In a Nutshell:
The Infinity IT 8800 has popular features like foot rollers, air massage, Zero gravity, and S-Track, yet still affordable. It’s a solid option, but for a little more in terms of massage technology and not much more in terms of money, we recommend checking out the newer, upgraded version — the Infinity IT 8500.
Overall Massage Quality
Customization options
Ease of Use
Value for the Money
Overall Rating
4.4/5
Benefits
Drawbacks
It’s a solid option, but for a little more in terms of massage technology and not much more in terms of money, we recommend checking out the newer, upgraded version — the Infinity IT 8500.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Infinity IT 8800 massage chair, look no further. This review walks you through each and every feature, plus explains the difference between the IT 8800 and the IT 8200. Let’s get started!
About Infinity
Infinity Therapeutic massage chairs were introduced in 2009 by Infinite Therapeutics. Although relatively “young” in the massage chair market (especially compared to companies like Panasonic and Inada), Infinity massage chairs have managed to produce some of the most popular and highly-rated models, thanks to their affordability, quality, and a combination of features (features not often found altogether).
Infinity massage chairs are either manufactured in Taiwan or China, depending on the model. However, their headquarters are located in Seabrook, New Hampshire, and they have a US-based customer service team.
Now that we’ve introduced you to the company let’s turn to the Infinity IT 8800…
Features of the Infinity 8800 Series Massage Chair
If you’ve spent much time researching the Infinity IT 8800, chances are you’ve come across the IT 8200 and may be wondering… what’s the difference? The answer is not much.
The Infinity IT 8800 and the Infinity IT 8200 are the exact same chair. Perhaps, the only difference between the two is that the IT 8800 is primarily sold through tradeshows by salesmen and is not available through online retailers.
So every feature we cover in this Infinity IT 8800 review can also be applied to the Infinity IT 8200.
In 2012, Infinity introduced a new, upgraded version of the IT 8200(and IT 8800) called the Infinity IT 8500.
Although it’s quite similar to the IT 8200, the IT 8500 incorporates new massage technology and is now the best-selling model currently offered by Infinity. To learn more about the IT 8500, check out our Infinity 8500 vs 8800 massage chair review.
Without further ado, let’s dig into the features of the Infinity IT 8800…
Body Scan Technology
The Infinity 8800 massage chair has a body scan system that detects your height, shape, and acupoints before automatically adjusting its massage head rollers to give you a custom-fit massage.
So what is an acupoint?
Acupoint is a term you’ll hear a lot — especially when researching Chinese and Japanese-made massage chairs. According to ancient Chinese and Japanese medicine, acupoints are the “points” on the body through which energy (often referred to as “Ki,” “Qi,” or “Chi”) flows. A network of these points is called meridians and are channels through which energy flows.
It is believed that each meridian corresponds to an organ system, for example, the liver or the heart. When one of these meridians gets blocked, the result is an imbalance in the body’s energy system, which can lead to illness. Therapies like acupuncture, acupressure, and massage work to clear these blocks to bring balance back to the body and therefore help prevent or relieve illness.
The scan on the Infinity 8800 chair initiates before any auto or manual massage program. Once the scan is complete, the remote will say “Success” or “Fail” to let you know if the scan has or has not worked properly. A common cause for a “Fail” message is not sitting all the way back in the chair or having your head forward so that your shoulders aren’t lying flat.
To remedy the situation, adjust your position and run the scan again. If you find the chair still doesn’t quite locate the correct areas, you can manually adjust the shoulder height of the rollers using a set of arrows on the remote.
Quad Rollers with 30-inch S-Track
The rollers on the Infinity IT 8800 move along a 30-inch S-Track. So what is an S-Track, and why is it important?
An S-Track is an “S” shaped track designed to replicate your spine’s natural curvature. Since your back isn’t flat from top to bottom, your massage track shouldn’t be either (which is why having an S-track is important). With an S-Track, the track curves in areas like your neck and lower back to ensure the rollers stay in contact with your body. Also, it keeps consistent pressure throughout the range of your massage.
The 30-inch track on the Infinity IT 8800 massage chair extends from the neck to the tailbone on most users. It fits users from 5’0” to 6’4”.
The rollers are quad, which means there are four total — two on each side of the spine. Furthermore, the rollers are also 2D, moving up and down and side to side. Since they are 2D and not 3D, they don’t move outward (penetrate into the back), so there’s no way to control the intensity of the rollers by moving them closer or farther from your back.
Foot Roller Massage
One of the most compelling features of the Infinity IT 8800 is foot rollers. A feature usually reserved for high-priced models, foot rollers perform a reflexology-style massage on the bottoms of the feet. But not all foot rollers are the same.
For example, some rollers “scrape” the bottoms of the feet using one big spinning roller. The Infinity IT 8800, however, has three rollers: one for the front, middle and sole of the foot that are like miniature versions of back rollers.
These mechanical rollers move and spin, performing a powerful massage treating the acupoints on the bottoms of your feet. The massage is vigorous, and there are no intensity adjustments. So, if you want to ease the pressure, a pair of thick socks or slippers will come in handy. There are three speeds or styles of roller foot massage to choose from. You can turn the rollers off, on, or add them to any massage program.
Neck Rotation Pillow
The neck pillow on the Infinity IT 8800 Massage Chair has airbags that inflate and deflate to rotate the neck and head from side to side for a gentle rotation stretch. Here’s how it works:
Airbags on the left and right side of pillow inflate in intervals, so when the left inflates, the right deflates. Your neck rests in the middle of the airbags. When the right inflates, your head is turned to the left. When the left inflates, your neck turns to the right. The result is a soothing and relaxing neck air massage.
Air Massage
The Infinity 8800 massage chair has 36 airbags strategically placed to treat the areas the rollers don’t reach, like the sides of the shoulders, hips, thighs, arms, hands, buttock, calves, and sides of the feet.
The airbags inflate and deflate to perform compression massage, the main benefit of which is increased circulation. The airbags inflate and squeeze and push out blood and stagnant fluids. As they deflate, new blood carrying oxygen and vital nutrients rush in.
But not all airbags are programmed for compression. On the Infinity IT 8800, airbags are also used to swivel, rotate, and stretch the body.
Seat Swivel
In the seat of the Infinity IT 8800 are airbags that inflate to lift the body and move it from side to side. The side-to-side motion helps to mobilize the lower back and stretch the pelvic area. The technology is similar to the DreamWave technology found on the Inada DreamWave; however, not as defined or precise. The seat swivel has three speeds, and you can use it on its own or add it to any manual massage program.
Note: other Infinity IT 8800 massage chair reviews mistake the seat swivel as a vibration massage program, but it’s not.
2 Levels of Zero Gravity
Zero Gravity is another popular massage chair feature you don’t always find on affordable models. And the Infinity IT 8800 has two stages of it.
Zero Gravity is a neutral chair position that shifts the body’s weight to the backrest while elevating the legs at or above the heart. With the body’s weight held by the backrest, pressure is removed from the spine and lower body, allowing the muscles and joints to decompress and relax.
Originally, Zero Gravity was developed by NASA to help astronauts cope with the gravitational stress of taking off in a spaceship. Since the force upon their bodies was so powerful, NASA needed a way to help offset the pressure.
Enter Zero Gravity. Today, massage chair companies incorporate the same technology to help users “offset” gravity, remove vertical pressure from their spine, and shift the weight of their own bodies.
Zero Gravity also has a massage-specific benefit: it helps you achieve a deeper massage. Here’s how it works:
As you recline, your body’s weight (and gravity!) help to push and hold you on top of the massage rollers. The further you recline, the more weight you have holding you on the rollers and the more powerful the massage. On the Infinity IT 8800, each of the two stages of Zero Gravity has a different level of recline and therefore produces a different intensity of the massage.
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy has been used for centuries to help soothe and heal sore muscles. This is because heat dilates blood vessels, which allows more blood and therefore oxygen and damage-repairing nutrients to enter an area. Heat also has a relaxing effect. Both benefits complement a massage chair — as the muscles warm, they relax, which allows the rollers to penetrate deeper.
The Infinity IT 8800 has heating pads located in the lower back. You can turn them off, on, or add them to any massage program.
Music System and Speakers
Another popular feature of the Infinity IT 8800 is a music system. Although it won’t directly affect your massage, it can enhance the experience.
A USB port lets you connect your music directly to the chair, which is perhaps one of the downsides of the music system. You have to first add your music to a USB (no MP3 port or Bluetooth here).
Once your music is added to the chair, you can control all settings — volume, pause, play — with the chair’s remote. The music plays through a set of built-in speakers above the shoulders, but since the speakers are on the outside of the chair, the sound moves away from you (the second downside). But there’s a headphone jack that lets you listen to the music through your headphones.
Now that we’ve covered all of the massage components let’s get into the massage itself…
Massage Techniques and Auto Programs on the Infinity Deluxe Massage Chair 8800
On the Infinity 8800 Chair, there are six massage techniques to choose from, including kneading, tapping, kneading and tapping (combination), shiatsu, knocking, and music sync. Let’s take a closer look at what these techniques do.
| MASSAGE TECHNIQUES | FUNCTIONS |
|---|---|
| Kneading | Performs small circular motions that stretch the muscles |
| Tapping | Performs light tapping strokes |
| Kneading and Tapping | Combines circular motions and quick tapping |
| Shiatsu | Translates to “finger pressure,” presses down into the muscle |
| Knocking | Performs tapping but alternates sides of the spine |
| Music Sync | Synchronizes your massage to the rhythm of your music |
Auto Massage Programs
The Infinity 8800 chair has four automatic massage programs that perform full-body massages using roller techniques and air massage. These programs are fully automated, requiring minimal — if any — adjustments. Just press the button and enjoy your massage.
Each program has a theme or intended benefit, for example, “Recover.” And you can set your massage session to run for 10, 20, 30, or 45 minutes, with 20 minutes being the default time.
While four is not a robust set of auto programs, one of the programs, “Extend,” is a comprehensive stretch program that incorporates light inversion therapy.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the auto programs.
Manual Massage Programs
Additionally, the Infinity IT 8800 has three location-specific manual massage programs that give you more control over your treatment area. The three programs are:
Manual Mode Options on the Infinity Massage Chair 8800
For even more control over your massage, the Infinity IT 8800 has quite a few manual mode options to choose from, including:
Have shoulder pain and want to build your own custom manual massage? Let’s illustrate how that would look on the Infinity IT 8800.
Pedestal LCD Remote
All of the functions are easily controlled using the remote. The remote is stationed next to the chair on a pedestal stand. It has a big, bright LCD screen that displays all of the active functions and the massage time so you always know what’s going on. All of the buttons are clearly labeled, and the remote is easy to use.
Infinity IT 8800 Massage Chair Specifications
| Chair Dimensions (reclined) | 36.2”H x 35.4”W x 74”L |
| Chair Dimensions (upright) | 45.7”H x 35.4”W x 59”L |
| Recommended Maximum User Weight | 325 lbs |
| Recommended User Height | 5’1” to 6’4” |
| Power Consumption | 220W |
| Chair Weight | 229 lbs |
| Colors | brown, black, taupe |
Final Thoughts on Infinity 8800 Massage Chair Reviews
The Infinity IT 8800 (IT 8200) brings a lot to the table. Its combination of features — S-track, Zero Gravity, foot rollers, etc. — and its price point will check off many massage chair must-have boxes. However, you cannot find the IT 8800, and while the IT 8200 (which is the same) is available from a few retailers, we recommend checking out the upgraded Infinity IT 8500, which has new massage technology and not much of a price difference.
References & Resources:
- Infinity, Official Brand Website.
- What is Shiatsu Massage, Well Mother.
- Can Massage Help Your Back Problem?, Spine Health.
- Massage Therapy for Upper Back Pain, Pain Science.