Your #1 Massage Chair Buying Guide
How To Choose The Best Massage Chair For You
Want more clarity in a sea of information? Here’s a guide to each massage chair type and what they offer.
How do you decide which massage chair is the right fit? The higher the price point does not necessarily serve you best - it's all about your individual full-body response and needs (though Sensei Inspire would be our one-size-fits-all). We're here to help you find the perfect match!
You don’t want to waste the space a massage chair takes up, be oversold features or exaggerated technical terms on the market that don’t perform, so here’s our ITSU buying how-to:
Do you prefer a deep kneading or gentle massage?
Are you more sensitive-prone or enjoy a deeply targeted touch? This determines the best massage chair for you.
For those searching for a gentle relaxing massage, you will find our unique light technology delivers a soft relaxing touch. No need to worry about any uncomfortable push or kneading.
Enjoy a deep kneading massage? Love having those knots deeply targeted? Do you often request for a stronger technique in your massage appointment? We’ve got you covered as well.
Best gentle massage chair options: HIGH CLASS | PRIME FUSION | SENSEI INSPIRE
Best deep kneading massage chair options: SUKI | GENKI | PRIME IYASHI | SENSEI ESSENCE NEO | SENSEI INSPIRE
Is space-saving a factor? Do you enjoy a foot and hand roller massage?
Next to take into consideration is space. Are there space constraints in your home? This determines whether a small - medium - large massage chair is the right fit for you. Certainly your budget and any specific feature requirements come to play as well - we’ll get to that soon!
Best small massage chairs:
Small gentle massage chair: HIGH CLASS
Small deep kneading massage chair: SUKI
Small-sized massage chairs do not offer any feet or hand massage functions, if you are happy with a massage coverage from your neck-shoulder-back-waist-hips-thighs-legs then the small massage chair is of great value to you!
Choose simply between a strong or gentle preference to determine between our SUKI or HIGH CLASS massage chair. We highly recommend trying the SUKI - compact yet strong with exclusive 6 rollers, it’s not one to be underestimated in size (still miss having a foot massage? enjoy with the iMAX Foot Massager in our combo deal! It truly speaks for itself in value.)
HIGH CLASS also offers the 1st exclusive shoulder massage function in a massage chair!
Best medium massage chairs:
Medium-large gentle massage chair: PRIME FUSION
Medium deep kneading massage chair options: GENKI | PRIME IYASHI
ITSU’s medium-sized massage chairs delivers the best bang-for-your-buck performance. If you’re looking for a massage experience with effective features, an extra something special but fits the price tag in value - the above are your top 3!
Enjoy a full calves and foot soles massage plus more high-performance massage programs, between 10 [ GENKI ], 22 [ IYASHI ] and 42 [ FUSION ] auto choices in addition to manual programming for targeted spot relief.
Not to forget if you relish in the benefits of stretching beyond just a deep tissue massage, this is what your upgrade brings!
Deep tissue massage stimulates our muscles increasing blood flow and friction between the fibres while stretching helps release muscle tension and improve both flexibility and circulation, reducing soreness and extending your massage beneficial effects.
While GENKI is attractive in price for value on the market, IYASHI and FUSION further offers the intuitive ITSU Smart App for tracking and personalisation, plus start tracking with our Smart Band for FUSION users!
Additionally, keeping taller figures in mind, relax into an extra-long 1.38m S&L tracks (seen on larger luxe chair ranges) creating a deeper full-body coverage massaging from the head all the way down to your hip and thighs - a full zero gravity experience.
Between a full-body gentle soft relaxation or a deep kneading massage, we’ve got you covered!
Best luxury massage chairs:
Large gentle massage chair: SENSEI INSPIRE
Large deep kneading massage chair options: SENSEI ESSENCE NEO | SENSEI INSPIRE
If space and a higher price point is not an issue, NEO or SENSEI INSPIRE is the ultimate choice!
What makes a luxury massage chair different from others? The devil’s in the detail and fusion of technology and traditional techniques. This is where our luxe range shines.
ITSU’s luxury massage chairs stands out with our innovative 4D gearbox and deep scanning technology. Enhancing your typical massage area by 300% resulting in the best personalisation tailored for anyone at home - including increased body sensors, airbags, roller ejection depth and more range in shoulder widths, intensity and speed levels to tailor better for all.
Debuting world’s only 6-roller tech in our NEO massage chair, you will unwind into a deeply targeted full-body massage; whilst one-of-a-kind AI powered tracker in INSPIRE delivers an ultra-precise personalised massage sensation. Clients feedback this is their most comfortable hand-like massage chair experience.
You have to feel it to know the difference beyond simply trusting our word.
From gentle to strong, kneading to tapping, stretching to thermotherapy, your hand roller and calves-soles foot massager with NEO and SENSEI INSPIRE is even more enhanced alongside airbag compression massage programs and gua sha foot features.
We encourage you to compare with what’s out there, return to us and feel ITSU’s distinctive massage touch. We always caution buying without trying thoroughly - this rings especially true with the luxe range in order to differentiate first-hand what makes NEO and INSPIRE game-changing and truly incomparable in its offerings to other similar price points on the market!
Seeking the utmost personalisation, features and hand-like massage? Or simply focused on a specific massage area?
The utmost personalised, most feature-rich and best-in-class massage would surely be our SENSEI INSPIRE, as detailed in our luxe range above.
However, if you require less massage needs (as often seen with younger clients), your medium or small massage chair would be highly sufficient according to your gentle or deep massage preferences and budget.
Smaller massage products such as our DTM Massage Gun, 3D Neck Massager or iMAX Foot Massager might also satisfy all needs if investing in a massage chair is not yet in the cards! Should your desires be simply to target and relief specific areas of the body, these massagers are small but mighty.
The 3D Neck Massager features 12 massage nodes resulting in a very deep strong kneading motion relieving your stiff neck and kinks. Multi-functional in use, massage from neck-back-waist-leg. Meanwhile our iMAX Foot Massager is a growing crowd favourite for it’s full calves-ankles-feet-soles coverage and 9 massage combinations - come by and give it a test-try!
The market likes to throw out technical terms masked as innovation (i.e. 8D massage does not exist) or add functions in product in order to increase it’s price point (sometimes an added AI feature or voice-control function does not necessarily mean a better massage!). We highly advise testing out the massage chairs and feeling how the rollers and depth in movement work with your body as it is a very personal experience.
At ITSU we do our best to breakdown what really sets each massage chair and feature apart aligned with your relief, recovery priorities and price range. Do visit us at our Sylvia Park or Highland Park stores in Auckland, our team of experts love guiding in finding the best massage chair for you.
Feel free to contact us for any questions HERE! We’re more than happy to walk you through any concerns, we understand there is a lot to breakdown - we’ve tried them all!
We’re here to ensure your money and space at home does not go to waste and you truly reap the benefits of a massage after a long day at work - there is nothing better than relieving stubborn pain, muscle tension or simply just some well-deserved relaxation!
