There’s nothing better than a good massage. It really is one of life’s treats, the sort of thing we look forward to for months. For many of us it’s a way to relax and hit the reset button’ and science supports that a massage is beneficial to our mental and physical health. Many people even claim they are beneficial to our spiritual and emotional wellbeing too, but this of course depends on you and your own beliefs. But what we do now is they are good for you.
The problem is massages are generally expensive and we need to arrange a trip to a spa or salon to have one. Wouldn’t it be great if we had them on tap? Could just sit back and get a massage anytime we liked? Massage chairs have existed for a long time, but they were the sort of thing we used in an airport lounge and never considered for home use. In recent times the technology behind these chairs has progressed, they are now much more affordable and effective. They are also easier to use, install and transport.
Below are our recommendations for the best portable massage chair under $250 to help you choose best for you.
Quick Links: Rated Portable Massage Chair Under $250
1. Snailax shiatsu Neck & Back Massager with Heat SL-233
| Best Features | Pros | Cons |
| Shiatsu back massage with adjustable neck and heat. 4 unique neck massage nodes that deep tissue massages the neck and shoulder to relieve tired & muscle tightness. | More heated nodes and fingers, making it the superior choice. Great price for so many functions. | Corded controller, so those looking for a wireless controller will have to look elsewhere. |
Overview:
The SL233 wowed us for a number of reasons with their portable massage chair. First of all, we didn’t think it was possible to fit quite so many heated nodes or fingers’ into one chair, but Snailax managed it with this one. This is the main feature that makes it different to the SL234 and if we’re being honest, that makes it superior in every way. The chair is near enough able to massage your entire lumbar area and neck at once. The best part is it contains all the same features the SL234 does and more.
The chair also contains an intensity control feature that does exactly as advertised. It allows the user to control how rough and gentle the chair is as well as how warm it gets. Even on the most vigorous of settings however the chair never feels too intense. But you’re unlikely to drift off to sleep while it’s adjusted to these settings. You’re much more likely to be invigorated by them. Turning the settings to a lower, more gentle massage and then you’re really in for a treat.
Massage chairs have often felt like a gimmick, but we’re now coming around to the idea that they may just have become an essential household and office items. Having an in office chair massage or a relaxing chair massaging at home. This is bad news for health spas everywhere but great news for our aching backs!
2. SNAILAX Shiatsu Back Massager with Heat SL234
| Best Features | Pros | Cons |
| The Shiastu Neck & Back Massager with Heat has 4 rotation shiatsu nodes to provide deep tissue massages for neck and shoulder and 4 shiatsu nodes massage for full back. 2 levels of shiatsu intensity for options. Soothing heat therapy. | Customizable spot massage for the ultimate comfort for yourself. | You might want more heat in your massage where the SL234 only provides subtle warmth. |
Overview:
The Snailax SL234 is one of the top rated massage chairs, combining everything we liked about the other massage chairs and put it into one affordable package. It’s 3D heated rotation nodes’ gave us a great massage. The heat also felt a little more subtle and this itself somehow made it mean more when we felt it permeate into our aching muscles. At no point did we feel “ouch that’s getting a bit too warm”, it was much more of comfortable warmth. The nodes themselves are well spaced and seem to reach more areas than the Comfier.
Being a mobile massage chair, we attached it to our office computer chair which was the best part, although we’re not sure how much work we’re likely to complete when using this massage chair. But that’s the point, these products are meant to be relaxing, to take a small break out of your work day, to then focus more and for longer after the small de-stress break. The heat pads are used alongside a series of vibrations and Snailax are to be commended for making these two things work in tandem to create such a smooth and gentle experience.
3. Comfier Shiatsu Neck & Back Massager 2D/3D Kneading Full Back Massager
| Best Features | Pros | Cons |
| The massage chair utilizes innovative 2D/3D Finger Pressure Shiatsu, Rolling, Air compression, Vibration and Heat functions to provide you an omni comfortable massage to soothe muscles and ease tension like a spa massage. | Have the ability to adjust the rolling and spots for a custom massage. Optional heat method. | More on the costly side of $250. |
Overview:
Now this Shiatsu massage chair by Comfier impressed us. What makes it different is it also makes use of heat pads while it provides a massage. Now we understand this isn’t for everyone, and such pads can get too hot and uncomfortable for some, but wow if you get the head right then it really does compliment the massage. This seated massager for office chair warmth is comforting, and we genuinely think this chair could be beneficial to those who suffer from back problems. The air compression system is also intriguing, and relaxing.
We’re not doctors of course, and we’ve often held the view that while massage chairs feel nice and help us relax, we were hesitant to whether they actually aid or ease legitimate back pain or long-term muscle problems. But after extensive research and reviewing, this relaxing chair massage has made us believe that it does make a difference. It also offers a mode without the use of heat which is surprisingly effective. Overall, it’s a relaxing and therapeutic experience.
4. INTEY Shiatsu Neck & Back Massage Cushion with Heat
| Best Features | Pros | Cons |
| This chair is made to be space-efficient, so you can place it wherever you choose, from the bedroom or office to the living room or entertainment zone. | FDA-listed. Comes with a programmed controller and integrated strapping system to fit most chairs. | Corded controller, so those looking for a wireless controller will have to look elsewhere. |
Overview:
This portable massage chair, the INTEY Shiatsu, which although it didn’t look at first glance, was actually rather relaxing. The mobile massage chair is more of a cushion if we’re being honest and features 12 3D balls that rotate to work your upper and lower back. The 3D balls feel like human fingers, which feels very relaxing. This massage chair has the added feature of being portable and being able to adjust where you focus the massage, either on a whole back or focused on one particular area instead.
The chair claims it offers a choice between a relaxing deep tissue massage or a tapping percussion’ mode, but we felt both modes were fairly similar. However, both were pleasant and relaxing. This top rated massage chair can be enjoyed using the chair in the car, but we wouldn’t ever recommend it for the driver. It’s designed to help you relax and let go of concentration, so it’s unlikely to make you a better driver, but we suppose that’s not what it’s for. You can use it in the passenger seat and enjoy making your designated driver jealous as we did.