We recognize the importance of purchasing the right massage chair, considering the kind of investment the furniture is, which is why you shouldn’t take it lightly. Massage hairs come with a wide range of designs and features, each built with a specific purpose in mind. Choosing the right massage chair for you can be challenging. We’ve put in as much thought as we think you’d like to put into your purchase, working hard to help you understand why the purchase you make might very well be the best one you have ever made and will benefit you for years to come.
Below are some of our top picks. If you’re not quite sure what to look for, scroll down to our Buyer’s Guide. There, we explain how to pick the right massage chair for you, what to look for in each category, and which important terms to understand when shopping for one online.
Zero Gravity Full-Body Kahuna Massage Chair Recliner LM6800 with Yoga & Heating Therapy
The budget shopper will find just about everything they need in the Kahuna Massage Chair LM6800. For starters, it has a continuous roller track from head to hamstrings, as well as a wide variety of features that you would only find together on luxury models. It’s biggest concern is foot roller insulation, which can be a little rough, but we offer a solution to combat it.
Kahuna Massage Chair LM6800 at a Glance:
The Kahuna boasts the following features:
- Body scan technology
- L-track massage system
- Space-saving technology
- Zero gravity positioning
- Special “yoga” program
- Automatic programs based on shiatsu therapy
- Air arm massage technology
- Calf and foot massage
- Calves and lower back heat therapy
- Dual foot roller massagers
LM6800 Pros
Great value
As we mentioned before, the Kahuna is perfect for the budget shopper who doesn’t want to compromise on the amount of features their massage chair comes with. Only the more expensive competitors have the same list of features; you just won’t find it elsewhere in this price segment.
For example, it uses brand new L-track rollers designed to massage the back and all the way beyond the rear–compare that to the S-track rollers that only massage the back, hitting 35 percent less of the body.
Zero gravity
Of special note is the fact that this is a true zero gravity chair, and it comes with two settings. You can recline weightless with your legs either above your heart or at the same level. These two positions are considered ideal to relieve stress, and it lets the chair massage you a little more firmly.
Small recline area
Even in that zero gravity position, you won’t need to scoot too far away from the wall to be comfortable. The Kahuna only requires 5 inches of space, down from the average of 15 inches that competitors need.
LM6800 Cons
Rough foot rollers
As we stated above, the biggest problem with the Kahuna is that there’s essentially no insulation over the foot rollers, so it’s a rough experience. The lining is too thin to protect your feet, so the result is far rougher than the intended soothing foot massage.
As long as you’re willing to do a little work yourself, then this is a problem easily resolved. Take some of the packing foam that arrives with your new chair, unzip the cover for the foot roller, and tuck in that packing foam for a fast and easy cushion. Some users also recommend just wearing an extra pair of socks.
Noise level
If you’re the kind of person who wants their massage chair to be absolutely silent, then the Kahuna LM6800 might not be the best choice; it can generate a fair bit of noise. Of course, compare the cost of the Kahuna to comparable competitors that are quieter, and it’s probably always cheaper just to buy some earplugs.
Delivery and installation issues
At a whopping 220 pounds, this package will require two people to bring it to the intended spot in your house. With only four parts to attach, assembly can also require helping hands.
Verdict
All in all, the Kahuna LM6800 is one of the best chairs you can get for the value, considering the sheer number of features and the amount of comfort it has to offer–once you do some minor tweaking, of course.
Relaxonchair MK-II Plus Massage Chair
Another chair that works out well for folks on a budget is the Relaxonchair MK-II Plus. Normally, we might not look at an off-brand in a buyer’s guide, but this is one that happens to stand out thanks to its numerous features that are comparable to the mainstream brands.
Relaxonchair MK-II Plus Features:
Hybrid track design
This feature will undoubtedly come as a surprise; the Relaxonchair uses a track design that is a hybrid between the S- and L-tracks.
In other words, it lets the quad rollers of the chair follow the nature curve of your spine while also extending down to the thighs and the rear. This is as close as you’re going to get to getting a full-body massage in the comfort of your own home.
The only problem with the way this feature is implemented is that the extended track won’t go as far as we would like. It does reach the upper portion of the back of your thighs, but it won’t reach any farther unless you’re particularly short. Regardless, it’s a brilliant design, especially for an entry-level off-brand chair.
Deep tissue massage
Like with the zero gravity seating feature, there aren’t too many massage chairs on the market that allow for deep tissue massage, and the MK-II Plus is one of the ones that does. If your back pain is chronic, you’re going to love how intense the strongest setting on this chair is. It’s so strong that just about any casual user will never look back after steering clear from the choice. Coupled with the Relaxonchair’s affordability, this is perhaps the cheapest deep tissue chair on the market.
Pros and Cons
There’s lots going on for the Relaxonchair: It doesn’t cost much, it can handle the basics of massage well, and it comes with a number of features not found in many mainstream chairs. It even has therapeutic benefits for those who deal with chronic pain and need an at-home solution.
It shouldn’t be surprising that the entry-level chair has some limitations. For example, it doesn’t have a whole lot of actual options, such as Shiatsu massage or the ability to adjust heat.
Ideal Massage Shiatsu Chair
Another chair on the lower-end of the pricing scale, the Ideal Massage Shiatsu Chair comes highly rated.
Ideal Massage Shiatsu Chair Pros:
3 modes of zero gravity
The Ideal Massage Shiatsu Chair is another rare example of a massage chair that provides three options for zero gravity, raising the feet above the heart for the purposes of deeper massage. It’s always nice to have zero gravity as an option, because it simply makes your massage more effective, whether you suffer from chronic pain or not.
Value for money
Considering the price, the quality of the massage isn’t bad at all. The rollers knead deeply in the back, and the air massage is comfortable for the neck, shoulders, legs, and arms, while the rear gets a vibrating massage. Not only that, but the roller massage’s intensity is fantastically strong, making it great at undoing the knots in your muscles.
Quick assembly
For the most part, the Ideal Massage chair is already assembled when it arrives.
The only thing you need to do is attach the shoulder massages, which each take three screws, and the remote control holder, which takes four screws. Then plug in the power and some air hoses, and it’s ready to be enjoyed.
Ideal Massage Shiatsu Chair Cons:
Limited in features
If you buy an Ideal Massage Chair, you’re basically paying for the vibrating massage, air massage, and shiatsu massage. Besides that, there are no real features to speak of, such as a stretching feature, or a percussion massage. These lack of options may not matter to you, however, depending on your needs.
Small issues
Some customers have noted some small quality of life issues. For example, you can’t independently control the leg lift, because it’s a part of the recline, nor does the neck rest really offer any support for your neck to rest on. A cushion can remedy the latter situation.
No foot roller massage
Unfortunately, Ideal Massage makes too big of a promise here when they say the chair offers simulated kneading balls. You do get balls against your soles, but they don’t move at all.
Noisy
Finally, the chair will help you relax, but you won’t have to worry about falling asleep on it; it’s a particularly loud chair. Maybe this won’t bother you either, but it can be a huge issue for people who do not live alone, or who live in an apartment building, especially if the walls are thin.
RealRelax Full Body Shiatsu Massage Chair Recliner Favor-03
As you may have surmised at this point, there are a few different options available for those who need a massage chair at a budget price, and not all of them completely lack any features whatsoever. The Real Relax Favor-03 is one such massage chair that offers a wealth of options and will give you a massage at any point that you need it. Not only that, but it comes at considerably less of the cost than the luxury chairs on the market–in many cases, they’re just 10 percent of the cost!
Healthy Heater
The Real Relax Favor-03 comes with a strategically placed waist heater; its position allows it to improve the circulation of blood throughout the core of your body, which can also help improve your metabolism. Not only that, but the heat it generates also helps you sweat, which is generally good for you when not done in excess amounts. Remember to drink plenty of water before working with the waist heater, especially if you know you sweat a lot!
Clean and Mobile
As far as cleanliness goes, the Favor-03 uses a tough, durable leather that is generally moisture-free. In other words, even if you do tend to sweat a heavy amount, you probably will not soak through the chair, cause it to accumulate the sweat, and it will therefore not smell over time. This is a surprisingly common problem with other kinds of chairs, so it’s a huge relief to see the Real Relax offering something more.
The Real Relax Favor-03 can also be moved quite easily thanks to the wheels underneath it. If you live with someone else who wants to use the chair in their own private space, then the wheels make it easy to transport the chair from room to room at any time.
Practical and Personalized
The Real Relax comes with a smart control panel that logs your body weight and other metrics, adjusting to fit you. For example, the foot rollers will extend for a taller person. This seemingly small feature is a huge quality of life boost because it personalizes the experience to whomever is sitting in the chair at the time.
The cherry on top? There’s no noise to speak of, neither in the airbags nor any of the motors. All you need to do is sit back and lull yourself into a relaxing sleep–something that is actually not easy to do with other brands of massage chairs.
Air Bag and Zero Gravity Technology
In all, there are:
- Four airbags around the shoulders to compress them
- Four key areas around the back the chair focuses on
- Two key areas on the neck the chair focuses on
- Eight airbags that surround the arms
- Round airbags dedicated to massaging the rear, as well as the option to switch to a vibrating massage
- A whopping 24 airbags all dedicated just to the legs, designed to relieve the aches and pains in the calves and legs, all at once
The Real Relax Favor-03 Massage Chair’s feet rollers work all at once to give your lower body the best possible massage experience. You’ll finish your long day of work and have something new to look forward to when you get home: the ability to plop down on that chair and massage those exhausted legs. The foot rollers are designed to squeeze and stretch the feet, relieving them of their stiffness and stimulating the muscles to promote relaxation.
Other massage chairs at the Real Relax’s price point all notably lack the zero gravity feature, so the fact that you’ll find it on the Favor-03 certainly helps the massage chair stand out in the crowd of its competitors.
As we have mentioned, zero gravity mode will recline you in a way that distributes your weight differently compared to sitting in it normally. Normally, your legs put much of the weight down, and you’re putting the rest of your weight down on your rear and lower back.
In zero gravity mode, however, you’ll put your feet above your heart to give you a feeling of experiencing zero gravity. Since your heart needs to pump more to combat the gravity of your legs, zero gravity massage mode naturally promotes improved blood circulation. The zero gravity position has also been proven to help stabilize blood pressure. That means if you also suffer from low blood pressure or high blood pressure, then going home at the end of the work day and using the Real Relax Favor-03 will help you regulate your blood pressure in zero gravity mode. In other words, this chair is just good for your health.