The Best Foot Massagers

Buying Guide for Foot Massagers

Why buy a foot massager?

A simple massage does more than relieve temporary pain and soreness. In fact, consistent foot massages can grant a variety of benefits. A personal foot massager is a prime method for reducing muscle tension, relaxing tight muscles, and easing the mind’s troubles. They can significantly improve the circulation of blood in the feet. When combined with ample exercise, a foot massager can even create stronger muscles in the feet, thus preventing injury in the long run. Naturally, a good foot massager can even reduce anxiety, kneading away the day’s worries with each rotation.

What should you look for in a foot massager?

• Type: There are two main types of foot massagers: electric and manual. Most electric foot massagers are essentially large containers that you stick your feet into or a hard pillow to rest them on top of. Electric massagers provide a much wider range of functions, including kneading, vibrating, targeting pressure points, and heating your feet. They’re often larger, less portable, and more expensive. Manual foot massagers are made of a series of moving and rolling parts that you run your feet back and forth over in order to create a massaging sensation. They require more work on your end but are generally much lighter, more compact, and less expensive, ideal for taking on the road. You might prefer the level of precise control that a manual model offers as well.
• Features and Purpose: What types of features are most important to you in your new foot massager? Heat therapy? Shiatsu techniques to hit pressure points? Deep massaging? Do you want to target certain areas of the foot? Increase the blood circulation in your feet? Is it important to you to relieve aches and pains? Or are you looking for relaxation above all else? Is the massager large enough to fit your feet? These are all important questions to ask yourself when buying a foot massager.
• Intensity: Since different intensities are appropriate for different feet, most electric foot massagers offer a range. Also, consider how easy it will be to adjust the speed and intensity of the foot massager. Some have buttons that you can press with your feet, some have remotes, and some require you to bend down and change the intensity manually.

How much more beneficial is an electric foot massager compared to a manual one?

To state the obvious, users do get a lot more features out of their electric foot massagers, but does that necessarily make them better? Perhaps they’re better in terms of versatility, but not always better for the buyer’s wallet. It’s a push-and-pull relationship: users seeking a multitude of massage functions should expect to pay a hefty sum, whereas people who are willing to settle for less can also expect to pay significantly less.

Our Picks for the Best Foot Massagers

Pros: When your tired and aching feet need a pick-me-up, this multi-mode foot massager offers Shiatsu care along with a range of other kneading and reflexology options. Use the on-board LCD control panel or the remote to toggle between programs. You can also remove the foot sleeves and toss them in the washing machine for easy maintenance. It’s available in three different colors.

Cons: The overwhelming majority of reviews for this massager are positive. However, we did see several confirmed shoppers mention that the remote control can be a bit finicky.

Bottom Line: Give your feet a little bit of heaven with this high-end, three-mode foot massager featuring Shiatsu and reflexology support.

 

Pros: This foot massager offers users a professional-level, deep-kneading Shiatsu foot massage alongside a rotation ball and rolling stick. The ergonomic design provides a comfortable massage that can accommodate foot sizes up to a men’s 12, thanks to the enlarged foot chambers. Moreover, the cloth foot sleeves inside the chambers can be removed and washed as desired for a more hygienic experience.

Cons: While it provides a wallop of massaging strength with the few massage heads that it does have, some users might find its lack of massage heads to be a downside. The need to maintain decent upkeep of the chamber slot socks adds an extra step that users might want to avoid at the end of a long day. Additionally, users with larger foot sizes will need to adjust their position accordingly, as the massage heads have been reported to miss the top of feet entirely.

Bottom Line: For users who have feet that aren’t sensitive to squeezing and kneading and who enjoy a good, deep massage, this foot massager is a must-have item. It features an ample amount of pressure intensities to suit user preferences while adding some highly desirable heating functions that can help people truly unwind.

 

Pros: Here’s a versatile and adjustable foot massager with just about every function you might want. It features six massage heads and 18 accompanying rotating nodes—ideal for relaxing your foot muscles, regulating blood flow, and relieving stress. The built-in heating function is designed to soothe fatigued and sore muscles, while the adjustable height feature allows users to find the most comfortable position for their feet.

Cons: In its pursuit of comfort, the foot massager utilizes abrasion-resistant material on the top of its massage heads. However, this is due, in large part, to potentially how rigid the heads might feel on your soles. Those with high arches might not get as good a massage out of this machine.

Bottom Line: From its convenient toe-touch operation process to its staggering amount of massage heads, this option packs the kind of power that users want and should expect out of their foot massagers.

 

Pros: For users who prefer a DIY approach to their comfort as compared to fixed electric settings, this textured massage roller lets them apply pressure. It’s made up of 10 independently moving rollers that feature acupressure nubs for the best possible stimulation. The nubs, arch, and overall spacing of the device have been carefully designed to suit a variety of foot types, so each type of user can relieve their sore feet. It also weighs just 1.5 pounds, allowing for easy portability.

Cons: While its design allows users to apply their preferred amount of pressure, it might not be well-suited for every user, particularly people with more severe foot issues. Users who live with plantar fasciitis have reported feeling underwhelmed by the device, as the pressure of their own weight can’t knead deeply enough.

Bottom Line: A classic choice that’s favored for its simple operation, this manual foot massager is a durable wooden option that’s designed to relieve tension on a user’s feet as well as their budget.

 

Pros: Minimizing soreness entirely through an air compression process, this lower-leg massager encases the calf to the foot in a soft, wrap-around boot. Built into the lining of the boot are two airbags that simulate the same kind of kneading that a standard massage head can provide, but with the added benefit of 10 ache-relieving massage techniques. Its most convenient asset is the inclusion of a wired remote that’s long enough for users to hold and operate in their hands for the duration of the massage.

Cons: Most foot massagers require no more effort on a user’s hands than a button press or a brief adjustment. This option, however, asks users to tightly wrap their feet and shins in the boot. A snug fit is a priority, as a loose wrap won’t provide the same type of comfort, which can spell trouble for users with thin legs.

Bottom Line: For people seeking a complete massage, not just for their feet but also for their lower legs, this air compression massager offers its users a gentle yet firm squeeze that emulates the power of massage heads without the accompanying discomfort.

 

Pros: Whether you need an item that’s compact and portable or you like the simple functionality of a foot roller, this wallet-friendly massager is the perfect option. Designed with tactile nubs, it works to power through soreness but can also be used to target more serious podiatry concerns such as arthritis and plantar fasciitis.

Cons: Although this can be effective at soothing minor or occasional aches and pains, anyone with more serious foot concerns may find that they’ll need a more robust massager.

Bottom Line: Whether you frequently stand on your feet for work or need to stretch sore muscles in your feet, this simple roller can do the trick.

Final Thoughts

There are few better ways to work out the kinks of daily stress and post-exercise pain than with a foot massager that digs deeply into the soles of one’s feet. Of course, it’s an immensely therapeutic option for people living with foot and lower-leg pain. Each type of user in need of a rub-down—young, old, stressed, or aching—can find fantastic relief in the right foot massager. Check out our top picks to get closer to that relief.