Inada Flex 3S Review – Massage Chair Report 2024

Unfortunately, this product has been DISCONTINUED. Check out another model, the Inada Dreamwave.

Anyone who has had severe and ongoing muscular pain will agree that a massage chair can be an absolute blessing. But, massage chairs only provide temporary relief. Or do they?

We found a leading chair, the Inada Flex 3s Massage Chair, that has been getting rave reviews from people with significant medical issues. These people have found that it works to improve their condition in the long term, even permanent basis.

Inada Flex 3s massage chair reviews by actual users reflect the fact that this chair is designed in particular to bring the spine back to its natural “S” shape.

What Most People Want From A Massage Chair

Massage chairs pretty well fall into two categories – serious, and “just for fun.” Typically, the “just for fun” chair will be inexpensive, have few options, and will feel nice to sit in, maybe soothing, but they don’t have any serious therapeutic value. Perfect for someone who just wants their muscles rubbed at the end of a tiring day, but not so good for those people with actual therapeutic needs.

And then there are the serious users. Typically, these are individuals who have suffered an illness or an accident which leaves them with significant problems – issues with posture, muscle spasms, and of course, pain.

The Inada Flex 3s massage chair falls firmly into the serious category. Although, if you just want to have a great, in-depth massage, and are prepared to spring for the higher cost of a therapeutic quality chair, then this might also be for you.

A Look at the Inada Flex 3s Massage Chair’s Pedigree

Let’s face it, these days you have to be cautious even when buying high ticket items. So it’s good to learn that the Inada Flex 3s isn’t just some knock-off, but designed from scratch in consultation with one of Japan’s leading experts in massage therapy, Tadashi Kaneko. It’s probably the only chair which is intended to combine two essential therapy elements – both massage and stretching.

Quality Build And Reasonable Looks

Your massage chair is likely to be in a prominent position in your home, so you don’t want something vast and ugly to look at. Many chairs look frankly hideous. The Inada Flex 3s, while no beauty, and pretty bulky, at least has the merit of being smaller than some of its competitors. Although, this does mean that it works best for people under 6 ft. 2” tall.

It comes in three colors – black, dark brown, and cream – in high-quality imitation leather which is easy to clean and bacteria resistant. The design is reasonably streamlined, and the overall dimensions are 50.4 x 33.5 x 41.7”. It weighs in at just a fraction less than 165lb, making it one of the lighter and so more maneuverable offerings on the market. The chair has a good quality finish, and it won’t put you to shame if you have it in your main living area.

What Does The Inada Flex3s Offer?

The Inada Flex 3s Massage Chair offers a combination of massage by air bags and rollers. There are heated areas where your hands and feet go, and this simulates Japanese hot stone massage. Unlike a lot of chairs, this one doesn’t have heating in the lumbar, back or shoulder areas. The heating on the hands and feet is quite pleasant, but it doesn’t seem to contribute all that much to the therapeutic benefits.

The Inada Flex 3s manual is agreeably easy to read, very straightforward and written in good, clear English. It’s definitely worth reading the handbook in detail, in order to get the most out of the chair.

The Inada Flex 3s has forty airbags, which is less than most, although they are very firm and efficient. (Incidentally, the airbags, which in some chairs are annoyingly loud, in this one are smooth and quiet.) You can choose from three strengths of massage – medium, high and low – selecting Maximum Intensity where you feel you need it most.

The combination of stretching and massage is definitely different, and users report considerable improvement in areas such as posture of the spine as a result. The chair kind of grabs you and manipulates you – it can feel a bit disconcerting at times as if the chair is taking charge, but the massage is effective and firm. You can easily control the massage with the “zapper”, making it softer, harder, or stopping it completely at any time.

There are several ways you can program the chair, but most people seem to like to start with a “Warm Up” session before moving on to their choice of Health Care program, then finishing up with a “Cool Down” time.

You do need to spend some time figuring out what the chair can do, and as well as using the automatic settings, you can create manual overrides to suit your needs. Customizing the chair to suit you can produce some excellent results, users report.

A particularly useful feature is the focus on shoulder massage, which is very desirable when so many people spend so much time hunched over a computer screen, for work or recreation. Inada seems to have spent a lot of time thinking out how this can work well, and the results are excellent.

Harking back to the Flex 3s’s Japanese sports massage heritage, the full body stretch feels fantastic. The chair grips and manipulates you, gently stretching the spine and undoing the kinks of the day. This was our favorite single function and worth the price of the chair on its own.

Inada Flex 3s Sticker Shock

Speaking of price, the sticker shock on this chair is pretty severe. The Inada Flex 3s price was originally $7,799 and now available on Amazon. Meanwhile, it’s on the Inada website at $4,299 plus delivery. It’s probably possible to shop around and find one for less.

Pros and Cons of Inada Flex 3s

PROS

CONS

Inada Flex 3s Review Final Thoughts

Overall, we feel that the Inada Flex 3s is an excellent choice for people who have serious massage requirements, especially those who suffer from the effects of illness or injury. If you can find it at a better price, it’s also a great option for people who just want to enjoy the pleasures of a great massage in their home.

---

Official Manufacturer Support

Sources and Official Brand Websites

• Inada, Official Brand Website.
• What Are the Benefits of Sports Massage Therapy?, Live Strong.
• 6 Benefits of Hot Stone Massage, Healthline.
• Top 5 Health Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy, National University of Health Sciences.
• 4 Hidden Benefits of Massage Therapy, Arizona School of Integrated Studies.