Making big purchases are generally stressful and when it comes to purchasing a massage chair, you need to consider a lot of things to come to a decision. Massage chairs have a lot of features that make a person way too confused, leave making the right pick. So, if you want to buy a massage chair, but don’t know how to buy the right one, then you are in luck.
In this blog, we’ll discuss all the points that you need to know to make a well-informed and wise decision as far as buying a massage chair is concerned. There are a lot of brands and models of massage chairs to choose from. Moreover, these models come with various features and functionalities.
From massage programs to settings to price, you sure have a lot on your table. And that’s why we are here. Go through this massage chair buying guide to know the ultimate tips on how to buy the right massage chair for you!
13 Tips When Buying a Massage Chair
1. Fix a Budget
Deciding to buy a massage chair is somewhat of a hefty investment. A massage chair could cost anywhere between hundreds to thousands of dollars based on several factors like its features, appearance, brand, etc. Finalizing a budget is quite easy because you know all about your expenses and have a clear idea of how much you want to be spending on a massage chair. Here is a basic guide stating the prices of different types of massage chairs.
If your budget is below $1500, then you can get the basic massage chairs that are inexpensive but lack certain features. Someone who loves high-tech items will find this chair to be built with outdated technology. However, they have all the basic features of a massage chair and are often well-built too.
If your budget is from $1500 to $6500, then you are in the mid-range spectrum. This includes a vast range of massage chairs found in the market today. If your budget lies here, then you can find a lot of options, from well-built chairs to focussed chairs that fulfill specific requirements.
Lastly, if your budget is more than $6500, then you can get any high-end massage chair that you want. This price can get you the best massage chairs available in the market with amazing features. These include features like expanding airbags, USB ports, attached USB ports, etc.
However, don’t get too scared by the prices and focus on the main reason why you want a massage chair. You can obviously cut off features like USB ports because some of these high-end characteristics are present only for luxury. Compromising a little on appearance and other unimportant things won’t lessen the massage quality you receive.
Also, focus on the body part you need the massage chair for. For instance, if you need a massage chair for your back pain only, then you can skip on the foot recliner feature. Again, if you need to massage your feet only, then don’t buy an entire chair, just a simple foot massager will do.
Note that you shouldn’t be overextending to buy something that you don’t need. Instead, go for a chair with all the right features as per your need.
2. Durability
While buying anything that is made of several moving parts, you need to stay mentally prepared for the possibility that sooner or later, some parts will get damaged. Hence, durability is a major factor to consider while buying a chair.
You are sure to use your massage chair regularly, so make sure that it is a heavy-duty and resilient chair. Moreover, make sure that you don’t cut off on your budget and get a less durable chair. A cheap and weak chair won’t serve you any good if it gets damaged after a couple of massage sessions. You’ll have to get it repaired or else, replace it and that doesn’t sound like a wise investment.
It is always better to buy a solid chair even if you have to pay a bit more. Besides, we would recommend going for equipment with a modular chair design. This makes repair work far more feasible and easier. If any part of the chair gets broken, then you can easily have that part removed and have it repaired instead of shipping your entire chair.
3. Warranty And Customer Service
Always check the warranty period offered by the massage chair brand and compare it with that of other brands. In addition to that, also check what the warranty actually covers. Another warranty feature to look out for is whether the company offers a one-month (or longer) unconditional cash back promise or not.
Not only does this allow you to try out the chair for a month and return it if you don’t like it but also shows that the company is quite confident about their product. It means that the company believes that the chair is of good quality in terms of both performance and durability.
Moreover, it’s better if the company provides customer service. This will allow you to talk to their representative in case any problems arise. It is better to have someone knowledgeable to answer any queries that you might have. Good-quality chairs are mostly from a brand that offers a chat service or a toll-free number to talk to a customer service representative.
4. Space Consumption
You must have googled massage chairs and from the pics that you’ve seen so far, it should be quite clear to you that massage chairs are bulky furniture pieces. So, you can’t just snug them anywhere. Make sure that you have decided beforehand on where you want to place your massage chair. In addition to that, check if the chair you are eyeing has appropriate dimensions to fit in the space you’ve decided on.
Generally, people keep all their chairs in the living room. However, despite several efforts from the manufacturers’ end, massage chairs might not go that well with the aesthetics of your living room. It makes sense if you want to place the massage chair in a personal space like your home office or bedroom.
In addition to the already bulky shape of the chair, it also includes head and foot recliners that you can’t really stash in a corner. Also, you cannot place it against a wall because then, the headrest and back reclining feature won’t be able to work. Hence, measuring your room properly is quite important to decide how much space you’ll need for your chair.
Some massage chairs have wheels attached and so these allow for easy mobility. When not in use, you can store your massage chair somewhere, and later when you want to get a massage, you can take them out.
5. Perfect Fit
We know that humans come in all shapes and sizes. So, you should really consider checking out if your massage chair will fit your body shape properly or not. Check your height and the chair’s height and make sure that it will fit you when you are reclining in it. Your legs shouldn’t be sticking out of the footrest otherwise that would defeat the whole purpose of getting a footrest.
Moreover, you shouldn’t get a chair that is too large for you. A massage chair has several small pieces of equipment like a foot massager, a back and shoulder massager, an arm massager, etc. So, suppose you purchased a chair that is too big for you, then you wouldn’t really get any benefit out of it.
Another thing to keep in mind is that every chair has a specific height and weight target. So, make sure that your height and weight fall in the range specified by the chair manufacturer.
6. Massage Functionalities
Generally, basic massage chairs don’t have much to offer. All they provide is a bit more than the usual vibration and rolling massage. But, high-end chairs come with a long list of features to relax your body. These include rolling, kneading, reflexology, tapping, vibration, etc. Also, these come with several massage types like Zero Gravity, Inversion Therapy, and so on.
Now, you might not be using all these features. So, you need to figure out which areas of your body need care and purchase a chair that has features catering to those regions. Basic functionalities like body stretching and vibration massage therapy are found in almost all models.
7. Positions
Massage chairs can tend to various areas of your body in addition to just your back. A high-quality massage chair comes with a leg and foot massager. In certain cases, these also include arm and wrist massagers. Advanced massage chairs have high-quality massage airbags, rollers, and massage heads placed throughout the body of the massager. In fact, these can also come with a thumb-like massager that seems much like a human touch. All these features eliminate the need to go to a massage therapist.
8. Rollers
Different massage chairs offer different types of massage rollers. Some offer a wide range of rollers like 2D, 4D, etc. but the low-priced ones offer fewer configurations. Certain massage chairs also allow you to customize the height and width of the massage rollers. Make sure that the chair you finalize has all the types rollers that you need.
9. Heated Massage Feature
The most high-tech kind of massage chairs come with a heated massage seat and back. Some chairs also offer infrared heating feature that makes the massage much more beneficial by providing effective relaxation to your muscles.
10. Recline Function
The best massage chairs always come with the feature of reclination options. Reclination is an important feature to consider if you want to feel relaxed and comfortable. Getting a massage while sitting upright is quite uncomfortable and won’t be much effective.
Moreover, these reclining options also include Zero Gravity that is based on the weightlessness experienced by astronauts in space. This feature keeps your body in a neutral, zero gravity position which in turn lowers your heartbeat rate, decreases tension level, and promotes proper blood circulation.
Some of the reclining options also include a single-touch feature that provide you with maximum control. Certain studies have demonstrated that having some degree of reclination while getting a massage will provide a better massage experience and enhance the related benefits.
11. Massage Power
People who have used massage chairs for quite a while will agree that the massage strength of your is an important thing to consider while buying a massage chair. The power delivered by your massage chair depends on the number of motors your chair has. As a thumb rule, the higher the number of motors, the more options you’ll get in your chair.
Gradually, your body will get acquainted with the chair and so, the more configurations your massage chair has, the better for you in the long run. A lot of massage chairs come with removable padding that allows you to customize the massage strength levels you get.
12. Massage Programs
A lot of massage chairs come with pre-programmed options that deliver massage in a timed manner by targetting specific areas of your body for certain durations of time. Some massage chairs also come with body-mapping technology. This feature is so smart and self-sufficient that it tests the effect of different massage types on different regions of your body. Based on that, it customizes a specific massage type for you.
13. Chair’s Material Quality
You should always prefer genuine high-quality material as your massage chair upholstery. But, the chairs with a lot of technological advancements and features are made of synthetic material. The reason behind this is that the massage chair will generate a lot of heat and motion in your day-to-day massage sessions. So, the material needs to hold up and last long under these conditions. Generally, synthetic fabrics are designed to bear the heat, in addition to the usual wear and tear.
Conclusion: How To Choose The Right Massage Chair?
By now, you must have understood what kind of features you can get from a massage chair. So, first, you need to fix a budget based on how much you can afford to spend and it’s better if your budget is in a specific range. Now, chalk out all the reasons why you need a massage chair. It could be because of chronic back pain, shoulder pain, foot pain, just to relax, or something else.
Knowing why you want a massage chair will help you filter out all the features you want in a chair. Start thinking about the features that your chair must-have. A thumb rule here is, use five features to decide for a affordable massage chair, nine, if you want a mid-range one and as many as possible for a high-end massage chair.
Now, based on the features you have prioritized, you can begin your search. You may not find an exact match, but there is a vast number of chairs to choose from and you’ll surely find something close to your requirements.
FAQs
How do I choose a good massage chair?
The process of choosing a good massage chair is quite complex and not that simple as it might seem. You need to have a clear budget, a sense of what you want, features you are looking for, and then begin your search. Try ensuring that the features you want, fall in the price range you can afford because unrealistic expectations won’t allow you to make a wise decision.
Is buying a massage chair worth it?
Yes, it is. A lot of people think that a massage chair is just for luxury. But, honestly, massage chairs offer a myriad of features that you will greatly benefit from. From relieving your backaches to improving your posture to stimulating better circulation, massage chairs will improve your overall health condition. So, as long as you are making an informed decision, buying a massage chair is worth the investment.
What is the best massage chair you can buy?
The decision of purchasing a massage chair depends on your needs from a massage chair. However, some of the best massage chairs in the market that you could consider buying are as follows:
- Kahuna Full Body Massage Chair
- Real Relax Shiatsu Massage Chair
- HOMCOM Manual Massage Recliner Chair
- Full Body Massage Chair Zero Pressure Electric Shiatsu Recliner
Is it bad to sit in a massage chair for too long?
Yes, it is. The optimum time range to use a massage chair is from two to fifteen minutes. If you sit longer than that, then you run a risk of hurting your muscles and ligaments. It could even lead to injuries or bruising.