Buying a massage chair has become common practice in many American households over the past few decades; so naturally, there are a lot of questions regarding finding the perfect massage chair for YOU. When you begin your search there are a number of important factors to consider including Style, Color, Massage type, Utility, and Price. Let’s take a look at how these factors vary from chair to chair.
Obviously, the most important part about choosing a new piece of furniture is whether or not you like the way it looks. The chair needs to feel like a natural extension of your living room, man-cave, or bedroom. With that in mind, let's explore the various styles you’ll have to choose from when buying your new chair!
Classic: Classic massage chairs generally don’t veer far from the traditional styling of modern recliners, and they don’t often draw too much attention in the conventional household. Each portion of the chair is very distinguishable and singular, from the arm panels and the backrest, to the seat and footrest.
Futurist: More and more massage chair manufacturers are veering towards the Futurist design; one of soft, rounded edges, and distinct styles. The most blatant example of this is the Titan Fleetwood 4D, almost egg-shaped from the sides; the style provides the notion that this is one continuous piece of machinery, with no breaks, seams, or separation.
Modern: Modern chairs represent a respectable mid-point between the Classic and Futurist styles. These chairs often resemble a conventional chair, angles and all, while utilizing the continuous-curved style of more futuristic chairs. Titan has truly leaned into this style over the past few years, with chairs like the Titan Pro Acro becoming more abundant. While the side panels are more angular and “chair-like” than your average Futurist chair, they also tend to be more continuous and softer than the Classics.
Naturally, there is a lot of overlap between these three categories, and even a number of outliers. But that’s why now is the best time to find your perfect chair! We have never seen such a wide variety of styles and options than what’s currently being produced.
Now that you know what style you like the most it’s time to find what color and material best compliments your home decor!
PU Leather: One of the most common materials you’ll find is PU Leather. PU is similar to pleather or faux leather, in that it resembles leather in look and texture, but differs in abundance and price.
Hard Shell: Hard Shell massage chairs come straight from Japan, as Japanese massage chair connoisseurs generally prefer this material. Hard shell chairs tend to utilize a well-forged plastic or metal exterior, in tandem with a leather/PU leather interior.
Leather: Some high-end massage chairs will utilize a full, genuine leather exterior. Yes, these chairs are the most expensive, but tend to be more appealing due to the statement they make. It’s important to note, however, that even these chairs often use a PU-substitute around the interior to preserve the longevity of the chair.
Massage chairs generally come in three standard colors: Black, Brown, & Taupe. Naturally, some chairs have more options than others, if you look hard enough you can find chairs in beige, blue, and even burgundy!
All massage chairs nowadays come in one of 4 Massage Styles: Stationary, 2D, 3D, and 4D.
Stationary Chairs: The most basic massage chairs utilize a number of stationary rollers throughout the span of the backrest; these rollers, while effective, generally don’t do much more than spin in sequence with one another.
2D Chairs: The standard entry-level chair is often a 2D massage chair. These chairs have back rollers that simply move up and down along the spine, with nothing additional. These chairs are fantastic for someone who just wants to relax after a long day of work, as they help you unwind quickly and simply.
3D Chairs: A 3D massage chair is the industry standard these days, they have the same utility of a 2D massage chair, while also allowing the user to control the depth of their massage as well. So rather than simply choosing how high or low you’d like your massage, you may also choose how intense and deep you’d like it to be.
4D Chairs: Currently, 4D chairs are the pinnacle of massage technology; 4D’s have all of the same functions as 3D chairs, while automatically adjusting the speed and massage styles. Rather than rotating at a constant speed, the rollers will automatically slow down or speed up depending on the shape of your body. If you’re looking for the most comprehensive and realistic massage, 4D chairs are for you!
One of the last, and most important, considerations when choosing your chair is that of its utility. What kind of lifestyle do you lead, and what are you hoping to receive from your massage chair? If you suffer from back pain and want relief, you’ll want to ensure that your chair comes equipped with Lumbar Heating. If you’re active and want to stretch and massage your muscles after a workout, then a chair with Stretching and Sports Recovery functions are vital to your enjoyment. If you’re simply wanting something to relax in after work, then a simple 2D or 3D chair would give you the same satisfaction as a 4D chair (saving you thousands).
Related Reading: Common Massage Chair Features
This is the make or break factor in many cases, knowing your budget range is an important distinction to make before you dive too deep.
Lower End: If you’re looking to make an entry into the world of massage chairs, but don’t want to invest too heavily you can expect to pay anywhere between $999 and $2,999. Within this range you’ll find competitive 2D chairs for short leisurely breaks, or basic 3D chairs with standard functions.
Mid-Range: If you’re willing to spend between $3,000 and $5,000 then you can most certainly find some fantastic options. This is the range where you can find high-level 3D chairs as well as entry-level 4D chairs. Within this price range, your chair is a true investment and more consideration should be taken on points 1-4 for optimal enjoyment.
High End: Anything above $5,000 tends to be considered high-end, this is the zenith of massage technology, typically utilizing the majority of “optional” features that other chairs neglect to include. Now it should be noted that the true peak of massage chair technology lies around $9,999, after you cross this threshold the massage chairs tend to be more individualized and special. You’ll often find chairs that rely on gimmicky features such as unique massage rollers, chromotherapy domes, or intensified strength.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, we hope it helps you make your final decision on which massage chair to buy!
Still not sure what you’re looking for? Don’t hesitate to speak with one of our massage chair specialists at 1-888-848-2630. All of our consultants are based in Dallas Texas and available from 9:30am to 6:30pm CST.
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