I’m Never Paying for a Foot Rub Again, Thanks to These Foot Massagers

Whatwe’relookingfor

Type of massager:Shiatsu massager |Price:$$ |Speed and function:3 kneading and 3 squeeze intensities |Heat:Yes

This is the model we recommend if you’re looking for a spa-type foot massager. It uses air compression, optional heat, round nodes, and a textured rolling spool to deliver a deep Shiatsu-style massage. We’ve tested Renpho’s fitness equipment before (most notably itscompression boots) and have been impressed by the quality of its products, especially considering its affordable price point compared to the competition. Using this massager requires virtually no setup: Once it’s plugged in, you slide your feet into two wide chambers that are lined with a silky covering, rest your feet, and turn it on. We named the Renpho our best overall pick because it offers a massage for your entire foot with three deep-kneading massage levels, three squeezing air-compression levels, and the option of heat therapy up to 131°F, all at an under-$200 price point. Plus, it’s a solid choice if you want to do little to no work during your massage.

We had two testers for the Renpho: Rellosa and Strategist writerKitty Guo. During Rellosa’s testing, the highest setting didn’t feel as intense, but that’s mainly because he’s used to targeting his foot muscles with amassage gun. “But after 30 minutes on its highest setting (and while watching TV), my feet were well massaged and noticeably less tight,” Rellosa explains. Meanwhile,Guocould only handle up to the medium settings for both the kneading and compression functions, as the “high” settings really gave her feet a good pummeling. (Renpho suggests starting off with the lowest setting and working your way up.) After growing more accustomed to the sensation, however, Guo began to thoroughly enjoy sitting back and letting the machine knead away while tapping at her laptop or watching Netflix. “It does emit a low, constant hum when in use, but I didn’t find it unduly distracting from my tasks,” she says. The massager comes equipped with an automatic timer for either a 15- or 30-minute massage, after which it shuts off on its own. The control-panel buttons can easily be pushed with your toes so you can be truly hands-free, and the foot chambers, which are lined with removable and washable fabric, accommodate up to a men’s size 12.

The Renpho’s one downside is its considerable bulk, which is a little smaller than a ten-quart Instant Pot in terms of dimensions and heft. So if you don’t have a roomy closet or out-of-the-way storage space where you can stash the massager when it’s not in use, you may want to consider a massager with a slightly more svelte profile, such as the HoMedics massager below.

Type of massager:Shiatsu massager |Price:$ |Speed and function:1 massage pattern and 1 level of intensity |Heat:Yes, with or without massage

If you’re limited by space and budget constraints, this massager from Homedics is a great option. It has three simple settings — massage only, heat only (basically a foot warmer), and heated massage. Since this massager doesn’t fully envelop your feet the way the Renpho does, the sensation is “definitely a less intense experience,” Guo says, however, it’s still soothing and the upside is that it does allow you more freedom to adjust the pressure of your massage simply by rotating or pressing your feet harder against the nodes. Plus, with a height and depth about comparable to a bathroom scale, its silhouette is far slimmer than many of the other hands-free foot massagers on this list and could easily slide under a bed or couch. For Guo, it was fairly simple to find an unobtrusive place for it in a corner of her apartment.

Type of massager:Shiatsu massager |Price:$$ |Speed and function:3 massage patterns and variable intensity |Heat:Yes

This foot massager is a perennial favorite among Strategist readers — so much so that it’s featured on ourgreatest-hits listof the most giftable items. It’s equipped with five pressure settings as well as deep-kneading, compression, rolling, and vibrating techniques, plus it comes with two wireless remotes so you can control the sensation whether you’re working, reading, or just relaxing on the couch. A 15-minute timer will turn off the machine automatically once the massage is complete.

Type of massager:Shiatsu massager |Price:$$$ |Speed and function:2 massage patterns with variable speed |Heat:No

Jenelle Manzi, a professional dancer with the New York City Ballet, first discovered the Reflex Roller at a Pilates studio when she was 14, and has been using it ever since. “I have memories of when I was at Fordham for college and I was dancing at New York City Ballet, and I would sit and do my homework with my feet on it,” Manzi recalls. The massager’s design is simple: Underneath a soft fabric covering are small knobs that spin and rotate, and you can “control the pressure and adjust how much weight you’re putting on it and where you’re pressing your foot against it,” Manzi says. “It can really get into your plantar fascia and under your big toe, where we’re typically super tight.” She thinks it’s a “great introductory massage tool” since it requires very little effort to use and offers a lot of flexibility: In addition to your feet, you can also use it on other parts of your body such as your calves, thighs, and shoulders. That versatility makes it a great multipurpose massager — and the price a little more bearable.

Type of massager:Shiatsu massager |Price:$ |Speed and function:2 massage patterns and 1 level of intensity |Heat:Yes

To give you even more bang for your buck, this Snailax massager is equipped with heat and functions as both a foot andback massager. “This is the only massager I found that I’m actually excited to put my feet into,” says Libie Motchan, co-founder of insole brandFulton. Her feet tend to run cold, especially in the winter, but the massager warms them up quickly thanks to its plush interior lining and furry hood, which traps the heat and allows it to penetrate more deeply. Since the massager is fairly small and portable — about the size of a large lunchbox — Motchan will take it with her around her apartment. To use it as a back massager instead of a foot massager, she can unzip and remove the top cover (which, as a bonus, is machine washable) and position it like a bolster pillow: She’ll rest her upper back on it while lying down or place it behind her lower back while sitting. She’s owned it for about two years now, and “it’s withstood the test of time,” she says, adding that she’s even gifted it to several friends who’ve all reported back with glowing reviews.

Type of massager:Percussive massage gun |Price:$$$ |Speed and function:5 massage heads with 3 speed settings |Heat:No

When we rounded up the bestmassage guns, the Hypervolt 2 Pro took the top spot because it’s both powerful and quiet. Maugeri tells us that brand-name recognition is important when choosing a foot massager because there is so much market saturation, and you want a product that’s withstood the competition. Her recommendation is the Hypervolt, which she uses in the office, at the gym, and at home. “The different speeds are great for different parts of the body and I love how quiet it is,” she says. She’s not alone: McEneaney is also a fan of the Hypervolt for anyone suffering from deep muscle tension or pain, and podiatrist Amanda Westfall has used the Hypervolt at her office for several years and calls it a “workhorse.” Since it comes with five different-shaped massage heads, Westfall especially appreciates the ability to switch out the head attachments when addressing pain in various areas of the body: “It works well on thicker areas of muscle like the heel, arch, and calf” and is especially effective for easing plantar fasciitis and tight calves, she says, but be cautious not to use it on “thinner areas like the top of the foot.”

Type of massager:Percussive massage gun |Price:$$ |Speed and function:1 massage head with 3 speed settings |Heat:No

In the world of massage guns, Theragun is the other most recognizable name, and it’s the favorite of quite a few of our experts. In fact, the Mini is our pick for the best portablemassage gunbecause it offers a powerful massage for its small, packable size (about five-by-five-by-two inches). Kotlen, who is both a nurse and a runner, calls it a must-have for overall muscle wellness and by far the best percussive treatment around.

Jakob Roze, founder of RozeFit, uses a Theragun Pro and recommends Theragun to his clients because of its high-quality design and ergonomic efficiency. But Strategist contributing beauty writerRio Viera-Newtonmakes a convincing argument that the mini version is the way to go, describing it as only a touch bigger than her hand and a lot lighter than her MacBook Air. “Once I actually powered the thing up, I was taken aback by its might — at three different speeds, it vigorously vibrates to loosen up muscles while the attachment ball thrusts up and down, massaging deep into those sore spots,” she says.Westfall agrees that the Mini is more effective for foot massages “because it’s easier to get into the arch and specific trigger points.” If you’re looking for something powerful and portable (and a bunch of different heads aren’t that important to you), the Theragun Mini is what you should buy.

Type of massager:Wrap-style compression massager |Price:$$$ |Speed and function:Periodic compression and release |Heat:No

While this pick might not look like your average foot massager (and is certainly in a much higher price category), it’s hard to discount the effectiveness of compression therapy for foot-pain relief. I turned to Hyperice’s Normatec boots for years as a collegiate runner both for recovery and when I was battling injury, including plantar fasciitis that sidelined me for five months (and still flares up to this day). I still use the Normatec 3 each week to flush my legs and feet of excess fluid (a.k.a. promotinglymphatic drainage) and to help with circulation. I love that you can customize the pressure of the compression, and that you can elevate your feet during each treatment, unlike some of the other models on this list. (I recommend using a bed pillow or a firmerfoam blocklike this one.) Just note: I’m planning to test Hyperice’s newHyperboot by Nike, which is a wearable heat and Normatec compression device with the same $899 price tag; I still think the Normatec 3 is a great choice since it wraps around your entire leg, especially if you’re a serious athlete or training for a marathon, or you spend most of each day on your feet.

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