Best Massage Chair Under 1000 Dollars Review 2024

Our Pick: Human Touch iJoy-2580

The Human Touch iJoy-2580 is a back massage chair through and through. It doesn’t have air massage, calf or foot massage, arm massage, or any of the additional features many users love like vibration massage and heat therapy. But before you write the iJoy 2580 off, let’s take a closer a what the iJoy 2580 does have to offer.

24-inch S-Track

A track is a mechanism the massage rollers move along. If a chair offers roller massage, it’s the track that determines where and how far the rollers reach up and down your back. There are three main track types: straight tracks, S-Tracks, L-Tracks.

Imagine a yardstick against your back. That’s like a straight track. They are linear from top to bottom and are typically only found on very affordable massage chairs. But here’s the thing: your back isn’t straight.

That’s where S-Tracks come in. An S-Track is an “S” shaped track that’s designed to replicate the natural curvature of your back. Since an S-Track works with your natural shape, it’s able to keep consistent pressure and contact in the curved areas of your back like your lumbar area.

Straight tracks and S-Tracks are both located in the backrest of the chair and typically (depending on the track length) extend from your neck to your tailbone.

L-Tracks, on the other hand, are a different beast altogether. They pick up where S-Tracks end at the tailbone and extend into the seat of the chair, extending the roller range an additional 15-plus inches. L-Tracks have become very popular in recent years because they can treat areas like the glutes and hamstrings.

So back to the iJoy-2580. Unlike many other ultra-affordable massage chairs, rather than having a straight track, the Human Touch iJoy 2580 has an S-Track. This means you can expect a more nuanced massage and perhaps a better overall quality.

The S-Track on the iJoy 2580 is 24 inches, which is on the shorter side, so if you’re tall (over 6-feet), it may not give you as much coverage as you want. But for average-sized users, the track should hit from your neck to your waistline.

Massage Programs

On the iJoy 2580, there are four massage techniques to choose from: kneading, compression, percussion, and rolling. All of the techniques except rolling are stationary. However, you can combine them to dial-in your massage style even more. You can adjust the position of therollers using a set of up and down arrows on the remote, giving you full control over where the rollers treat.

But if you’d rather sit back, relax and let the chair do all the work, the iJoy 2580 offers three fully-automated massage programs including Neck and Shoulder Relief, Back Refresh, and Lower Back Release.

In terms of feel, the roller massage on the iJoy 2580 is considered relaxing. But there’s a removable backrest pad that, when removed, increases the intensity of the rollers. Plus, using the chair in the reclined position also helps to hold your body on top of the rollers for a deeper massage.

Additional Features

While the iJoy 2580 doesn’t have all the bells of whistles of other massage chairs, it does have two additional features that enhance your overall massage experience: a cupholder and a power outlet.

That’s right, you can enjoy a relaxing massage, sip on your favorite beverage, and charge your phone or plug inyour laptop — all at the same time!

Reputable Brand

Perhaps one of the most compelling aspects of the iJoy-2580 is that it’s manufactured by Human Touch, a US-based brand massage chair company. So why is this so important?

First, it’s important because Human Touch massage chairs can often be tested before you buy them. You can find them in brick and mortar massage chair shops as well as on many different online retailers.

Secondly, if you have a problem with your massage chair you can call customer service, and someone will answer. There’s more accountability with a larger company like Human Touch than with a no-name brand that may be here today and gone tomorrow. And just because you don’t want to break the bank on a massage chair doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a quality product and quality customer service.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE IJOY 2580 MASSAGE CHAIR

Runner-Up: BestMassage EC 06C Massage Chair

Now that we’ve sufficiently harped on why it’s important to buy from well-known companies, allow us to introduce you to our pick for the best full-feature massage chair under $1000: the BestMassage EC 06C.

Ok, so it’s a no-name brand. And no, we didn’t change our minds about the potential downsides of purchasing no-name brand products (especially expensive ones). But the BestMassage EC 06C has an Amazon rating of 4.4 with over 230 reviews, 207 of which are Verified Purchase reviews.

These reviews were enough to make us dig a little deeper and what we found was quite surprising. Let’s take a closer look.

Body Scan Technology

We can expect that body scan technology should be on any mid- to high-end massage chair, not on a massage chair under $1000. So the fact that the BestMassage EC 06C features it is quite compelling.

The BestMassage EC 06C uses a holt sensor and an eleven signal test switch to measure your height and weight. Furthermore, the chair uses the height data to adjust the range of the rollers automatically. This way, they don’t hit too high or too low relative to your shoulders. It uses the weight data to customize the pressure of the rollers automatically.

Intelligent Roller Technology

Like most robotic massage chairs, the BestMassage EC 06C has a roller massage system. But the EC-06C takes the system one step further with two “intelligent” roller heads. These roller heads are flexible, allowing them to roll on your back with little resistance and friction.

24-Inch Massage Track

The roller heads on the BestMassage EC 06C are mounted to a 24-inch straight track. The company and other BestMassage EC 06C reviews claim that the track extends down to the tailbone, however at 24 inches, it’s more likely that the track reaches the waistline.

Air Massage

In addition to roller massage, the BestMassage EC 06C features air massage. While air massage is common on mid- to high-end chairs, it’s not on ultra-affordable options — another example of how the EC 06C pushes the boundaries of what you can get for under $1000.

The BestMassage EC 06C has 30 airbags, 20 of which massage the hips, seat, legs and feet, and 10 of which massage the arms and hands.

Additional Features

Like more expensive massage chairs, the BestMassage EC 06C has additional features that users love, including heat therapy and vibration massage.

Heating pads are located in the lower back portion of the backrest and under the soles of the feet. A high-frequency plate is located in the seat of the chair. You can add both heat therapy and vibration massage to any automatic or manual massage program.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BESTMASSAGE EC 06C

Also Great: Real Relax Massage Chair

Note: Old version has been DISCONTINUED. 

The Real Relax massage chair made on our list for three reasons: its price, its features, and its high ratings on Amazon. It has an Amazon rating of 4.3 with 100 reviews, 93 of which are Verified Purchase reviews. Once again, the reviews were enough to make us take a closer look. And what we discovered was quite interesting.

Fixed Position Back Massage Points

The most important aspect of the Real Relax massage chair is this: Instead of having standard rollers on a track, the Real Relax has a series of eight fixed massage points throughout its backrest.

These rollers do not move up and down, they’re completely fixed and will only massage the areas of your back where the points touch.

Six of the massage points are located in the middle and lower sections of the backrest. They’re positioned along the spine and are evenly spaced across the back. The last two massage points are located in the upper section of the backrest and treat the upper back.

While the massage points are motorized and perform a rubbing, kneading action, they’re very limited. There’s no way to customize them. So you can’t adjust the range, width, or speed and there is only one massage technique.

Air Massage

While the roller system on the Real Relax massage may not be that impressive, the chair does feature a fairly comprehensive air massage system. There are 35 airbags located throughout the chair that perform compression massage on the shoulders, arms, hands, hips, thighs, calves and feet.

360-Degree Arm Massage

The Real Relax massage chair also features a near 360-degree arm massage. Airbags on the tops and bottoms of the arm massagers surround the forearms and hands completely.

Mechanical Foot Rollers

In addition to air massage for the feet, on the Real Relax massage chair, the feet are also treated with mechanical foot rollers that spin to perform a reflexology-style massage.

Zero Gravity Recline

The Real Relax best massage chair is the only one on our list to feature Zero Gravity. In the Zero Gravity position, the back is reclined to shift the body’s weight so that it’s held by the backrest. At the same time, the legs are elevated at or above the heart.

Here, the vertical pressure is removed from the spine and lower body, allowing your muscles to relax completely. Plus, Zero Gravity helps to hold your body on top of the rollers for a deeper massage.

The only downside of the Zero Gravity on the Real Relax massage chair is that the backrest and ottoman are connected. So when the backrest goes back, the ottoman goes up, which means you have limited control over the angle of your recline.

Feature Highlights of The Real Relax Massage Chair

Budget Pick: Human Touch iJoy Active 2.0

The Human Touch iJoy Active 2.0 is essentially the younger sibling of the iJoy 2580. It costs less, too. In fact, it’s the most affordable massage chair on our list, retailing for $449 at the time of writing this review. But this “younger sibling” packs quite a punch and could have easily been named the most powerful massage chair under $1000. Let’s take a closer look at what the iJoy Active 2.0 has to offer.

25-Inch Straight Track with FlexGlide Technology

Unlike the iJoy 2580, the iJoy Active 2.0 has a straight track, though at 25 inches it’s an inch longer than the track on the iJoy 2580. Like we mentioned above, straight tracks are typically only found on entry-level massage chairs. Since they’re completely straight, there’s a chance the rollers will lose pressure in the curved areas of your back. However, few have reported a lack of pressure and most users seem to praise the lower back coverage specifically.

While the straight track on the iJoy Active 2.0 might not get you excited, the FlexGlide roller technology will.

This patent-pending roller technology is typically reserved for Human Touch’s higher-end massage chairs, which makes the fact that it’s included on one of most affordable massage chairs so surprising.

With FlexGlide, the rollers move in a gliding, flexible motion that reduces resistance and friction as they move across the back, giving “the feeling of a warm oil massage,” as Human Touch describes it.

In general, the massage on the Active 2.0 is considered vigorous. So if you want a deep roller massage without having to dig deep into your pockets, the Active 2.0 should be high on your list.

Massage Programs

The Active 2.0 features three massage techniques, including glide, orbit, and stretch. Moreover, the position of the rollers can be adjusted using up and down arrows on the remote.

The Active 2.0 even lets you control the width of the rollers. You can choose from narrow to wide to focus or diffuse the pressure of the rollers during a glide massage.

There are three automatic massage programs to choose from, including Think, Perform, and Recharge, each focusing on different areas of the back.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REAL RELAX MASSAGE CHAIR

Best Massage Chair Under 1000 Dollars Review Final Thoughts In 2024

As with anything, choosing the most affordable option with the most features doesn’t always pay off. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find a quality massage chair with the features you want. We hope our review has helped you in your search for the best massage chair under 1000.

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References & Resources

• Human Touch, Official Brand Website.
• Real Relax, Official Brand Website.
• BestMassage, Official Brand Website.
• How Can Massage Help My Health and Wellbeing?, Taking Charge.
• Simple Massage & Stretching Techniques to Relive Hand & Wrist Tension, Carrington College.