Imagine coming home from a long day of work, shopping, exercising, or standing. You want a foot massage. You just plug your foot massager in, sit back, relax and enjoy!
Foot Massagers are an invaluable tool for relieving foot pain, tension, and stress. They can help to improve circulation and provide relief from common foot ailments such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, neuropathy pain, or simply soreness, fatigue, or tightness in the feet.
There are many different types of foot massagers. Those simple ones that you roll under your feet and very powerful electric units that we are going to talk about today.
There are so many different options on Amazon, and I am going to give you some tips to find the best foot massagers available.
These foot massagers are not your late-90s foot baths that you have to put hot water in and the bottom vibrates and a little roller or weak infrared heat in the middle. These are all so much better. Good foot massagers massage the foot – not just vibrate the foot.
These foot massagers provide kneading, shiatsu, heat, and compression. Yes! All of those things without you having to do anything but plug the unit in, sit down, and place your feet inside. And all of the foot massagers I reviewed today have remote controls, so you do not have to bend over and change the settings. I know, I know – it sounds like overkill, but you will appreciate it.
Common foot conditions that foot massage can help relieve:
- Arthritis
- Neuropathy pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel and arch pain or fatigue
Whether you walk, run, stand a lot, wear uncomfortable shoes, or have foot pain or fatigue- a foot massager may be a great investment for your health or gift for a friend or family member.
Pros
Easy to Use
The great thing about these foot massagers is that they are easy to use. Simply plug in the device, turn it on, and change the settings according to your needs. From there you can either sit back and relax or continue doing whatever activity you were doing while the massage session takes place. Read, watch TV, scroll on your phone, and have a cup of decaf or wine.
Physical and Mental Benefits
Using a foot massager can provide numerous benefits and help to improve overall wellbeing. Regular use of a foot massager can help to relax the muscles in your feet, relieving pain and discomfort. It can also improve circulation, reduce swelling and stiffness, ease stress and tension, as well as improving mobility. Additionally, regular use of a foot massager can help to improve sleep quality, and may even help with boosting mental health.
Cons
Are there any downsides? All good things usually come with a few downsides- not enough for me not to recommend them, but some things you may need to consider before purchasing.
Take Up Space
This is often the biggest complaint people have with a foot massager. Foot massagers take up space and require an outlet, so if you don’t have the room for one, it might not be a viable gift option. They can also be quite bulky, making them difficult to move around or store away when not in use.
Price
All of the units today are over $100. So, you really need to think about how often you’ll be using it before deciding whether to purchase one or not.
As for myself, I think about the benefits for my feet and body. If I am decreasing pain and improving how I feel physically in mentally, $100 over a long period of time is a good investment. You may use this every day to relieve pain and tension. If so, it is a great deal – even at $100+.
Not for Every”body”
Most of these foot massagers accommodate feet up to a men’s size 12 or 13. If you have really large feet, you may need to look at some alternative options for foot massagers.
A few other things to mention…
- The power cords are shorter than I would prefer. I often have to move my chair or get a power strip to get it closer to my couch.
- The heat options are usually underwhelming in most foot massage reviews. Your feel will get warm, but they likely will not get hot.
- All three I have reviewed have washable inserts that you can unzip and wash when needed.
Okay, those are the good and the bad. Again, the good outweigh the bad for me every day. If I thought these foot massagers were not worth it, I would not be recommending them to you.
My Top 3 Foot Massagers on Amazon
I tried three different foot massages and had lots of help from other testers from size 6 (women’s) to size 13 (men’s) try these out and give me their honest feedback. All my testers had various pressure and sensory preferences.
Here is a quick look at all three massagers going at the same time. I learned the remotes may be universal during this video.
Belmint Foot Massager
Belmint makes it so easy to use the kneading and compression modes together or separately- meaning you can do compression only or kneading only. This is good because some people need a foot massage but are extra sensitive to massage (ticklish). If you are one of those people that deals with sensory over-load, and would just like compression, this is a good option.
For my testers with larger feet (men’s 13), this was also the easiest one to get their feet in and out due to the low backside profile. If you had someone with ankle mobility issues, this one would be the best option for getting the foot in and out.
Pro
- Easiest to get feet in and out
Con
- This unit does not address the backs or sides of the ankles.
Belmint Foot Massager Features
- 3 Basic Modes: Kneading, Compression, Both
- Remote
- Timer
- Optional Heat
What others on Amazon said: In the 5800 ratings this unit had, some were expecting a little more for the price point but some absolutely loved and recommend it.
Buy the Belmint Foot Massager on Amazon here (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3Hl6l5n
Bob and Brad Foot Massager (721)
I have reviewed a few other of Bob and Brad’s products. You can read a comparison of their amazing percussion massage guns here – Bob and Brad Massage Gun Comparison. They are certainly a brand I trust to make high quality massage therapy products. They do not overlook extra options and features that most other massage tool companies do. For instance, this unit includes an extra optional piece that props the front of the unit up to allow your feet to stay in a more relaxed position during use.
The 721 unit did not disappoint. It is the largest, tallest, and deepest of the three. I felt this one addressed my ankle area more than the other units. The massage was good at low, medium, or high. And I really appreciated the 4th compression level. If you can’t tell, foot compression is my favorite.
It also has an “air mode” which allows you to choose different rhythms and combinations of massage and compression. For example, one mode was more stimulating and one was more relaxing.
Pros
- Deepest unit
- Addresses sides of feet and ankles
- Air mode – unique massage and compression rhythms
Cons
- Largest unit to store
- Remote needed to be very close to work at times
Bob and Brad Foot Massager Features
- Kneading, Compression, and Both
- 3 Air modes
- Remote
- Timer
- Extra piece to prop it up
- Optional heat
What others on Amazon said: Many other reviewers are fond of the Bob and Brad brand. They make excellent massage therapy products, this foot massager included.
Buy Bob and Brad’s Foot Massager on Amazon (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3VLubfc
Mountrax
This unit had under 300 ratings on Amazon and exceeded my expectations and my other testers.
The best way I can describe this unit is it was like Goldilocks. Everyone found that this one was “just right”. Whether it was on low, medium, or high, the pressure and kneading combinations were very good. Everyone found it hard to find something critical to say about this unit.
Pros
- The unit is smaller and boxier. It would be the easiest to store.
Cons
- Not a well-known brand
Mountrax Features
- Includes Kneading, Compression, and Both
- Remote
- Timer: 15 and 30 minute
- Optional Heat
What others on Amazon said about the Mountrax unit: Some people had issues after a few months, although this seems to be a common issue with all massage products. This unit gives a deep massage for those that want it and flexibility to put it down a level or two to meet the person’s ideal massage level.
Buy the Mountrax Foot Massager on Amazon (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3PlKGff
How Foot Massagers Work
Want a look into how the Mountrax works? This is how many other foot massagers are basically designed. The compression goes around the top of the foot and the various massagers and kneading parts are under the foot. Just think of it as a hug for your foot. Maybe you will choose a gentle hug or a really long extended hug. Compressions are great! There is a circular massage component the massages the heel, next there is rolling and kneading of the arch and ball of the foot. Add in some gentle heat and your feet will thank you.
Conclusion on Foot Massagers
These foot massagers make EXCELLENT gifts. If you know anyone what has foot pain, talks about getting pedicures but really just goes for the foot massage, elderly, someone who stands a lot, walks, runs, or just needs to sit down and relax for fifteen minutes – consider one of these foot massagers. You can also gift yourself one of these. Self care is underrated and underutilized.
These foot massagers definitely pass the “would I give it to my mom” test?
If you are wondering what I am giving my mother (who loves a good foot massage) for Christmas this year, it is one of these (Last year she got an Eye Massager (review link). She loves a good foot massage and I know she would love anyone of these products.
A foot massager is an invaluable tool for relieving foot pain, tension, and stress. So if you are looking for a way to improve your overall wellbeing while providing relief from foot pain and fatigue, a foot massager is an excellent choice.
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