Human Touch Wholebody 5.1 vs Human Touch Wholebody 7.1 |
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Human Touch WholeBody 5.1
3D Technology | ✗ |
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Arm Massage | ✗ |
BodyMap PRO* | ✗ |
More Specifications...
Human Touch Wholebody 5.1 vs Human Touch Wholebody 7.1 |
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Human Touch WholeBody 7.1
3D Technology | ✓ |
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Arm Massage | ✗ |
BodyMap PRO* | ✓ |
More Specifications...
HUMAN TOUCH WHOLEBODY 5.1 | Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 | Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 |
3D Technology | ✗ | ✓ |
Arm Massage | ✗ | ✗ |
BodyMap PRO* | ✗ | ✓ |
Calf and Foot Massage Ottoman | ✓ | ✓ |
Chromotherapy Lighting | ✗ | ✗ |
Cloud Touch (Air Massage) Technology | ✗ | ✗ |
Computer Body Scan | ✗ | ✗ |
FigureEight CirQlation Technology* | ✓ | ✓ |
FlexGlide Technology* | ✓ | ✓ |
Foot Rollers | ✗ | ✗ |
LCD Remote | ✗ | ✗ |
Handheld Remote | ✓ | ✓ |
Manual Operation Mode | ✓ | ✓ |
Massage Intensity Controls | ✗ | ✓ |
Massage Programs (total number) | (3) | (5) |
Massage Techniques (total number) | (4) | (4) |
MP3 Port and Speakers | ✗ | ✗ |
Rotatable Ottoman | ✓ | ✓ |
Swivel Base | ✓ | ✓ |
Track System: L-Track | ✗ | ✗ |
Track System: S-Track | ✓ | ✓ |
Vibration Massage | ✗ | ✗ |
Warm Air Technology (Heat Therapy) | ✗ | ✓ |
Wireless Remote | ✗ | ✗ |
Zero Gravity | ✓ | ✓ |
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- 1 Who is Human Touch?
- 2 Common Features of the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 & 5.1 Massage Chairs
- 3 Unique Features of the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 Massage Chair
- 4 What’s Missing on the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 & 5.1 Massage Chairs
- 5 Which Massage Chair is Best?
- 6 Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair Specifications and Dimensions
- 7 Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 Massage Chair Specifications and Dimensions
- 8 Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair Review Final Thoughts
*Human Touch has developed and patented much of the massage technology they use in their chairs. If some of these terms — FlexGlide, FigureEight, etc. — don’t make much sense now, don’t worry. We’re going to explain each feature below.
In this review, we’re taking a look at the features the WholeBody 7.1 & 5.1 massage chairs have in common and those that set them apart — going to depths no other Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 reviews have gone before. To start, we’re showing you all of the features at a glance in a comparison chart, and then we’ll dig into what each feature is and offers in the sections below. Let’s get started!
Who is Human Touch?
Human Touch is a massage chair company headquartered in Long Beach, California. For 35 years, they’ve been producing massage chairs with an emphasis on aesthetics — creating chairs that not only provide therapeutic benefits but match modern home decor.
Human Touch massage chairs have received multiple Design Journal Awards for Design Excellence (ADEX) and are the only chairs recognized by the World Federation of Chiropractic as being a credible complement to back therapies. Although Human Touch’s customer service, design, and engineering are based in their California headquarters, the massage chairs are manufactured in China.
Today, we’re focusing on the Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 and 7.1 massage chairs from the WholeBody Series. The WholeBody 5.1 costs around $1000 and the WholeBody 7.1, which won the 2015 Gold ADEX Award for design, costs around $2000.
Common Features of the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 & 5.1 Massage Chairs
FlexGlide Orbital Massage Technology
Human Touch describes its FlexGlide technology as “the feeling of having a warm oil massage.” You might be thinking, sounds great but what does that actually mean?
Here’s the deal. FlexGlide is a fancy way to describe the movement of the massage head rollers. With FlexGlide, the rollers move in weaving, orbital pattern that glides across the back. The movement is flexible, free of friction and resistance, giving the sense of a warm oil massage.
In the simplest terms, FlexGlide technology is a “resistance-free” massage.
Calf and Foot Massager Ottoman
Both the WholeBody 5.1 and 7.1 massage chairs feature a calf and foot massager ottoman. The ottoman is open-toed, so a simultaneous calf and foot massage is not possible. But thanks to a creative solution, you can enjoy a calf or a foot massage.
Here’s how: Once you deploy the ottoman, you have to rotate it using the rotation release lever to reveal the calf and foot massager. If you rotate the ottoman just enough so the foot and calf massager is facing up, you can place your feet into the massager and enjoy a foot massage. If the ottoman “clicks” into position, you’ve rotated too far. The ottoman should be freely moving.
To switch from a foot to a calf massage, continue rotating the ottoman until it “clicks.” Place your legs into the massager, and now you’re in position for a calf massage.
Retractable and Rotatable Ottoman
As we pointed out above, the ottomans on the WholeBody 7.1 and 5.1 massage chairs are rotatable. They’re also retractable.
By default, the ottoman sits flush under the seat. Using the leg arrows on the remote, you can deploy the ottoman and raise it to a comfortable height. From there, you have two options: use the flat surface of the ottoman as a footrest or rotate it to reveal the massager.
To put the ottoman back into its default position, give the rotation release lever on the side a quick pull to rotate the ottoman toward the chair to hide the massagers. Then, using the leg buttons on the remote, lower the ottoman back under the seat.
This feature enhances “usability” by seamlessly converting the massage chairs into luxurious recliners when not in use.
FigureEight CirQlation Massage Technology
Inside the calf and foot massager is Human Touch’s patented FigureEight massage technology. To understand the technology, we first have to look at the components at work in the ottoman.
Instead of using airbags — which the majority of massage chair companies use — the WholeBody 5.1 and 7.1 massage chairs use paddle massagers. Paddle massagers are molded from a durable rubber-like material and are what make FigureEight technology possible.
Air massage and paddle massage are very different. Airbags are dependent on air, and their movements are limited to inflate and deflate, squeeze and release. Paddle massage, on the other hand, is not constrained by air and can not only squeeze and release, but utilize progressive movements (waves).
Onto FigureEight Technology.
FigureEight technology moves the paddles in an upward wave-like movement that circulates blood from the feet towards the heart. As blood moves toward the heart, new blood with new nutrients and oxygen can enter the calves and feet.
Massage Techniques
- Stretch kneads both sides of your spine with small, circular motions.
- Flex uses rapid tapping along the spine to stimulate spinal muscles and joints, mimicking the percussion technique used in sports medicine for deep muscle therapy.
- Tone uses circular kneading and rapid tapping percussion strokes.
- Glide gently rolls up and down the sides of your spine.
The Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 and WholeBody 5.1 massage chairs feature the same number of massage techniques: FOUR. The four techniques are Stretch, Flex, Tone, and Glide.
Preset Massage Programs
Although they share the same techniques, the WholeBody 7.1 massage chair has two additional preset massage programs — five total. The three preset massage programs — or auto-immersion programs as Human Touch refers to them — that they have in common are Full, Upper, and Lower.
Each 15-minute massage program uses a combination of techniques to treat a particular body area. Full is for full body, Upper is for upper body, and Lower is for lower body.
Manual Mode Options
But if you want to customize your massage experience, the manual mode options will give you greater control over settings like massage position, width, and range.
Customization Options
Let’s take a closer look at customization options available on the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 and Human WholeBody 5.1 massage chair:
- Range lets you customize the vertical range of any massage program.
- Width allows you to adjust your massage program width up to three settings and works with the Flex and Glide massage techniques.
- Glide lets you select a full or partial glide massage. Glide can be used alone or combined with any other massage technique.
- Position lets you manually adjust the location of the rollers during any stationary massage mode.
- Calf enables you to add a calf massage to any massage program.
- Stop/Park stops your massage and parks the rollers at the top of the backrest.
So what could that look like? Let’s say you want a shoulder massage, but don’t want to use the preset “Upper” program. Here’s what you do…
Select from one of the massage techniques — stretch, flex, tone, glide — then use the “Position” buttons to move the rollers to the desired location. Continue making adjustments until you dial in the massage to your preferences.
Although you have a few customization options to choose from, the Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 massage chair doesn’t offer any kind of intensity settings. Therefore, the out-of-the-box intensity is as strong or weak as it’s going to get. But, it is generally considered a strong massage.
Since the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 is regarded as a “3D” massage chair, it has more options as far as intensity, which we’ll cover later on.
Handheld Remote
All of the massage programs and manual options are clearly labeled on the handheld remote. Although the remote for the Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 is different from the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1, the overall design is the same. No display screens, only buttons. And in our opinion, these are some of the easiest remotes to use.
At the top of the remote is where you’ll find the auto-immersion programs and settings like range and width. In the center of the remote are two sets of up and down arrows that power the backrest and ottoman.
Below that are the manual massage techniques, roller position, and calf massager buttons. And that’s it for the Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 massage chair!
The Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 remote has a few additional sections: Bodymap PRO, intensity 3D, and warm air which we’ll cover in more detail below.
When you’re not using the remote, store it in the convenient pocket on the left side of the seat cushion.
SofHyde Upholstery
Moving to the outside of the chairs, the upholstery on the WholeBody 7.1 and 5.1 is Human Touch’s patented SofHyde, a leather-like material that’s both soft and flexible allowing the rollers to move freely against the backrest. It’s also what gives the massage chair’s their signature luxury recliner look.
The Sofhyde is easy to clean, and a quick vacuum or gentle wipe with water-based cleaner is all you need. The WholeBody 7.1 massage chair comes in three Sofhyde colors: black, bone, and espresso. Moreover, the WholeBody 5.1 massage chair only comes in one Sofhyde color: black.
Swivel Base
At the bottom of each massage chair is a swivel base that lets you move the chair from side to side up to 55 degrees. Like in a computer chair, you are free to turn and move in your seat without actually moving. No need to lift the chair each time you want to reposition it.
Removable Padding
Both the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 and 5.1 massage chairs come with a removable head pillow. The pillow can be flipped behind the backrest to increase the intensity of the neck and shoulder massage.
Unique Features of the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 Massage Chair
The Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 massage chair is essentially an upgraded version of the WholeBody 5.1. So all of the features on the Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 massage chair are also on the 7.1, but not all of the features on the 7.1 are on the 5.1.
Now that we’ve covered the features the massage chairs have in common, let’s look at the unique features of the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 Massage Chair.
3D FlexGlide Orbital Massage Technology
The WholeBody 7.1 massage chair takes FlexGlide one step further with 3D FlexGlide. So what makes a massage 3D?
3D denotes the number of dimensional movements of the rollers. So, a 2D massage moves in two dimensions, a 3D massage moves in three and so on. For 3D massage, the dimensions are typically vertical (up and down), horizontal (side to side), and inward (pressure).
So, unlike the WholeBody 5.1 massage chair which is a 2D massage chair, the rollers on the WholeBody 7.1 massage chair push inward at varying degrees to increase the depth and intensity of the massage. It can also be adjusted up to three levels from gentle to strong.
The 3D FlexGlide system is divided into two independent body areas: shoulders and low back. Since these areas are operated independently, you can adjust the massage intensity for each area separately. For example, you can have the strongest intensity on the shoulders and the gentlest on the low back — at the same time.
3D FlexGlide gives you more control over your massage intensity and quality — one of the main distinguishing features between the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 massage chair and the 5.1.
Warm Air Technology
Another distinguishing feature of the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 massage chair is its patented warm air technology (heat therapy). And although heat therapy is a common massage chair feature, Human Touch has introduced their own version which uses warm air instead of heating pads.
On the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 massage chair, warm air circulates along the lower back producing therapeutic effects such as increased circulation (the delivery of vital nutrients and oxygen and the removal of stagnant fluids) and muscle relaxation.
Since heat relaxes the muscles, it produces a distinctly massage-friendly benefit: it helps the rollers provide a more effective massage penetrating deeper into the muscle tissues.
BodyMap PRO
A feature that not only separates the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 massage chair from the 5.1, but from massage chairs in general, is the BodyMap PRO system.
The BodyMap PRO system is a series of automated programs that treat specific areas on the body. It’s not quite an auto-immersion program, and it’s not quite a manual mode operation. Instead, it combines the ease of an auto program and the targeted treatment of manual mode.
Using a body image map on the remote, Human Touch explains to “simply press where you want to feel better.” The BodyMap PRO section on the remote displays a picture of a torso broken into various regions. When you select a region, a seven-minute massage program focusing on the area will begin.
Let’s take a look at the six BodyMap PRO regions:
- Targeted treatment of the neck. (Remove the head pillow to get the full intensity.)
- Targeted treatment on and between your shoulders.
- Targeted treatment below your shoulder blades.
- Targeted treatment on the middle of your back.
- Targeted treatment extending from your lower back out to your sides.
- Targeted treated along the spine on the lower back.
The BodyMap PRO system makes it easy to select where you want treatment without having to go through a series of manual mode steps.
Additional Preset Massage Programs
If you want a full-body treatment rather than a targeted session, the five preset massage programs on the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 give you even more massage options.
Above, we covered the three preset massage programs the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 and 5.1 have in common: Full, Upper and Lower. The two additional programs on the WholeBody 7.1 are Relax and Sleep.
The Relax and Sleep preset programs are considered relaxation massages intended to revitalize the body and ease away stress. Whereas the other programs are location-specific and designed to help release tension and knots, these additional programs are simply relaxing.
Additional Manual Mode Option
The Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 massage chair also offers an additional manual mode option: calf massage intensity. On the remote, when you select to power on the calf massager you can toggle through three speed settings: low, high, or auto which alternates speeds.
What’s Missing on the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 & 5.1 Massage Chairs
Although the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 and Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 massage chairs have a great selection of features, especially considering their price points, there are a few features you won’t find on them, including:
Arm and Hand Massagers
Since Human Touch strives to design massage chairs that look more like luxury recliners, arm massagers are absent on many Human Touch models, including the WholeBody 7.1 and WholeBody 5.1.
Human Touch’s most affordable models with arm massagers are the AcuTouch 6.0 and Bali massage chairs which cost around $5000 — that’s $3000 more than the WholeBody 7.1.
Vibration Massage
Another feature you won’t find on the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 and Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 massage chairs is vibration massage. On other Human Touch models — Bali, AcuTouch 6.0, etc. — a vibration plate in the calf massager vibrates to stimulate microcirculation in the legs and feet.
Shoulder Height Settings
Finally, both the WholeBody 7.1 and Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 massage chairs lack Human Touch’s AcuPoint Detection System and shoulder height settings.
Which Massage Chair is Best?
These massage chairs are very similar. They look exactly the same. They each feature FlexGlide technology, FigureEight technology, and the same massage techniques. And they both include a calf massager.
But if you want a little more control over your massage intensity, like the idea of targeted treatments with the BodyMap PRO system, and would benefit from warm air technology, then the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 massage chair is the way to go.
But if you simply want to enjoy an effective massage and don’t need the extras, the Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 will save you a few hundred dollars.
Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair Specifications and Dimensions
Chair dimensions (reclined) | 67” L x 28” W x 28” H |
Chair dimensions (upright) | 40” L x 28” W x 40” H |
Recommended maximum user weight | 285 lbs |
Recommended user height | 5'0" to 6'4" |
Required Recline Clearance | 9” |
Power Consumption | 100W |
Chair weight | 92 lbs |
Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 Massage Chair Specifications and Dimensions
Chair dimensions (reclined) | 66” L x 28” W x 29” H |
Chair dimensions (upright) | 44” L x 28” W x 40” H |
Recommended maximum user weight | 285 lbs |
Recommended user height | 5'0" to 6'4" |
Required Recline Clearance | 9” |
Power Consumption | 140W |
Chair weight | 108 lbs |
Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair Review Final Thoughts
In all honesty, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bad review of these two massage chairs. The combination of design, massage technology, and affordable price point make them a compelling buy. Even so, if you want to save a few hundred dollars, the WholeBody 5.1 is a great massage chair for the money. And if you have an extra few hundred dollars to spend, the WholeBody 7.1 will give you more control over your massage intensity and quality — and still be a highly affordable, luxurious-looking option. We hope our Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 and Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 reviews made your decision process a little easier.