I am a 78- year-old retired female who likes to keep active with my family and enjoys activities such as lawn bowls. I do take quite a lot of medication and suffer quite badly with swollen feet and water retention, particularly in warmer weather. I also sometimes suffer with tingly feet and some numbness in my feet too which can at times be painful. I was really hoping this device would help with that and I was pleasantly surprised to see that it did.
Pros
- Simple to use
- Lightweight
- Style makes it suitable for all size feet
- Multi-function being suitable for feet and other body parts
- Eight shiatsu rollers to combat tension
- Heated shiatsu balls to stimulate circulation in your feet
- Doubles as a back heating cushion or a back massager
Cons
- Limited settings and functionality
- No kneading function so it's a bit more basic compared to others
Testing the Snailax 2-in-1 Shiatsu Foot and Back Massager
The item arrived in a simple box with quite limited instructions. It wasn't immediately obvious how it could be both a foot and back massager but on a quick inspection it was very easy to setup. You’ve got the massage part, the foot piece, power adapter and remote control.
The two parts simply attach via a standard zip that goes all the way round when you want to use it for the feet, for other body parts such as the back, you need to detach the top part where the feet sit within. It could be fiddly if you struggle at all with hand mobility, but I managed it OK. Its very lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. It feels well made, is nice and compact and the power and remote control are easy to connect and use.
I have used the product every morning and night for around 10 minutes every day for 6 weeks. I sometimes use it for longer, especially after being out in the cold as it is lovely and cosy on my feet while watching the television with the heat setting on and it does warm up quickly. It doesn’t get boiling hot but it was warm enough for me. It also doesn’t make much noise, so it doesn’t interrupt your ability to hear conversation or what’s on the TV. The shiatsu massage with its 8 rollers is very soothing too.
I saw improvement with the swelling in my feet after just a couple of weeks use. Where I have seen the most improvement is with the tingling and numbness feeling in my feet, this has almost gone altogether which has been very beneficial to me. I am hoping it will be even more helpful in the summer months when the swelling is much worse. The remote options are straight forward and simple.
I occasionally use the back massager part too as you can see in photos when I've been struggling with niggles and aches and pains, and it is also very relaxing. Just need to position it between yourself and a chair and sit back and let it work its magic!
Final verdict
My family have also enjoyed trying it out when visiting. From my 8-year-old granddaughter who loves the heat and sensation of the massage function to my son in law with size 10 feet. It can accommodate the whole family!
I found it easy to store next to my sofa when not in use and it doesn’t take up much space at all. I haven’t washed it yet, but it does detach and can go in the washing machine.