Buyer's Guide: Best Premium, Mid, and Budget Chairs

Buyer's Guide: Best Premium, Mid, and Budget Chairs - Wish Rock Relaxation

Buying a new massage chair can be an overwhelming process. There are so many options, all with their own language: S-Track, L-Track, 3D, 4D.  We understand it may be difficult to know what these terms mean and what they will feel like.

Here are some basic terms you will see on almost every chair:

In a 2D Massage Chair, the rollers go up and down, left and right.  In a 3D Massage Chair, the rollers also go in and out allowing you to get a much deeper tissue massage.  With 4D, you get the same deep tissue massage coupled with speed variation during given programs creating the most life-like massage possible.  Originally developed in Japan, engineers took an algorithm of 1000s of massage therapists as they sped up and slowed down throughout their sessions.

S-Track massage chairs will follow the curvature of the spine and typically end right at the bottom of your spine.  S-Track massage chairs will not massage the glutes.  L-Track massage chairs follow the curvature of the spine and then curve around the glutes massaging the glutes and upper hamstrings.  The longest L-Track chair available in the market today is the Luraco iRobotics Legend at 58" long while most typically are between 50-53" long.

Here are our recommendations for chairs in categories of Premium, Mid-Tier, and Budget.

Best Super Premium Massage Chairs:

 Super Premium Massage Chairs  

  • OHCO M.8 LE $14999 Limited Edition M.8 Award Winning Chair. Limited Edition is made of top grain leather with soft UltraSuede touchpoints, signed by Ken Okuyama. 4D DeltaWave (Zero Gravity, Inversion and Bed positions) L-track massage chair with heated rollers and side entry designed by the legendary Ken Okuyama (famous for his famous Ferrari designs & the design of the Shinkasen Bullet Train) with all massage choreography by a Master Shiatsu Sensei. Every single part of this chair is thoughtfully designed—4D rollers with complete control, headrest with extra set of rollers to massage the base of the skull and wrap around your traps, most comprehensive hand massage ever, foot and calf rollers, aromatherapy, air ionizer, Bluetooth, USB charger and even M-Sense (motion sensing) light pooling to gently welcome you to your massage. Made in Japan. Suitable for people between 5'1" to 6'4" tall and weighs up to 265 lbs. 

Best Premium L-Track Massage Chairs:

Premium L-Track
  • OHCO M.8: $9499 4D DeltaWave (Zero Gravity, Inversion and Bed positions) L-track massage chair with heated rollers and side entry designed by the legendary Ken Okuyama (famous for his famous Ferrari designs & the design of the Shinkasen Bullet Train) with all massage choreography by a Master Shiatsu Sensei. Every single part of this chair is thoughtfully designed—4D rollers with complete control, headrest with extra set of rollers to massage the base of the skull and wrap around your traps, most comprehensive hand massage ever, foot and calf rollers, aromatherapy, air ionizer, Bluetooth, USB charger and even M-Sense (motion sensing) light pooling to gently welcome you to your massage. Made in Japan. Suitable for people between 5'1" to 6'4" tall and weighs up to 265 lbs. 
  • Osaki Pro Maestro: $8999 One of the first 4D L-Track rollers that adds the speed algorithm to the roller technology with heated rollers to mimic a hot stone massage. This chair has a premium look and feel to it as well many upgraded features such as quick side control, next-generation airbags, foot rollers with calf kneading system with the all-new calf/knee/bridge/heal component, chromotherapy, HD bluetooth speakers and usb charger. Space Saver Chair with touchscreen remote. This chair pretty much has everything you could want, though the foot rollers are not as adjustable as the Synca or Panasonic MAJ7. Also, it's made in China. Solid chair -- it's the one that I have in my home. Suitable for people up to 6’3” tall and 285 poiunds; shoe size up to 13.5. Comes standard with the Osaki 5 year warranty - 3 years in-home parts/labor/service, 4 years parts, 5 years structural.
  • Panasonic MAJ7: $9999 On Sale Now >> get a free SOL with every purchase. 3D Real Pro Ultra with an L-track, heated infrared rollers, body scan, full body air compression, deep tissue foot reflexology, thick pad for normal living room use, hideaway arm slots and memory function. Designed with the Panasonic Engineering arsenal; likely the most complete roller system with complete control. Luxurious Pain. Suitable for people between 4'8" to 6'2" tall and weighs up to 264 lbs
  • Human Touch Super Novo: $9999 Released 07/2019. New Flagship Chair of Human Touch. This is a 3D + 4D L-track chair with zero gravity. It is the first of it’s kind to implement Alexa compatibility with the help of Virtual Therapist. IT has an extending heated knee, calf and foot massager. You are sure to get just the right massage for you with its 38 auto-wellness programs. Working with it is super convenient with advanced finger tip control. It also has bluetooth speakers and built-in USB port. Ships completely assembled. Suitable for people between 5'0" - 6'9" tall and weighs up to 320 lbs

 

Best Premium S-Track Massage Chairs:

S track 

  • Luraco iRobotics i7 PLUS Massage Chair: $8990 >> $8490 On Sale Now! Award-winning chair and the only chair designed engineered and assembled in the US (Arlington, TX just outside of Dallas) with the Durable Medical Equipment designation. In my opinion, the roller arm of this chair is superior to all of the others. It also has many fantastic features such as the most comprehensive airbag system of all other chairs (100), a calf acupoint roller ball with 5 different customer user settings. This is a 32" S-Track roller and the only chair made of genuine leather on all human touchpoints. A newly upgraded and more durable touchscreen remote (similar to a smaller ipad), pause function (you can get up to go to the bathroom quickly and then resume right where you left off), 5 memory settings, voice control and now Bluetooth too. The only thing this chair is missing is the L-track. Suitable for people between 4'7" - 6'7" tall and weighs up to 300 lbs
  • Synca JP1100: $8999 >> $6999 Big Sale on Now! Synca is part of the Johnson and Inner Balance Wellness family of brands. This is a 4D S-Track chair with Japanese engineering (made in Japan by the famous Fujiriyoki plant), adjustable foot rollers (many/most aren't that adjustable) and a touchscreen remote. This will probably give you one of the deepest tissue upper body massages possible along with a great foot massage. Comes with a comprehensive 5 year warranty bumper to bumper warranty. Seat Width of 17”. Suitable for people between 5'0" - 6'4" tall and weighs up to 300 lbs. If you are below 5’ tall, the JP1100 will still work for you, you you will need to elevate the footrest higher in order for it to fit better. 

 

Best Mid-Tier Massage Chairs:

Mid Chairs

  • Osaki Pro First Class: $7999 >> $4999 Big Sale On Now! New Release 05/19. 3D L-Track with very smooth roller mech (not as intense as the Maestro). 2-stage zero gravity, 23 auto programs, foot rollers, heat therapy and bluetooth compatibility. It is a space saver chair and only needs a few inches at the back to fully recline. The touchscreen remote and quick side controls make operating the First Class Massage Chair intuitive and convenient. It is suitable for people who are 5' - 6'3" tall and up to 285 pounds with an intensity level of 8-10. Comes standard with the Osaki 5 year warranty - 3 years in-home parts/labor/service, 4 years parts, 5 years structural.
  • Synca Kagra: $4999 (J6900) >> $3999 Big Sale On Now! Upgrade to the Johnson J6800 chair. Just released and rapidly became a bestseller. 4D S-Track massage chair with blanket heat, retractable ottoman, zero gravity, whole body air compression and Bluetooth. This doesn’t have physical foot rollers, but it does have strong kneading air pressure in the feet with acunode. Made in Japan at the famed Fujiryoki plant. 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. Seat Width of 18.8”. Suitable for people between 5' - 6'3" tall and weighs up to 275 lbs.
  • Titan Pro Jupiter XL: $3995  3D + L-Track EXTRA LARGE chair perfect for big & Tall people (reinforced motors) with Intensity Level of 7-8, zero gravity, full body air compression, Space Saver (3.1" from wall), Rolling & Scraping Foot Massage, Unique Head Massage, 2-Stage Zero Gravity Position, Extended Heat on Lumbar, Seat & Calf regions; HD LCD Remote and Bluetooth. Newly designed roller mechanism 09/19. Suitable for people between 4'10" - 6'6" tall and weighs up to 300 lbs.
  • Osaki Pro Admiral:  $4399 >> $4299 Big Sale On Now! Brand New Release May 2019 3D L-track with zero gravity, 16 auto programs (this is quite a bit more than most standard chairs), extended heat therapy, Foot Rollers, LCD remote with USB charger and Bluetooth. Suitable for people between 5'0" - 6'3" tall and weighs up to 250 lbs.  

Best Budget Massage Chairs:

Budget Chairs

  • Osaki Pro Maxim: $3299 >> $2699 Huge Markdown! 47" L-Track roller, Zero Gravity, Bluetooth, Foot Rollers, touch-screen tablet remote controller, Chromotherapy, Space Saver; favorite among most Osaki employees for the quality of rollers, upgraded remote and overall smooth massage. I’ve had customers prefer this chair over some of the others that are more expensive and even 3D. This is really one of Osaki's best selling chairs because of the features that it offers for the price. Comes with their standard 3 year warranty which covers 1 year parts/labor/service, 2 years parts and 3 years structural. Suitable for people between 5'0" - 6'5" tall and weighs up to 285 lbs.  
  • Osaki 4000T: $2495 30” S-track 2D roller with zero gravity, body scan, full body air, seat vibration and heat therapy. Also has foot rollers now. Suitable for people between 5'2" - 6'4" tall and weighs up to 265 lbs.  
  • uKnead Legato: $2495 after $300 coupon. Released in the fall of 2017, 48” 2D L-track massage chair with zero gravity, deep tissue massage and 9 separate programs. Lumbar heat therapy, air compression and foot rollers. Chair comes fully assembled and does not require any setup. Chair comes fully assembled and does not require any setup. Also comes with a standard 5 year warranty which is a pretty good deal. Suitable for people between 5'0" - 6'2" tall and weighs up to 265 lbs.   
  • Inner Balance Wellness Ji: $3699 >> $2999 Big Sale On Now!  2D 50” L-Track roller, zero gravity, extended heat therapy to lumbar, arms and calf, full body air compression, foot and calf rollers, able to fit big and tall sizes.  Suitable for people between 5'0" - 6'2" tall and weighs up to 285 lbs.

 

     

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.