move it around the house easily and massage your feet under your WFH desk. At just $60, the NekTeck offers a heat function with a deep, thorough kneading massage for stiff feet. The Miko is a bit more limited than the previously discussed models. This machine works the whole sole plus the tops and the sides but ends the massage about midsole on a size 11 foot.
It was the simplest and most straightforward device we tested that had Shiatsu-style kneading massager rollers. We found the quality of the massage, however, to be underwhelming, as did our focus group who rated it 5.1 for comfort and 5.5 for pain relief. The Arch Refresh has all the trappings of what one might expect from a luxury foot massager. It looks like a box with two deep crevices lined with removable and machine-washable pieces of cloth that you stick your feet into and get a massage from the tip of the toes to the ankles. It also has four main massage settings—vibration, pressure, heat, and knead style—that you can use to customize the type of massage you receive. If you’re in the market for a top-of-the-line foot massager, the Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager is the way to go.